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I loved the ’80s and ’90s. I’m not sure what it was, but those years produced the best romantic movies of all time. I can’t actually choose the one I love the most, but it would have to be one of the many written by Nora Ephron. Aha! Maybe she’s responsible for the Era!

She comes from a rather illustrious family. Her mother and father were stage and screen writing team Henry and Phoebe Ephron who wrote Three’s a Family, Take Her She’s Mine, There’s No Business Like Show Business, Desk Set and last but certainly not least, Carousel. Nora had three husbands who wrote; Dan Greenburg, a novelist, the Pulitzer Prize winning Carl Bernstein, and Nicholas Pileggi, a crime journalist and screen writer. (While other families are watching football after Thanksgiving Dinner, wouldn’t you love to know what this illustrious family did?) Rounding out the literary circle are her sisters and sons, but none could write romance like Nora.

As you can clearly see, I’m a huge fan of Nora Ephron (1941-2012). Her writing is amazing. She brought us films such as You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle both with co-stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. She also wrote Julie and Julia about Julia Childs, and the acclaimed Silkwood.

Having a more comedic script, When Harry Met Sally paired Meg Ryan with funny man, Billy Crystal. One of the notoriously famous scenes is Sally trying to convince Harry that women fake. . . well, you know. While eating in a deli, Sally breaks out with her version just to prove it. By the time she finishes her little scene, everyone in the restaurant is staring at her and then a woman at the next table says to the waiter… “I’ll have what she’s having.”

They drive cross country together as strangers after graduation from college. They can barely tolerate each other and are glad it’s over when they arrive in New York. A few years later their paths cross again, and then again until eventually they become good friends. Their feelings for each other eventually start to gel and then a big fight. Then the realization, I love it (remember, I’m a woman) when Harry says… I love it that you’re the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.

I want to give a “shout out” to my friends at Orinda Theater. This historic theater has been in operation since 1941. It’s a legend in its own right. I applaud them for their free movie night every month where they give back to all movie lovers. It’s sweet, it’s fun and it’s local. I was so impressed when I took my grandkids there to see Polar Express. Guess what? Their movie for February is none other than When Harry Met Sally. You can figure out the rest of the details for yourself!

Okay, Guys. I’ve given you some ideas here for Valentine’s Day. Before you say you don’t have a Valentine, you need to know something about women. It’s a rare man who doesn’t have a “Princess” in his life. Princesses come in all shapes, sizes and age categories. Sometimes they are your mom, your grandmother, your daughter or even your niece. Women all love to be some man’s Princess. So, here’s a hint: start with the wife or girlfriends and work down the chain until you find the woman (or girl) you want to spend an evening showering with love. I’m talking a mushy movie, from today’s choice, When Harry Met Sally to Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast (see, Disney understands women of all ages). Cozy up, turn the lights down, the fireplace up, and bring on the microwave popcorn and Milkduds! And, oh yes, let me know how your date night worked out at Carolyn@carolynhastings.com.

Crossover vehicles flood every parking lot, freeway, school drop off line, and city streets. Why? Because they fill the need to transport our family, purchases, gear and pets in a manner that delivers comfort, space, and ease of use. As the famous late George Carlin once said, “I need a place to put my stuff!”

The crossover has conquered the people-mover crown once held by the sedan, then minivan, and finally the SUV. To that point in the Mazda lineup their best-selling vehicle in the United States is the CX-5. The industry accolades held by the 2018 Mazda CX-5 that help lead this charge includes Institute for Highway Safety’s recognition of “Top Safety Pick” and WardsAuto “10 Best UX” for its intuitively-designed cabin.

The 2018 Mazda CX-5 is available in three models as noted below. My test model was the CX-5 Grand Touring AWD. This is the second generation of the CX-5 and according to Mazda its sales are off to a record pace. The CX-5 is a compact crossover perfect for a small family.
Pricing and Trims

For 2018 Mazda CX-5is available in the following trim levels: Sport FWD ($24,150), Sport i-ACTIV AWD ($25,450), Touring ($26,215), Touring i-ACTIV AWD ($27,515), Grand Touring ($29,645), Touring i-ACTIV AWD ($30,945).

