A Note From Dr. Nic

2023 Chiropractic Medicare Coverage Modernization Act

Help! Since 1972, Medicare has only covered the adjustment provided by a chiropractor. However, as you may know, we can provide so much more to our patients!

A new bill proposed in the House of Representatives and Senate would expand coverage to all services within our scope of practice and would include exams, xrays, therapies and exercise programs. It would be a great win for Medicare patients and our federal budget, and would allow chiropractors to provide a much less expensive and less invasive approach to care for muscle and joint ailments!

Please contact your Senators using this link…it does almost all of the work for you!

https://www.votervoice.net/ChiroCongress/Campaigns/103860/Respond

Please contact your Representative using this link…same process! 

https://www.votervoice.net/ChiroCongress/Campaigns/103848/Respond

A Buck and a Buckle

Five years ago, my friend Jason mentioned a trail run to me. The Marji Gesick. It actually started as a mountain bike event, and at some point they allowed runners to participate as well. All I can remember of his description of it was that it was really hard, hardly anyone ever finished...and that I had to do it. That's what Jason said, at least!

I signed up for the race that year and the following year, but not with much thought about it or commitment to it, and I didn't travel up to "da UP" to run it either year.

Finally, in 2021, I committed, prepared, and ran the Marji Gesick 50 (which was actually 63 miles), and it was an incredible experience. Upon finishing, I was quite certain that the first time I ever tried a 100 mile race would be at Marji.

And that brings us to last month, when, after training for it and planning for it, I completed the Marji Gesick 100 (which was actually 109 miles) in 25 hours and 36 minutes. It was an incredible accomplishment, made possible only because of the help of incredible friends who were up there to help.

I managed to return to work on Monday without too many achy muscles, and was almost immediately asked the most obvious question...WHY?

I have always been super competitive. Growing up, it was basketball and football. I went to college to play football but that washed out quickly. Yet through school and college it was sports and competition and fitness, and I 'chose' my identity and worth through that. Not healthy in hindsight, but it's just where I felt my worth was. When I went to chiropractic school those team sport opportunities weren't there, and one of my older sisters (I have 3 older sisters: 12, 10, and 4 years older) had always wanted to run a marathon. So we chose to do that. Kathy (middle older sister) and I ran Chicago in 2004. As I was getting dropped off to start that marathon, I genuinely didn't know if I could do it. I was scared/nervous/uncertain...and in the moment I hated that feeling, but at the same time it was kind of thrilling! Upon finishing, the accomplishment was a great feeling. Fast forward, I've done close to 100 marathons or longer. I'm competitive, but mostly against myself. I enjoy the 'process' of training. Marji was 8 months of training. I need the 'program' to remain focused and fit and eating right and exercising. And it's not just the running and training but also scheduling around life and kids and work and all the other variables. This training session featured a severe bout of plantar fasciitis, what I think may have been the start of a stress fracture, as well as some profound "ups and downs" in personal and family life, and the related struggles of those. I love the TRAILS. LOVE THEM. I love rocks, roots, steep elevation, pretty overlooks. I like 'earning your turns' in backcountry skiing (where you hike up/ski down) and the same goes for trails. Earn the downhills...then bomb 'em if you can. And the trails of the Marji Gesick definitely make you earn them. For the most part, they're relentlessly uphill and downhill and then back up again. So much of the journey is an internal challenge. Click here to finish reading.

Fall Yard Work

This time of year is sometimes a struggle for me, personally. I really don’t like the shorter days and earlier sunsets, and if you’re in the office any time soon you’ll probably hear me ranting about how I do not understand the purpose of “Falling Back” and Daylight Savings. It is a frustration of mine, twice a year 😊

One part of the fall I do enjoy is the changing of colors outside, and making big leaf piles with my kids. Speaking of which…it’s time for outside “Fall Cleaning”!

Fall yard work, leaf raking and other outdoor activities carry numerous risks, including upper and lower back strain, neck strain and shoulder pain. Just like sports, this type of physical activity can increase your chances of getting hurt if your body isn’t properly prepared for it. You can avoid these types of injuries by warming up, stretching and maintaining good posture as you go about your work.

While raking your yard, good posture can also prevent back problems—make sure you keep your back straight and your head up! Use common sense while working: lift with your legs and bend with your knees, taking care that you don’t strain your back while picking up bundles of leaves and grass. If you’re likely to carry heavy items, hold them close to your body to help prevent back strain. In order to take the pressure off your back, rake using the “scissors” stance: put your right foot forward and the left one back, then reverse after a few minutes. When using a lawn mower, try to use your core body weight to move it as opposed to your arms and back.

Also remember that it’s important to pace yourself and take some breaks. Maybe not week-long breaks…though…or else we will then be shoveling the leaves! Switching tasks regularly can help prevent repetitive motion injuries in vulnerable muscle groups—change body positions, or simply move onto another job for a short period of time before returning to the previous one.

Investing in extra protective gear like gloves to prevent blisters can make life easier while taking on outdoor chores. Ergonomic tools with extra padding, larger or curved handles are less tiring to use over a long-time period. Work smart…not just hard!

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Meet Austin

While being a new face to our office, Austin’s story is one I am excited to share! I saw Austin for the first time on a Tuesday, after waking up with severe neck pain and stiffness and a droopy eyelid the previous weekend while staying up north. The pain was so bad that he visited a local urgent care facility, but was only given some meds which had no effect. Upon returning to his home area, he contacted his local medical doctor as well, but again little was done and the pain and symptoms remained severe.

Thankfully, another current patient of mine suggested he give Giebler Chiropractic a call. Upon evaluation, I was confident that I could help, and after office visits on Tuesday and Wednesday, improvement was already noted.  

The best was yet to come though. Walking in to his room at his appointment on Friday, I was greeted by a big and WIDE EYED smile, and full and pain-free ranges of motion in the neck.

I love those ‘miracle’ cases (as Austin’s dad phrased it), which really aren’t miracles. You see, if there is a muscle or a joint that hurts to move…the best way to evaluate the problem and determine is to get hands ON with care. As a chiropractor, I placed my hands on Austin and checked his muscles a joints, and evaluated exactly WHY certain movements were causing pain. By determining that, and the addressing that underlying problem, relief was found.

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to help, and also for the referral that prompted Austin to call our office!  

If YOU know someone struggling with pain that is muscle and/or joint-related…if you know someone who has pain when they try to use a joint or a muscle…tell them to call us! WE CAN HELP!