Port Jefferson Chiropractic: Heat versus Cold - Chiropractic Smackdown!

Port Jefferson Chiropractic: Heat versus Cold - Chiropractic Smackdown!: "How do you choose between Cold or Heat to help with pain? If you are not in the office - where Doctor Horney can guide you -..."

Heat versus Cold - Chiropractic Smackdown!

How do you choose between Cold or Heat to help with pain?  If you are not in the office - where Doctor Horney can guide you - it may be hard to decide between Ice and Fire!

Some patients come into the office with severe pain and receive ice pack treatment.  This is meant to reduce inflammation in the area of pain.  Cold or cryo-therapy is a way to stop the cycle of extreme pain and allow the body to recuperate faster.

After the cryo-therapy has done its job, many patients still need pain relief and receive heat therapy.  Moist heat therapy allows muscles to relax and be more acceptable to chiropractic adjustment and healing.  Our moist heat pads are continuously heated in a temperature controlled hydroculator.  This assures that the heat is effective yet will not be too hot.  Always remember, though, that if you are feeling uncomfortable with either types of therapy, you can always shed the pads and drop them to the floor. Fifteen to twenty minutes is the ideal time for both therapies.

Have you experienced Biofreeze?  This is the gel that Doctor Horney may rub on the painful areas of your body.  It is a therapy that starts out cold to reduce inflammation and then within 5 minutes it turns to heat to relieve pain for hours.  This is a wonderful product that can help you, whether you need to sleep peacefully or need to get through a stressful day.

We also provide a ice/heat pad that you can either put into your freezer or your microwave - depending on your needs.  Maybe it can be used on a cold Spring Day to soothe your back with heat while you are enjoying a cup of tea and a nice movie.  Sometimes it's just nice to treat yourself.

Ultrasound Therapy - A Natural Pain Killer

Ultrasound is a treatment used by Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and Occuptaional Therapists to treat soft tissue pain in patients.  It may help reduce your pain if your have the following conditions:

- Neck and Back Pain
- Arthritis
- Myofascial pain (pain in the connective tissue)
- Bursitis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Scar tissue pain
- Sprains and Strains
- Tendonitis

For over 50 years, Ultrasound has been used as a healing therapy and is approved by the FDA.  Ultrasound is like a deep tissue massage due to the sound waves it emits.  Ultrasonic waves (sound waves of a high frequency) vibrate from the treatment head of the ultrasound machine.  The head is moved over the surface of the skin in the area of the pain or injury.  A special gel is applied to the skin and helps the sound waves penetrate the skin. 

The ultrasound waves cause a vibration of the tissues in the area of application and this leads to a production of heat within the tissue that may help to lessen pain and muscle spasms.  The heat and vibration may also increase blood flow which helps to rid the area of waste products and helps to reduce inflamation.  This may also stimulate to production of collagen (the main protein element in soft tissue) and this also helps healing.


If you feel that ultrasound can be helpful for you, feel free to discuss it with Doctor Horney.  He is always here for you.

A Beautiful Testimonial from Alicia Cedar

Fiteen or twenty years ago I went to see Doctor Horney.  He took X-Rays of an area bothering me and saw that I had alot of plaque in my carotid arteries.  He said that he was not going to adjust me as the plaque could break off and cause bad damage.  He strongly suggested that I go see my Doctor and the results were two operations.  One on each carotid artery.  He saved me from what would have been a stroke or worse if left unattended.

Last year, I had pain between my shoulder blades for a week or more.  I thought that I pulled a muscle at the gym.  I called Doctor Horney and went to see him.  I explained my problem.  He said to me "Alicia, you sounded out of breath on the phone, are you often out of breath?"  Then he said "Have you ever had a stress test?  Due to your history of your carotids, family history and age, I would advise you to take the stress test first and if all is well I'll treat you then."  Two weeks later I was undergoing a heart by-pass for 5 blockages in my arterial artery.

That was the second time Doctor Horney has saved me from grave damage or worse.  I thank my lucky stars for the day that I met this man.  Due to his willingness and ability to think beyond his field is a testament to not only his intelligence but his caring and humanity.

- Alicia Cedar

A Patient Spotlight - Janice Fleishman-Eaton

I am an Adult Health Nurse Practitioner currently working in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgey at Stony Brook University Medical Center.  Since becoming an NP in October 2008, I have had many different job experiences and have found that giving Primary Care was the most rewarding, although I would prefer to have had more time to talk to my patients about what their health concerns were. 

During most of my thirty years as a Registered Nurse I worked with cardiac patients and did alot of patient teaching.  Heart disease, particularly coronary heart disease is the #1 killer in this country.  In the late 1990's I began coordinating our Cardiac Education Program at SBUMC and was part of the American Heart Association Speaker Community Outreach.

I believe that people need the tools to take control of their health.  Education is a very powerful tool.

I am excited to be a part of a health care and wellness group as caring and professional as Marisa Chadbourne, MT and Michael Horney, DC.


Janice also has a testimonial about Port Jefferson Chiropractic:

I have been seeing Michael as my chiropractor for 23 years.  I have had lower back degenerative disease since my mid 20's.  Stress has also put my back and neck out of alignment.  I find relief from pain at every visit to Port Chiropractic.  Michael personalizes my treatment, treats me gently, and gives me all the information that I ask for to help me understand what is happening and to help myself get better.  I continue to do yoga, walking, biking and gardening.  If I am not outside breathing in fresh air and sunshine, I am craving it.  I am very grateful to have a health care and wellness provider who has an office that is so welcoming and healing.  Thank you to Michael and his wonderful staff.