Dr. Chistee Lacy

Hello! Thank you for reaching out. Gout is a form of arthritis and occurs when there are high levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is a break down of purines (in short, which naturally occur in the body to assist with cell function). The problem is that when there is an increase of purines in the body there will be an increase in the amount of uric acid. The body can excrete and reabsorbs uric acid, but an over accumulation of uric acid, be it due to genetics or outside sources, causes this acid to crystallize and then deposit into joints, muscles, and surrounding tissues. When dealing with gout, you want to make sure that you follow up with your PCP and be sure to follow their given directives. To manage gout at home, I have the following recommendations. Now keep in mind that these are recommendations and not cures for your condition. First, make sure you are taking any prescribed med’s per your PCP’s order. ICE will be you best friend during flare ups. Now, if the flare up is unbearable, make sure that you seek out immediate medical attention. You always want to be proactive to prevent any possibility of severity of your condition. Drink plenty of fluids preferably water (alkaline). Alkaline water will help to bring a more alkaline state, which is a healing state for your body by flushing out acidity. If swelling is present, elevate your foot higher than your chest. If you are feeling pain when sleeping and you can’t stand for your sheets to touch you, then make sure that you bring your sheets to a level where the affected foot is able to breath. Avoid alcohol, red meats, and for that have nitrates. For fitness goals, isometric exercises would be best because there’s no motion of your joints. Also, make sure that you stretch your leg muscles before and after all activities. The following link has a few good stretches that I believe would help you: https://www.arthritis-health.com/treatment/exercise/knee-stretches

Hope this helps.

A Chiropractor’s focus is the nervous system. We work through the spine because it protects the nervous system. Every health practitioner knows that the brain controls everything in the body and it does so through the spinal cord and its extensions (i.e. nerves). Any disruptions of that communication from the brain to any portion of the body causes dysfunction. Those dysfunctions could be heart palpitations, HA’s, digestive issues, irregular menstrual cycles, etc. Back pain and neck pain are symptoms that there is a disruption of that flow of communication from the brain to the area that is signaling pain.

As a Chiropractor, I can promote mobility and function through exercise therapy, manual therapy, and electrotherapy. The aforementioned activities do assist in restoring function, but the ultimate source of restoring function is the chiropractic adjustment which puts your spine in alignment. No matter what I use as a therapy to help alleviate you of pain, to ensure your personal level of success I have to make sure that your spine is not compromised. Think about the alignment of your car. We all know that if you are in need of alignment, the symptoms you will experience are wear and tear of tires and your car veering to one side more than the other. When we notice these “symptoms” we can do one of two things: 1. Replace the tires or 2. Correct the misalignment. I believe that by going with option 2, it will save hundred of dollars because I am getting to the root of the problem.

Well, that’s what we do as Chiropractors. We can perform different modalities, but we get to the root of the problem and that’s the alignment of your spine. We look at the body as a whole and assist in the management of nutrition, physical therapy, and pain management. Now, I am in no way stating that Chiropractic cures all because it is my personal philosophy that every aspect of the medical spectrum has its purpose. Many Chiropractors practices are comprehensive and includes M.D.’s, Physical therapists, Orthopedic Surgeons, and Neurologists. What I am stating is that Chiropractic is the best non-invasive and healthy approach to injury prevention, restoring function and alleviating pain. We know that the body can heal itself and all we have to do is remove the interference that is preventing the healing process. Every case is different because we have to take account of past medical and social history, but overall the Practice of Chiropractic can assist you with many ailments. Find yourself the Chiropractor that’s right for you! I wish you well on your journey.

First, have you sought out medical attention to rule out any major underlying conditions? Chiropractors deal with the nervous system and the spine so we are a good choice when it comes to removing interference. Personally, I have seen situations similar to yours being treated by a Chiropractor. How Chiropractic can assist is once we have a clear medical history outlining what condition(s) your son is experiencing, we focus on restoring function through chiropractic adjustments, nutrition, proprioception training, mobility and performance training. Every case is different, so in my opinion, listing risks that may be associated can only be determined once his individual assessment is complete. I say that because what may be a risk for others may not be a risk for him. God Bless!

Hello, as you may already know Gout is a form of arthritis from the breakdown of purines into uric acid. The uric acid is then deposited into joints and surrounding muscles and tissues. Chiropractic can assist in the management of nutrition as well as the alignment of your spine. The importance of the alignment of your spine with this condition is the fact that you may have pain in the affected foot that can cause you to compensate when walking. This compensation pattern can cause you to begin to experience pain in other areas such as your legs and travel up your spine.

Now I must say, you need to seek out medical attention from your PCP to ensure there are no other underlying issues that may be causing the pain in your legs. Overall nutrition, proprioceptive training, mobility training and most importantly, the restoration of function to your nervous system can be provided by a Chiropractor. So find the Chiropractor that’s right for you and consult with them regarding the benefits they can provide as well as your concerns. Hope this helps...God Bless!

Hello! There are many articles on PUBmed regarding rib slipping and painful rib syndrome and all of them state that this can occur at any age. One article's abstract states that posture was a probable cause and once the posture was addressed, the symptoms were resolved. Another link states that it is an overlooked issue from persistent abdominal and chest pain. I have included the links to these articles below.

Now to answer your question, it is my medical opinion that your mom first follow up with her PCP to clear her of the possibility of any underlying conditions and once she has been cleared by the PCP, I advise that she does see a Chiropractor. The Chiropractor will evaluate her medical history and put together a plan that will help restore function. Most Chiropractors work with M.D.’s, Orthoepedic surgeons, and Neurologists. They choose to collaborate because of how beneficial it is to ensure that your patient no matter their past social and medical history can be seen properly.

How Chiropractors restore function is with Chiropractic adjustments, manual therapy, proprioception and mobility therapy. Which is what I would do. Restoring function and mobility is exactly what is needed for the body to heal no matter what age. Now due to her age and past medical history, it may take longer for her body to respond.

The links from PUBmed are listed below. Hope this helps! God Bless!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12382362
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26528703

Hello! If you have swelling in your lower back that comes and goes, I advise you to seek medical attention from your PCP or the ER to ensure there are no other pressing issues. Once they have cleared you, then yes do seek out a Chiropractor to assist with this issue. Again, once you are cleared, a Chiropractor can assess your condition and then make a clear judgment on what would be best for you. God Bless!

Yes. A Chiropractor can help you with the pain you feel at the back of your thigh. The nerve that controls that muscles comes from the low back and travels down to your toes. So there may be some issues with the alignment of your lumbar spine (low back) or pelvis. A Chiropractic evaluation would be able to pinpoint exactly where the dysfunction is. Check with your PCP to ensure that there are no other pressing issues, but do follow up with a Chiropractic visit with the Chiropractor that is right for you and I know you will find success with this issue. God Bless!

Hello! If one shoulder is broader than the other, then it could be a congenital defect, growth hormone issue, or a misalignment of the spine. I would suggest that you get necessary medical imaging and diagnostic testing done to confirm. Once you have gotten the necessary testing done, then you will be able to confirm the proper treatment necessary. Hope this helps!

Hello! Any involuntary shaking of a body part indicates the possibility of Tremors. Tremors can be anything from Parkinson’s, Hyperthyroidism, Multiple Sclerosis, Anxiety, or Traumatic Brain Injury, etc. My suggestion is that you follow up with her PCP to confirm the underlying condition. Once confirmed, then proper treatment can be determined. Hope this helps. God Bless!

You should seek immediate medical attention either from his PCP or the ER regarding your husband's condition. They will make further recommendations. God Bless!