Dr Scot Gray’s New Book on Back Pain

WHY I WANT TO HELP YOU ELIMINATE YOUR PAIN

It seems like just yesterday that I was a punk kid, playing guitar, basketball and lacrosse. However, between shooting hoops and impersonating Kirk Hammett from Metallica, I dreamed of becoming a doctor—the next Doogie Howser, MD. From a very young age, I was driven to grow up ASAP and get into a medical field where I could help cure people’s pain. I had always been taught that medication was the key to health, so I figured I’d become a medical doctor or perhaps a pharmacist (just like a man I admired at our church).

That is, until my life was forever changed by a car wreck in 1997.  I was an undergrad at Columbus State in Columbus, Ohio, and was cruising down the freeway on my way to class one morning. As I approached a curve at 60 miles an hour, I noticed that everyone was stopped in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, coming to a halt just in time. Unfortunately the vehicle behind me did not see the snarl and slammed into the back of my car at 50 miles an hour. My car was destroyed. So was my neck.

This was the first time I had been in a serious accident. As my car was towed from the scene, I didn’t feel much pain. Figured I was fine. But then, two days later, I woke up and was unable to move my neck up, down, left or right. Like a good Midwestern boy, I consulted my mom, who told me that she was going to a chiropractor for treatment for her migraines and that she thought he might be able to help me with my neck pain.

I had heard all sorts of horror stories and really had no clue what a chiropractor did. But reluctant and scared, I took my mom’s advice and made an appointment.  To my amazement, after just one visit and a few adjustments—voila—my neck started to feel better. My range of motion returned and I was officially a chiropractic convert.

From then on I became fixated on becoming a doctor of chiropractic and helping people through natural means, rather than becoming a medical doctor. After securing appropriate loans (and lots of them!) and finding a job to help me pay for the education I’d need, I worked my rear off and, after six years of year-round schooling, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human anatomy and a doctorate in chiropractic.

At this point, strapped with debt and eager to open my own practice, I found a doctor who would not only hire me but, after a year, cover the

overhead so I could open my own office. I could pay him back as the business became profitable, he said. In February of 2004, however, deep into my search for office space, the doctor told me he was sorry, but he couldn’t help me open my office at that time. I was devastated. My momentum had been halted, just as it had been that day on the highway. I was now had no income, no practice, and plenty of student loans to pay back.

My brother, Seth Gray, D.C., had gone through school at the same time as I did and was also a chiropractor, so we decided to go into business together. I was single, living in a two-bedroom apartment. My brother was married with two children and two Jack Russell terriers. We were both broke. We all moved in to a two-bedroom apartment to save money as we worked to start a practice.  We went from bank to bank, trying to get a loan. After several months and many, many “no’s,” we received a call from a chiropractor about 45 miles north of us in Marion, Ohio, who was looking to sell his practice. We knew this was our shot and, luckily, were finally able to score a loan with Fahey Bank, a small local financial institution.

At the time we bought it in June of 2004, the practice had been seeing 20 patients a week. Within three months, our business was profitable, we were seeing 300 patients a week, and as I am writing this book I just received a loan note from Fahey Bank declaring that our loan was “paid in full.”

So, here I am, having realized my childhood dream to help people eliminate their pain—without drugs or surgery. It doesn’t get better than that. In order to share this knowledge with people who can’t make it to my office, I decided to write this book. Within these pages is everything you need to know to live pain-free. The steps and suggestions are simple, yet essential. Read on, and enjoy your new life…

Remember, “I’ve Got Your Back”—

Dr. Scot Gray

PS: You can get a Kindle or Hard Copy of my book by clicking here.

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Happy New Year (Photo credit: James Marvin Phelps)

I’m guessing that by the time you read this, most peoples’ midnight resolutions are broken and forgotten, and things are going back to business as usual on all fronts. I would like to CHALLENGE you to not go back to ‘business as usual’, but to make some real changes this year and make it your BEST YEAR EVER!

The more you know about how and why you make decisions, the easier it is to make aggressive and permanent changes.  There is a ground-breaking book on this subject called: THE POWER OF HABIT. Here is the basis of that book and how you can make permanent changes (new habits):

There are only 3 things you need to know:

1. What is your CUE?
2. What is your ROUTINE?
3. What is your REWARD?

We need to have an example to talk about, so we’ll use the typical “I want to start working out this year.”

1. Start by figuring out your CUE. You need to come up with something to CUE you to want to work out. A good idea is to use a picture of you now, and get out a picture of when you were at your peak level. Give yourself some pain (picture of you now), and a goal (older picture of you) to make you want to do the activity.

