Village Family Clinic Blog

Dr. Tyler Carlock, DC, returns today to continue his series of videos designed to educate our patients (and the general public) regarding common painful conditions. We want all of you to know that The Village Family Chiropractic and Multi-Specialty Medical clinic here in Hackettstown stands ready to provide you non-surgical and drug-free pain management treatment of these common ailments. Today, Dr. Carlock returns to the subject of headaches, this time with specific focus on tension and migraine headaches.

How’s everyone doing out there? This is Dr. Carlock, chiropractor here at Village Family Clinic with another public service educational video. So we’re now addressing some of the questions that we get in this series. I’m going to stick to the headache topic because that’s what I’ve been talking about for the past couple of weeks now. We’re going to talk about what are the different types of headaches? Alright. So there’s really two main ones. I’ll touch on some other as well, but the two main types of headaches are tension and migraine.

So really a tension headache, another way to describe that is cervicogenic, meaning it’s coming from the neck, alright? So a lot of times the muscles surrounding the neck will get tight and pull on the head, and that could cause a tension type headache band around the whole head there. The pain can also go around your ear, and you could feel some on your shoulders. That occurs from stress, it occurs from forward head posture, being sitting at the computer all day, looking down your phone. So a lot of it is caused from posture, some of it can be caused from stress. That’s the main type of headache that we have a lot of success with treating. If we can get the cervical spine moving properly, loose up some of those muscles, that tends to relax some of those headaches and get good results with those.

Migraine is another common one that people tend to complain about. You know it can be a little bit more painful and a lot of times migraine pain will be kind of one sided. It will typically be right behind the eye. It’ll be on one side of the head and kind of behind the eye. It can either accompany an aura or without an aura. Aura is light sensitivity, you might get dizzy and things of that nature. And it can be brought on by certain things, certain food, certain taste, smell, and again stress. There’s no definitive research that states exactly where migraines originate, but we have lots of success treating migraines again mainly focusing on the cervical spine.

Something you can do at home to ward off or reduce migraine pain is to make sure you’re drinking a lot of water. They say that about 80% of headaches will feel better if you just drink one tall glass of water. Make sure you’re properly hydrated. Make sure your diet reflects foods that you’re not sensitive to because that can trigger somebody’s migraines as well. Exercise is very important, focusing on good posture as well.

So if you’re suffering from any of these headaches, definitely come and give us a call and we’ll help you take care of them. A few other ones that may occur, there’s cluster headaches, those are very rare, about 1% of the population and it’s a very, very, intense, intense, intense pain. They’ve described as people actually commit suicide, that’s how intense the pain is and it’s like over a certain hours and many times a week. That’s very rare, I personally have not seen a case of that yet. That’s the three kinds of headaches for today’s discussion. So like I said if you suffer any of these symptoms, give us a call and we’d be sure to help you.

Thank, Dr. Carlock ! So to remind you all, we provide a wide variety of chiropractic, physical therapy, and other pain mitigation services here at our Hackettstown Chiropractic clinic. Our goal is to not only mitigate/eliminate your pain but more importantly to identify the root causes of your pain and to develop a treatment plan that gives you the very best chance of eliminating that pain forever. Stop suffering and make an appointment today so we can get you out of pain and back to doing the things you love.

Local Chiropractor Thanking Patients and the community with free food and care!

Allamuchy, NJ (March 12, 20202) Dr. James R. Fedich of Village Family Clinic is Celebrating 16 years of helping the community live healthier, pain free lives and record amounts of giving back. The celebration will be April 4th, 2020 form 10 am to 1pm with an Easter Egg Hunt at 11 am!

Dr. Fedich will be donating his services all day long as a way to say thank you to all of his great patients. “My patients are the greatest reward in my life, they have given me so much joy, and it’s my turn to give them something back.” To try to thank his patients, Dr. Fedich is giving away free chiropractic adjustments to any patient who has been in to the office before, and is giving away a chance for someone new to meet the staff and see if they can help them.