The 2018 CX-5 introduces new cylinder-deactivation technology that further improves on fuel-efficiency by shutting down the two outside cylinders at cruising speeds between 25 and 50 mph. Mazda is the only automaker to offer this technology on a four-cylinder engine in North America. Also new is the Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, now standard on all models and the following features are now standard on the Touring models: Automatic on/off headlights, Rain-sensing windshield wipers, Full i-ACTIVSENSE suite including High Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning,Lane-Keep Assist, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go function and Smart Brake Support. New standard features on the Grand Touring models are 2-position memory driver’s seat and 6-way power adjustable passenger seat.

Interior Highpoints
The 2018 Mazda CX-5’s interior is clean, comfortable and stylish. The dash is straight forward and not too busy. The Infotainment screen sits at the top of the dashboard and is easy to read. You navigate through the screen options via a spindle and buttons by the center armrest. The seating is for five and is very comfortable. In my CX-5 Grand Touring AWD test vehicle we had white seats with white trim on the doors and center console that delivers a rich look. The rear cargo capacity with the seats up delivers 30.9 cubic feet for your “stuff.”

Exterior Highlights
The Mazda CX-5’s exterior stands out with its shield-shape grille and features a ring of chromed-plastic that merges into the narrow headlights. The CX-5 became the first production application of the next iteration KODO—Soul of Motion design ethos. Where the first CX-5 carried strong character lines that ran alongside its body, the second-generation ushered in “reflection-based surfacing,” distilling KODO to show volume through curves and subtlety.

Performance Specs
The 2018 CX-5 is powered by Mazda’s latest SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter engine that delivers 187 horsepower and 186 lb.-ft of torque, plus a new standard cylinder-deactivation system. This further improves on performance and efficiency by reducing fuel consumption by shutting down the two outside cylinders at light load cruising speeds. The engine is attached to a 6-speed automatic transmission that also can be operated manually.

Cool Features:
• Infotainment system with voice recognition

• Rain sensing windshield wipers

• i-Activesense package adds full-speed automatic emergency braking ($625 option)

Safety Integrity
The 2018 Mazda CX-5 can be packaged with a wealth of safety features includingsome items that are optional features: Advanced dual front air bags, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Sport Monitoring, Lane Keep Assist, Front side-impact air bags, Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), Front and rear side air curtains, Smart Brake Support (SBS), Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Smart City Brake Support, High Beam Control (HBC).

In Summary                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The 2018 Mazda CX-5 is a compact crossover that is perfect for families and is reasonably affordable. The styling is sharp and fresh, the handling is tight, and the performance is pretty descent. The CX-5 can be equipped with a variety of tech features without breaking the bank…Time to take a ride.

Specifications
2018 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD

Base price: $30,945
Engine: 2.5-liter 4-Cylinder
Horsepower: 187 hp
Torque: 186 lb.-ft.
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Drive: All-Wheel Drive
Seating: 5-passenger
Cargo space: 30.9 cubic feet
Curb weight: 3,693pounds
EPA mileage: City 24/Hwy 30/Comb 26 MPG
Fuel Capacity: 15.3 gallons
Turning Circle: 38.7 ft.
Wheel Base: 106.2 inches
Warranty: 3 years/36,000-miles
Also consider: Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4

Valentine’s Day is around the corner: yet another reason for consumers to rush to the shops with mad looks in their eyes, searching for just the right card, box of chocolates, bouquet of flowers, or bottle of sparkling wine. But why? Does anyone remember why we celebrate Valentine’s Day at all?

Saint Valentine was a Catholic priest in 3rd Century Rome. He conducted secret marriage ceremonies for Roman soldiers who were denied the legal right to marry. Because of this, his name became synonymous with love. Valentine was eventually jailed for his actions. While in jail, the good-hearted saint allegedly fell in love with his jailor’s blind daughter and cured her blindness. Just before Valentine was executed on February 14, in the year 270, it is said that he wrote the girl a love note signed, “from your Valentine.”

Eventually, the Pope named the 14th of February “St. Valentine’s Day” and ever since, Valentine’s Day has been considered a day to celebrate romantic love. The practice of sending love notes to one’s true love on Valentine’s Day became hugely popular around the world. Sadly, most of this heart-struck lore has been forgotten with time and even poor Saint Valentine’s name has been corrupted.

Many people walking down the street today actually believe the day is called “Valentime’s Day.” With an “M”. It’s heartbreaking. Nevertheless, what people do know for certain is that if the 14th of February rolls around and they don’t have red roses and a dinner reservation to share with their beloved, all is lost.

Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity for everyone to shake off the “After Christmas Blues” and celebrate love and friendship. Sparkling wine is a natural choice. In honor of an Italian saint, why not make merry Italian-style? There are so many options from which to choose. What a perfect occasion to get acquainted with some of Italy’s best bubbles.

Franciacorta is Italy’s beautifully crafted version of champagne. The Italians use the same grapes and the same methods of production as they do in the Champagne region of France. We don’t see a lot of Franciacorta here in the USA so it’s easy to forget how good it is. Like a little secret the Italians prefer to keep to themselves, 98% of Franciacorta production is consumed within Italy. And who can blame them? Franciacorta is delicious and on a par with the best of the best in Champagne. Ask for it by name at your favorite wine shop and be prepared to be delighted.

Good Franciacorta retails at about $40 and up. Like champagne, it is a gorgeous lemony color with tiny, persistent bubbles. Toasty flavors of brioche and roasted nuts envelope the palate and are rounded off by a touch of baked apple, creamy butterscotch, and perhaps a hint of minerality at the finish. Impressive indeed.

For an offering that is lighter and less pricy, you could try an Italian Prosecco, which retails from $7.99 and up. Prosecco is always tasty and festive with bright aromas of pears, golden apples, and acacia blossoms. It is a favorite at every gathering and perfect for a special, romantic tete-a-tete.

For a splash of color, you may want to try something off the beaten track, a sparkling red Lambrusco, retailing from $12.99 and up. Lambrusco is an Italian original: fruity on the nose with aromas of red fruit, rose petals, and green geranium. It’s dry on the palate with an engagingly soft, bubbly mousse. Lambrusco is a terrific “food wine” to accompany charcuterie, cheeses, and your favorite Italian dishes. Why drink the same old wines when you can have an authentic Italian wine experience?

Don’t forget about dessert! Moscato D’Asti and Asti, which retail at $12.99 and up, are delicate and youthful with aromas of sage leaves and rosewater. The palate is lovely and mild, with lightly sweet flavors of white peaches and a hint of mandarin. They pair effortlessly with fruit-based desserts like apple pie or a fruit tart, and are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and to the lips of your beloved.

Make Valentine’s Day special this year. Delight your loved one with something different and original. Let the romance flow. Get creative. Go Italian!

Happy Valentine’s Day. Cheers!

You have no idea how often I hear from my adult patients, how the sport that they played while they were kids has contributed to their long-term chronic pain. Of course, they have learned to minimize their pain through chiropractic care, laser pain relief, stretching, and postural exercises. However, every single one of these patients wishes they could go back to the time that their pain originated. They wish they could have fixed it back then. Instead, they let it fester for 20, 30, or even 40 years until one day they decide to do something about it. But at that point, the arthritis had already set in and permanent and irreversible changes have taken place.

This is one of the reason’s why I love working with kids so much. We have the chance to fix the problems now, before they become life-long chronic issues. It doesn’t matter what sport your child plays, they all have the capacity to inflict injuries upon our children. From soccer, gymnastics, golf, and even swimming, no athlete is spared from the risk of injury. Don’t get me wrong, sports are amazing and they teach our kids discipline, sportsmanship, and healthy habits. But it is very important to keep their bodies in tip-top shape.

What types of sports injuries do you treat?

I treat all types of sports injuries. They include but are not limited to:
• Sprain/strain type injuries in the ankles, knees, and wrists.
• Repetitive motion injuries, especially in the shoulder or spine.
• Misaligned joints due to impact or strain.

What methods do you use in treatments?

Depending on how your child presents at the time that he or she needs care, I will use a combination of the following therapies:
1. Gentle chiropractic care: If any of your son or daughter’s joints have become misaligned they will need a gentle realignment of their spine or joints in their extremities.
2. Laser therapy: Your child may be a candidate for laser therapy if they have inflammation that is contributing to their injury. Laser therapy is a form of light therapy that helps to pull away inflammation from the site of pain and help to increase the rate of healing, thus helping your child get back to playing as quick as possible.
3. Kinesiotape: Weakened muscles can get an extra boost of support with the use of kinesiotape. Unlike restrictive bracing, kinesiotape allows for full range of motion while also providing stability for injured joints. This helps prevent muscle atrophy from sprain/strain type injuries.
4. Therapeutic stretches and exercises: Once your athlete is on the mend, therapeutic stretches and exercises can help keep your child’s body functioning at their best.

