Does my baby have an oral tie?

Does my baby have an oral tie?

You may be asking yourself this question if your baby is having trouble latching on to breastfeed.  There are many factors to consider when breastfeeding becomes an issue, oral ties being one of them. If you feel your baby may have a lip or tongue tie that is affecting their ability to latch on, listen to your motherly instinct and find a provider that can help you troubleshoot the issue.

The two common oral ties are:

• Lip tie-  when the tissue connecting the lip to gum line is too short and tight

• Tongue tie- the tissue under the tongue is also tight and can cause issues with the tongues range of motion

Things to Look Out for:

• Excessive gas and burping

• Releasing their latch frequently during feeding

• Pain while nursing

• Hard time gaining weight

• Excessive hiccups

• Does not hold on to a pacifier

• Baby chomps on the breast/nipple/bottle

• Clicking while feeding

• Milk drooling from side of mouth

• Tongue doesn’t have wide range of motion

Who Can Help:

• Lactation Consultant- Can help asses the issues and symptoms you are experiencing while providing helpful tips/support

• Pediatric Dentist- Can release the tie through laser therapy

• Chiropractor- We provide support before and after oral tie revisions to ensure better recovery, oral and cranial work to release tension regardless of revision

When you schedule your baby’s first visit with us one of the things we do during that initial exam is asses their oral structure, cranium and full spine. We can help you identify whether or not your baby has a tie and what you can do to support them. A lot of times doctors pressure parents into getting a laser procedure done without any therapy, we like to take a chiropractic approach and try to release tension in the mouth with routine adjustments and therapy. We prefer this gentle approach however, if a revision is deemed necessary we can connect you to some of our most trusted providers.

Pediatric Chiropractic Care

Think about taking your child to their first dentist appointment at the age of 46, how would their teeth look? What if you waited this long to take your child to the chiropractor? How many issues could be avoided throughout their childhood just by seeing a chiropractor. Starting your child off early with chiropractic care is a sure way to help your child thrive.

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic comes from the greek words “praxis” and “cheir” meaning to practice or treat using your hands.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.

Why do kids need chiropractic?

The first year of a child’s life is the most critical. Babies are going through many different stages, from delivery to breastfeeding, rolling over, crawling and all the way up until they can walk. With all of these changes it’s important that the spine is aligned to help children to reach their milestones on time, if not earlier. At our office, we see babies with latching difficulties, lack of sleep, lack of or slow bowel movements, reflux or torticollis. And a lot of the times, we see kiddos with no complaints, who come in for wellness visits to make sure they’re hitting their milestones. The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association initiated a groundbreaking study on the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic care for children. The preliminary results are outstanding and show that chiropractic care is safe for children. Even more significant is that parents reported three unexpected improvements with their child’s care:
Improved sleeping
Improved behavior and attitude
Improved immune system function

What does chiropractic care involve?

A pediatric session would start with a consultation which goes over any past medical history, issues/difficulties, diet, and physical activity. You will also review any nutritional supplements you or your child may take, eating habits and diet, as nutrition is an important part of a healthy child. Then next step is the exam portion, Dr. Ashtiani will be looking to check for things such as primitive reflexes and depending on the child’s age, and gait analysis. Depending on the child’s age, corrective/strengthening exercises will be given in office to work on muscular imbalance and parents will be given homework to do with their little ones. The next step is the adjustment, any of the following techniques could be used:

Craniosacral Therapy
Logan Technique
Activator
Top three things to take home from the first session typically include: strengthening/corrective exercises, diet changes and/or incorporation of nutritional supplements, and the parents looking for subtle changes from visit to visit (if the child had any complaints).

Does it hurt?

Not at all! With pediatric care, we apply a gentle touch, any pressure is equivalent to you feeling a tomato at the grocery store.

How long does it take?

After the initial visit, any follow up appointments can range anywhere from 10-15 minutes.

Is it safe?

