The Chiropractic Approach

You probably know that auto accidents can cause physical trauma, but you may not realize that immediate or emergency treatment is only the first milestone on the road to recovery. The return to optimal health may require periodic spinal adjustments, therapeutic massage and exercises, and addressing the mental and emotional trauma associated with the accident.

Many types of auto injury cause trauma to the spine from the sheer amount of force transferred to the victim’s body, leading to disc problems, torn muscles, back pain and neck pain. Many victims suffer a form of neck trauma called whiplash that herniates discs and throws vertebrae out of alignment. While we want to correct these spinal issues through adjustment, decompression or other methods as soon as possible, our work does not end with structural repair -- overall healing must also take place, and it must occur properly.

The body will always try to heal itself from an injury, but it does not always do so correctly. Scar tissue can build up to form adhesions, areas of stiffness that can stop the healing process in its tracks and leave you with chronic pain and loss of mobility. We monitor recovering patients’ progress and prescribe the appropriate therapies -- massage, for instance, can help break up adhesions, while strength and flexibility exercises can gradually restore the tissues to normal function.

Our own Dr. Secrest uses Koren Specific Technique (KST) to evaluate structural problems and make precise corrections from both the sitting and standing positions. This technique, often paired with massage, acupressure, low level laser therapy or other supportive therapies, not only relieves pain but can also help patients cope with the mental and emotional stresses of the accident.

Help for Auto Accident Injuries in Scottsdale

Here at Secrest Family Chiropractic our chiropractor, Dr. Secrest, has successfully treated a great many victims of Tempe, Mesa and Scottsdale auto accident injuries over the years -- and we can help you too. We understand how an accident can affect all areas of your life and we design treatment plans to help with your full recovery. Additionally, many motor vehicle injuries can be treated by Dr. Secrest with no out-of-pocket expenses, so you can focus on your recovery.

Were you in an accident recently? What treatments helped you recover?

Fibromyalgia Care from Your Scottsdale Chiropractor

Many patients come to Secrest Family Chiropractic seeking relief from the overwhelming effects of fibromyalgia. This condition, which affects some 3-6 million people, can cause fatigue, stiffness, fatigue and multiple tender points in the body. Other symptoms of this life-altering condition may include headaches, insomnia, numbness, memory problems, and irritable bowel syndrome. Its chronic nature may cause long-term damage to muscles, joints and internal organs.

While there currently is no cure for fibromyalgia, our Scottsdale chiropractic care can relieve the debilitating pain associated with this syndrome and help you manage this condition. Dr. Secrest first performs a thorough examination to determine what symptoms the patient is affected by. He then develops an individualized treatment plan to address the unique symptoms you are experiencing. He may recommend spinal adjustments to loosen the tight knots which may have formed due to the buildup of ground substance, keep the spine from becoming stiff, mobilize weakened joints and reduce overall body pain.

Comprehensive Care Eases Pain for Patients in Tempe and Mesa

One newer treatment our chiropractor may recommend is Koren Specific Technique (KST). This three-step process of challenge, check and correct can lead to longer-lasting and more effective adjustments, while also minimizing pain. By ensuring that the spine is functioning properly, we can improve the function of the overall nervous system. Dr. Secrest may also prescribe cold laser therapy for fibromyalgia patients to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and reduce muscle spasms.

Massage therapy is often recommended to ease back pain, help the patient relax, soothe tired muscles, and encourage the flow of oxygen-rich blood. Massage is helpful in stimulating tissue healing and providing much needed pain relief. Our doctor will also advise you on certain lifestyle changes such as exercising, sleep habits, stress management, nutritional counseling and certain nutritional supplements which help in alleviating and managing the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Our comprehensive approach to managing fibromyalgia symptoms provides sufferers with a natural option to finding long term pain relief.

Do you think you are suffering the effects of fibromyalgia? Let the professional healthcare team at Secrest show you how to go from pain to power.

Banish Neck and Back Pain with the Koren Specific Technique

Do you feel overwhelmed by chronic back and neck pain? Are you frustrated with physicians who are unable to locate the cause of your pain — leaving you to feel like the pain is “all in your head”? If so, the Koren Specific Technique (KST) may be able to help.

Enjoy Long-term Back Pain Relief by Retraining Your Muscle Memory

As the first chiropractor to bring KST to the greater Phoenix area, Dr. Daniel Secrest is proud to offer this comfortable, life-changing chiropractic treatment to the Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa communities. KST offers a unique therapy to patients who suffer from chronic pain due to an untreated traumatic injury sustained in the past. While the mind moves forward and the body, mechanically, tries to compensate for this injury, the musculoskeletal system is still physically damaged. This trauma, which may also impact internal organs and the endocrine system, which can lead to long-term health problems.

KST consists of three steps: Challenging, Checking and Correcting. The first step evaluates the entire body, Starting with the skull (head), to the spine and discs, ribs and down the legs to the feet, as well as the arms to the hands. The second step determines whether a body part is in proper position. If it is not, restoring proper alignment and re-training muscle memory is essential. Finally, a comfortable-yet very powerful-correction is achieved by using an FDA-approved activation instrument, called an ArthroStim.

