Village Family Clinic Blog

Allamuchy Township Mayor Rick Lomonaco, gave a proclamation on Saturday, April 13, 2019, to recognize the many contributions and services of Dr. James R. Fedich, giving back to the community and helping others along the way. Village Family Clinic celebrated its 15-year anniversary on Saturday in grand fashion.

“It’s been an amazing 15 years here in Allamuchy Township and it’s been a pleasure to serve the people of the town and surrounding areas,” proclaimed Dr Fedich. The practice began with humble beginnings 15 years ago in a small, 700-sq-foot clinic. Over the years, the clinic has grown to over 4000 sq feet and now includes three chiropractors, two physical therapists, an acupuncturist, and a medical doctor. The clinic is able to help many local residents who would otherwise not have access to this state-of-the-art, multi-disciplinary care.

“I love doing these things,” added Mayor Lomonaco. “Special Recognition for special people is a complete joy.” To celebrate its 15 years of success, Village Family Clinic held a Patient Appreciation Day and Easter egg hunt. The clinic had many children come for the Easter egg hunt, bouncy castle, and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Additionally, the clinic gave away all its services for the day. No credit cards or insurance were needed! Chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical therapy services were all free.

The clinic has a long tradition of giving back. In addition to the open houses where the services are free, Village Family Clinic has a large food drive every year, donating over 80 turkeys to the needy. They also run a large pet food drive, a toy drive during the holidays, and a shoe drive for the homeless. “I am always looking for a way to give back to this great area,” stated Fedich.

Village Family Clinic specializes in treating many different conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, headaches, disc problems, stenosis, elbow and shoulder pain, knee pain, and much more. Using state-of-the-art technology, like cold laser, spinal decompression, and their unique team approach, the clinic routinely helps people that other providers are not able assist.

To learn more about the clinic, visit http://www.hackettstownfamilyclinic.com, or call 908-813-8200.

Car accident victims increasingly turn to chiropractic treatment here at Hackettstown NJ’s Village Family Clinic to manage systemic pain. Hockey and football players might take issue with the following statement, but a car accident is likely to be the most violent impact you and your body will ever experience. Given that the spine and neck must be precisely aligned to serve the body in a pain free manner, it is quite common for car accident victims to emerge with a wide range of spinal misalignment issues. The various destructive results that car accidents have on the spine and neck challenges you and your chiropractor to author treatment plans that are unique to you and your condition. Car accident victims very often respond well to spinal decompression therapy, but they also respond well to various other treatments to include acupuncture, cold laser, and vibration therapy.

Today we celebrate our patient Roy who miraculously survived a horrific auto accident. His body may never be the same, but that does not mean he is forever to live in pain. Roy’s auto accident-related pain is systematically being eradicated due in large part to his commitment to regular recurring chiropractic care and, as you’ll learn from watching his video, Village Family Clinic’s chiropractic care excellence and commitment right back to him. To us, his words construe a heart-warming story. We’re so very happy for him.

"Hi my name is Rory M I've been coming to this office for a year and a month now. I started coming here after a bad car accident. Without the help of these doctors and this establishment I wouldn't be where I am today. So, thanks very much!"

Hello again from Hackettstown NJ’s Village Family Clinic. It gives us tremendous professional reward when our once pain-stricken patients feel so good that they want to share their treatment success stories as does Carrie D. below. She mentions a number of our services in her video that combined to turn her life around after her long-term suffering from a herniated disk. In a moment, watch the video and hear from Carrie herself. Before that though, here’s some level of detail regarding her treatment services for sciatic pain such that Carrie once suffered.

Our team at Village Family Clinic provides sciatica treatment that provides relief from pain in your back, hips, and legs stemming from trauma involving the sciatic nerve. As soon as our chiropractor and sciatica therapist examine your spine and look over your medical history as part of our comprehensive chiropractic treatment, they are going to review all of the various alternatives you have for sciatica treatment. Some treatment plan alternatives include appointments with a physical therapist and spinal decompression. Our patients who experience sciatica treatment in Newark and Allamuchy NJ notice a difference in just after one or two sessions.

So enjoy watching Carrie’s pain management success story. We did, and thank you Carrie!

"Hi I'm Nicole Miller, I'm a patient here at Village Family Clinic. I've been coming here for about eight months to a year, I originally came in because I had herniated discs in my lower back region. My current plan was really to go on the spinal decompression table. Dr. Miller has helped me significantly in being able to move, bend and fluctuate my lower back. So I have had a lot of relief in regards to that. I had shoulder pain and it turned out to be a nerve that was being pinched and I couldn't move my shoulder. I could not lift my arm without severe pain. They actually told me that it was a pinched nerve and I came in for additional chiropractic care adjustments. After treatment, the pain went away.

