What’s Going On?

Sleep ranks high on the priority list of self-care, often followed by diet and exercise.  If you are struggling with insomnia, you may have tried many solutions without success. When insomnia arrives, nights and days may run together. You may find it hard to fall...

As if the forecast for 2020 couldn’t get any worse, the snow is almost here.  While the snowy scene outside your window can be beautiful to look at, it can be a menace to even the most mundane travel plans.  Snow and ice can lead to car accidents and injuries.  Do you...

It goes without saying that the pandemic has greatly affected our lifestyles - from the way we work to the way we relax.  What we considered, or actually never had to consider, our normal daily routines, have been upended in an effort to stay healthy and COVID free.  ...

Are video games putting you in pain? While we typically think of gamers as teens or young boys, most gamers are men ranging from 24-40, and are often a way to unwind after a long day on the job.  However if you’re a parent of a young gamer it’s your responsibility to...

Pregnancy isn’t always as natural as we’re meant to think.  Whether you conceive through In Vitro Fertilization, had a medical complication that landed you on injections, or even on-set Gestational Diabetes - medicine and technology can play a common role.  However,...

Hydration is important no matter what time of year – especially in the heart of the midwest  - Belleville, Il! As the temperatures continue to rise in the summer months and we spend more time in the water, many of us tend to forget to drink enough. Here’s why proper...

It's sunny, it's rainy, it's summer.  Kids are free from school, grass is growing and the days just got longer!  Even though our normal spring rituals have been disrupted, it's time to set some healthy habits. Throw out the old footwear and start to stretch into...

Looking for new ways to get in shape?  Followed every trend and all you have to show is a home gym full of gimmicks? Or maybe you’ve entered the fitness zone with intentions for success, only to injury yourself early on? Well if you’ve fallen off the proverbial horse,...

It’s no surprise that chiropractic intervention can heal your neck, your back and lower lumber.  But what can your chiropractor do to help your allergies? It’s time to find out because April is here!   Many become used to dealing with seasonal allergy pain -...

Our last Facebook promotion had people wondering if $29 for complete chiropractic screening is possible?  It is! But ONLY with Dr. Fast. This special value is only able to be maintained for a short time. However, the value of that screening is worth much more . . ....

If you experience chronic back pain, there's a good chance you'll seek treatment from a chiropractor to find relief. But what if you have an ulcer? Or jaw pain? Or sinus headaches? You might be surprised to learn that a chiropractor may be able to help you with all of...

Most of us enter the new year exhausted, bloated and confused. From Halloween treats to Thanksgiving Day sweets, additional high-fructose corn syrup and sugar can mess with our insulin to the point of headaches and stomachaches.  But it doesn’t end there. Add copious...

Does this look familiar?  Month after month you pay your healthcare related bills, only to receive a confusing statement, filled with jargon as to how you may or may not be covered.  You have a job; you pay for insurance; what’s the problem? In short, dealing with...

We’ve all been there before: you find yourself at the doctor’s office because you just can’t live with the pain any longer.  Waiting rooms begin to feel like home because you’re there for an hour or longer. Once in an exam room, you’re trying to work with a doctor who...

If you’re a fan of The Back Pain Clinic blog, then you know how we feel about the children undergoing chiropractic care.  The news is out - more and more children are receiving chiropractic treatments, according to www.sciencebasedmedicine.org. When four-year-old...

It’s no secret that most medicines and medical practices can be traced back to the beginning of humanity.  And the inception of chiropractic care is no different.  The idea that spinal manipulation held the key to the body’s ability to heal itself began thousands of...

Once a doctor earns his degree, he or she has important decisions to make.  Do I set up my own practice or work with a group?  What services will I offer? What types of insurance are acceptable?  But the most important question remains: Which community will I...

In many ways we look up to professional athletes; for their athletic appearance, dominance in the sport they love or even the fame and fortune.  But at the root of their success - after a lot of talent and a little luck - is the ability to perform at the highest...

Every medicine, medical procedure or surgery has a common goal for patients - to feel better and resume normal function.  Often times we don’t understand why the medical professionals caring for us chooses one strategy to wellness over another.  Whether you suffer...

Coming off the Stanley Cup victory a little over a week ago, St. Louis Blues hockey is in the spotlight.  If you watched even a few minutes of the Blues playoffs games, you noticed the skill, dexterity and brute force that goes into being a hockey player.  Year round...

Summer is here.  That means the season for sandals, flip-flops and heels are among us.  While these fashionable footwear options will keep you in style, they might also land you on the couch.  Back pain often works from the foot to the knee and back, creating a...

"I get so irritated with people who don't believe fibromyalgia is real. For me, and I think for many others, it's really a cyclone of anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and panic disorder, all of which sends the nervous system into overdrive, and then you have nerve...

With the advent of the infomercial, came many famous products to better our lives.  The George Foreman grill will reduce fat from our food; the Ninja will quickly dissolve fruit into its purest form without losing nutrients; Suzanne Somers will help you tone your...

Each stage of life comes with certain expectations.  Kids are filled with energy that many parents would pay to have.  Teens are typically risk-takers, engaging in fun, but at times, dangerous activities.  And most people take good health for granted . . . until...

Understanding the connection between spinal adjustment and body functions can help you make the right choices for a healthy future. The beautiful weather this spring make it easy to want to get outside and get moving - despite a bad back.   Don’t self-medicate or...

