He comes in for a car accident, but he mentions that he has had 30 years of knee pain following another accident back in the day. So, I aim a shiny red light beam at the affected area for a few minutes. We do this twice and he has complete resolution of his pain. It goes away entirely. *
She came to see me for headaches and neck pain. Somehow we begin to talk about hot flashes associated with menopause. I mention that I just completed some training on Low Level Laser Therapy, and the instructor/doctor talked about using it for menopause symptoms. So, we give it a try. This time I have to change the settings and we point the laser at several different endocrine organs. We found that if we followed this protocol once every couple of weeks, she would remain free from the hot flashes. * A miracle? Perhaps.
Low Level Laser, or 3LT for short, has been around for many years now. They have used it quite a bit over in Europe. The Erchonia laser, which we have at Camas Chiropractic Center, was the first of it’s kind to get FDA clearance. In that study people got better 60% faster. There are lots of variations of these lasers out there. Let me just say that we did not skimp–ours cost us as much as a small car.
It works like this: The laser stimulates a structure within the cell, called the mitochondria, nicknamed the “powerhouse”, to produce more ATP, which is our molecular energy. So with more energy at the cell level the tissues heal faster. There are no known harmful effects to the body (it is also called “cold laser”, as opposed to “hot laser” which is used in surgical procedures to cut tissue). It can stimulate blood flow and tissue remodeling and reset the nervous system. I have used it on bruises, scars, neck pain, headaches, carpal tunnel, arthritis, burns, TMJ, children, old folks, and everything in between.
There are lots more details about how it works. If you want I can email a powerpoint presentation to you. Just know this: it works, and it is safe. Oh, and by the way, it is cheap–at least right now. Normally it is $300 for 12 treatments, or $30 each. We typically will use it on the same visit as an adjustment. To celebrate this blog post, you can now purchase a series of 12 applications for just $150. I think you ought to give it a try. Just call (360-834-3434) or send me a message and tell me that you read this. Feel free to tell others.
*results not typical, but what a great story. This kind of stuff happens all the time.
I grew up in Camas, Washington, where I currently practice. I went to Camas High School and then left for ten years to get educated and find a wife. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University in 2000 and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree (class valedictorian) from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2003. Camas has been my home (again) ever since.
My wife, Jessica, is also one of my regular patients–she and I both understand the importance of maintenance adjustments to make sure her body is working at it’s best. We have four kids–2 boys and 2 girls. They also get adjusted regularly. In fact, at th first sign of illness we check them for subluxations. We want to be sure that their nervous system is in top form to identify and fix whatever is going on.
Kenneth S. Albrechtson, DC – Palmer ‘78, introduced me to chiropractic care when he married my mother many years ago. I chose to follow in his footsteps and we have practiced together at Camas Chiropractic Center since 2003.
I enjoy hiking, spending time with my children, reading (both fiction and non-fiction), and getting people healthier.
Erchonia PL5 (Low Level Laser)
Low Level Laser Therapy has been used by medical doctors in Europe for over thirty years and was FDA approved in the U.S. in 2002. The patients in the FDA study got better 60% faster.
The laser stimulates a structure within the cell, called the mitochondria, nicknamed the “powerhouse”, to produce more ATP, which is our molecular energy. So with more energy at the cell level the tissues heal faster.
What kinds of conditions can respond to this modality?
Neck Pain/Whiplash Sprains/Strains
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Fibromyalgia
Arthralgia/Arthritis Migraine Headaches
Bursitis TMJ Pain/Dysfunction
Heel Spurs/Planter Fascitis Tennis Elbow
Tendonitis Repetitive Stress Injuries
Nerve Root Pain Back Pain
Wound Healing Chronic Pain Conditions
We always include your first treatment at no extra cost when you get care here. When you come back on your follow-up I will decide whether or not to recommend more Laser.
To find out more visit www.erchonia.com
Our x-ray suite gives me the ability to look very closely at your spine before you get treatment. X-ray is a bit of an art form and I take pride in my skills to capture just what I need to help me work with the patient to put together a clear plan of action. Here is a picture of what you can expect when you are x-rayed at our office. Since our darkroom is right there, we can have the film in front of us five minutes after it is shot.
Chiropractors differ quite a bit. One thing we almost all have in common is that we look for something most of us call a subluxation and the adjustment. Allow me to define these terms for you. Keep in mind that these are my definitions and other health professionals or DC’s may have their own.
Subluxation=a misalignment or dysfunction of the spine, resulting in problems. These problems can vary from pain and stiffness to nerve irritation, leading to symptoms with anything the nerve communicates with.
Adjustment=a method of getting rid the the above mentioned problem. I usually use a hands on, “Palmer package” approach. There are other ways to do it which we have available as well.
