Tag: Womens Health

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Diagnosing pain.

Did you know that there is a diagnosis code for virtually every part of your body plus the word “pain.”

Low back pain M54.5
Pain in the Thoracic Spine M54.6
Pain in the left foot M76.672
Chronic Bladder Pain R39.82

There are also diagnosis codes for significantly more detailed problems. This is often the reason for the “pain” diagnosis. I can diagnose right facet joint arthritis, or cervical degeneration that causes radiculopathy. There is value in both forms of diagnosis.

When you, the patient, comes in, you usually tell me about how you’re feeling. This discussion revolves, most commonly, around your pain. I will dig around and ask some questions and let you tell me your story. At this point, I can easily diagnose you with your specific pain diagnosis. You come in with neck pain, and I can diagnose neck pain in about 3 minutes of meeting you.

In the next step, I get to dig around and find out if there is an even more specific diagnosis that explains the “pain” diagnosis. This is the part where I rule out the really serious diagnoses, like a broken bone or a torn ligament. It is the part that takes a lot longer, occasionally more than one visit sort of longer. This is the part where we will usually throw out the fancy words. “Hip Impingement” or “Arthritis.” (And occasionally these fancy words come with an even fancier test.)

Now here is the really tricky part. Getting rid of pain can be really easy. (Tylenol, Gabapentin, Codeine) But getting rid of the fancier word part, the actual cause… now that is a lot harder. Just like diagnosing it requires a deeper understanding by your doctor to name it, it also requires a deeper understanding by you, for you to heal it.

Notice I said “You” to heal it. I can help you get rid of the pain and understand what needs to be done to heal, but the longer term changes, that is going to take more than just coming to see me a few times and taking tylenol for a couple weeks. There is a good chance you’ll need to support your body with movement, nutrition, rest and time.

This is a process. I hope to teach you everything you need to learn to heal, but it takes time. It takes time for us to peel away the layers that got you into pain in the first place and it takes time to explain each new healing step as we reach it. It will take time for you to make the changes you need to stay out of pain.

As Always,
Keep Moving.

Dr Cate

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It is not what you do, it is WHY you do it.

This weekend I filled in another page on my websites. I got right to the point and stated what I did, and how it could help. This morning I got to the office and had a short break between patients. I was feeling more energetic than the spa music that is usually playing in my office so I decided to turn on a Ted Talk while I did my weekly organization.

I started (and ended) today with Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action. At the end of the talk I thought back to how pathetic my writing was this weekend for the website. I realized I described what I do with great fluency but I barely touched upon the “Why.”

So here are some Why’s of my office:

Its always your choice

Because I believe that women with “Unexplained Infertility” can have the joy of becoming pregnant and having healthy babies.
Because I believe that drugs and medications can be very harmful and that western medicine fails to adequately explain these negatives.
Because I want women to feel empowered by their decisions.
Because I feel that the act of placing my hands on someone can be very healing.
Because I want you to feel strong and capable in your own body.
Because feeling stuck in a cycle of disease isn’t a good way to live.
Because I want my support women through their journey so they can in turn support their families and friends and the world will slowly become a more loving place.

Yes, I’m a chiropractor and a Mercier Therapist. Yes, I adjust the spine and the pelvis and increase blood flow to the ovaries. But the “why” is so much more than that and i just wanted to share.

As always,
Keep Moving.
Dr Cate

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Mercier Therapy

A few months ago I took a training for something called “Mercier Therapy.” I could spend all day explaining in long dramatic prose about what it is and who would benefit. It turns out that sitting down to write and explain myself is not really my forte.

So I’m going to give a very brief overview and then borrow some links from other websites to help describe it in more detail until I write a longer discussion. Mercier Therapy is helpful for Pelvic Pain, Infertility, Painful Periods and other female anatomy related concerns.

Mercier therapy aims to change both the function and the negative associations. By manipulating the tissues, blood flow, scar tissue and pelvic tension are all addressed. The treatment begins with warming the tissues, evaluating your organ position, and ultimately, enhancing blood flow and function. As a Mercier therapist, my goal is to bring both a healthy awareness and healing cells to your pelvis through visceral manipulation.

Mercier Therapy is both an alternative and a complementary treatment for infertility. It is safe and natural. The main component is multiple, typically between 6 and 12, hands-on sessions lasting between 30 and 60 minutes. These sessions focus on the uterus, ovaries and their supporting structures. After a reproductive consultation we will decide if Mercier Therapy is a good fit for you.
In addition to the hands on Mercier Therapy treatment, we will discuss the most common nutritional and lifestyle alterations that need to be made. This can vary from things as simple as gratitude journals and stretching to things as complex as supplements, dietary changes and possibly bio identical hormones. The truth is, reproduction is complex. It takes time and a commitment to see changes.

Take a look at Dr Jennifer Mercier’s Website for details about the intensive training. After you peruse that you can look at her specific office website here and then hop over the AskDrSkip.com and check both the infertility section and his pelvic pain section.

I’ll do my best to get more information out about the treatment soon! If you’re looking for Mercier Therapy in Chapel Hill, NC or anywhere in the triangle, call call us to set up a consultation to chat.

As Always,
Keep Moving