Bouncing back from an injury is tough for anyone, but even tougher for athletes.  Athletes hold high expectations for themselves; they have goals, they have timelines, they have the will to keep going.  When sidelined with an injury, you’re left with few options: time...

  Chiropractic care is defined by the American Chiropractic Association as physicians who practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to healthcare that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also...

There’s a drug for pain and a side effect for every drug.  Relief can seem like it will never happen without an act of God. It’s hard to know where to turn or who to trust when we are desperate to get out of pain.  And you have ever experienced neck or back pain, then...

In the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, February is known as Black History Month.  Throughout the month, schools, civic and federal organizations as well as many media outlets take time to highlight the plight and contributions of African Americans over...

As a parent, we’re well aware of all the ways we need to care for our kids: keep them safe, keep them healthy, make them smart, give them responsibilities, teach them the ways of the world . . . . without embarrassing them.  And some of those concepts go hand-in-hand...

All too familiar with pain? While that’s not necessarily a good thing, there is help.  When back or neck pain hits, we have three choices: ache, adapt or appointment.   It’s crazy to think about the amount of pain we will tolerate - not because we want to, but mostly...

Get to know Dr. Fast’s approach to chiropractic care and his philosophy toward helping patients.  Here’s what he has to say . . . What lifestyle changes/modifications do you recommend for a healthy back and neck?   I am strong proponent of exercise.  If patients are...

Do you have one of those jobs that no one understands?  It doesn’t really fit into the conventional idea of a 9 to 5 job.  The job description fits too many categories to definitively explain.  And people say that you’re so lucky to be off just because the weather is...

Most people don’t experience shoulder pain until their mid-30’s or 40’s - if they are lucky.  And most causes of shoulder pain can vary - old athletic injuries, mother’s and daycare workers carrying children all day, or laborers and construction workers engaging in...

Is there a wrong way to rest?  The answer is yes - especially when it’s painful. And we can’t just take a day off work every time we’re in pain, right?  For those who suffer from chronic pain, sleeping, sitting and even traveling can be can make for uncomfortable...

You may have seen news reports, fad diets or ads touting the health benefits of the latest super food — everything from slowing aging to promoting weight loss.  “Super” foods are good for your heart and your overall health when incorporated into a heart-healthy diet...

I have a confession - I never read the newspaper.  I’m certainly not proud, but it’s a fact. However, I happened to grab a paper while at a family dinner at my parents. As I glanced the stories and flipped the pages mindlessly, something caught my eye. An obnoxious...

Some people aren’t comfortable going to the doctor.  Maybe they’ve been lucky enough to stay healthy; or they don’t see the value in the preventative care modern medicine can provide.  Others may had bad experiences from the past prevents them from seeking proper...

Waking up in the morning is met with the usual stretch, yawn and snooze button.  But if you wake up with aches and pains, experience stiffness with each stretch and snoozing only prolongs the moments between getting your ibuprofen and feeling relief   . . . then you...

As the political year ramps up, stump speeches are in abundance and yards are filled with signs of party allegiance - affordable healthcare remains on top of the priority list for the American public.  However, “expense” is a relative term among Americans. Young...

We’ve all been there before: you find yourself at the doctor’s office because you just can’t live with the pain any longer.  Waiting rooms begin to feel like home because you’re there for an hour or longer. Once in an exam room, you’re trying to work with a doctor who...

Sometimes all you need is a good stretch, and the pain will work its way out  . . . and other times it does not. From clenching teeth at night to working on our feet throughout the day, the daily grind of life creates tension in our bodies often harbored in our backs....

Chronic pain comes in all shapes and sizes. For some, it might be daily migraines caused by a neck injury; others might experience weekly sciatica from the strain of sports.  Both are constant, debilitating and even life-altering. The American Academy of Pain Medicine...

The requirements to complete a Doctorate in Chiropractic include two years undergraduate studies, an additional four years practical and clinical training at a college of chiropractic, and finally a licensure certification exam - and that’s just the minimum required....

According to US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there are a little over 44,000 chiropractors in the United States; but all you need is one doctor you can trust.  Many just make an appointment at the first place they find in the phone book - hence the barrage of “ABC”...

Winter is viewed in different ways by many people.  Some love the change of seasons and opportunity to ski, sled and skate.  Others become snowbirds and travel south in hot pursuit of warmth.  And others, mainly fitness freaks and athletic achievers, see the cold...

Mind, heart and soul. Sound body and mind. Back, neck and heart?   Not exactly a common combination, but nonetheless, they are connected.  In this month that focuses on heart health - particularly the symptoms and  prevention of heart disease - we offer the...

The term complementary is usually associated with the hospitality industry and not healthcare.  But in recent years, the trend in modern medicine has been inclusive of, what was considered in the past to be, alternative medicine. According to the National Center for...

As September closes, we want to take one last chance to let you know about the impact of back diseases and potential treatment.  As you know, a lot of back diseases have similar symptoms, but the root cause can widely vary.  Pain is personal; characterizing and...

Picture this, you emerge, slowly from your car, bracing any nearby point of contact.  It’s evident that you can’t balance and walk as you normally would due to a bad back. As you slowly enter your office, a coworker stops to offer help.  After that you may hear any...

We promised to cover back diseases from A to Z, so let’s start with one that’s rare, complicated and hard to pronounce.  Ankylosing Spondylitis is present in only 1% of those examined; the arthritic disease can occur at any age and is usually more common in men.  As...