Yes! They key to safety in pediatric chiropractic is education. Dr. Ashtiani is trained by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. She has taken more than 200+ hours including the following courses:

Perinatal Care with Webster Certification
Cranial Eval & Adjusting Protocols for the Infant and Child
The Essentials of Chiropractic: Adjusting the Infant and Education in the Perinatal Period

How can I tell if my child’s spine isn’t in alignment?

Some signs to look for are:
Disrupted sleeping patterns
Breastfeeding/latching difficulties
One shoulder higher than the other
Colicy babies
Tummy troubles

Getting to the Point With Acupuncture

What Is Acupuncture? 
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine practice that originated thousands of years ago. It is based on the premise that a blockage or disturbance in the flow of the body’s life energy, or “qi,” can cause health issues. Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and to improve functioning. This is done by inserting “hair like” needles and applying heat or electrical stimulation at very precise acupuncture points to balance the body’s energy, stimulate healing, and promote relaxation.
 

Uses of Acupuncture
Acupuncture is said to be useful in addressing a variety of health conditions, including:
Arthritis
Chronic Pain
Insomnia
Migraines
Low back pain
Nausea
Sciatica
Sinus congestion
Stress and anxiety
Tinnitus

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The number of treatments needed differs from person to person. For complex or long-standing conditions, one or two treatments a week for several months may be recommended. For acute problems, usually fewer visits are required.

Does Acupuncture Really Work?

Yes. In the past 2,000 years, more people have been successfully treated with acupuncture than with all other health modalities combined. Today acupuncture is practiced widely in Asia, the Soviet Union, and in Europe. It is now being used more and more in America by patients and physicians. Acupuncture treatments can be given at the same time other techniques are being used, such as conventional Western medicine, osteopathic or chiropractic adjustments. It is important that your physician-acupuncturist know everything that you are doing, so he or she can help you get the most benefit from all your treatments.

Take it from one of our patients!

Colleen has been coming since October of 2018, for issues with her lower back and elbow pain. Colleen started off with doing our Graston therapy technique. She felt that although the “graston was good, and it made the tissue around her elbow heal, she wasn’t getting the deep relief she needed.” Here at Essence we provide a wide variety of treatments and can tailor individual treatment plans to each and every individual. Dr. Ashtiani then recommended for her to try acupuncture and at first Colleen was hesitant but agreed, she felt Dr. Ashtiani knew just what she was doing. After her first treatment Colleen stated “I immediately felt a difference, as the week went on I continued to feel results. My muscles detensifying, I don’t know if that’s a word but that’s what it felt like. ” Colleen had tried acupuncture once at another office, although it did not help. She stated that as a intense person acupuncture gets her to relax. Colleen now makes her acupuncture appointments a regular thing and loves coming in to feel some relief.

Back Pain is No Joke

Back pain slowing you down from playing with your kids? Or doing your regular workouts? Or doing any outdoor activities?

Here are some causes of back pain:

• Joint Inflammation- facet joint pain can cause a lot of discomfort when bending backwards or to the side. This inflammation is seen from arthritis and other bone conditions or quick and awkward movements. This pain does not radiate (travel) down the legs, it stays pretty localized. 

• Bone- the pain can be coming directly from the vertebrae themselves. The vertebrae are the bones that make up your spine. These bones are like any other bone in your body. Meaning they can also have some of the same conditions like a fracture or bone disease. Bone diseases can be seen with a X-ray, DEXA scan or blood test. 

• Osteoarthritis (OA)- what typically causes this is overuse of the joint from over the years or repetetive movements. OA can have the some of the same symptoms as joint pain. Most people report that they wake up in the morning with a stiff back. If this condition gets worse, it can lead to more serious conditions like spinal canal stenosis where the spinal cord and nerves are affected. 

• Nerve Root Compression- when most people think of this condition, they think of "sciatica." The sciatic nerve is one of the many nerves thats in your low back, however its not the only nerve. Nerve root compression is when one or more of the nerves in your spine is being pressed on. Most people report the sensation as an electric type of pain. A few conditions can lead to the nerve root compression, but one of the most common ones is a disc herniation. 

