Joel P. Carmichael, DC, DACBSP President of The Center for Spine Pain® and Wellness

Our team... our family

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Volume

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Issue June

2009

Health Coach The Center for Spine Pain & Wellness

EDITOR

FOCUS THIS ISSUE:

Team or family? Joel P. Carmichael, DC, DACBSP

May 17th came and went. It gave me pause for reflection because it was 10 years ago on that date that Dr. Hang Nguyen joined me in clinical practice. Is it possible that 10 years passed by so quickly? Does the fact that it seemed to pass so quickly simply betray the fact that I’m getting “older” and now part of that generation that regularly laments the curious acceleration of the passage of time? Dr. Nguyen and I met on campus of the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and later she came to Denver as a Clinical Sciences Resident. Dr. Nguyen’s chiropractic clinical rotations were with our clinic. She was also actively involved in surgical and diagnostic imaging rotations during that time. What I remember most about this time was her hungry pursuit of knowledge, her professionalism and her disciplined, focused work ethic. It was clear that she knew that her residency experience would define who she would become in active private practice. The more knowledge she could glean in residency, the fewer limits she would encounter in her ability to help her future patients. Having had the privilege to practice with and learn from Dr. Nguyen as a colleague for 10 years, I regularly get to observe the fruits of her training by the clinical results she obtains, and by the lasting relationships with patients she has built. I feel very grateful and very blessed that Dr. Nguyen is a key leader of our Center for Spine Pain & Wellness team! And that is what this issue of the HealthCoach is about: Team. What began as a single practitioner clinic with one receptionist on February 13, 1988 has grown into a multidiscipline,

Trusted. Preferred. Experts.

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Health Coach The Center for Spine Pain & Wellness

So what’s a Naturopath anyway? Jason Barker, ND

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Volume Issue June 2009

As a Naturopathic doctor (ND) I am trained as a general practitioner, meaning I can be the first doctor a person would see for a medical problem. I perform physical exams and can order any lab work required such as blood tests or imaging. I also perform other more cutting-edge medical testing that regular doctors don’t do, such as testing for salivary hormones and blood for food allergies. Naturopathic doctors are trained as ‘holistic’ practitioners, meaning we look at the entire body when evaluating a problem. This approach is based on wellness & prevention rather than the typical ‘symptom’ treatment approach, where only a person’s symptoms are medicated and not much is done to address their true cause. For example, a person that gets many colds each year does not have an antibiotic deficiency; rather they may have suboptimal nutrition and immune function; nor does a person with pain have an ibuprofen deficiency! NDs are considered the nation's leading experts in natural medicine and natural health care. We are trained to treat you, not just your symptoms. I work to find out what is wrong, and then correct it using natural medicines, rather than a bunch of drugs that don’t cure the original problem and eventually leads to more drugs. Nearly all health conditions can benefit from naturopathic medical care. So, if you are tired of feeling ill and you are sick of the “pill and a bill” routine, a naturopathic approach to your health might be the answer you are looking for. Dr. Barker is available for complimentary 15 minute consultations at both CSP clinic locations. For more information visit www.drjasonbarker.com or www.center4spine.com

Naturopathic doctors are trained as “holistic” practitioners, meaning we look at the entire body when evaluating a problem.

Why I chose sports medicine Jon Seeman, DC Well, where do I start? I am one who loves to be around people and having fun. I enjoy all types of outdoors activities and sports. My son just started to learn how to play baseball and soccer and we love to go outside for some great fun together. I also love to bring sports into my chiropractic practice. I have already had many opportunities to be around some of the best doctors in sports medicine and implement what I have learned into my practice.

www.Center4Spine.com 303.382.3616

Athletes are wonderful to treat because they have a drive to get better and continue striving for improvement. I rarely worry about an athlete of any type not following a treatment plan. I find it enjoyable to treat those who exercise, play sports, or are physically active. These patients generally have many factors that contribute to their problems. It is essential to pay close attention to the type of activity the patient is performing and the biomechanics involved. Just because someone has hip pain does not mean that the problem is in the hip. Many times it could be the knees or the patient’s gait that are affecting the hip. It is complicated conditions like this that make my job fun. Continued on page 5

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Health Coach The Center for Spine Pain & Wellness

