Dr. Robbi’s Blog

So have your New Year’s Resolutions made it to February
If you are like most people you may be close to giving up or giving in to your old habits. This is why regular gym goers hate January. They show up at their regular workout time and the gym is overtaken by the resolution crowd.
I am also having that struggle this year…..it wasn’t a New Year’s Resolution for me, but just the hope to continue working out through the winter months. I have told myself for over a month now that I will hit the gym between 2 and 2:30 each weekday. I have made it to 3 times a week, maybe this week I can hit 4 times.
I have overheard Dr. Long suggesting to patients that they find a friend to work out with at lunch, or join a class so there is a sense of obligation. Also, put your workout gear in your car so it’s there when you go home.
Some other ideas…..find a reason for your fitness goal. Maybe an upcoming run, a vacation, a reunion is a reason for you to get fit. I heard Dr. Long talking about the Dam to Dam run she is doing in June that got her out the door at lunch the other day. I have yet to choose a run for my goal……thinking of the Blarney Stone for St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco De Mayo, or maybe the Wild Hare Adventure Race at the end of March. We have a lot of great ones filling up the Omaha metro calendar.
U2CanRun.org is a great place to find some Omaha area runs sponsored by Peak Performance, check out the Y’s in the Omaha metro for some low cost memberships, events, and even personal training. Omaha boasts a large number of higher class gyms that offer everything under one roof and chances are you can find someone to encourage you to keep coming back!

“Half-Marathon” Check!

Two weeks ago I finished a goal I had attempted to reach last year, but a minor car accident blew those plans. Fast forward to this fall and I was actively training for the Omaha Half Marathon with the help of the doctors at the Back and Neck Care Center. Dr.’s Robbi Long Knudsen, Eric Clements and Brandon Bird have given me periodic adjustments to help with my continued stiffness in my neck and shoulders.

In the last few weeks of training I developed a shin splint. I had suffered one a month or so earlier, which was easily treated with a dixie cup of ice. This new one was stubborn. I tried the ice and massaging….nothing. Finally I had what I had been reluctantly wishing for! Pain and inflammation that I could try out our new K-Laser on!!! Not that I wanted an injury, but I did want a personal story to share with people of how the K-Laser helped me.

Before the K-Laser I had let my shin rest for 3 or 4 days, and I was worried all of my training would once again have been for nothing if I didn’t run the half. So Crystal helped me with the K-Laser treatment. My shins felt a little more relaxed as I headed out of the office. I was reminded not to run on it that night, so the K-Laser could continue to work it’s Magic!! The next day I went out and ran 4 miles no pain. Two days later I did 11 miles and a week later the half marathon! Still no pain in my shin!

To be honest I had started working for the doctors in May and I have been very excited about the Class IV Therapeutic K-Laser that we have been offering to patients. I have heard and recounted stories of people battling plantar fasciitis, neck pain, knee pain and others that had great success with the K-Laser, but I lacked a personal story.

My story ends with me doing the Omaha Half Marathon in my goal time…..just seconds over 2 hours! If you are dealing with a pain that is just being quieted with pain killers, you owe it to your body to come in to the Back and Neck Care Center at 156th and Blondo and try the K-Laser.

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A few weeks ago, I was on briefly Facebook and noticed an old high school friend’s daughter was having some serious problems with her neck and back. I thought about suggesting she see a chiropractor in her area, but saved that idea for later in the day. It turns out I wasn’t the only one with that thought.

By that afternoon Shelley had already taken her 12 year old to an Urgent Care Clinic for x-rays and other work. She was told Megan was suffering from Wry Neck and given “large doses of Ibuprofen and muscle relaxants.” Mom says none of these were giving her relief and the pain was so severe that Megan had fallen, grabbing her neck and screaming in pain. Shelley says Megan had spent much of the summer sleeping more than normal for a pre-teen. She could even see the muscles spasms in her neck and upper back. When Shelley tried to massage them, they were rock hard and hot to the touch.

After another friend suggested she call a chiropractor and I chimed in that “As an employee of a chiropractor, YES, you need to call a chiropractor”. She did.

Megan got in to Mountain View Chiropractic in Great Falls, Montana, that day. Dr Wiley examined her closely, listened to her complains and asked a lot of questions, then educated her on what was going on with Megan’s neck and back. Shelly goes on to say, “He took the time to show us on a model skeleton where her pain was originating. He showed us and explained which muscles were irritated and why. After one adjustment, Megan was feeling much better. She had mobility in her neck again and was much more comfortable. She went for a second adjustment the next day and was showing even more improvement. Dr. Wiley believes Megan will be feeling much better after one or two more treatments. I’m anxious to see how the adjustments affect her overall health. I’m hoping for improvement in many areas. Hopefully, she will start to feel more energetic. I’ve even noticed an improvement in her attitude already.”

Fortunately, Megan was able to start school on day one with a clear head (no side effects from pain pills and muscle relaxants). Consider if Megan’s mom hadn’t thought about chiropractic care, Megan could end up on a series of pain pills and other drugs and dealing with their side effects, instead of getting on with the busy life of a 12 year old.

Best wishes to Shelley and Megan and hopefully they continue through with their recommended care.

This is also the mission of Dr. Robbi Long and all of the doctors at the Back and Neck Center, on 156^th and Blondo. If you ever have a problem that you think might be solved with chiropractic care, please call 493-6800 or feel free to email DrRobbi@yahoo.com