2. Create a ROUTINE. Make it automatic that when you see that picture you go and work out. You could look at that picture first thing when you get up which makes you go and work out. You could look at it when you leave work, so that you create a routine of going to the gym after work.

3. Develop the REWARD for what you are doing. When you work out, the feeling you get can often be the REWARD. Our bodies naturally release chemicals in your body that make you feel good and put you in a positive mood when you work out. Some people add a little more to it though, like having a favorite drink after they workout, or maybe they get their coffee after they work out…but they ONLY get the REWARD after they do the action.

This is a simple 3-step formula to create serious change in your life. I challenge you to do this each and every day to get the results you want.

You can use this for working out, changing your eating habits, being more productive at work, starting a business or project that you have been putting off (because of your previous ‘bad’ habits).

If you want to read THE POWER OF HABIT, you can get it at Amazon by clicking here.

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English: Cartoon of George C. Scott as ‘Scrooge’, starring in the 1984 television film ‘A Christmas Carol’. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I found it interesting that there have been 21 movies made of this book!  I was wondering, who is your favorite scrooge?

1. Alastair Sim (1951 Version)
2. George C Scott
3. Patrick Stewart
4. Michael Caine (The Muppet Christmas Carol)
5. Bill Murray (Scrooged)
6. Scrooge McDuck (Mickey’s Christmas Carol)
7. Jim Carey
8. Other…

Personally I like the George C Scott version of the movie the best. I get good feelings just thinking about the movie because it takes me back to my childhood and I think about Christmas with my family. Its funny how just thinking about a movie can do that, right?

I have thought a lot about this story as I’ve grown older. It used to be a fun movie to watch, but has started to have much more meaning to me as I learn and grow in life.

This movie is now a gut check for me at the end of every year. As I watch the movie I am reminded of how easy it is to focus on being successful and creating a comfortable life. We get caught up in “The American Dream” and lose sight of what is important.

We see an example of losing sight of what is important as Scrooge goes through his life focused only on growing his business and not paying any attention to the needs around him. A favorite line of mine in the movie is when Jacob Marley is talking to Scrooge and he tells Scrooge (very sternly), “Mankind is our business!” I think that is really the heart of the movie.

But Scrooge didn’t want to change from how he was living. He was comfortable living the way he had been and Marley hadn’t convinced him. It took some unpleasant visitors interrupting him in the middle of the night…and taking him through some painful experiences to get him to change.

These visitors did not just tell him that he needed to change. They took him through experiences that caused him great pain. They linked this pain to the way he was currently living his life. They linked pain to the decisions he was making every day in life.

They made him experience all of the pain in his past, in the present and they made him even experience future pain, including the death of Bob Cratchet’s son, Tiny Tim. They made him experience ultimate pain that would continue unless he changed.

After that night, he would do anything to change! He couldn’t go on living the way he was after experiencing the pain and seeing how it affected others so negatively.

When you link enough pain to a certain type of behavior, you can make some serious changes! Isn’t that true?

As a chiropractor here in Marion, Ohio I see this in my office all the time. I see people put off their pain for months and months until it becomes serious. Once they have the pain, they decide to finally do something about their back pain. Not a good idea.

I’m here to tell you that there is a much easier way. You don’t have to wait until you are in pain. Don’t wait to get as bad as Scrooge. Don’t wait for the pain to come and wake you up in the middle of the night! Do something about it before you have unpleasant visitors come at night!

This is the Scrooge Technique to take care of your back and neck (make sure you apply this!):

1. First, you have to link pain, just as the ghost’s did with Scrooge, to not doing anything at all. Understand that not taking care of your back can have devastating results down the road. This is not pleasant, but you have to realize that the #1 cause of disability in people over 50 are spinal disorders! If you plan on living past 50 (which I hope you do), you need to take care of your back, before it “goes out.” Think about all of the things that you won’t be able to do if you have a bad back (work, play with kids/grandkids, hobbies, golf, etc…). Once you do this, you will be motivated to make a change!!
2. You need to close your eyes…seriously, close your eyes (after you read what to do). Take a few deep breaths and think about what is holding you back from taking care of your back and your health. Think about what are the consequences going to be if you neglect the health of your back? Feel the WEIGHT of this on you. By having these beliefs, what are you losing out on in the past, present and future? Feel what that feels like to lose that love of someone close to you, that hobby, that fun. Does this affect your ability to work and make money…is it costing you money from missing work? What kind of role model are you for your kids if you don’t take care of yourself? What goals do you have now that back pain would steal from you? Make yourself feel it like Scrooge experienced it!
3. If you’re committed to being healthy make sure you make that FEEL THE PAIN of neglecting your spine and health. This should motivate you to change your beliefs about how you take care of yourself.