Team or family? (cont’d from page 1) Continued from page 1

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Volume Issue June 2009

multispecialty health and wellness practice with 17 team members often serving the needs of over 100 people in a given day at our 2 clinic locations. Another key member of our team, Bev Hall, will also celebrate her 10 year anniversary with us later this year. Bev loves what she does (and so do we!), brings a special brand of humor to our staff, and has kept our clinic on course with excellent problem-solving skills and mid-western common sense. Early next year Rhonda Hurley will be recognized for her 10 years of service at CSP & W. Everyone who’s ever been to our Greenwood Village office knows Rhonda. And you KNOW that Rhonda knows you too! Rhonda leads our patient care support staff and personifies our mission and passion to faithfully serve others with gladness of heart and with skill. Then there’s Lori, and Jayne – two of our massage therapists who have a combined total of nearly 25 years of service at CSP & W. They are mature, cheerful, highly skilled practitioners of the art of massage, PUSH, and craniosacral therapies. In many cases it has been their participation in our treatment plans with patients that have made the key difference or produced that essential change that led to full recovery. Are you getting the picture? While I could boast of our clinical outcomes, the lives we’ve restored, the relief we have brought to those who suffer, and a myriad of other clinical services and results we’ve obtained through the years, there is something a bit more – below the surface – at The Center for Spine Pain & Wellness. We are a family. When you enter our clinics, the reason it feels so good is that the people who are serving you love each other, enjoy each other’s company, and are drinking the same Koolaid. That Koolaid is this: a passion to serve others and to derive joy in doing so. Our patients regularly comment about the uniquely positive atmosphere in our clinic. Sure we have stressful days and we are, to be sure, 100% human and error-prone at times. But the main thing is unshakable: we are a team, and we are a family. We have chosen to stick together and work together because of the great feeling it is to produce the results we produce in the company of those we care about. Space does not allow me to tell you in detail about the contribution of those not hovering around a decade of service – but they are equally vital and important to our clinic family: Barb Stevenson, Sara Pavone, Dr. Jon Seeman, Dr. Jason Barker, Morgan Shroeder and Amy Gleaves, Barb Divver, Susan Tobin, Dr. Phil Sarver, Sue Wheeler, and Melanie Bennett. Some of the providers on our team have written a description of their services in this issue to give you a more complete peek at our family! By now, if you’ve read this far, you can understand my personal take on this whole thing: I don’t deserve these people. How did I get to be so blessed by them? It has been, for me, the crowning satisfaction of my professional career: to be part of this family. And I hope you, our patient, have discovered the magic here in our clinics. If you’re new to us, stay tuned. It’s only a matter of time! We are a very good place to be for your health care!

Dr. Philip Sarver

www.Center4Spine.com 303.382.3616

It’s a pleasure to meet you! I am Dr. Philip Sarver D.C., I have been working at the Center for Spine pain since October, 2009. After high school I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps for four years of active duty. While in the Corps I received numerous awards for running first class physical fitness tests. After being honorably discharged I attended Colorado State University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in Health and Exercise Science. While at CSU I was a certified personal trainer for four years at the student recreational center. I became proficient at developing training programs for my clients to meet their personal goals. During my time at CSU I decided I wanted to become a doctor of chiropractic. I realized that chiropractic is not only concerned with helping patients with Continued on page 6

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Health Coach The Center for Spine Pain & Wellness

www.Center4Spine.com 303.382.3616

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My experience with a headache specialist Hang T. Nguyen, DC, DABCO

