Jan 23 2025

Path to Pain Relief: Chiropractic Treatments for Sciatica

Welcome to Hometown Family Wellness Center, your trusted chiropractor in Freehold, NJ. Led by Dr. Russell Brokstein, we specialize in a wide range of chiropractic services, including Active Release Technique, Chiropractic Adjustments, and Exercise Therapy. Our practice is dedicated to helping the community achieve optimal health and wellness. Today, we’ll explore chiropractic treatments for sciatica, a crucial aspect of our practice.

Sciatica is a condition that affects many individuals, causing significant discomfort and pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and down each leg. According to the Mayo Clinic, common symptoms include pain, inflammation, and sometimes numbness in the affected leg. Many patients seek relief from sciatica through chiropractic care, which offers a non-invasive and effective solution.

At Hometown Family Wellness Center, we address sciatica using a combination of chiropractic treatments tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Dr. Russell Brokstein, named the Best Monmouth County Chiropractor since 2017, provides one-on-one care using current chiropractic techniques and therapeutic stretching. This approach not only alleviates pain but also addresses the root cause of the issue, providing long-term relief.

Our services related to sciatica treatment include precise chiropractic adjustments to correct spinal misalignments and reduce nerve irritation. Incorporating the Active Release Technique, we target and release tight muscles and adhesions that can contribute to sciatica pain. Our comprehensive care plan also includes exercise therapy to strengthen the spine and improve overall function, as supported by resources from the American Chiropractic Association.

One of our success stories involves a patient who experienced debilitating sciatica for years. Through personalized chiropractic treatments, they reported significant pain reduction and improved mobility. Such testimonials reflect our commitment to helping patients achieve their wellness goals.

For maintaining spinal health and preventing sciatica flare-ups, we advise regular chiropractic check-ups and exercises that promote spine stability and flexibility. Maintaining a healthy weight and practicing good posture are also critical components of long-term spinal wellness. Learn more tips from WebMD.

In summary, chiropractic care offers a pathway to pain relief for those suffering from sciatica. With personalized treatment plans, Hometown Family Wellness Center empowers patients to live healthier, more active lives. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.chiropractorfreehold.com.

Oct 29 2024

Nutrition as a Key to Why You are in Pain

If you are in pain and have tried different types of treatments with slow progress, you might want to look into nutrition as a key to why you are in pain. The quality of nutrition has rapidly declined over the last several decades. It is having a major impact on American’s health and there is a significant increase in chronic illnesses and overall destroying well-being.

The quality of American food can be attributed to many things, but one can look at the state of the soils foods are grown in due to modern farming practices including fertilizers, pesticides and genetical modification of foods modified organisms (GMO’s). The fruits and vegetables grown in these soils are affected. Levels of essential nutrients have decreased significantly since the 1950’s. The Journal of American College of Nutrition reports calcium, magnesium, iron, Vitamin A and C are significantly impacted.

Studies show you would have to eat around 10 apples today to get the nutrition of one apple from the 1950’s and eat nearly 50 bowls of spinach to get the equivalent of one bowl from the 1950’s. Nutrition is so important to fuel the body and are the building blocks to all of our cells, tissues and organs.

On top of that, many people are eating more processed and convenience foods that are stripped of their natural elements and loaded with unhealthy preservatives, additives, sugars and artificial sweeteners which are toxic to the body. The shift to foods that are calorie dense and nutrient deprived is contributing to a surge in lifestyle related illness.

Nearly 500,000 deaths each year in the US are linked to illnesses from poor nutrition.

Many conditions are preventable and can be reversed with optimizing nutrition:

Obesity: Has reached an all-time high among American adults. 42% (nearly 110 million) Americans are obese. Nearly 80% of American are overweight. In addition, sadly, 20% of children are considered obese.
Cardiovascular disease: Almost 50% of Americans
Type 2 Diabetes: Nearly 33 million Americans

If you are under chiropractic care and experiencing slow improvements, it can be due to chronic inflammation, weakened immune function, hormone imbalances and digestive disorders from poor nutrient intake. To optimize natural healing and recovery, you must address nutritional deficiencies.