I try to apply this formula to everything in life where I know I need to make a change…but…just might be a little stubborn and don’t want to change! I have to link more pain to staying the same than changing.

If you want to have a healthy back and be healthy for years to come…make sure you give us a call and take care of your back today!! Don’t put this off. Link enough pain to letting your health go that you make a change today!

(740) 386-6580

Remember, “I’ve Got Your Back!”

Dr Scot Gray

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Cover of Big Little Book John Carter of Mars (Dell, 1940) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I finally found time to go, the movie was only showing in one theater in Columbus. The movie had “flopped” in America so they pulled it out of theaters very quickly.  The movie theater was “packed” with myself, my wife, my buddy Rashied…and about 2 other people.  Not good for Disney (who made the movie).

Why am I talking about John Carter?  Well…John Carter is based on a book in which the title reveals that he is of the planet Mars. Of course Mars is also known as “the red planet.” When I discovered that national “Red Planet Day” is today, I wanted to share something that tied in with The Red Planet.

The movie follows the story of this man John Carter who is a renegade, out searching for his fortune when he is surprisingly transported to the planet of Mars…although he does not know at first that he is on a different planet.  He is completely unfamiliar with his surroundings. I imagine that would have been a bit frightening at first!

He is discovered by an alien race, captured and held captive immediately upon landing on Mars.  You are probably wondering “where in the world is Dr Scot going with this?”

Well, I love this movie because it shares the story of a man that is thrown into a completely unfamiliar land, where he has to fight for his life, learn how to survive with this alien race, and well…I won’t go into too much detail and spoil the movie for you or the other 3 people that might watch it LOL.  I want to share an important concept from this movie. I learn a lot from stories like these and I hope you can take something from it too.

Sometimes you might feel the way John Carter did…you’re thrown into situations that you are completely unfamiliar with, you feel lost like you’re on a different planet and don’t know what to do. You may just feel like giving up and letting the circumstances get the best of you…you might not fight back like you see John Carter do in this movie and you end up stuck in that place for the rest of your life. This is not acceptable for you or anyone else.

Do you feel like this…you are in a situation that you feel like you got thrown into and that you have no power to get out of. You feel completely alone.  It’s one thing to feel like you’re in a bad place…its another to feel like you don’t have the power to get out of it.  I bet John could have felt that way too…what would you think if you found out you were on another planet controlled by aliens?

John Carter could have just given up and stayed there…never trying to get back to earth to get his life back…but he decided to fight.  It was not an easy fight by any means…but he gives it his all.  That is what you have to do, you have to give it your all.  I think that he saw the situation as “I’ve got to get out of here and fight for my freedom,” which is much different from “Why does this stuff always happen to me?  Why can’t I ever catch a break?”

I would just encourage you to fight for what you want.  Go after the goals and dreams that you have in spite of the situation that you are in.  You will never know if you can do it if you don’t start fighting for it.

Go check out John Carter and get some inspiration to fight for your goals and dreams!

If you live in Marion, Ohio and are fighting neck pain, back pain, or headaches, check out this new video by clicking here.

I’ve got your back,

Dr Scot Gray

Check out this new video if you are experiencing neck pain, back pain, or headaches by clicking here.

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Black Friday (1940 film) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

But I TRULY hate shopping. In fact, I have a vision of hell and it looks like the check out lines at Walmart on Black Friday! LOL!! It scares me just as much as the old Boris Karloff movie, Black Friday! So I thought I would poke a little fun and share some tips regarding having a healthy Back Black Friday.

Actually, it is not too uncommon for people to get injured in all the hustle and bustle of Black Friday shopping so in an effort to help Black Friday shoppers as well as Cyber Monday shoppers I’d like to remind you of a few important tips to help keep your back healthy through the holidays.

Step one. Go to my website and watch the videos on how to loosen up your back so that when you’re carrying all of the stuff you buy your back will hopefully be able to take the strain.

Another thing to keep in mind is if you’re going to be one of those people racing to get a limited supply of a toy that you know your kid is going to not appreciate anyway (Oops…did I say that… I know I was thinking that, but did I say that out loud? LOL!) then you really should consider the shoes you will be wearing. Fashion and function don’t always co-exist very well so low or no heels for the ladies and I would not suggest that the guys wear their old football cleats from highschool. Although it may turn into a rugby-like scrum, it is still in your healths best interest to not wear cleats.