During a KST session, you may be adjusted in a standing, sitting or "moving" position as well as the traditional chiropractic prone position. You may be surprised to hear Dr. Secrest ask you to “get in a position where you feel pain,” such as riding your motorcycle, playing your violin or simply bending, reaching or rising from your chair. The goal of these actions is to locate both current and past injuries or traumas. By specific skeletal correction and by unlocking painful muscle memories, he can retrain and properly align your musculoskeletal system.

KST is not a “quick fix” nor is it a “5-minute chiropractic adjustment.” Our chiropractor helps Scottsdale back pain patients heal their bodies by locating the underlying cause for their pain. For many chronic pain patients, this cause may be deeply locked within the body. Retraining muscle memory allows the body to physically release this trauma and finally heal.

If you suffer from chronic pain and traditional treatments have not succeeded, we may be able to help. Dr. Secrest understands that your pain is “not in your head,” but physically locked deep within your muscles.

Are you wondering if KST chiropractic is right for you? Post a question for Dr. Secrest below!

TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, pain occurs on either side of the face near the jaws and ear. The pain can cause headaches and affect the way your teeth bite together. Other problems include a jaw that locks when you open your mouth or a "popping" sound. Usually, people visit their dentist for TMJ treatment. You can also visit a chiropractor for help with TMJ pain, especially if you also suffer from back pain and neck pain.

 Causes of TMJ addressed by Chiropractic

TMJ pain and problems can occur if you suffer a trauma or blow. Other causes include poor posture or thrusting your head forward. Many people associate TMJ pain as a condition that is dental-related, but often times it is everyday practices such as slouching while watching television or in the car during long commutes to work that can be contributing factors. Secrest Family Chiropractic, PC, in Scottsdale, Arizona, can analyze the cause of your pain and come up with a method of treatment that is non-invasive.

Treatment Options

There are several options for dealing with TMJ. Scottsdale TMJ relief includes massage and realignment of the body. Trigger point massage, which focuses on knots that form in the muscles, resulting in pain, is one way your chiropractor can help alleviate pain caused by TMJ. The same procedure can help treat any neck or back pain you may suffer from, too. Massage may provide speedy relief from the pain you're experiencing. Some patients see improvement after only four sessions.

One other chiropractic adjustment that has been effective for TMJ patients is the Koren Specific Technique (KST). Dr. Dan Secrest has been the first chiropractor in the Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa areas to use this technique on patients. KST is an advanced chiropractic technique and involves a three part process that is comfortable, yet very powerful. During the adjustment, the chiropractor will ask you to move your body into positions that cause the pain, such as opening your mouth or clenching your jaw. A small adjustment to your cranial bones, jaw and spine can make a major change in the way your TMJ functions.  Results are frequently immediate or within 3-5 sessions.   

Dr. Secrest not only implements the KST technique in his own practice, but also is able to educate and guide other doctors across the country about this chiropractic application as a benefit to patients. He stands ready to help you overcome your own TMJ problems and awaits your call for an appointment.

Ask for a free consultation and move forward to a more comfortable life style today. 

480-994-4411

What is Brain Fog?

Brain fog can be defines as a state of mental confusion, detachment, and forgetfulness. That "fuzzy" feeling can be more than just a sign of aging or working too much. Brain fog can be the sign of variety of medical conditions and injuries, including damage to the butterfly-shaped bone in your head called the sphenoid.

What is the Sphenoid?

Located behind the eyes, the sphenoid is considered one of the most important bones in the skull because it touches almost all other bones in this area of the body. It is also important because of its joint with the occipital bone at the base of the head, a joint that acts to pump nutrients throughout the nervous system and remove waste. This joint also plays a critical role in maintaining a healthy immune system. If this delicate juncture is misaligned, it can cause a myriad of health issues, including headaches, TMJ, and neck pain.

Brain Fog and Chiropractic Care

If you're suffering from brain fog, you don't have to resign yourself to a lifetime of confusion. Our experienced chiropractor can use a variety of realignments, including the Koren Specific Technique (KST) to help ease these symptoms. In fact, our Dr. Secrest was the first chiropractor in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Mesa area to use this procedure.

KST and Brain Fog

KST is a three-step procedure that involves first examining your entire skeletal system from your skull to your legs. The second step is checking to see if everything is in alignment, and the third step is to correct any misalignments that may be causing your confusion and back pain. This procedure is not a quick, three-minute fix. Our chiropractor will take as much time as necessary to find the root of your problem. Secrest Family Chiropractic helps patients in the Tempe, Mesa and central Arizona area overcome brain fog safely and painlessly.

The chiropractic technique, KST, can also be used to ease the pain of TMJ, fibromyalgia, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, headaches, and other ailments.

Are you a Scottsdale or Tempe area resident who has had a recent problem with brain fog? Have you found a healthy way to resolve this condition, either with or without a doctor's assistance?