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In Touch With Tanja Barnes
Spring 2003 Newsletter
Happy Equinox!
Last winter offered up many challenges including the death of my paternal grandmother from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease, an episode of extreme illness of my mother, the suicide of a dear, close friend, two separate and severe auto accidents within six months of each other (the last one resulted in the total loss of my car), the theft of my purse and subsequent theft of my identity. All I can say is: things were looking pretty rough!
It was a difficult time for me both spiritually and physically as the cumulative effects of loss, trauma and stress took their toll on my body and it's ability to recover. Thankfully, I have a wonderful support network of friends such as the inimitable Katrina, Jud and all my buddies of the GVP, my second family Valerie and Rusty, my VW brothers Jason and Ron, my "duck" buddy Wavy, my friend Kent, my gal pals Vicki and Kristen, a mystery friend that sent me a very nice gift of support (who are you?) and what feels like a million other dear friends and colleagues -- too numerous to mention here -- that came together to help me to move past my troubles. Thank you so much, dear, dear friends! I also atrribute Dr. Erik Lee, D.C. and his wonderful team of health care practitioners at Riverside Health Center as key to my physical recovery. I recommend Dr. Lee to everybody.
For more information, visit Riverside Health Center.
But now, the winter of my discontent is over. Spring arrived quite joyously, heralded by the birth of Teo Liam, whose birth I assisted in the role of a doula for the first time. This child has delighted, disarmed and enchanted me in these troubled times of war. Surely e.e. cummings' poem "somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond" was written for a miracle spring baby such as Teo. Congratulations to my dearest friends, Valerie and Rusty.
somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near
your slightest look easily will unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skillfully, mysteriously) her first rose
or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;
nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility: whose texture
compels me with the colour of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing
(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens; only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands
-- e. e. cummings
Regards,
Tanja Barnes, LMT
FAQ'S ABOUT CHIROPRACTIC CARE
1. How does chiropractic work?
Improper motion or position of the moving bones of the spine are called
"subluxations". Subluxations irritate nerves and compromise the function of
affected organs and tissues. Specific spinal adjustments can help improve
mind/body communications. Health often returns with improved nervous
system control of the body.
2. Do I have a slipped disc?
The disc is a soft pulpy "shock absorber". It has a fibrous outer ring which holds in a jelly-like material. A "slipped disc" is a common way to refer to a wide variety of disc problems. However, a disc can't slip because of the
way it attaches to the spinal bone above and below it. But a disc can bulge.
It can tear. It can herniate. It can thin. It can dry out. And it can collapse. But it can't slip.
3. Do I have a pinched nerve?
A pinched nerve is rare. It is more likely that an adjacent spinal bone
irritates, stretches, rubs or chafes a nerve. These "subluxations" distort the
nerve messages sent between the brain and the body. This can produce
unhealthy alterations to the organs and tissues connected by the affected
nerves.
4. How do I know if I have a subluxation?
You can have subluxations and not even know it. Like the early stages of
tooth decay or cancer, subluxations can be present before warning signs
appear. The results of a thorough examination can show the location and
severity of subluxations you may have.
5. Can subluxations clear up on their own?
Absolutely. Today's hectic lifestyles are a constant source of subluxations.
Fortunately, our bodies have the ability to self-correct many of these
problems as we bend and stretch, or when we sleep at night. You may have
heard Dr. Lee say [one too many times], "In a perfect world, the body heals
perfectly." But when subluxations don't resolve, you need to see a chiropractic doctor!
6. What's an adjustment?
Chiropractic adjustments usually involve a quick thrust that helps add motion
to spinal joints that aren't moving right. There are many ways to adjust the
spine.
7. Are all patients adjusted the same way?
No. Each patient's spine and care plan is unique. With 24 moving bones in
the spine (that can each move in seven different directions!) we see a wide
variety of spinal patterns. Each patient's care is custom tailored for their age,
condition and health goals. Dr. Lee will figure out which way is best for your
body.
8. Are chiropractic adjustments safe?
Yes. A New Zealand government study found that adjustments are
"remarkably safe". Compare the statistics. Adjustments are safer than
taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.
9. Will adjustments make my spine too loose?
No. Adjustments help to balance out the relative movement of the spine.
Only the spinal joints that are "locked up" receive adjustments. This allows
the spinal joints that are hypermobile (too loose) to stabilize and heal.
10. What makes the sound during the adjustment?
Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some adjusting
methods can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift. It's
much like opening a bottle of champagne or removing a suction cup.
11. Should I adjust myself?
No. Unless you want to mess yourself up. Continually self-manipulating your
neck, for example, will eventually hypermobilize the joint and weaken the
surrounding muscles and ligaments. Even chiropractors must consult
colleagues to benefit from chiropractic care.
12. How many adjustments will I need?
The number of adjustments varies with each patient and their individual
health goals. Many patients sense progress within one to two visits. Visits
become less often as your spine stabilizes. In chronic cases (e.g. neck pain
that has been there for years) or severe acute cases (e.g., very bad car
accident), complete healing can take months or even years.
Previous "In Touch with Tanja Barnes" newsletters:
Fall 2002
Summer 2002
Spring 2002
Winter 2001
Fall 2001
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