Nutrition as a key to why you are in pain

“Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” Hippocrates

Nutrition is important to restore and maintain health. Nutrient dense, whole foods are important to prevent and reverse illness. It’s why I say Nutrition as a Key to Why You are in Pain. As a chiropractor, I optimize health by removing interference to the spine, but we need to provide the body with the nutrients it needs too.

I help patients with nutrition by making nutritional changes and adding in whole food, plant based supplements. We can enhance your healing and recovery as well as prevent chronic diseases and promote holistic wellness.

Many people suffer with poor gut health. Processed foods can destroy the microbiome of the gut. This can increase inflammation and pain throughout the body. It also slows down the healing process. A digestive blend of enzymes with probiotics stabilizes the gut and if taken on an empty stomach absorb thru the intestines into the blood stream to help break down inflammation. Recovery enzymes are similar in the effect of reducing inflammation and debris in the blood. Digestive Blend and Recovery are both discussed on my website and available to purchase: Whole Food Plant Based Supplements

Proper nutrition will support your body’s healing, leading to faster recovery. We can reduce your inflammation, boost immune function and overall health.

Healthier dietary choices can help prevent or reverse chronic diseases like obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This can help reduce the need for medications and more risky medical treatments.

Apr 21 2024

Avoid NSAIDs with a Natural Solution

There are many reasons to avoid NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs usage. The average person pops Over the Counter (OTCs) like candy and many times every day. NSAIDs might help you feel better but they slow down healing by up to 300%, cause leaky gut and worse! You are masking your symptoms while causing more health problems.

There are several groups of NSAIDs: acetylated salicylates (aspirin), non-acetylated salicylates (diflunisal, salsalate), propionic acids (naproxen, ibuprofen, acetic acids (diclofenac, indomethacin), enolic acids (meloxicam, piroxicam) anthranilic acids (meclofenamate, mefenamic acid), naphthylalanine (nabumetone), and selective COX-2 inhibitors (celecoxib, etoricoxib).

Before you take NSAIDs for joint pain, arthritis, inflammation and other issues, there are better, safer solutions! Watch my colleague Dr. Tim discuss a better way for you than dangerous OTCs.

Our goal is to help you heal and rebuild while reducing inflammation and pain. Avoid NSAIDs and their harmful side effects using our favorite healthy solutions formula for your aches and pains.

Ice for 15 to 20 minutes to help reduce pain and inflammation. If you are using heat, it can increase your inflammation, slowing down the healing process.
Hemp Oil Balm directly to your sore or aching spots to ease the tension and discomfort that you’re feeling there.
Recovery Enzymes are proteolytic enzymes best taken on an empty stomach so they can absorb into your blood stream to help break down proteins that cause scar tissue and inflammation you feel after an injury or workout.
Digestive Blend helps extract trapped vitamins and minerals from your food. Nutrients are important to help your body heal. A gut that isn’t healthy increases inflammation to the rest of the body. Digestive Blend optimizes your gut and digestive health.
Joint Support contains natural and safe ingredients with proven benefits to joint health and support. Glucosamine supports the healthy formation of tendons, cartilage, ligaments, and the thick fluid in your joints. Chondroitin also supports healthy joints by helping your connective tissue absorb fluid. Pure MSM (Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane) provides additional support to your connective tissue and joints.

I have been working with Dr. Tim for 5 years now and his supplement formulas are the best I have used and recommended in my 25 years in practice. You can order all of our whole food, plant based supplements here: docbrok.synergywellnessformulas.com

Dec 25 2020

Freehold Chiropractor’s Merry Christmas 2020 Poem

Chiropractic Merry Christmas 2020

Merry Christmas poem 2020 — Have a Merry Christmas 2020

T’was the day before Christmas,

but there was no cheer.

No jingle bells jingled, no sound of reindeer.

There was a Corona Virus Pandemic everywhere

Word got out that Santa was sick.

There’d be no friendly visit from jolly St. Nick.