“Its been an amazing 16 years in the area, we have helped over 8000 patients in those years and its been a rewarding experience,” states James R Fedich, DC the clinic director. The clinic helps patients with chiropractic, physical therapy, spinal decompression, cold laser, pain management, DOT physicals, drug and alcohol testing and so much more. In addition to helping over 8000 patients in 16 years, the clinic has a rich history of giving back. They do an annual Food drive where a truck is filled with food, turkey giveaway, Toy Drive for Christmas, Shoe and sock drive for the homeless, and a pet food drive in the summer. The clinic has a long history of giving back.

Additionally, Village Family Chiropractic will be having free food during the day, a bouncy house obstacle course, live music from Jessica Koppinger, and more!. There will also be giveaways and prizes in addition to free adjustments and free digital sEMG scans for anyone who hasn’t been in before.

The annual Patient Appreciation Day and Easter Egg Hunt will be held rain or shine, April 4th, 20202 from 10-1 with the easter egg hunt promptly at 11 am. .For further information, directions, or an appointment, contact Village Family Chiropractic at (908) 813-8200, or visit them on the web at www.villagefamilychiro.com.

Our patients and regular readers of our blog know that we are Hackettstown’s most celebrated chiropractic and multi-specialty medical facility. Part of that reason is our commitment to patient and community education regarding painful health conditions that can be addressed via an assortment of chiropractic care services. Today, Dr. Tyler Carlock, DC is going to define and address the causes of a common headache called “Occipital Neuralgia.” This is a common ailment that we treat at Village Family Clinic here in Hackettstown. So, take it away, Dr. Carlock.

Video Transcription

How’s everybody doing out there? I’m Dr. Carlock, DC, from the Village Family Clinic here in Hackettstown, New Jersey. We’re going to start this new video series where I’m going to talk about a different condition each week. Since I just did a talk this past week on headaches, we’re going to talk about a specific type of headache today called “Occipital Neuralgia.”

What is Occipital Neuralgia?

A lot of people that come in here have occipital neuralgia and some of you might be suffering from it at home, so I’m going to explain what that means.  When I say occipital, that means just the bottom of the skull here, the occiput. This is the occipital region. Neuralgia, the word, means nerve pain. So, it’s occipital nerve pain. 

So, all these nerves in the back of your head, they can become compressed. Whether it’s from tight muscles back there, or from a bone out of place in your neck, that can cause sharp, sharp pains in the back of your head. They use a fancy word to describe occipital neuralgia but it’s nothing really too fancy if you come to think of it when it is boiled down. 

If you’re suffering from that, I would definitely come out here and get checked out because there’s a lot of stuff we could do to help relieve that pain. Whether it’s loosening up some of those muscles or adjusting the neck for proper motion.

So, there you are, just a little quick info on Occipital Neuralgia.

In Summary

We provide a wide variety of chiropractic, physical therapy, and other pain mitigation services here at our Hackettstown clinic. Our goal is to not only mitigate/eliminate your pain but more importantly to identify the root causes of your pain and to develop a treatment plan that gives you the very best chance of eliminating that pain forever. Stop suffering and make an appointment today so we can get you out of pain and back to doing the things you love.

The Village Family Clinic has been getting a lot of questions on the Coronavirus, and we want to give you an update.

First, you can be assured that our staff is well trained in hygiene. We have hospital grade disinfectants and have instituted even stricter cleaning procedures than the CDC-recommended standards we have always used. Our office is probably the cleanest, safest place you can be around. With that in mind, here is what we know about the virus and what you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Some facts and comparisons about the virus:

• Globally, there are about 188,638 cases; in contrast to the flu which has 45 million cases
• 80% of cases will resolve with ZERO medical treatment
• Around the world, about 7,511 have died from it, the vast majority of whom had compromised immune systems or other underlying health issues.
• In the U.S., the current death count from Coronavirus is 68, with less than 3,490 people seeking medical care for it.
• By contrast, the seasonal flu kills 60,000 per year in the U.S.
• Compare that to Opioids--prescription drugs--that kill 200 people PER DAY...73,000 annually. So more people died today from opioids than have died from Coronavirus in the U.S., ever.