How do I learn more?

The best way to find out if I can help your child with their sports injury, is to call my office and schedule a 15-minute complimentary consultation. This will give you, your son or daughter, and I, a chance to sit down and discuss the injury. I will then be able to let you know if there is anything that I can do to help.

I look forward to helping you and your family prevent chronic, longstanding pain!

Dr. Kristin Moore, DC is a prenatal and pediatric chiropractor at Align Healing Center in Danville, CA. She offers a complimentary 15-minute consultation to the readers of ALIVE magazine. Call Dr. Kristin at (925) 362-8283 to schedule your appointment.

The fact that the country is currently in the midst of an opioid abuse crisis doesn’t negate the reality that people are still living with chronic pain that deserves to be treated. When used appropriately and conservatively in the correct population of patients, opioids remain a valuable tool to alleviate chronic pain. While physicians are now more aware of the pitfalls of prescribing short and long term opioids, the discussion and use of other pain management modalities needs to be highlighted and appreciated more than ever.

The explanations of “you’re just getting old” or “just live with it” when patients ask their doctors for pain management options, are still unacceptable in my opinion. My fellowship training in Interventional Pain Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital not only taught me when to and when not to use opioids but also to integrate procedures, therapeutic injections and minor surgery into the treatment plan. It is important to devise a plan that considers the individual and caters to their needs, lifestyle and personality.

Two extremely useful procedures that I perform for the treatment of low back pain are the MILD, Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression, and Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS). The MILD procedure is a great option for patients who have been diagnosed with low back pain due to Lumbar stenosis. Lumbar stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal. It is a degenerative condition, basically arthritis of the spine, which may occur as we age. It causes pain in the low back that is exacerbated with standing and walking. The typical person with this problem needs to sit down or lean forward after a period of time in order to relieve the pain. Eventually, the ability to walk distances or stand for a prolonged of time diminishes to the point that the person is mostly sedentary.

Previously, the options to treat this type of pain have been epidural steroid injections or surgery. Steroid injections are beneficial and still considered a first line treatment option, however, may not provide the prolonged relief that one needs. They are also dose limited, meaning that once the maximum dose has been reached, they can’t be repeated until after a certain “rest period” despite ongoing pain. Surgery has increased risks and many people are not healthy enough to tolerate or recover from it. The MILD procedure is a one hour outpatient procedure that widens the spinal canal by gently removing excess bone and ligament. It is a safe procedure, no anesthesia needed, no stitches and low complication risk. Clinical studies proved 79% of patients had positive outcomes with increased standing time from 8 to 56 minutes, walking distance from 246 feet to 3,956 feet, and 53% pain reduction.

The SCS is an outpatient procedure that is essentially a pacemaker for the spine. It has been used for decades to treat multiple causes of severe pain by blocking the pain signal at the spinal cord. The most common use is for chronic back and/or leg pain due to stenosis or nerve injury. It is a minor outpatient surgical implant procedure that is an option for people who have failed to obtain relief with conservative treatments, medications, injections and surgery. The advantage of this treatment option is that the patient does a temporary “test drive” of it in order to determine if it will successfully alleviate the pain and increase the level of function. The goal is to reduce the pain by at least 50% and increase function at least 50% to proceed to permanent implantation. The “test drive” is called a trial or screening procedure that is not a surgery and allows the patient to experience the benefits of SCS for one week in order to make the best decision about pursuing the option long term.

Individuals who have been using opioids carefully and responsibly under the guidance of their physician are worried that the medication that has been allowing them to function with a tolerable amount of pain will be discontinued due to the crisis. The effect of disallowing use despite the individual circumstance could be devastating for many. It is important to be mindful about when, why, and how much of an opioid analgesic is being prescribed, but the medications continue to have a legitimate role in a chronic pain treatment plan for appropriate patients. The amount of opioids needed to control pain may be reduced or eliminated by also using interventional modalities such as those discussed above.

In my practice I find stress to be the number one cause of chronic pain and one of the most poorly treated diseases in Western medicine. I call stress a disease because it not only can literally kill you, but by creating hormonal imbalances it can alter your entire body chemistry. This can cause other diseases, possibly resulting in the use of other drugs, which may create even more stress.