• Disc- The disc is the squishy substance between your vertebrae. It helps the spine and gives it support. I like using the donut analogy. The disc resembels the jelly. When you squeeze the donut, the jelly comes out from the sides. Now when theres too much pressure on the spine, smilar thing can happen with the disc. It can be pushed at different angles. This can be caused from a variety of things like a car accident, falling off of a ladder, or a football tackle. When the disc is compressed it can put pressure on the nerves  which can give you sharp, shooting, radiating pain going down your buttock and possibly leg. This condition can also cause numbness, weakness and tingling sensation of the legs and feet. 

• Systemic- There are lots of organs around your spine including the ones in the pelvis and stomach which can all refer to your low back. Some of these organs include: pancreas, appendix, ovaries and or kidneys. 

• Muscle & Ligament- This is by far one of the most common reasons of low back pain that we see in our office. The cause can be as simple as you picking up your child from their bed, or getting the grocery bags from the car, or cutting the grass. The muscles and ligament can get hurt by a sudden movement where the muscles are tight. Your ligaments help support the bones and joints by controlling the movements and stability to where they attach to. Your muscles support your spine by staying tight so that the joint doesnt have to work as hard. A big issue we see in our office is a weak core. Most people have a tendency to rely on their back to do all the heavy work. But in reality we need to focus on our core and buttocks and legs to take pressure off of our low back. 

Here are some exercises that we like:

• Cat/Cow: get on all fours (hands and knees), make sure your hands are directly under your shoulder and your knees are under your hips. Point your fingers towrads the front of your mat. Place your shins and knees hip-width apart. Center your head in a neutral position and soften your gaze downward. Begin by moving into Cow Pose: Inhale as you drop your belly towards the mat. Lift your chin and chest, and gaze up toward the ceiling. Broaden across your shoulder blades and draw your shoulders away from your ears. Next, move into Cat Pose: As you exhale, draw your belly to your spine and round your back toward the ceiling. The pose should look like a cat stretching its back. Release the crown of your head toward the floor, but don't force your chin to your chest. Inhale, coming back into Cow Pose, and then exhale as you return to Cat Pose.

  • Repeat 5-20 times, and then rest by sitting back on your heels with your torso upright.

• Bridge: Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Extend your arms along the floor, palms flat. Press your feet and arms firmly into the floor. Exhale as you lift your hips toward the ceiling. Draw your tailbone toward your pubic bone, holding your buttocks off the floor. Do not squeeze your glutes or flex your buttocks. Roll your shoulders back and underneath your body. Clasp your hands and extend your arms along the floor beneath your pelvis. Straighten your arms as much as possible, pressing your forearms into the mat. Reach your knuckles toward your heels. Keep your thighs and feet parallel — do not roll to the outer edges of your feet or let your knees drop together. Press your weight evenly across all four corners of both feet. Lengthen your tailbone toward the backs of your knees. Hold for up to one minute. To release, unclasp your hands and place them palms-down alongside your body. Exhale as you slowly roll your spine along the floor, vertebra by vertebra. Allow your knees to drop together.

• Back extension: Lie on your stomach, facedown, arms straight out in front of you, palms down, and legs straight out behind you. Pull your abs in, as if you’re trying to create a small space between your stomach and the floor. Lift your left arm and right leg about one inch off the floor, and stretch out as much as you can. Hold this position for five slow counts and then lower your arm and leg back down. Repeat the same move with your right arm and left leg. Continue alternating sides until you complete the set.

• Opposite arm/opposite leg raises: Primary muscles worked: shoulders, gluteal muscles, hamstrings, and stabilization from abdominals (stomach) and lower back. Starting position: Place both hands and knees on the floor with your arms and thighs parallel to each other and perpendicular to the floor. Your knees should be directly under your hips, and your hands should be directly under your shoulders. Keep your elbows soft, not locked. Your head should be in line with the spine, face toward the floor. Your back should be straight but with your natural arch in the lower back. Action: Lift your right arm and left leg slowly off the floor and extend them straight out, so that your leg, back, and arm are roughly in one line. Slowly return to the starting position. Either repeat the exercise all on one side, then the other, or alternate sides as you go.