Volume Issue June 2009

The best and most important things I learned in school weren’t in the books. During the course of my studies to become a chiropractor, I accumulated a small library of medical textbooks, articles and manuscripts. These written materials laid a rich foundation for the knowledge base required of me to have as a practitioner. Although these written documents were important, practical observation and hands-on experience gave more meaning to the written word and made my learning experiences even richer. This was evident in my experience with Dr. Egilius Spierings, a neurologist, pharmacologist and headache specialist in Boston Massachusetts. I had the privilege of observing Dr. Spierings in clinic for 6 weeks. During those six weeks, I observe Dr. Spierings interview many patients from various backgrounds, from day laborers to Harvard professors. Dr. Spierings sat at the patient’s level, engaged eye contact, actively listened to the patient and handwrote all his notes on lined notebook paper in a binder while consulting with the patient. Dr. Spiering’s patients generally had very long-standing and complex history of headaches. Following the history, I observed him perform a thorough examination of the patient. What impressed me most about his examination was the portion where he palpated the patient’s neck and shoulders. I remember him turning to me while examining a patient, saying “all headaches, regardless of the type have a musculoskeletal component.” A light bulb literally went off in my brain! As a chiropractor, I specialize in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system. If all headaches involve the musculoskeletal system, then how important is my role in the treatment of headaches? He went on to say, “chiropractors are the only practitioners who can influence the deep neck muscles in the neck that has a major influence on headaches.” I vividly remember this very moment 11 years ago that I decided to make headache my area of specialty. Dr. Spiering’s attentiveness, compassion and passion for his craft made an imprint in my educational experience. It was then that I realized actively listening, engaging the patient, showing compassion and having a passion for what you do is so essential in care of the patient no matter how complex the problem may be. Because of this experience, I thrive on complex cases and I apply this knowledge and experience not only to headache problems, but all cases that present before me. Dr. Spierings is a practitioner, a professor and a life-long learner and researcher. As he was one of my mentors, he had a mentor Dr. John Graham, who inspired him to specialize in the field of headache. Dr. Graham was known as the “father of headache.” He was instrumental in defining headache as a clinical entity and spearheaded research into the study of headache conditions. Dr. Spierings once reminisced about himself as an eager medical student following Dr. Graham around A young Dr. Spierings, left and his mentor like a sponge, soaking up the knowledge imparted Dr. John Graham, far right. by Dr. Graham. Dr. Spierings in turn imparted his knowledge and experience in the same way to me. I will never forget another remark Dr. Spierings made that further solidified my decision to make headache my area of specialization... “if headaches were diagnosed accurately in the first place, I wouldn’t exist as a headache specialist.” An accurate diagnosis is the first and most important aspect of providing appropriate and effective treatment and avoid unnecessary or detrimental care. I apply this principle not only to headache conditions, but all conditions with which patients present.

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Health Coach The Center for Spine Pain & Wellness

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Sports medicine (cont’d from page 2)

Volume Issue June 2009

A couple years ago I had the opportunity participate in a sports medicine internship with a Dr. Ted Forcum, DC, DACBSP. He recently participated as a lead doctor in Beijing China for the Summer Olympics. During this internship I had the chance to observe and help in the treatment of all types of athletes including volleyball players, baseball players, triathletes, football players, track & field, soccer players, and even extreme sport athletes. My observation of a very skilled doctor working with very complex conditions helped me to evolve into an even better sports medicine specialist. Now, does everyone need to be a professional athlete to receive such good care? No, of course they do not. I actually enjoy treating the everyday athlete because it is no different than treating a professional athlete. Injuries are the same at every athletic level. My goal is to learn from each of my patients to better my skills in order to to get them better and back to functioning as fast as possible. I have my best days when a patient says “Thanks!” I enjoy watching patients regain their quality of lives and be able to be active, whether is it taking a simple walk to running their first 5K run or their first triathlon. It’s our patients that keep me going!!!! Thanks to all my patients. I have had the opportunity to know and treat, and I look forward to continuing my care for you and your loved ones!

My path into Chinese Medicine Sue Wheeler, Dipl.OM My Path into Chinese Medicine... While out doing an early-morning ride before work several years ago, I was struck by an automobile. Although I did not suffer any broken bones, I had a great deal of soft-tissue damage in my hands and forearms, along with whiplash. I received chiropractic and massage therapy, but was not able to completely resolve the constant pain in my hands. I was encouraged to try acupuncture and was amazed with the results. After the first appointment, I was completely painfree the following day. After each consecutive acupuncture treatment, the pain subsided for longer and longer. I was hooked! After talking with my acupuncturist and reading books on Chinese Medicine, I began course work on a part-time basis while still working my day job as a database administrator and data modeler. After four years of study, I was ready to give up the old desk job and enter into the wonderful world of alternative medicine as a practitioner. I love the challenges brought to me every day; the joy of helping someone on their own road to recovery is greatly satisfying. Schooling and Credentials... I earned my Master Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Denver, Colorado. My schooling involved 2800 hours of practical and classroom study. Training included acupuncture theory and practicum, Chinese Medicine, western pathology and diagnosis, and other adjunct treatment modalities. In addition to my formal schooling, I have studied Five Element Acupuncture for 3 years under the tutelage of a personal mentor. I also have a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and extensive experience in database work. This past experience has provided me with the ability to diagnose and treat my patients with confidence. Some of my professional interests in the field of Chinese Medicine include musculo-skeletal issues, women's health, Five Element acupuncture, and Facial Rejuvination Acupuncture.