To all of the ‘camp over night on concrete sidewalk’ people. Honestly, your best bet is to come to my office on Saturday morning (November 24th) so that I can fix your back because a night on concrete is going to mess up your hips, back, neck, and who knows what else so I hope that flat screen TV or other electrical gadget is worth the pain! And, by the way, if it’s a really good deal will you get one for me too? LOL I’ll fix your back and you hook me up with a sweet flat screen deal?

More tips… For our Cyber Monday shoppers remember that hunching your shoulders while typing can lead to back and neck strain so take a moment and do some deep breathing before you jump online to try to get those super deals. Also, be sure you’re sitting in an ergonomically sound fashion.

Hunching over your laptop as you sit on the floor is NOT doing your back, neck, shoulders or wrists any favors. Incorrect hand positioning has proven to lead to carpel tunnel. Although I’ve been very successful in helping relieve carpel tunnel pain as well as other back and neck pains, I would prefer to help you prevent the situations so that you don’t have to deal with the various neck and back pains. That makes sense doesn’t it?

Another thing for the Black Friday shoppers: Be sure you’re bending your knees when lifting the heavy bags and keep your knees bent when placing the bags in your trunk. Many times placing items in your trunk creates an awkward strain on your body that could cause hamstring and lower back issues.

Last, but not least. Remember the real reason for the season. Gift giving is great, but the self induced stress associated with the Holidays can really cause significant health challenges. Make this year different.

Enjoy your shopping and remember:

“I’ve got your back”

Dr. Scot Gray

The post Want Tips To Maximize Black Friday & Cyber Monday? appeared first on Dr. Grays Blog.

You know that you have to brush your teeth so they don’t fall out by the time you are 35. You know that you have to change your oil in your car so it doesn’t break down. You know that you have to stay active to stay healthy.  You have to take action before something bad happens. I would like to share with you that your back is the same way.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO HAVE A HEALTHY BACK:

First of all you need to realize that your back pain is not something that happens from one twist, one fall, one night of sleeping awkwardly. Your back goes through all kinds of physical stress and damage throughout your life. There is an innumerable amount of spills and accidents we all go through.

DON’T BELIEVE ME, CHECK THIS OUT:

If you have kids, you’ve watched them grow up. You’ve watched every slip, fall, and spill that they’ve taken. You’re hoping the kids make it past age 10 with all the damage they go through! This all happens with no treatment, no prevention, no maintenance to counter-act all of that damage. This is dangerous and it is why most people end up with back pain.

You need to take care of your back. You have to counter all of that damage that happens. Just like we have to brush our teeth, change our car oil, and take care of our other areas of health…your back is no different.

There are just a couple core things (pun intended) that you need to do to stay healthy. Here they are:

1. You need to have a strong core. If you don’t know how to get a strong core, click here to see videos on how to do so. I know what you are saying…”I don’t have time to do exercises.” I know this because every patient tells me the same thing. Let me ask you a question…if I would give you $1 million at the end of the year if you did your exercises every day, would you do them? You bet you would! You would find the time. You would not make excuses and I’d be writing you a check for $1 million at the end of the year (just don’t cash it…it will bounce higher than a super-happy-fun-ball!)You need to find the motivation (being healthy and being able to move) to do these exercises every day. No more excuses…you’re worth it!! Really, YOU ARE WORTH IT!!

1. Secondly you have to counter-act all of the twisting and turning of the spine that puts it out of alignment and puts stress on your muscles, nerves, and other tissues. Again, I know what you’re saying…”But I don’t have any pain right now, do I really need to get adjusted back into alignment?” (Again, I know you may be thinking this from experience). .  It really is a great question. The truth is that you spine will always be going through trauma, it will always be getting twisted into all sorts of strange and damaging positions. If you don’t care about how you will move and enjoy your life later on, then feel free to ignore what I will say next. But, if you want to be able to walk, jog, dance, play with your kids and grandkids, this is vital for you to hear…you need to stay in alignment to stay healthy and mobile for as long as you live. You really can stay active, as long as you want to if take care of your spine.

So, I am going to leave you with just those 2 things to do. Make sure you keep your core strong and keep your spine in line. As I always say, “Keep your spine in line, and you’ll feel fine!” 

Remember,

“We’ve got your back”

Dr Scot Gray, Dr David Tharp, and Staff.