Doctors should never forget that stress is a symptom. As I have said before, treating only a symptom is like treating a thorn in one’s foot. If you give drugs for the pain of the thorn, as modern medicine often does, and forget to remove the thorn from the foot, which is the cause of the pain, stress will return in the form of poor health, anxiety, depression, and a variety of other diseases. It is the clear responsibility of the professional treating the disease of stress to either address the underlying cause, or to refer the patient to someone qualified to do so.

One of the reasons that Western medicine and Western pharmaceutical science have failed in treating this disease is that they have departed from historical methods of treatment and ignored the importance of spirituality in the equation. Our ego is the cause of almost all stress. In addition, to achieve spiritual health, the ego must die! This is not just my opinion, but also the opinion of most spiritual leaders for thousands of years. Ego is a little brat that we create when we are children that causes us to defend ourselves and judge others rather than love them. It also makes us try to achieve unreasonable goals, based on what the ego decides is important.

With the guidance of Matthieu Ricard, the author of the book, Happiness, I have been attempting to destroy my ego for years, which requires continual effort. Matthieu exposes what he calls the veils of ego, whereby that little brat attempts to make us see through its veil and see only its way. This keeps us from appreciating all the wonderful beauty that is out there, including the beauty of people that one’s ego doesn’t like.
Shedding the control that my ego used to have over me was a big part of finding the true joy of life. A fabulous addition to this freedom came when I found a 2,500 year old prayer that I live by and also display in my office. It is entitled “Be Thankful.” The last verses of the prayer concludes:

“A LIFE OF RICH FULFILLMENT COMES TO THOSE WHO
ARE ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE SETBACKS.
GRATITUDE CAN TURN A NEGATIVE TO A POSITIVE.
FIND A WAY TO BE THANKFUL FOR YOUR TROUBLES AND THEY
BECOME YOUR BLESSINGS.”

When your health practitioner can get off the proverbial “Ivory Tower” and become a friend, sharing his/her spirit, not a prescription, true healing can occur.

Don’t kid yourself. Old guys like me know what love is. I have three generations of people to love. That is a wife, three beautiful daughters and seven adorable grandchildren. No great grandkids yet, but there is still time, I think. In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about love, hearts and Valentines.

1. She has been on the music scene for a few decades and was the wife of Kurt Cobain. Who is she?

2. He was the right fielder with the great arm in the same outfield with Andre Dawson. Who was he?

3. Who was the female star of the 1955 movie “Love is a Many Splendored Thing?”

4. He was the front runner for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination until word of his affair with Donna Rice aboard his boat Monkey Business. Cannot make this stuff up! Who was he?

5. Fred Astaire played Robert Wagner’s father on this TV spy thriller of the 70s. They were reformed thieves. What was the name of the show?

6. The Giants had a third baseman from 1963 to 1973 with a potent bat and some difficulty in controlling throws to first. His name included three names. Who was he?

Q. My roses haven’t been pruned in several years and are now seven feet plus. When will it be too late to prune as the new growth is starting to emerge? If not, how far back can I prune them? I’ve heard that roses will go into shock if you remove more than half the growth.

A. The winter pruning season can extend into late March. The appearance of the new growth does not signal the end of the pruning season, as roses are pruned year-round. Most gardeners don’t think of it as pruning, but deadheading the spent flowers during the summer and fall months as a form of pruning. Late season pruning, let’s say mid-March on, will only delay when the first flush of flowers are in bloom. In addition, it’s just a ‘gardening myth’ that the bushes will go into shock from pruning. The more I think about it, it just doesn’t make any sense. You haven’t disturbed any of the roots, just reduced the length of the canes. Roses are very resilient plants. They can take a lot of abuse from a pair of hand pruners or neglect. They respond nicely with improved cultural practices. Different pruning techniques are used with the different seasons. The cool winter months allow you to cut the bushes back, exposing the bare canes. If we were to do this in August, the green canes would turn black and die from sunburn. At that time of the year, you would have to cover the plants with shade cloth until the new leaves develop. The leaves shade the canes from the harsh sun. During the growing season, your goals are to remove the spent flowers, reduce the height and bring in the sides. I’d have no problem cutting the bushes down to three to four feet looking for an outside bud. An outside bud or shoot is one that is growing away from the center of the plant. If you don’t find one, wait a couple of weeks and then finish the job. You may have to alter this because of a pathway, or a barrier like a fence of the side of the garage. In addition, remove any dead wood and eliminate the rubbing and crossing branches along with those canes that are growing close to one another. The remaining canes at the base should be spaced about the width of your pruning shears. There is no reason to shy away from pruning today.