People were sad; no gaiety sounded.

For Christmas had come,

but Santa was grounded.

He walked down the street,

but what should he see

On a small sign was printed, Russell Brokstein, D.C.

Dr. Brokstein took Santa’s temp before being seen

Protecting his patients and staff was most important you see

Santa had to wear a mask

and distance himself from his reindeers

Yes we were cautious but he walked around the office for a look see

Were we following CDC protocols, wiping down tables, distancing patients and using masks as meant to be

Yes, he proclaimed and seemed very pleased

Now Santa was not one to like a new tactic,

But all else had failed, so he’d try Chiropractic.

He entered the office and saw at a glance

In place such as this illness hasn’t a chance.

For all were smiling; the music was classical and snappy.

With all the patients contented and happy.

In a very short time, to judge by the clock.

He was in the adjusting room, talking to Doc.

“It must be the hurry, the tension and all.

I simply can’t seem to get on the ball.

Life used to be easy, just bring lots of toys from the North Pole.

Now I dodge viruses, social discourse and too many that feel alone.”

Santa chooses the APP Best Monmouth County Chiropractor — Santa goes to the APP Best Monmouth County Chiropractor

“And Doc, take a look at the size of this pack!”

“Have you any idea what it does to my back?”

Poor Santa was miserable, just barely able

With the help of Dr. Russell to get to the table.

Doctor Russell was gentle. Without fuss or tussle

He examined the vertebrae and relaxed the muscle.

He spotted the trouble, and then with a click,

Started aligning the ailing St. Nick.

And Santa felt aches and pains slipping away.

In no time at all his back and hips began to sway.

The air was a tingle with a new fallen snow,

And a healthy Kris Kringle was rarin’ to go.

As he went out the door, he threw all a kiss

Why, it has been centuries since he’d felt as good as this!

Then once more he shouldered the bagfull of toys,

His heart overflowing with true Christmas joys,

From Dr. Russell and Jen
Hometown Family Wellness Center
Where Natural Health and Wellness is a Lifestyle

A MERRY AND SAFE CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

Nov 06 2020

Did You Know Your Feet Can Cause Neck and Back Pain?

Did you know an estimated 80% of the population has back pain at some point? Did you know your feet can cause neck and back pain? Sadly, most people run to the medicine cabinet and just pop pills which at best mask the

Feet cause Low Back Pain — You are not alone if you experience low back pain.

symptoms but also do damage the liver and kidneys. Other times people think the pain will just go away on its own, but the body is only adapting and the underlying problems is still there to wait until it is made worse again.

We take a unique, full body approach, not just looking at your spine but checking your feet as they are the foundation of the body. If there are imbalances in your feet it can affect all the way up through your legs to low back and even to your neck. Your Feet Affect the Kinetic Chain. The following animation shows how imbalances in the feet can cause issues throughout your spine. This can lead to pain anywhere from your feet, knees, hips, low back and your neck. Take a look at how restoring balance to the feet can help the rest of the body!

Our chiropractic adjustments, along with therapeutic stretching help significantly to correct the cause but by taking one extra step at looking at your feet we can reach even better results. We address the cause of your problems.
One technology we implement in our office is state of the art technology from Foot Levelers to scan your feet and show how it affects your spine. We can see if your feet can cause your neck and back pain. Restoring balance to your feet can help the rest of your body.

Pronation of Feet cause excessive wear of shoes — Do Your Shoes Look Like These?

A dead give away of foot imbalances is uneven shoe wear. Look at the bottom of your heels and if they are wearing out even, your feet are a cause of your problems. Do your shoes look like these?

You not only need new shoes but need support for your feet….
The next time you come in, jump on the Foot Leveler’s state of the art foot scanner and see what is happening to the arches in your feet and how they might be contributing to your pain. Many insurances will cover the spinal pelvic orthotic stabilizers or we have discounts for those patients who don’t ‘have coverage or only partial coverage. The investment to your feet is well worth the benefits they provide.

Chiropractic Merry Christmas 2020

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