By Jordan Osborne, DC Stress, like pain, is a vital function of the body. Without pain, we'd burn our hands or walk on a broken foot. The stress response works the same way: it activates our "fight or flight" system (the sympathetic nervous system) to prepare us to fight for our lives or escape danger. That sudden surge of adrenaline, where you don't feel pain or seem to gain "superhuman strength," is a survival advantage. It's great for fending off a sasquatch, and less great for punching...

Presentation A patient came to Thompson Chiropractic Clinic with acute left shoulder pain and weakness following a fall onto an outstretched arm. Interestingly, the pain itself was relatively minor and had improved quickly within a few days, but notable bruising had developed under the left pec and across the left shoulder. Examination Several findings pointed strongly toward a serious injury. A palpable mass was present in the upper left quadrant of the chest, consistent with a retracted,...

A Patient in Pain A patient came to Thompson Chiropractic Clinic after two weeks of worsening low back pain that had progressed into something much harder to live with, sharp, radiating pain down one leg and into the foot, reaching a full 10 out of 10 at its worst. Pain medication wasn't touching it. Adding to the weight of the moment, this patient was also a cancer survivor, recently told they were in remission, a milestone that should have meant moving forward, not facing a new source of...