Coronavirus symptoms include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Other Flu-like symptoms

Prevention:

• Wash your hands
• Avoid touching your face
• Vitamin D
• Sunshine
• Echinacea
• Elderberry
• Other herbals
• Exercise. Healthy adults are very safe, only the immunocompromised, elderly, and very young kids are at risk.

FACE MASKS DO NOTHING TO HELP!

Watch my video for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/VillageFamilyClinic/

It will all be OK and over soon.

Spring is almost here!

Dr. J

Regular readers of Village Family Clinic blog know that we invest time and energy educating both our patients and the general public through this blog. Today we’re going to educate you on a very common (and very painful) condition that we treat on a daily basis here at our Hackettstown chiropractic and multi-specialty medical facility: Plantar Fasciitis. What follows below is a narrative that address the frequently asked questions about plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a very common causes of heel and foot pain that is caused by inflammation of a thick band of fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes (The plantar fascia). People with plantar fasciitis will complain of stabbing pain in the heel that occurs after periods of inactivity and starts to get better after moving around for a bit. The pain of plantar fasciitis is often at its worst in the morning with your first steps and can also get worse after standing for long periods of time. Additionally, the pain is often worse after exercise but not during it.

Runners are the most common population group to get this but can happen to anyone. Others that are at a higher risk are overweight, and people who wear poor choices of footwear with inadequate support. There are many other risk factors that can increase your risk of plantar fasciitis discussed below.

Age itself is a risk factor and people between the ages of 40-60 are most commonly affected. Certain types of exercise can also cause this problem such as any activity the stresses the heel of your foot like long distance running, ballet, or aerobics. Foot mechanics are also a big culprit as flat feet, high arches, or abnormal gait can cause uneven weight distribution when standing or walking which puts additional stress on the plantar fascia. If you work in a profession that requires you to be on your feet all day such as teachers, factory workers, cashiers, etc.… and you spend most of your day standing or walking on hard surfaces you may also be at risk for damaging the plantar fascia. Lastly, obesity is an obvious risk factor since the excess pound places unneeded stress on your plantar fascia.

Ignoring plantar fasciitis may result in chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities. Changing the way you walk as a way to relieve plantar fasciitis pain might lead to foot, knee, hip or back problems.

The good news is that we can help via a wide variety of chiropractic treatment services here at our Hackettstown clinic. We consistently deliver great results and can deliver for you as well. We will not only relieve your pain but more importantly, find the problem and correct it so that your condition does not return. If this sounds like you, stop suffering and make an appointment today so we can get you out of pain and back to doing the things you love.

Sometimes you just have to laugh, even if it’s about debilitating back pain. Laughing. That is something our patient, John, has learned to do once again. Check out this video that literally had us all on the floor. No, not with back pain, but laughing as John celebrates the success of his chiropractic treatment of back pain that had kept him down for so long.

Each and every time we here at Hackettstown’s Village Family Clinic help someone who was once bent-over in chronic back pain and then see them (in this case literally) raise up and jump for joy, we’ll we’re reminded that what we do makes a fundamental positive difference in people’s lives.

Congrats, John, we’re your biggest fan. Enjoy John’s testimony, we certainly did!

Note: The Village Family Clinic is a multi-specialty medical facility offer a comprehensive approach to pain management that includes medical pain management, chiropractic care, physical therapy, acupuncture, and a host of other pain management services and techniques.

Christmas and Chanukah share a similar spiritual message: that it is possible to bring light and hope into the world. These two holidays occur together this year, which makes this an even more special holiday season.

This is a season to reflect upon how fortunate we are to have you as our customers: our friends and neighbors. During these holidays, we wish you, your family, and your friends a safe, joy-filled, and relaxing season.

Warm wishes for a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, and a most Happy New Year! With peace, joy, and love this holiday season and beyond!