So, I have been extremely happy. I wasn't even able to turn the wheel driving and it was very painful. Now I'm happy and I would absolutely recommend Village Family Clinic because they have done nothing but great things for me."

Should you have any questions regarding spinal decompression or any other form of chiropractic care, please feel free to contact us.

Leading publications continue to turn to Dr. Fedich for professional contribution to their stories. Recently, Reader’s Digest turned to Dr. Fedich as a contributor to their published story: “13 Medical Reasons for Your Shoulder Pain”. Dr. Fedich contributes regarding the subject of “Osteoarthritis”, one of the more common causes of shoulder pain. While osteoarthritis is an incurable disease, the good doctor points out the good news is that near (or total) pain relief can often be attained via non-surgical chiropractic treatments such as ultrasound, acupuncture, cold laser, and physical manipulation. The article also discusses some lesser known arthritis-related treatments methods such as stem cell therapy. We think you’ll find the article interesting and informative.

Dr. Fedich covers (in detail) the fascinating and highly effective pain management treatment “cold laser therapy” out on his Hackettstown NJ chiropractic website. We’re certain you’ll enjoy learning more about this increasingly popular treatment!

When it comes to professional reward, sometimes a smiling face offering select few words says it all. Christine’s came to Village Family Chiropractic Clinic here in Hackettstown with severe pain and seeking pain management via a Hackettstown NJ chiropractic care team. We are so proud to have returned a smile to her face and can’t thank her enough for her continuing faith and trust.

After each and every treatment that includes spinal decompression and other proven chiropractic services, Christine gets ever so closer to her goal to be completely pain free. That she’s getting there without the need for painful surgery or for the need of opioid medication is the type of success story that we all celebrate as a staff each and every day.

Please know that you DO NOT have to live with pain. Christine will attest to that! Call us.

Researchers in Spain and the United States report that “Patients who received physical therapy consisting of manual techniques for carpal tunnel syndrome” achieved results comparable to outcomes for patients who had surgery for this condition. Physical therapy patients saw faster improvements at the one-month mark than did patients treated surgically.

For three weeks, the therapy patients received weekly half-hour manual therapy sessions - meaning therapists only used their hands. The therapists focused on the neck and the median nerve. They also applied manual physical therapy to the shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist and fingers. The Physical Therapist also instructed the patients on how to perform neck-stretching exercises at home.

After one month, the therapy group reported greater daily function and greater "pinch strength" between the thumb and forefinger compared to the surgery patients. After three, six and twelve months, however, improvements were similar in both groups. All participants experienced similar reduction in their pain, but the physical therapy group showed faster improvement.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, is typically caused by compression of the Median nerve in the palm facing area of the wrist. This can cause symptoms such as numbness and tingling typically of the thumb, index, middle and thumb side of the ring fingers. In more advanced cases of carpal tunnel there can be constant pain, decreased hand strength and loss of sensation in the hand. This overtime can cause a loss of ability to use the hand for work and everyday activities.

Possible causes of Carpal Tunnel:

Include repetitive maneuvers related to work, hobby or home activities. It can also be brought on by pregnancy because of edema, or fluid retention. Other possible causes are underlying inflammatory diseases, degenerative, and rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid or diabetes. Trauma, such as dislocation or fracture of the wrist or structural problems in the wrist joint, lesions in the wrist, a cyst or tumor in the carpal tunnel.

How is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosed:

Patient’s subjective history of thumb and finger numbness, tingling, pain and strength loss of the affected hand.

Observation of atrophy (loss of muscle mass) in the palm region just below the thumb along with marked loss of strength with grip testing

Tinel's test, or Tinel's sign: The doctor taps the median nerve at the wrist lightly to see whether the patient feels numbness or tingling in one or more fingers.

Phalen's test for wrist-flexion: The patient presses the backs of the hands against each other so that the wrist is bent. If tingling or numbness occurs within one minute, there may be damage to the median nerve.

Electromyography: A fine needle is inserted into the muscle. Electrical activity on a screen can reveal whether there is any median nerve damage, and if so, how severe it is.

Blood tests: Blood tests can detect an underlying condition that can be related to carpal tunnel syndrome, including hypothyroidism, rheumatoid, arthritis, or diabetes.

