Dr. Luke Blackburn, DC
Chiropractor
Millard Oaks Chiropractic
- How long post mastectomy surgery should someone wait to get adjusted/manipulated?
4-8 weeks to allow the incision to heal. We typically wait 6 weeks before having a patient get adjusted lying prone. There are cases where the incisions are small and the healing time is closer to 4. Also the opposite, severe incisions may take closer to the 8 week mark before we or the patient feel comfortable getting adjusted prone. However, if there is significant pain a seated adjustment can be done as soon as bleeding has stopped from the incision and the patient feels comfortable to have the adjustment.
- Can chiropractic adjustments metastasize the cancer?
No, chiropractic adjustments do not metastasize cancer. Studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments actually improve immune system function.
- Can someone active in treatment receive chiropractic adjustments and/or traction?
Yes, chiropractic adjustments and low force traction can be performed during active treatments even with a port-a-cath. It's all about patient comfort.
- How does your clinic/organization address sexual health and intimacy?
A chiropractic adjustment is aimed at removing stress from the nervous system which allows the body to heal itself.
- What precautions and/or contraindications should be considered for chiropractic treatment during cancer treatment?
Depending on the type/stage of cancer, bone density needs to be taken into consideration. If a patient has decreased bone density there are special low force techniques utilized to make safe effective adjustments. Any case with port-a-cath, incisions, scarring, or increased sensitivity, is addressed with low force techniques to make a safe and effective adjustments. These can be done with hands on or instrument assisted adjustments. Patient positioning is also taken into consideration and can be done in a variety of ways to the keep patients comfortable. Adjustments can by done seated, laying, and standing. The goal of any chiropractic adjustment is to keep the patient as comfortable as possible. Electrical stimulation/TENS unit is common in chiropractic and is NOT used on acute cancer care. The evidence on whether muscle stimulation/TENS unit stimulates cancer cells is inconclusive and avoided until proven otherwise. There are times TENS can be recommended for pain in cancer patients, but should be approved by an oncologist.
How do you treat patients with pain from cancer/radiation/chemo? What are some things you can instruct them to do at home to alleviate symptoms? I.e. tender ribs from radiation, limited range of motion from radiation burns and scarring.
As mentioned above, specific lower force techniques are utilized to help treat cancer patients with pain from cancer/radiation/chemo. Electrical stim/TENS is currently not used in our office unless recommended by an oncologist. Low force decompression therapy is also utilized to help patient with pain from cancer/radiation/chemo and is tolerated favorably. Light decompression of the spine during cancer/radiation/chemo can help open the spinal column, chest, and ribs allowing for less stress and deeper breathing.Two types of decompression utilized are:
a) Low force seated decompression, which allows a Y-axis decompression of the spine (like being lightly stretched from head to toe).
b) Roller decompression, which involves lying on the back and having 2 wheels lightly massage motion into the spinal column and ribs.
For home therapy, various stretches/exercises are given depending on the situation. Most stretches/exercises are aimed at reducing stress or providing strength in areas needed. In most cases the goal of the stretches/exercises is aimed at opening the chest which is often compressed and closed down during cancer treatment. This is common when undergoing any stressful event in life. Often times a foam roller is recommended to help mobilized the joints of the spinal column and ribs. This is great at helping open the chest and loosen the back and ribs. Breathing exercises are given to help bring patients from a sympathetic to a parasympathetic state. The body should maintain an even balance of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Most people live primarily in a sympathetic state which keeps the body under stress. A parasympathetic state is when the body is relaxed and able to heal the best. The goal of breathing exercises is to help keep the body in a parasympathetic state so it is best able to heal. Wim Hof breathing is a great technique to shift the body to a parasympathetic state and is highly recommended. 2:1 breathing is another breathing exercise given and although less intense than Wim Hof, can help relax the body and get to a parasympathetic state.