Chiropractic techniques are the ways I adjust subluxations. In other words these are some of the choices you have as I put together a plan to get you better.
The manual adjustment. This involves finding the spot that needs to move and giving it a gentle (and, if necesary, not so gentle) push. This is the one where things may pop or click. This is why my step-father, Dr. Albrechtson’s nickname is Crack-a-lacker.
The Thompson Drop Table. This uses a table with sections that move about an inch. I get you lined up right and allow the table to do the work. I wil often use wedges or blocks to help get things moving the right way.
Activator Methods. This is a very gentle instrument technique. Nothing pops or clicks and you are not twisted or even pushed in any way. I follow a different protocol with this approach. It works remarkably well with people who are touchy or have situations like recent surgery or advanced osteoporosis.
Pettibon technique. I have attended multiple seminars and read all kinds of materials to familiarize myslef with this advanced structural technique. It employs some advanced protocols with a focus on function and measurable results.
Rehabilitative procedure. Adjustments generally focus on the bones, but there are these things called muscles that must be on board for any degree of change to take place. I use several methods to prepare the body for an adjustment and allow it to accommodate afterwards.
We live. We wake up, we eat, we walk around. We breathe, we play, we laugh, we work. This is living. As your doctor, it is my purpose to help you to live with genuine health. Genuinely healthy living means several things. I have chosen these words carefully.
I went to school to become a doctor. I became a doctor because I want to help people enjoy walking, sleeping, and working. I have dedicated my life to finding answers to how to get the most out of these activities. As a patient (by the way, ‘patient’ literally means ‘one who suffers’, so maybe we ought to call you something else) in my office you need to know that I am genuinely interested in your health. That means that I won’t use gimmicks or sell you things or services that you don’t need. I will use every means available to me to find solutions for your specific case. If I can’t help you, I will help you find someone who can. I have worked hard to get to know providers from many health disciplines with many levels of expertise. I will treat you the way that I would want someone to treat my own spouse or child. After your first day in my office I hope you can recognize the great lengths I have taken in order to deliver on this promise. That is what the genuine in genuinely health living means.
The world of health care is a mess. In this time and place it has evolved to focus far more on what I call ’sick care’. ‘Sick care’ is all about managing problems and dysfunctions. While these are much needed services, being healthy means so much more. You don’t have to wait for the fire to flare up before you seek help. You can implement a few simple measures and habits that can prevent the fire from occurring in the first place. Health not just about lack of sickness. It is about allowing your body to do what it innately knows how to do already. You are capable of sleeping well, managing your weight, living without pain, and so on. You body was designed with that potential. Health is about working with the solutions you have built in, not manipulating your body with an influx of medications and cutting away parts that are not doing their jobs.
Living is something that goes far beyond the health care box many of us use as our paradigm for the role of our doctor. Many people first seek out the services of a chiropractor for back or neck pain. I have a great many tools and skills at my disposal that can help many people with these kinds of problems. And I get great results. As your doctor, I will give teach you methods to improve your posture and strengthen your back–not just because it will keep you out of pain, but because it is essential to ensuring that your nervous system can get your body truly well, and not just un-sick.
The foundation of your body is your feet. We interact with the earth first thing every day through our feet. I will help you make sure that you can walk and move and live in a way that allows your feet to work the way nature intended. Obesity is a major crisis in this country and cause for concern for 2/3 of my ‘patients’. Did you know that eating six small meals a day can make dramatic changes to your appetite and keep your blood sugars more constant? I can help you implement a nutrition program that will allow you to shed excess fat, and then provide your body with all the fuel and building blocks it needs to maintain (and even enjoy) a new lifestyle. I have searched long and hard for the right pillow–we all need to sleep. I think I have found the one that provides the right amount of comfort while simultaneously giving the right amount of support (for the right price). Lots of people peddle nutritional supplements. I can put together a plan for you basedon a functional blood chemistry analysis. This gives a clear, measurable way to improve your body’s function, from the inside. The list goes on and on.
My job as you doctor is to outline the best course of care for your problem. I define the best course of care as one that gets you out of pain/symptoms as quickly as possible, then keeps you that way for as long as possible. Your job as the ‘new patient’ is to work with me, like a team. I only ask that you work as hard as I do. As we work together and you begin to enjoy genuinely healthy living I hope you will share this with your family. These principles apply to your children and spouse as well as you. Bring them in, not just because they hurt or sick, but because you truly want them to be healthy. This road is better travelled with those you care about.
This web site is specifically designed to provide you with answers. (now for a disclaimer) However, please do not implement any of the suggestions or exercises without first consulting with your physician (which should be me). This site is not a place to just find out about me, it is an information center for you to begin to enjoy genuine healthy living.