Imaging scans: An x-ray can show whether there is a fracture or some other disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis and an ultrasound scan can check the structure of the median nerve. Studies have found that MRI scans are not useful in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Study co-author Joshua Cleland, a professor with the physical therapy program at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H. stated "Manual physical therapy may be just as beneficial in improving function and symptom severity as surgery despite the severity of their condition," he also noted that 38 percent of those in the therapy group had "severe" carpal tunnel syndrome. Cleland went on to state "Surgery is necessary when there is muscle weakness or atrophy from the nerve being compressed at the wrist." However, operations can have complications, said Cleland. He cited a previous research finding that "approximately 25 percent of individuals undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome experience treatment failure with half of those requiring an additional surgical procedure."

So based on the findings of this study if you considering surgery for your “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome” physical therapy can be considered a first line option with just as effective results and less complications. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017 Mar;47(3):151-161. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2017.7090. Epub 2017 Feb 3.The Effectiveness of Manual Therapy Versus Surgery on Self-reported Function, Cervical Range of Motion, and Pinch Grip Force in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C, Cleland J, Palacios-Ceña M, Fuensalida-Novo S, Pareja JA, Alonso-Blanco C.

Our warmest Holiday wishes from the entire team here at Village Family Clinic. Calendar year 2018 was, and continues to be, a truly remarkable year and we take this moment to recognize the joy that each and every one of you has brought to our personal and professional lives. We exist because of your faith and trust in us.

As calendar year 2019 approaches, we reflect upon the foundational recognition that your success is our success. Our New Year’s wish for 2019 is to nurture our positive and ever strengthening partnership and to deliver ever increasing value to you and your business through the entirety of 2019.

Throughout this Holiday season may you be blessed with health and surrounded by friends and family. All the best! Cheers!

What is the rotator cuff?

It is the tendinous attachment of 4 muscles that start from the Shoulder blade (Scapula) to attach to the top of the Shoulder (Humeral head).
• Tendons attach muscle to bone and allow the muscle to move/control the joint.
• Tendons can sustain tears as a result of trauma (fall, accident etc.) or because of wear and tear (aging, sport or work demands).

Signs & Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Problems:

Pain and stiffness around the top of the shoulder, pain on the outside of the upper arm, pain at night that interferes with your sleep, pain, and difficulty or inability to lift your arm overhead and weakness of the arm.

How are Rotator cuff tears diagnosed?

Subjective History, Fall onto an outstretched arm or directly onto the shoulder, Decreased ability to raise the arm overhead, Pain with lowering the arm from above head level, Age > 55, Night pain

Imaging: X-rays and MRI

With a history of trauma X-ray and MRI are warranted to rule in or out other serious pathology, (fracture, dislocation, labral lesions) as well as checking the integrity of the Rotator Cuff

In the case of a Non-Traumatic onset X-rays and MRI have limited predictive value and should be held until a course of conservative care has been undertaken. (exceptions are patients with a history of cancer or a know metabolic disease

Do Tears Progress?

Several studies indicate that larger full-thickness tears (> 1.5 cm) will progress about 50% of the time over a 5 year period and become more symptomatic

About 35% of partial tears will increase in size over 5 years follow up but most remain less symptomatic then full-thickness tears.

Tears that are more anterior and involve tears into the ‘Cable” region are usually more symptomatic and typically require surgical repair vs conservative care.

Conservative Care?

May include a short period of rest in the case of traumatic injury

Management of pain with either prescription or over the counter NSAIDs or Tylenol (Opioid medication is not indicated)

Management of pain/inflammation via Cortisone Steroid Injection(CSI) tends to be short-term relief of 4-8 weeks but may allow the patient to tolerate other interventions.

Physical Therapy to address, shoulder mobility, control, strength and load tolerance ( recommended timeframe is 8-12 weeks) Exercise for rotator cuff tendinopathy – A systematic review of contextual factors and prescription parameters Littlewood et al (2015. International Journal of Rehabilitation Research)

Significant outcomes can be achieved when programs are prescribed by physical therapists, Patients of varying age, duration of symptoms and severity of pain and disability can achieve significant outcomes, Pain production or pain avoidance during exercise does not appear to matter.

Village Family Clinic offers proven conservative care such as Physical Therapy, Chiropractic care, Nutritional counseling, and Acupuncture. If you are having shoulder area pain and problems we offer care to help you get back to the activities and life you want to have!.

Should you have any questions regarding this information please feel free to contact us.