  • Tips:

    • Do not allow your abdominals to relax and your back to sag.

    • Do not lift your arm and leg excessively high.

    • Stretch as far as possible from your toes to your fingertips.

• Childs pose: Begin on your hands and knees. Center your breath, and begin to let your thoughts slow down. Turn your awareness inward. Spread your knees wide apart while keeping your big toes touching. Rest your buttocks on your heels. Those with very tight hips can keep their knees and thighs together. Sit up straight and lengthen your spine up through the crown of your head. On an exhalation, bow forward, draping your torso between your thighs. Your heart and chest should rest between or on top of your thighs. Allow your forehead to come to the floor. Keep your arms long and extended, palms facing down. Press back slightly with your hands to keep your buttocks in contact with your heels. Lengthen from your hips to your armpits, and then extend even further through your fingertips. For deeper relaxation, bring your arms back to rest alongside your thighs with your palms facing up. Completely relax your elbows. Let your upper back broaden. Soften and relax your lower back. Allow all tension in your shoulders, arms, and neck to drain away. Keep your gaze drawn inward with your eyes closed. Hold for up to a minute or longer, breathing softly. To release the pose, gently use your hands to walk your torso upright to sit back on your heels.

What we do at our office to help:

• Acupuncture or Dry needling: Depending on the condition, at our office we like to combine acupuncture and dry needling with electrical stimulation. 

  Acupuncture involves the insertion of very thin needles through your skin at strategic points on your body. A key component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture is most commonly used to treat pain. Increasingly, it is being used for overall wellness, including stress management. Traditional Chinese medicine explains acupuncture as a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as chi or qi (chee) — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body. By inserting needles into specific points along these meridians, acupuncture practitioners believe that your energy flow will re-balance. In contrast, many Western practitioners view the acupuncture points as places to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue. Some believe that this stimulation boosts your body's natural painkillers.

• Graston Therapy: You've seen the crazy metal tools on our social media or website!  The Graston Technique is essentially a type of therapy that uses instruments to assist in the mobilization of soft tissues of the body. It is a very popular technique that gives patients a great deal of relief.

  The Graston Technique works by breaking down scar tissue and fascia restrictions that are created by trauma to the soft tissue. This can be the result of strained muscles or pulled tendons. It also reduces restrictions by elongating connective tissue. This effectively changes the structure of the tissue in order to improve function. Although its not a comfortable treatment, it does release a lot of muscle tension! 

• Myofascial Acoustic Compression Therapy: The source of pain is not always found in the area where the pain seems to be radiating from. This is clinically called referred pain. The distancing of the pain sensation from its source can make treatment more difficult. Diagnosis of referred pain and the recognition of the originating pain triggering points can be accomplished using the PiezoWave. Abnormal musculoskeletal tissue can be “flared” with focused MyACT in order to define the areas that require treatment. This process of defining the origins of pain is guided by the patient through verbal feedback to the healthcare professional providing the treatment. MyACT uses sound waves to break-up any scar tissue buildup. The treatment can be a bit uncomfortable but it doesnt have any lingering discomfort. 

Sources: Mayo Clinic, Ferri's Clinical Advisor, Symptom to Diagnosis 

Dry Needling vs Acupuncture

What’s the difference between dry needling and acupuncture?

When looking at the two side by side they almost look similar. Both acupuncture and dry needling use thin stainless steel needles that are inserted into the skin. Both also claim to treat pain. Other than those similarities dry needling and acupuncture are very different. Knowing the difference between the two can help you decide which type of treatment is right for you.

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a modern treatment made to ease muscular pain. It is based on Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles. During dry needling, several thin stainless steel needles are inserted into your skin. Because the needles do not inject any fluid into your body, the term “dry” needling was given. The needles are placed in “trigger points” within your muscle or tissue. These points are usually areas of knotted or hard muscle. The needles are sometimes gently manipulated and removed after a short period. The process may be repeated several times.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a treatment based on traditional chinese medicine that’s been used for thousands of years. Acupuncture originated in Asian medical practices and sometimes uses the term “oriental medicine.” Needles are inserted into established meridian points on the body and are left in for some time. Acupuncture addresses the flow of energy around the body and vital organs and are intended to create balance within the bodily system.