Q. We had a problem with fruit tree borers. They’ve killed a cherry and a nectarine tree. What can I do to prevent the borers from returning as we’re thinking about planting new ones?

A. Borers on deciduous fruit trees such as plums, cherries, apricots, peaches, and nectarines occur when they come under stress. Healthy trees will successfully fight them off. The key to preventing borers is good cultural practices that minimize tree stress. The stress is caused by drought, excessive summer watering in clay soil and trees that are planted too deep. Signs of the problem are excessive amounts of sap on the trunk and major branches, dieback in the canopy, and a decreasing amount of new growth each spring. When planting bare root fruit trees, the final soil line should be at the top of the first root. So, here is how you’ll get it right every time. Once the hole is dug, center a 3/4″by 3/4″by 4′ stake in the hole. Lay the handle of your shovel across the hole and make a mark with a Sharpie on the stake. This is the grade level. The tree is attached to the stake so the top of the first root is at the mark and then fill in the hole with the amended backfill. Next year, remove the stake as it has done its job. The new root ball is sufficient to prevent the tree from sinking and being buried too deep. For those trees in containers, the top of the root ball should be a half-inch above the grade to allow for sinkage. You could add a stake to anchor the tree. Mulching later will cover any exposed roots along with the canopy of the tree itself. Plums, Cherries, Apricots, Peaches or Nectarines should never be planted in turf areas. The constant summer water necessary for grass are very problematical. They should be planted in open areas with nothing growing under their canopies. For the first growing season, fruit trees should be watered weekly when the temperatures are above eighty degrees. During the second growing season twice a month and monthly from the third season on. Large watering basins should be constructed so a sufficient amount of water is applied to each tree every time you water. Except for those trees with late-ripening crop, you stop watering deciduous fruit trees at the end of September.

Q. My Fountain Grass has turned brown. How far back can I prune it? Also when will be nice and full again?

A. Fountain grass is pruned down to the ground. The new growth will appear at the base of the clump, as the days get longer and warmer. After Memorial Day, the growth rate will accelerate and the plant should reach full size by mid-July. Now, this all depend on the weather. You can encourage the new growth with a hand full or two of a balanced fertilizer around the drip line in March.

Buzz Bertolero is an Advanced California Certified Nursery Professional and the Senior Gardening Professional at Sloat Garden Centers. The Dirt Gardener’s website is www.dirtgardener.com and questions can be sent by email to buzz@dirtgadener.com

If you are suffering with neck pain from a pinched nerve or herniated disc, you know how debilitating it is and how the pain slowly leaks the vitality from your life. At Align Healing Center we specialize in treating pain naturally. It is our mission to help relieve pain without the use of drugs, invasive procedures and without inducing more pain. If you or someone you care about suffers from pinched nerves or disc related pain, it is worthwhile to explore the natural therapies that are available today.

What is cervical disc herniation?

The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by round, flat discs. When these discs are healthy, they act as shock absorbers for the spine and keep the spine flexible. If they become damaged, they may bulge abnormally or break open (rupture), in what is called a herniated or slipped disc. Herniated discs can occur in any part of the spine, but they are most common in the neck (cervical) and lower back (lumbar) spine.

A herniated disc usually is caused by wear and tear of the disc. As we age, our discs lose some of the fluid that helps them maintain flexibility. A herniated disc also may result from injuries to the spine, which may cause tiny tears or cracks in the outer layer of the disc. The jellylike material (nucleus) inside the disc may be forced out through the tears or cracks in the capsule, which causes the disc to bulge, break open (rupture), or break into fragments.

What are the symptoms of a herniated disc in the neck?

Herniated discs in the neck (cervical spine) can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the neck, shoulders, chest, arms, and hands. In some cases a very large herniated disc in the neck may cause weakness or unusual tingling affecting other parts of the body, including the legs.
Arm pain from a cervical herniated disc is one of the more common cervical spine conditions. Arm pain from a cervical herniated disc results because the herniated disc material “pinches” or presses on a nerve in the neck, causing pain to radiate along the nerve pathway down the arm. Along with the arm pain, numbness and tingling can be present down the arm and into the fingertips. Muscle weakness may also be present due to a cervical herniated disc.