www.Center4Spine.com 303.382.3616

Treating Seasonal Allergies with Chinese Medicine... It's that time of year again in Continued on page 6

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Health Coach The Center for Spine Pain & Wellness

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Chinese Medicine (cont’d from page 5)

Volume Issue June 2009

Colorado: spring has suddenly sprung and with it comes a myriad of allergens floating in the wind. Allergy symptoms include runny or congested nasal passages, watery or itchy eyes, sore throat, itchy ears, swollen glands, headache, irritability, and fatigue. Unlike Western Medicine, which addresses the symptoms, Chinese Medicine addresses the symptoms and the underlying causative factors. Each patient is evaluated and treated on an individual basis. According to a study published in Allergy (2004;59:953–60), acupuncture and Chinese herbs can effectively treat seasonal allergies. When related to Chinese Medicine, these allergy symptoms involve the Lung and Spleen meridians. There is generally a disharmony or imbalance among these organ systems and meridians. The combination of acupuncture with Chinese herbs will help to bring balance, thus alleviating the symptoms. With follow-up treatments, the underlying disharmony can be addressed, making the patient less prone to allergies in the subsequent seasons. Let's review some basic Chinese medicine theory to help us understand the Lung and Spleen's involvement with allergies. One of the Lung's functions is to control the Protective or Wei Qi in our bodies. This Wei Qi is responsible for combating "evils" that attempt to enter our bodies, such as allergens. With a strong Wei Qi, we are able to fight off these evils and maintain health. If our Wei Qi is weak, it is easier to become ill. In the 5 phase cycle, the Spleen, part of the Earth element, is the Mother of the Lung, part of the Metal element. Imagine as a child when your Mother was sick. She was unable to care for you properly and ensure that you had proper nutrients. This holds true in Chinese medicine as well. With a weak mother, or Spleen, the child, or Lung, is not nourished. What causes the Spleen to become weak? Well, there are many factors, but common causes include stress and a poor or unbalanced diet. That's where Chinese Medicine is so wonderful. Not only can acupuncture help with allergy symptoms, but Chinese herbs, diet and lifestyle adjustments all contribute to our balance and well-being. With the proper diet, exercise and acupuncture treatment, allergies can be greatly reduced and even eliminated entirely! Learn more about Chinese Medicine by checking out the website acupuncture.com. Better yet, come in for a visit! I have daily office hours at the newly expanded Highlands Ranch office. You will leave feeling refreshed, relaxed, and most importantly, on a new path to better health. Feel free to send me an email at [email protected]. A little about me... The outdoors is where my heart lives. I enjoy cycling, hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, photography, and travel. I earned my pilot's license, including my Instrument and Commercial ratings in a twin-engine aircraft. My home is filled with 2 dogs and 2 cats, who bring me joy every day.

Dr. Philip Sarver (cont’d from page 3) For more information or to schedule an appointment at our Denver Tech Center or Highlands Ranch location, please contact us at:

303.382.3616 or visit our webpage at

www.Center4Spine.com ©2009, The Center for Spine Pain®& Wellness All rights reserved.

pain, but it has a lot to do with the prevention of pain as well. By being proactive with one’s health care, following a balanced diet, participating in regular exercise, and seeing a chiropractor to ensure the nervous system is functioning properly many adverse health conditions and pain can be prevented. Still to this day I consider myself a very active and health conscious individual who likes to participate in many outdoor activities. So if you see me in the office or at the recreational centers feel free to come up to me and ask any of the questions you are concerned about. I would love to help you obtain your training goals as well. Have a healthy and safe summer! ****REMINDER**** We offer EVENING AND WEEKEND HOURS at our clinic in HIGHLANDS RANCH TOWN CENTER. • TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS -- open until 8:00 pm!! • SATURDAYS -- open 9:00 to 1:00 pm!! • EXTENDED HOURS SERVICES: Massage, Acupuncture, Chiropractic and Naturopathic Medicine

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