Dr. Vivianne Fortin

12/26/2022

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, from my little family to yours 😊

I’m back in the office on December 28th, I’ll be in a turkey coma until then 😉

12/26/2021

Happy holidays from our little family to you and yours! 🎄😊

12/24/2021

Wishing you all laughter, health, love and time spent with family and friends this holiday season!

01/26/2021

Excellent post by a colleague!

“My doctor told me my X-ray showed spinal degeneration, and I am scared that this means I will have back pain for the rest of my life.”

Does this sound familiar?

It probably does, seeing that 96% of asymptomatic people by the age of 80 will have disc degeneration show up on an X-ray.

The key word here is asymptomatic - this means that up to 96% of people with no back pain at all, will have degeneration appear on X-ray.

Why is this important?

The most recent research suggests that diagnostic imaging including X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound have the potential to lead us down a rabbit hole. People with no pain at all can have severe looking arthritis on an X-ray, and other people with debilitating back pain come back with reports that say “normal.”

One reason for this is that pain is largely an experience created by the brain and not by the tissue itself, and this is especially true in the case of chronic pain. Relying exclusively on what shows up on an X-ray to guide decision making can lead to fear that actually hinders recovery. There are times where imaging is crucial to revealing a diagnosis and formulating a treatment plan; but we need to remember to cross-reference what shows up on an image with what the patient describes as their experience.

Pain is largely modifiable through the decisions we make and the actions we take on a daily basis. You are not your X-ray report. Pain does not need to be your normal.

If this sounds like the right kind of care for you, you can book an appointment with me by calling 519-827-0040 - I can’t wait to meet you!

📸: .photography

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09/15/2020

Pillow Talk- Side Sleepers
Are you putting your arm under your pillow while you sleep, or do you bring your shoulder up around your ear to scrunch the pillow into a more supportive position? That is one of the biggest indications that your pillow is too thin. Alternatively, is your head being pushed up while you are on your side? This would suggest your pillow is too big.
Ideally, your neck is in a neutral position with your arm and shoulder relaxed, usually tucked slightly forward.
A firm, structured pillow is the best pillow for side sleepers.
We have an excellent pillow for side sleepers at the office that we can appropriately fit you for!

Additional note: For side sleepers I also recommend a pillow between the legs to keep the low back aligned.

09/04/2020

Pillow Talk- Stomach Sleepers Part 2

I often ask my patients to show me what they mean by side or stomach sleeping. It always surprises me when they demonstrate and they are half on their side, half on their stomach. This throws your spine into a massive spinal twist, which sustained for a sleeping period isn’t ideal.
Solution: try hugging a body pillow (or multiple pillows) at night. The body pillow will provide pressure against your front, giving you the impression of being on your stomach, while holding you away from actually being in that position.
If this is you, you may also want to consider getting a pillow appropriate for side sleepers as it is likely contributing to you sleeping half on your stomach!

08/25/2020

Interesting facts to consider when you or someone you know has back pain!

REDUCE YOUR CHANCES OF SURGERY - SEE A CHIROPRACTOR FIRST! A 2013 study published in the journal Spine [1] showed a very strong association between likelihood of surgery and the first provider seen. The study sought to identify early predictors of lumbar spine surgery within 3 years after occupational back injury. Approximately 42.7% of workers who first saw a surgeon had surgery, in contrast to only 1.5% of those who saw a chiropractor. Read the full text at https://bit.ly/2FScybq.

Reference [1]: Keeney BJ, Fulton-Kehoe D, Turner JA, Wickizer TM, Chan KC, Franklin GM. Early predictors of lumbar spine surgery after occupational back injury: results from a prospective study of workers in Washington State. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013;38(11):953-964. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182814ed5

08/21/2020

Pillow Talk- Stomach Sleepers Part 1

In general, I highly encourage stomach sleepers to try different positions- this will help prevent future low back and neck pain as this position is compromising the spine. However, not everyone can break the habit.
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For those who sleep on their stomachs, there is a need to turn your head to allow yourself to breathe. It’s important that you do not prop your head up on a pillow as this will hyperextend your neck causing tension and joint dysfunction. Firm or large pillows are big culprits of pushing heads/necks into odd positions.

A soft and thin pillow (or no pillow!) is a better alternative for stomach sleepers.



thank you for being my model @ Ottawa, Ontario

08/14/2020

I will say I’m grateful not having to navigate these times with kids, but I couldn’t help laugh at this one! 😝

Don’t forget to bring your kids in for a back-to-school checkup whether they are staying at home or going to school- in these high anxiety times, a spine that is moving well will make things easier on the nervous system- for both you and the kids! 🤗

08/11/2020

Pillow Talk- When is it time to replace??

In general, a pillow should be replaced every 2 years. However, the old rule “you get what you pay for” applies to pillows as much to other products. If you buy a cheaper pillow, you will have to replace it more often.

Here are a few things that you can do to see if your pillow needs replacing:
•Fold the pillow in half, if it stays folded- time to replace
•Are you waking up with a stuffy nose? Pillows are prone to absorbing body oils, dead skin cells and hair which is the perfect environment for dust mites (it’s recommended to use pillow cases and even wash your pillow every 6 months or so)
•Are you waking up with neck pain, neck stiffness, shoulder pain or morning headaches? These are all indications that the pillow may (more than likely) need to be replaced!

A family trick that we use? We write the month and year that we purchased the pillow on the label- that way we never have to guess how old it is!

@ Ottawa, Ontario

08/05/2020

PILLOW TALK

When discussing sleep, people often forget about the importance of the pillow and choose to focus on the mattress instead (also important).

A proper fitting pillow for your body and sleeping habits however, will not only impact your sleep quality but can prevent neck pain/stiffness, morning headaches and even some shoulder/mid back problems.

Stay tuned for our next series all about pillows!

@ Ottawa, Ontario