Muscle Spasms in the Neck

Muscle Spasms in the Neck No More
Running Doctor Treats Entire Family

In front of a computer for hours each day, Kelly Nichols dealt with muscle spasms in the neck. As a web developer and program analyst, Nichols puts in 9 to 10 hours each day at her desk.

A year ago, she was in Dr. Thomas office for one of her children's appointments. She told him about her neck pain and shoulder stiffness. "I used to have muscle spasms in the neck," she said. He suggested that she come in for an appointment. "But I'm sensitive about people touching my neck. I did go and see him once or twice."

But it was a year later, some furniture moving and one last bad stretch while sitting at her desk, that made her neck and back lock up.

Kelly called Dr. Thomas and they saw her right away. "We talked about what happened, my pain level and the muscles spasms in my neck. He said we needed to do an MRI first."

What they found were a couple of bulging discs. "He said I was a good candidate for the IDD treatment. He explained what that meant and what other problems could result from the bulging discs." The muscle spasms in the neck were due to the bulging discs placing pressure on near by nerves

"Her neurologist Dr. Brice Choi of South Atlanta Neurology in Stockbridge, knew she was coming and approved it," said Dr. Thomas. According to Dr. Thomas, IDD is a proven medically advanced, non-surgical solution for lower back pain. "This is one of the most sophisticated approaches I have found to safely, comfortably and non-surgically treat the cause of neck and back pain due conditions like bulging and herniated discs, sciatica, post- surgical failures and degenerative arthritis." said Dr. Thomas. "The reported results are impressive and show that 92% of this group of people may be given relief of their pain; requiring less medication (and therefore less side effects), and permitting them to enjoy normal life activities again."

IDD is a noninvasive medical procedure that has a 92% success rate in treating herniated, bulging, degenerated discs, sciatica, and low back pain. At Allied Healthcare, Dr. John Thomas offers a comprehensive solution. His method includes hot packs, ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulus, physical therapy exercises, and the Accu-SPINA™ with IDD Therapy®.

What was treatment like for Kelly? "Dr. Thomas would turn on my choice of music and I would take a nap. You can leave the office door open or closed. Someone always checks in during treatment. It hurt a little after the first couple of treatments, until I got it iced afterward. Toward the end, all I would feel is fatigue in that area - Iike I'd been exercising."

"I did 20 treatments. Before I locked up, I always felt like my neck was weak and I couldn't turn my head all the way to the right. I also had severe neck pain every time I looked down. Afterwards, I feel stronger. I'm still doing physical therapy, but the therapy is more home based to strengthen my neck and get range of motion."

The muscle spasms in the neck decreased.

"The IDD has made me feel stronger and I'm not afraid to move my neck. I think that used to cause muscle spasms in my neck. IDD worked for me."

According to Dr. Thomas, eighty percent of Americans will suffer some type of back pain in their lives, and current estimates of medical care for those who have been disabled by severe back pain in the U.S. range from thirty to seventy billion dollars annually. It is the second most frequently reported reason for a doctor's visitation (14.3 million office visits per year); the fifth most frequent cause of hospitalization and the third most frequent reason for surgery.

"The reason I like going to Dr. Thomas. The atmosphere in the office is one of relaxation. They always greet you with a big old smile like you're a long lost friend," said Kelly.

Before Kelly began her treatment, her children had been regulars for sports injury care. Kelly has an active family. Her two oldest of three children run and jump with the Panthers in Clayton County, a private track and field club coached by Kelly's husband. Coach Nichols heard about Allied Healthcare from a friend. For the last five or six years, Dr. Thomas has been treating the family.

"Kelly is a mother who cares about her kids," said Dr. John N. Thomas, D.C., known as The Running Doctor, of Allied Healthcare. That's why she brings her two oldest children, both track and field athletes, to The Running Doctor.

"I've been treating her kids as athletes," said Dr. Thomas. "A lot of times our kids get injured and keep quiet. When they tell us, we need to respond. It's important to do a biomechanical analysis to see if there are any problems. There are problems that extend from their feet, which is their foundation and their pelvis, which is their center of gravity."

He continued, "90% of the population has some degree of pronation or flat- footedness. This causes the rotation of the tibia, fibula, and femur causing the pelvis to drop down. This can cause leg length discrepancies that interfere with biomechanics. This disturbance may cause lower back pain, muscle tightness, imbalance, weakness and gait problems."

"This lends itself to injury. Kids are getting injured and ruining their chance of getting scholarships," said Dr. Thomas.

"The kids go to Dr. Thomas on a regular basis for adjustments. They do a lot of running and jumping. Occasionally they sustain injuries, pull a muscle or have strains - the typical injuries of an athlete," said Kelly.

"My 17-year-old daughter has been running since she was eleven. My twelve-year-old son has been running since he was six. My daughter is a jumper. She does the long jump, the triple jump and the high jump. She also does hurdles and sprint, but jumping is her specialty. Because of that, she's developed some problems with her back. Dr. Thomas has helped her with physical as well as adjustments. He also helps with her eating, to keep her on track."

"With my son, he keeps him stretched. He's not as limber on his own. He's twelve. If you don't stretch, you're more susceptible to injury. If he does pull something we go see Dr. Thomas."

Whether treating Kelly's kids to keep them performing their best or eliminating back pain and muscle spasms in the neck, Dr. Thomas is able to help all sources of pain. He works to find the root cause of discomfort, rather than symptom management.

Besides treating all manner of back pain, Dr. John Thomas specializes in sports and personal injuries without the use of drugs or surgery. He also teaches methods of eliminating harmful toxins from the body for the prevention of disease. In practice for over a decade, The Running Doctor, Dr. Thomas, runs marathons and follows his own good guidelines for health and nutrition.

For more information about the services of Allied Healthcare Clinics and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Thomas, call 770-460-1911.

About Allied Healthcare Clinics