How can I heal my pain without drugs or surgery?

1. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy
Non-surgical spinal decompression is a state of the art treatment that has been helping thousands of patients with chronic neck or low back pain, sciatica, and herniated, bulging or degenerated discs. This is an entirely different treatment from traditional chiropractic adjustments. Many of the patients who are candidates for this procedure have already tried chiropractic, physical therapy, injections, and/or were told they would need surgery.

This breakthrough treatment works by gently separating the vertebra which decompresses the disc, thus causing the bulging material to be drawn back into the disc. Non-surgical spinal decompression is very effective, has a high success rate, and can be utilized for both cervical and lumbar disc injuries.

2. Class IV Laser Therapy
Laser treatments at Align Healing Center are done with the K-laser Cube Class IV Laser. Class IV Laser therapy gets to the root of the injury and treats it at the cellular level, providing energy to the cells so they can heal. This laser does not cut or burn but is gently absorbed by the tissue. During each painless treatment, laser energy increases circulation, drawing water, oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area. This creates an optimal healing environment that reduces inflammation, swelling, muscle spasms, stiffness and pain. As the injured area returns to normal, function is restored and pain is relieved.

There is hope!

We have found that a combination of Class IV laser therapy and spinal decompression offers outstanding results in healing stubborn neck pain due to a pinched nerve, bulging discs or spinal degeneration.

This unique combination of non-invasive therapy offers a chance for realizing a permanent cure for neck or back pain. This eliminates the long-term care commitment forced upon patients by other symptomatic low-back pain treatments, such as drugs, injections or surgery. With proper care and rehabilitation of your spine you can be back to your healthy self quickly!

For more information about Dr. Niele Maimone, DC or to set up a complimentary consult call 925.362.8283 or visit www.alignhealingcenter.com.

We all crave change. We love the thought of starting something new, but it is so hard to take those first few steps, which is why The Rouge Cosmetics offers Mini Make-0vers. You can try something new as part of a self-love enhancement while following some simple changes in cosmetic colors that are uplifting, updated, and fun.

I realize that when it comes to cosmetics and suggestions on how to improve one’s self, our troublesome tendencies or habits can get in the way of our progress. It can seem like just one more rock to push up the hill, which is why we try to keep the make “over” part to a minimum while pushing the make “better” with the hope that you’ll take it in the spirit intended.

With this being the beginning of Spring and time to reinvent ourselves, think about how good the change is; it is positive and it’s time to refresh our psyche. That said, get ready for a Mini Make-Over, designed to renovate your look into a modern, updated version of a more youthful, beautiful you.

Spring Looks 2018

Spring Eyes

Think cool, fresh, pale-nude colors because that’s what you will be seeing a lot of this season. Put aside the bold eyeliner and indulge in some beautiful, modern colors. Try a soft gray crease color rather than a brown. Own your style by using a soft, pale, peachy-nude eye shadow on the eyelid rather than a cream colored one. Invite a new color in your wardrobe until you get used to the idea. That mysterious hipness just might delight your shift in attitude.

Spring Cheek Colors

Now we’re talking super-sheer fusion blush colors for cheeks—and in a big way. Beeline to your nearest cosmetic boutique to try on a cool pink shimmer blusher, while staying true to your urban coolness. Without uttering a word and spiking up your fashionista per se, you will add some spice to your trend-watching swagger. It’s nice to be in the know, and to wear it well you need to add just a hint of this enduring color to the cheeks to pull off this elite fashion re-shift with confidence.

Spring Lips

With all the new modern colors swirling around this season, lips take on a whole new natural wave with baby palette essentials. Think cool light pink nudes, soft peach nectars, and flawless angelic plums. Dabble in a world of beautifully-crafted change without sacrificing all the home-grown principles you still identify with. Instead of using just a clear gloss, use a lip shine with a hint of peach. Or check out a nude pink lipstick rather than a gloss. The possibilities are endless and so much fun.
Spring Forward this season and let yourself in on something fun! You never know until you try it and you may be delighted you tried something new!

The Rouge Cosmetics will be offering Mini Make-Overs for Spring starting February 12th through March 31, 2018. Come in to discover a newer and brighter fun you, while experimenting with all the new and exciting colors for Spring!