Dr. J's E-Newsletter
All the news that's fit to print and some that is questionable.
 
The Personal Ramblings And Opinions Of Dr. J. Zimmerman
 
 
 
This Weeks Topics Include:
 
  • Dr. J's "outspoken, educative, important, yet short" Opinion
  • Announcements: Massage Day, Birthdays, Ireland, Patient of the Year Contest
  • Movie Reviews   
  • Fishing Report   
  • Chiropractic Quote of the Month
  • The Popular "E" Question of the Month ( With Prize Attached)
 
 
Dear Practice Member:
 
    How important is the vertebral subluxation to human health, performance and quality of life?  Please bear with me for a paragraph or two or three.  Your probably thinking, "Here he goes again, this is the same stuff we already know about, because all of his staff run us over with it every visit."   But wait, I have a different way for you to think about it.
 
    The subluxation between vertebra in the spine is important in one way and one way only.  It is a silent killer.  That's a strong statement.  When the bones in the spine subluxate (misalign), the muscles are stretched and out of balance.  This can cause aches, pain and restriction of movement.  But nobody has ever died from a sore neck or back.  When the bones of the spine subluxate they cause friction that degenerates and decays the bones.  We call this arthritis.  Arthritis, a permanenant damaging condition that should try and be avoided, for the most part is not life-threatening. 
 
    Here is the "killer" part.  The brain controls every single function in the body, the heart, the lungs, the circulatory system, digestion, immune function, body chemistry, everything.  When the vertebra subluxates, the nerve impulses from the brain out to the rest of the body, are disrupted.  This disruption or lack of communication from the brain to the tissue cells cause the body's organs or systems not to function properly and over time will lead to ill health.  Here is the "silent" part.  It takes at least 60% pressure or disruption on a nerve before you get a symptom to the organ or system that the nerve goes to.  That means that you could be walking around with 50% pressure on your nerves, decreased organ function and not even be aware of it.  Most diseases take 5-7 years for symptoms to develop.  If that is the case, subluxations could be contributing to disease and you would not even know it.  Thus, the Silent Killer.
 
    My personal story to make this real for you.  I am a chiropractor, so you would think I would know enough about chiropractic to keep my body functioning at 100%.  I have had stomach problems for about 8 or 9 years.  Nothing serious.  Gastric attacks that come on with stress, certain foods, alcoholic beverages or any ol time it would just feel like it. Now, I have had my spine checked once a week or sometimes every other week my entire life.  So, one would think my nervous system was healthy and everything was getting the proper amount of nerve flow to function properly.  You would think.  In July, I started getting adjusted everyday, which amounts to 4-5 adjustments per week.  It is the middle of September and I haven't had any stomach trouble since July and my lifestyle has not changed one bit.  I have had chronic nerve disruption to my stomach for 8 or 9 years, causing stomach problems.  I did not have back pain.  What if I left the nerve disruption in my spine another 10 years?  Whose to say I would not have developed an Ulcer or other serious problems.
 
    In today's society we spend the first 40 years of our life, risking our health to gain wealth.  We then spend the next 40 years spending our wealth to try and regain our health.  Why not just take care of ourselves from the start.  Weekly chiropractic adjustments contribute to your health.  Your health should be your greatest value.  Put money aside for things to make and keep you healthy, like good food, vitamins, gym memberships and chiropractic care.  We all know that we wouldn't think twice to give the orthodontist $6000.00 for braces for our children's teeth, yet nobody has ever died of crooked teeth.  Value the health of you and your family.  The bottom line is that is all we really have.  Sorry for the length, I got carried away.
 
Announcements:
 
Massage Day:  This Thursday in Brigantine.  9/19/02  9-12 and 3-6pm.
 
Birthday Celebration:  Other than Dr. Skip turning 40 this past Friday, Chiropractic is celebrating it's birthday on September 18th.  Born in 1895 in Davenport, Iowa  we will be having a chiropractic birthday part all day in Smithville on September 18th and in Brigantine on September 19th.  Come in and celebrate with us.
 
Patient of the Year Contest:  It's that time of the year again.  Write a short essay on chiropractic and you could be our 2002 Patient of the Year.  Win three months free chiropractic care and a $50.00 restaurant gift certificate.  Ask Donna and Elysa for forms.
 
The Ireland Project:  As you are aware, I have had a recent connection to chiropractic in Ireland.  An opportunity has presented itself that may have me being able to do some chiropractic work on the Emerald Isle.  We are working on a plan that would have me politically involved in helping Ireland stay true to it's chiropractic purpose and also have me be able to care for people with my chiropractic adjustments.  I will keep you posted as to how this project is progressing.
 
Movie Reviews:  Shallow Hal.  I thought this movie was going to be a low-brow comedy.  The kind I really like.  It turned out to be a love story. Yuk.    It was a good movie with obvious moral messages.  Funny too.  Showtime with Eddie Murphy and Robert Deniro was ok.  Murphy just doesn't seem to be as funny as he used to be, except for Shrek which was hilarious.  Showtime was enjoyable and had it's moments.  A good rental.  Collateral Damage with Arnold Schwarzenegger was a decent mindless action flick, once you got past the 9/11 similarities.  I enjoyed it.  It was violent and not for kids in my opinion.  What do you do on a rainy Labor Day when all of the movies have been rented out?  Don't rent Rat Race.  Now I know why it was the only movie not rented.  It sort of stunk.  The Road to Perdition with Tom Hanks was one of the best movies I saw this year.  Very violent, but a real good story.  The ending was not the feel good ending of the year, but it did redeem itself at the very, very end.  Speaking of great movies, Signs with Mel Gibson was fabulous.  A suspenseful movie that could inspire scary dreams in some people.  Ok, I had a nightmare the night I saw it.  Maybe it was something I ate.
 
Fishing Report:  I went out last Saturday for a couple of hours in the morning and got skunked.  The only good thing was while I was drifting through a rip, jigging a fin-s, I almost had my pole yanked right out of my hand. I didn't hook up, but  fin-s was slid down the jig.  It must have been a striper.  Which is exciting.  Skip and I are supposed to go to the Baltimore Canyon this Monday night for a tuna trip.  We hope the weather clears up as these trips are hard to get.
 
 
E-Poll Question:  What is the difference between a Subluxation and Cancer or Heart Disease?
Now, I want you to think about this question and come up with your answer.  The answer will be printed at the bottom of the page.  If you got the answer correct- e-mail me and I will have a real prize for you.  This is on the honor system, so only if you got the answer right, OK.
 
Chiropractic Quote Of The Month:  "Knowledge is knowing a fact, wisdom is knowing what  to  do with that fact."  ---BJ Palmer, the developer of chiropractic.
 
 
I know this was a long one, thanks to all who made it to the bottom without skimming.  If you have any questions concerns or facts, please do not hesitate to e-mail me.  it is nice to know you are out there.  See you in the office.
 
Dr. J.Z.