David Perna, D.C.

Pathoanatomy and Management Options Understanding the Upper Cervical Spine        The strict definition of migraine headache is (8):The headache must last 4 to 72 hours.The headache must be associated with nausea and/or vomiting, or photophobia, and/or phonophobia.The headache must be characterized by 2 of the following 4 symptoms:unilateral locationthrobbing pulsatile qualitymoderate or worse degree of severityintensified by routine physical [..]

Last month, we reviewed the #1-5 of “10 facts” that you should know about whiplash. Here are #6-10! 6. “Rest = rust” when it comes to whiplash: When we hurt, we often instinctively choose rest over activity, as we may be afraid that any activity will make the pain worse. But after just a few [..]

Fibromyalgia (FM) management requires a multi-dimensional approach, of which nutrition plays a BIG role. Last month, we discussed the importance of keeping an accurate food journal and grading the reaction that certain foods, vitamins, herbs, etc. have on you. This month, let's discuss the nutritional use of probiotics.Probiotics can be defined as the “good guy,” [..]

While carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is usually characterized as a repetitive stress injury, it can also be caused by pregnancy. In fact, CTS is a common complaint among pregnant women due to an increase in fluid build-up in the tissues, including those in the forearms and wrist. Edema is the technical term for fluid build-up, [..]

People of all ages suffer from neck pain, and many frequently turn to chiropractors for care because it's been found to be one of the most effective and efficient forms of treatment available, and it carries minimal side effects! It has been projected that by 2030, nearly one in five residents in the United States [..]

Low back pain (LBP) is so common that if you haven’t had it by now, you will! Let’s take a look at some the possible causes of LBP and what we might be able to do when LBP strikes. Typically, younger individuals are NOT immune to LBP. In fact, those between 30-60 years of age [..]

Pain is an Electrical Signal Interpreted by the Brain Nerves Bring the Pain Electrical Signal to the BrainThe nerves that bring the pain electrical signal to the brain begin in the various tissues of the body. At the very beginning of the nerve there is a specialized ending call a receptor. The receptor is unique in [..]

Traditionally, chiropractic care is associated with treating back and neck pain, as well as other orthopedic conditions involving the arms and legs. However, there is a growing amount of research that chiropractic care can also help many non-musculoskeletal conditions. What, if any, benefits does chiropractic offer for patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? Let’s take a [..]

There have been many statements made about whiplash that are either totally or partially false. Let’s take a look at some of the “FACTS.” 1. Pain is NOT the only symptom: Although neck and/or shoulder area pain is the most common symptom associated with a whiplash injury, look for other symptoms such as (but not [..]

For many sufferers, fibromyalgia (FM) is equivalent to fatigue and muscle pain. Though there are MANY symptoms associated with FM, these two are standouts! Last month, we discussed the importance of exercise (particularly walking), and prior topics have focused on the need for a multi-modal treatment plan that is individualized for YOU. Coordinate your dietary [..]

In part one, we cited three primary goals of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) management that include the following: 1) physical management strategies; 2) chemical management strategies; and 3) self-management strategies. All three goals include a component that doctors of chiropractic control AND (most important) a component that you the patient controls. We will continue this [..]

When you have neck pain, do you instinctively reach for that bottle of ibuprofen or acetaminophen? If so, is that the best option? Who can we trust for the answer? Since between 10-20% of the population suffer from chronic or persistent neck pain, this is a VERY IMPORTANT question! If we look at the literature [..]