The neck, also known as the cervical spine, has two main purposes: protecting the spinal cord and supporting the head allowing it to move with good range of motion. It is made up of bones, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons that are organized in a complex way that allows the neck to be protective while also remaining flexible. This ability to remain flexible also creates quite a bit of vulnerability to damage due to the constant pressure from the head to keep it upright. Some movements whether gradual and repetitive in nature (Like poor posture) or sudden and sharp (Like whiplash) can result in strain and discomfort. Cervicalgia is a fancy term for an injury of the neck (Cervical spine) that causes pain due to this strain without spreading to other areas such as the arms.

Most people will experience neck pain at some point in their life and it is often easily treated. Many cases of neck pain are reoccurring and can come and go from time to time or may become persistent and turn into a more chronic condition. Some common causes of cervicalgia may include:

• Poor posture from sitting too much, many hours in the car or working at a desk and computer
• Lengthy periods with the neck at an awkward angle, such as when sleeping.
• Injuries that involve a sudden neck movement, such as whiplash from a car crash
• Long-term stress and clenching of neck and shoulder muscles, leading to a strain on the neck.
• Bone conditions, such as arthritis or osteoporosis. (more common in older populations)

The symptoms of cervicalgia are pain that is worsened by holding your head in one position, such as driving or working at a computer, muscle tightness and spasms, many patients will describe what feels like muscle knots in there shoulders, decreased range of motion and/or difficulty moving the head, and sometimes headaches can be associated with neck pain. Most neck pain is not severe and will improve gradually but in many cases, it is important to seek treatment.

When is it time to see the chiropractor?

Contact us if the pain in your neck:

• Is severe
• Persist for more than a couple days
• Is reoccurring and/or becoming chronic
• Spreads to other areas (arms, legs, upper back, shoulders, etc…)
• Is accompanied by headache, weakness, numbness, or tingling

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please make an appointment with our office as soon as possible and one of our highly trained chiropractic physicians will diagnose and treat the problem accordingly.

Village Family Clinic
1500 Rt. 517 – suite 108
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
(908) 813-8200

Thanksgiving Day is the perfect time to remind one another of the many reasons there are to be grateful. We gather on this day to be thankful for what we have, for the family we love, the friends we cherish, the success we have had, and for the blessings that will come.

Thanksgiving is more than the festivities, it gives us time to ponder the lessons that we have learned and how we can spread happiness around, to look back at all the great memories and good people who came into our lives. We appreciate you, our customers and clients, so much.

At this time of year our thoughts turn gratefully to you with warm appreciation. Our best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.

Here at Village Family Clinic, our Hackettstown NJ Chiropractic care clinic, we take great pride in educating both our patients and the general public about neck and spine health. We’re proud of all of you for conducting your own research. We are thrilled to educate and answer your questions both within our clinic and our Hackettstown chiropractic blog itself.

A recurring question that we answer is: “Just what is “subluxation” and how is it treated”?

When a vertebrae becomes misaligned or moves out of its normal position, this is referred to in the chiropractic profession as a subluxation. Subluxations can be caused by a wide range of issues ranging from a minor slip or bump to a car accident or any sudden trauma. When a vertebrae is subluxated, it begins to put pressure on nerves, blood vessels and everything around it. This pressure comes with a price. The subluxation interrupts the natural pathways that the messages sent from the brain need to be clear in order to be completed properly.

As time goes by and a subluxation remains untreated, the spine and surrounding features such as discs begin to degenerate. This degeneration becomes more difficult to reverse as time goes by as the surrounding muscles, nerves and bones begin to adjust to the new shape. The body is an amazing machine. It will start to accommodate these changes by compensating in other areas.

The longer this goes on, the more difficult it is and the longer it takes to get back to near perfect position.

How is subluxation treated? As you might expect it depends. It depends on your specific subluxation condition, the severity of your condition, and your overall physical condition. Together, we will author and execute a chiropractic care plan designed to steadily decrease your spine and neck pain while systematically improving our quality of life.

Start the path to an improved quality of life. Contact Hackettstown’s Village Family Chiropractic Care Clinic today!