Jennifer Stepanek, D.C.

Most people who experience whiplash-like symptoms think they are caused by an injury to the muscles in their neck or upper back. It's easy to see this why this may be the case since muscle pain following car accidents is so common. Although tears of muscle fibers do occur in whiplash, these can heal rather [..]

For many of us, low back pain is somewhat of a middle age problem. Lots of sufferers begin to seek chiropractic care in their 30s and 40s and wonder how it all happened. Perhaps it was a sneeze, a long drive, or gardening in the yard that set the pain off. But you were always [..]

For many patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), surgical release is too often the only discussed option for treatment. Why is this? How medical doctors are taught as well as what they read drives many of their decisions.So what does the medical literature actually say these days? An article published in 2007 (Adv Tech Stand [..]

Dr. Phil often talks to viewers about their concerns this way. Perhaps something can be learned from this approach when it comes to our bodily health. Maybe you've been through the health care maze known as "fibrocare." Many patients start off with one little problem, such as fatigue or a headache, which just seems to [..]

Our bodies often let us know there is something not quite right, but are we listening? Too often in life, with hectic day-to-day schedules, getting the kids to school and so on, we cannot be troubled by these little warning signs. So we often just take a pill to mask the pain and get on [..]

Americans are addicted to their automobiles. Nowhere else in the world do privately owned cars enjoy such an integrated connection to our everyday lives. Because we spend so many hours driving and in traffic, there's a high possibility that one day an unfortunate accident will occur. Even if you are the best and safest driver, [..]

We are so used to fixing everyday problems ourselves in today's world that we sometimes take the same approach when it comes to healthcare.  We are bombarded by advertising messages that tell us if we have a pain in the wrist or back, then just go to the drug store and get some pills. The [..]

At least 2% of the United States population, or six million people, mostly women, have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. This is a chronic (long-term) disease, which is characterized by widespread pain of at least three months duration at multiple body sites, including the legs or arms and the spine. For many years, some doctors thought [..]

Headaches are so common that we rarely question their cause or origin. In the case of headaches, it can be something as simple as jet lag to something truly ominous, such as a brain tumor. If you suffer from headaches, it is important that you get the diagnosis right. Remember that head pain is the [..]

Your "back pain" might be a misnomer. We commonly confuse pain for a problem. Doctors don't often help matters by not doing thorough examinations, and just offering a prescription of pain pills or anti-inflammatory drugs when the patient comes in with a complaint of pain. So what is the difference? The pain is part of [..]

When a person is involved in a car accident, the inevitable question comes up: should I see a doctor? In most cases, the answer is yes. But why is this important? A collision between two vehicles imparts a considerable amount of force on the body and spine. Even in low-speed collisions, the forces add up [..]

With any health condition, most doctors agree an accurate diagnosis is important. But with low back pain, it seems that many sufferers postpone a visit to the doctor in hopes that it will go away on its own. It's no wonder many patients take this approach, since advertisements continually tell us that relief comes in [..]