Things in the world of Hip region pain are changing. So here is a quick synopsis of 4 of the more common hip issues.

1. Femoral Acetabular Impingement (FAI): This is one of the newest hip problem diagnosis. It has come about because of the ability to perform much better imaging (X-rays & MRI) of the hip region. The problem is a developmental change in the either the shape of the Ball (Femoral head) or Socket (Acetabulum) which causes increased stress in the hip joint which can cause irritation to the joint surfaces or damage to the cartilage ring (Labrum) , all the way to early joint (articular) cartilage damage. There are 3 types of changes typically seen CAM the ball has an abnormal shape, Pincer there are spurs at the edge of the socket or Mixed both a CAM and Pincer change.

   Treatment ranges from the use of NSAID’s, Education on avoiding aggravating activities and motions, Physical Therapy and either Hip Arthroscopic or Open surgery. This condition is most commonly seen in the younger 15 to 35-year-old active population. The pain can be felt deep in the groin, outside of the buttock and upper and mid-buttocks. In some cases there is “clicking”, “catching” and a sense of “locking”. There is still a fair amount of controversy on what is the best treatment approach. Currently, the standard for diagnosis and care recommendation comes from the Warwick Agreement on FAI published in the British Medical Journal 2016.
   
   https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/50/19/1169 Warwick Agreement

2. Gluteal Tendinopathy (Lateral hip pain): This can be considered the hip’s version of the shoulder Rotator Cuff issues. The past was used to describe this problem was Greater Trochanter Bursitis but again better quality imaging and research are showing that the tendons of the Gluteus muscles (Buttock muscles) are actually the culprits. The pain is typically felt along the outside of the hip, mid-buttock and occasional down the outer or inner thigh. The pain is worse with activities that increase forces about the affected hip such as walking, running, going up stairs, getting up from a chair, getting into or out of a car and lying on the painful side.

   There have been two recent major research papers that show that a Physical Therapy program of guided exercise program of progressive loading levels, education in proper loading and reducing aggravating habits during the reactive phase has a much better outcome within 8 weeks Vs. injection of the area or simply waiting for the problem to self-resolve. The typical patient population is post-menopausal women, runners or people who have suddenly changed their activity level.
   
   https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k1662 (LEAP trial)
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25969366

3. Hip Dysplasia: Is the term used for a group of joint disorders which most commonly involves a “shallow” socket which fails to fully cover the femoral head (ball of the uppermost thigh bone). When this lack of coverage occurs the hip joint becomes unstable and usually leads to early onset of joint osteoarthritis. Common symptoms of hip dysplasia include:

   Pain in the groin or side of the hip, the sensation of “catching” or “popping” with activity, worsening pain with sitting, walking or running, limping, and increased difficulty with strenuous activities.

   Hip dysplasia can be congenital or developmental and can range from mild to severe and be diagnosed at all ages. Diagnosis is usually made by the patient’s reported history and imaging ranging from X-ray, MRI and CT scan. Because moderate to mild dysplasia can mimic other hip issues it sometimes takes the failure of conservative care measures before the diagnosis is confirmed. Treatment can range from bracing, exercise, surgical procedures such as osteotomy and Total Hip Replacement in advanced cases. Hip Dysplasia is more common in females and occurs more frequently in the left hip (64%).

   Hip Osteoarthritis (OA): Is the onset of degenerative wear of the highly specific “hyaline” cartilage that covers the head of the femur (ball) and pelvis acetabulum (socket). Causes of hip OA are increased age >55, family history of OA, Previous hip injury, Obesity, and the already discussed hip dysplasia. Treatment can range from minimizing aggravating activities, switching from high-stress activities such as tennis or running to swimming or cycling and weight reduction. Physical therapy to help maintain joint and soft tissue flexibility and strengthening affected muscles of the lower limb. Temporary or long-term use of assisted devices such as canes, crutches and reaching devices. Medications such as NSAIDs, Acetaminophen, and Corticosteroids can help with pain associated with OA flare-ups. End-stage disease surgical options are Total Hip Replacement (THR). There are now two predominate surgical approaches, 1. Posterior and 2. Anterior approach. Both have been found to be highly successful. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5759198/ : Comparison of 3 types of surgical approaches

Village Family Clinic offers proven conservative care such as Physical Therapy, Chiropractic care, Nutritional counseling, and Acupuncture. If you are having hip area pain and problems we offer care to help you get back to the activities and life you want to have!.

Should you have any questions regarding this information please feel free to contact us.