In this month’s newsletter:

Introducing Ki: Addition to the Front Desk
Dr. Becca Keyes Now Available for Adjustments
Article: NSAIDS and Chronic Lower Back Pain
Mommy, Me & Friends Yoga on Thrive Back Lawn 7/29
Recipe: Paleo Battered Fish Tacos

Introducing Ki: Addition to Front Desk Team

We are pleased to introduce you to Kianna Wenzlick (pronounced like Diana, but also ‘Ki’ for short). She is joining Shawna and Michelle to help us cover the front desk responsibilities.

From Ki:

Hello, I’m Ki! I moved to the Cincinnati area in 2013 and am a graduate of Turpin High School and the University of Cincinnati.

In my free time, I enjoy roller blading, playing cards, and hanging out with my dog, Mixon!

Chiropractic care has been a huge part of my life — from my first visit as a colicky 6 month old baby to preventing myself from needing a shoulder surgery a few years ago — I enjoy working at Thrive to help others have positive experiences with chiropractic care like me!

Dr. Becca Keyes Now Available for Adjustments

We are excited to announce the addition of Becca Keyes, D.C. to the team at Thrive! She is now available for adjusting appointments on the following days:

Tuesdays: 10:00-1:00

Thursdays: 8:30-12:30

Saturdays: 9:00-11:00

If you have seen Dr. Pete for adjustments, then you are able to schedule with Dr. Becca as well now whenever convenient for you, for the same price. Of course new patients can also schedule with Becca, much faster than scheduling with Pete!

Here is a bio from Dr. Becca:

Hi, I’m Becca! My chiropractic journey began in a high school health class where I connected the dots between the nervous system, the spine, and the body’s incredible ability to heal itself. I was fascinated that stress on the spine could cause so many health issues and that an adjustment could remove that stress, allowing a person to heal, feel good, move easier with age, and get sick less frequently. I couldn’t wait to help others realize how smart and intuitive their bodies are!

I received a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University in 2014 and a Doctorate in Chiropractic from Life University in 2017. After graduation I moved to Chicago where I served the South and West Loop communities. I adjust using diversified, activator, drop table, BGI and SOT which means my style is gentle and honors the body’s energy. I love to adjust all people but especially love to care for mamas!

My husband, Kevin, and I moved to Cincinnati last year with our bluetick coonhound Ruby. In January 2023, I gave birth to our son Henry at home. I love to go on family walks and hikes, play games with friends, host trivia nights, crochet, bake pastries, listen to podcasts, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, and travel to visit our friends and family all over the country. We’ve enjoyed becoming parents and exploring this new place we call home!

Article: Acute Inflammatory Response Protects Against Development of Chronic Pain

Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/dcoetzee/8488016778

Like many of you, I prefer to use medications only when no other options provide the desired outcome. I’m wary of ‘side effects’ and unintended consequences. This article is troubling as it found that using pain relievers like NSAIDS for acute lower back pain can increase the odds of the pain being a chronic issue years later. The NSAIDS were effective at reducing the initial pain, but the unintended consequence was interrupting the body’s natural inflammation response made us less effective at a more thorough and total healing or resolution of the issue, and chronic pain was more likely.

Summary of the Article:

The authors of this study investigated the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the transition from acute to chronic low back pain (LBP).

The study involved an assessment of immune cells (neutrophils) from 98 subjects with acute LBP.

Clinicians followed a standardized protocol for treating acute LBP with NSAIDs or systemic steroidal drugs to reduce the acute inflammatory response.

All patients were evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS) that assesses pain from 0 to 10, where 0 is “no pain” and 10 is “worst pain imaginable.” All subjects had a pain level of >4 on the NRS, with a duration of no more than 6 weeks.

Key Points From This Article:

“Chronic low back pain (LBP) is the most frequently reported chronic pain condition.”
“Early treatment with a steroid or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) led to prolonged pain despite being analgesic in the short term.”
There is an elevated risk of persistent pain for subjects taking NSAIDs and/or steroids.
There is a protective effect of the acute inflammatory response against the development of chronic pain.
“Results indicate the importance of the up o-regulation of the inflammatory response at the acute stage of musculoskeletal pain as a protective mechanism against the development of choric pain.”
“Active inflammatory responses, inflammatory responses, particularly those regulated by neutrophils, contribute to pain resolution.”
“Drugs that inhibit inflammation might interfere with the natural recovery process, thus increasing the odds for chronic pain.”
“The beginning of the inflammatory process programs its resolution, and it is thus the failure to initiate and appropriate inflammatory response that may lead to chronic pain.”
The acute treatment of inflammation with either a steroid or a NSAID, “Although both effectively reducing pain behavior during their administration- greatly prolonged the resolution of neuropathic, myofascial, and especially inflammatory pain states.”
In human subjects who reported acute back pain, NSAIDs “increased the risk to still report back pain 2 to 6 years later.”
“Higher percentages of neutrophils at the acute pain stage protected against chronic pain development.”

Mommy, Me, & Friends Yoga On The Lawn In-Person Event

Postpartum Mamas we have a morning designed just for you coming up in July!

My wife, Women’s Life+Wellness Coach Dina Haggenjos, will be hosting a Mommy, Me, & Friends Postpartum Yoga On the Thrive Lawn with yoga instructor Caren Harrison Saturday morning, July 29th starting at 9:30 AM.

9:30 am – 10:45am: Welcoming Remarks + Yoga
10:45 am – 11:45 am: Stick around for water/coffee and let’s enjoy some mama mingling with new and old faces. Caren, Dina, and Dr. Pete will be around to chat and address questions with some extra goodies for you!

Tickets are on sale now for $11 via Eventbriteand space is limited to 25 mamas plus babies are welcome to join (but not required ;)

Check out all the details, invite another mama, and claim your seat ticket here! We can’t wait to see you there!

Purchase tickets here.