The post 2 Ways To Prevent Back Pain appeared first on Dr. Grays Blog.

I’m not saying that I always agree with
the politicians who send our armed forces
into harms way, but I always support the
armed forces.

November 10 is US Marine Corp Day.

I once made the mistake of saying
‘so you used to be a marine?’ and I was
quickly made aware that ‘once a
marine always a marine!’. This was
shared with me by a gentleman who
faught in WWII.

Note to self: Never say to a marine
anything about not being a marine because
marines are dedicated, committed, and
passionate about what they do.

Semper Fi. This is the motto
of all US Marines. “Semper Fidelis” is Latin for “Ever faithful.”
or Always Loyal.

It is no wonder that at one
point in time that over 200 of
the Fortune 500 companies had
a CEO that IS (emphasis on ‘is’
vs ‘was’) a US Marine. Loyalty
is a form of dedication. Dedication
is essential in any type of success.

I strive to be loyal and faithful
to my patients and for increasing my
chiropractic knowledge. I know
the allegiance to integrity held
by Marines. I have this kind of
allegience to my patients.

So in some small ways I feel I have
these traits in common with the
amazing men and women in the US
Marine Corp.

I’m grateful for the dedication of
Marines that allow me the many freedoms
afforded in this amazing country
that we live in.

To all Marion, Ohio Marines and all
Marines throughout the world! Thank
you! For your Semper Fi.

Remember: “We’ve got your back!”

Dr. Scot Gray, Dr David Tharp and Staff

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It’s almost turkey time!! Make sure you take advantage of our Thanksgiving special! One less thing to get at the grocery store!

The post Turkey Day 2012 Is Almost Here… appeared first on Dr. Grays Blog.

Christina, 6, Marion, Ohio

Take a second to read her story here:

For a child with a life-threatening medical condition, traveling means so much more than a vacation. Traveling gives them the opportunity to escape, quite literally, from their difficult medical routines. For a Wish Child, it also means going on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure only Make-A-Wish^® can provide.

For six-year-old Christina, her wish to go to Walt Disney World^® Resort means enjoying the magic of Florida’s popular theme parks with her parents and older brother, Bobby.

Christina is battling complications of leukemia. This young girl finds joy in playing outside, particularly playing soccer and riding bikes. Despite the exhaustion brought on by her life-threatening medical condition, Christina boasts a smile that is contagious.

What’s special about trips to Walt Disney World^® Resort is how much the details of the trip mean to each child. It is the things they look forward to the most that divert conversations from treatment schedules and medications to a cartoon mouse and fairy dust.

Christina is looking forward to meeting the princesses. What she doesn’t know is that she will get the royal treatment. Christina and her family will receive special access to exhibits and the ability to go to the front of the line on every ride.

The Walt Disney Company will provide theme park tickets and other perks for Christina and her family as part of their overall relationship with Make-A-Wish.

We Need YOUR Help!

We have already raised thousands of dollars this year, but we need more to help grant the wishes of children like Christina.. There a couple ways that you can help:

1. When you come in, make a cash donation of any amount to go to Make-A-Wish. Feel free to also send in a donation to our office, we will add it to our contribution to Make-A-Wish!

2. Every time a new patient comes in to our office, we will donate $20 to Make-A-Wish!

3. Many of our patients pay cash for their treatment. Every time a cash paying patient comes in the office between now and December 31st, we will donate $1 from their visit to Make-A-Wish

4. Come to a Monday evening Stress Lecture and FREE Dinner at El Campesino! Call our office to RSVP! (740) 386-6580

We thank you for any help you can give to help children like this beautiful young girl have their dreams come true!

You are the best patients around! Thank you so much!!

Remember, “We’ve got your back”

(Now let’s get a local wish child’s back too!)

Dr Scot Gray, Dr David Tharp, and Staff.

The post Let’s Make Wishes Come True!! appeared first on Dr. Grays Blog.

Stretching cat (Photo credit: lightsight)

That may look like something we shouldn’t do…but it is really a great stretch if you are having tightness in your low back or in your mid back (between your shoulder blades). Maybe the cat just had a tight back from sleeping crooked…sound familiar?

There is a proper way to do this stretch if you feel a little tight…and a proper amount of times to do it.  If you want to see how to stretch to help with your back tightness…right in the comfort of your own home, click HERE.

We’ve got your back,

Dr Scot Gray, Dr David Tharp and Staff

PS: The stretch is appropriately called “the cat-horse” or the “cat-camel.” They thought long and hard on naming that one!

To see the stretch, click here

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