What are the benefits?

• Dry needling

Dry needling may provide relief for some muscular pain and stiffness. In addition, easing the trigger points may improve flexibility and increase range of motion. That’s why this method is often used to treat sports injuries, muscle pain, and even fibromyalgia pain.

• Acupuncture

The fundamental belief of acupuncture is that illness is the result of blocked or interrupted chi. Chi provides your body with healing energy. Acupuncture seeks to remove these blockages and return your energy flow to a state of balance.Acupuncture is used to treat hundreds of conditions and symptoms, including:

• pain
  nausea
  vomiting
  headache
  menstrual cramps

So which one should I choose?

The bottom line is if you’re weighing acupuncture or dry needling as a treatment option, the choice may come down to a matter of preference. Dr. Ashtiani is always willing to speak with you about the treatment if you are interested. Another option could be adding it on to your treatment whether that be graston or just an adjustment!

Debugging Chiropractic Myths

With social media all around us as well as our friends and families opinions we all have heard that going to the chiropractor “is bad for your bones” or the common “what if they break something?” Chiropractors are not as scary as they look or seem, especially Dr. Ashtiani! Chiropractors do just the opposite of breaking your body, they really help put it all back together. Below are 5 common chiropractor myths that need debugging.

1. Getting an adjustment hurts
While some people call chiropractors “bonecrushers”, this is just a myth. Many people experience great relief after receiving an adjustment. When your body is aligned the rest of your body can properly do its job! Children and some adults are sometimes nervous when it comes to receiving an adjustment, but there is nothing to be concerned about. Before Dr. Ashtiani does anything to you or your body she clearly explains what she is going to do, where she will be placing her hands, and makes you feel as relaxed as possible. You have to understand that a chiropractor understands the skeletal and muscular system in a way that allows them to find the source of problems and make adjustments to correct and alleviate any pain you might have. Also, Dr. Ashtiani uses a variety of techniques to aid in the adjustment, so if hearing a pop scares you, fear not…she has plenty of other techniques that she can use that are safe and effective!

2. Once I start, I’ll be going forever
This isn’t true! Now can you come to us forever? Sure! We would love to see you, but most of the time theres no need for you to be coming in multiple times during the week or even weekly. Depending on the care that you need and what Dr. Ashtiani recommends we usually see our wellness patients once a month. Now with that being said, everyone comes into our office for a different condition so its important to know that what is recommended for one person may not be whats needed for you. Acute or chronic injuries do require more visits. Also taking the time to listen to your body is so important, if your body says that you need the extra care don’t wait till your next appointment, getting in front of your wellness is priority.

3. It’s expensive
When compared to most visits to the doctor’s office, chiropractic care is actually less expensive. Considering long-term treatment plans that can involve medication, surgery, or intensive physical therapy, chiropractic care can often provide a less expensive, natural, healthy alternative. Its always cheaper to take care of your body when you’re healthy compared to waiting until you need major medical interventions involved. Although we do not take insurance we do accept HSA/FSA and can provide you with a superbill which can be turned into your insurance for a possible refund.

4. Chiropractors are not real doctors
There is a common misconception that chiropractors are less qualified and under educated than medical doctors. Chiropractors attend 4 years of undergraduate school and go on to receive their doctorate after another 4 to 5 years of studies. They must also pass State and National board certifications to become licensed. Dr. Ashtiani graduated from UTSA with her Bachelors in Biology and Masters in Health Promotion. She continued her academics to pursue a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Texas Chiropractic College in Houston, Texas. She also gained 200+ hours of experience in both the Webster Technique and from the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics.

5. It’s only for adults
NO! Many of our patients that come to see us are under the age of 2! Many children, including infants and toddlers can benefit greatly from chiropractic care. Some studies reveal a 80-90% reduction in colic with 1 treatment. Bring your little one to the chiropractor is like taking them to the dentist, everyone should go. Their growing bodies need just as much care as yours!