Our office will be closed on Friday, October 29th through November 2nd. We will reopen Wednesday, November 4th and follow our regular schedule.
Celebrating Our 35th Year of Service
We’re celebrating a huge milestone at Carraway Chiropractic & Laser Center! Over the past 35 years, Dr. Christopher Carraway has been proud to serve New Bern and the surrounding communities. We are honored to have earned the trust of thousands of patients, providing safe, gentle and effective relief for a wide variety of conditions. Guiding his patients toward a healthier, happier life is the most rewarding aspect of his long chiropractic career.
Back in 1986, Dr. Carraway achieved his professional goal of opening Carraway Chiropractic Center in his home town of New Bern, North Carolina. The practice grew rapidly and in 1995 he moved into his current location at 2507 Neuse Boulevard.
Dr. Carraway has many years of experience, having achieved his doctorate in chiropractic in 1985, his diplomate in chiropractic neurology in 1997, certification as a laser specialist in 2010, and certification in the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners in 2011.
As his patients know, Dr. Carraway is an enthusiastic advocate of low lever laser therapy. He currently serves as a senior medical advisor for one of the largest therapeutic laser companies worldwide, and senior clinical advisor for Laser Therapy University online. He has been instrumental in testing new laser devices and has developed multiple laser protocols which have become the standard of care internationally. In 2015, using his in-depth background in neurology, he developed a laser protocol that had never been done before and has proven to be very effective for treating migraines, trigeminal neuralgia, as well as PTSD. His work has been published on numerous occasions in the Journal of Practical Pain Management. Throughout his years of practice, he has been asked to lecture for multiple chiropractic colleges and state associations, sharing his knowlege and experience for the benefit of doctors of chiropractic nationwide.
Dr. Carraway is grateful for the privilege of serving his patients and the community, and he looks forward to providing more years of chiropractic care and to continue with treatment, research and educational instruction in laser therapy. Cheers to 35 years!
Dr. Carraway Published in the The Practical Journal of Pain Management
Dr. Carraway is featured in the prestigious The Practical Journal of Pain Management. The article, “Using Photobiomodulation to Treat Trigeminal Neuralgia”, is a protocol that he invented and developed in 2015 and is being taught worldwide now.
Dr. Timothy Demchak, full professor and PhD at Indiana State University co-wrote the article.
Preventing “Text Neck”
Some 83 percent of American adults own cell phones, and three-quarters of them send and receive text messages. Text messaging users send or receive an average of 41.5 messages per day, with the median user sending or receiving 10 texts daily. As technology advances, allowing us to do more tasks on smaller equipment, our bodies often pay the price. With a growing potential for injuries from tools we rely on, it’s a good time to learn how to minimize the risks. One problem that is becoming more and more prevalent is neck strain from the overuse of these mobile devices, or “text neck.”
What Causes Text Neck?
Text neck is caused by poor posture when using a mobile device. It’s all too common to become hunched over with your head drooping forward and your shoulders rounded as you become engrossed in messaging, games and social media.
How to Avoid Text Neck
Sit up straight with your chest out and your shoulders back.
Bring your arms up in front of your eyes so that you don’t need to look down to see the screen.
Tuck your chin into your chest to look down rather than dropping your head forward.
If you must use your mobile device for lengthy typing, invest in an external keyboard.
Rest your forearms on a pillow while typing to help minimize neck tension.
Avoid using mobile devices while in bright sunlight. Straining to see the screen leads to jutting the chin forward, shifting work from the spine to the muscles that hold up the head.
Avoid looking at your phone for long periods of time while traveling in the car.
The best way to avoid text neck is to limit the use of your mobile device. If you need to send an e-mail, wait until you have access to a computer. If you need to share some information, call the person rather than texting them.
If you find yourself aching despite your best efforts, give us a call at (252) 636-2900. We can treat your pain and teach you ways to improve your posture.
It’s National Chiropractic Health Month!
It’s National Chiropractic Health Month! Did you know that back pain is one of the leading reasons why people are prescribed opioids? Chiropractic spinal manipulation is recognized as one of the most effective non-drug therapies available to relieve back pain, improve function and keep you moving! Learn more #StepsToStrength at acatoday.org/NCHM
Chiropractic Costs Less, According to New Study
Teaching Laser Therapy at the Fall 2018 NC Chiropractic Association
Dr. Carraway was recently invited to lecture on the benefits and application of Laser Therapy for the North Carolina Chiropractic Association at their 2018 Fall Convention. As well as educational, it was a very rewarding experience for Dr. Carraway. “I had the last lecture spot of the day on Sunday. I was afraid that as morning wore on, doctors would start to slip out to start their journey home, but everyone stayed to the last second asking questions and sharing. Then afterwards, I chatted in the hallway with a few doctors for another hour. A very sharp and engaging group of doctors and chiropractic assistants. I hope to be invited back soon.”
Medicare savings with Chiropractic care vs. Medical care
Medicare savings with Chiropractic care vs. Medical care
Researchers have estimated that chiropractic care may reduce the number of Medicare patient visits to primary care medical physicians for back and/or neck pain, resulting in annual savings of $83.5 million.
Why Lifetime Chiropractic Care?
You’ve 
probably heard the old myth that “once you go to a chiropractor, you have to go for the rest of your life.” It’s not true. However, we do have many patients who chose to see us once a month or even more frequently. What’s going on?
Stress levels– Those who face physical, chemical, or emotional stress (that’s all of us) often find regular chiropractic adjustments helpful in correcting muscle tightness and the resulting postural changes.
Avoiding a relapse– Because longstanding spinal problems can produce weakened areas that are susceptible to repeated problems, regular care may often help strengthen supporting muscles and ligaments, avoiding a flare-up.
Prevention– Regular chiropractic checkups can often detect smaller problems before they become more serious (and difficult to correct).
Wellness– Being our best starts with an interference-free nervous system.
Gravity– And let’s not forget the relentless effects that gravity places on our body. Regular chiropractic care helps maintain proper spinal curves to accommodate the compression of spinal joints due to gravity.
Remember, how long you choose to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you. We’re here to serve. How may we help you enjoy life to the fullest?
Back Pain – The Best Treatment is Prevention!
If you’ve ever groaned, “Oh, my aching back!”, you are not alone. Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives. Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.
Most back pain goes away on its own, though it may take a while. However, staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse.
If your back pain is severe or doesn’t improve after three days, you should call Dr. Carraway’s office. You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury.
One of the best ways to prevent back pain is to keep your back muscles strong. Follow these steps to help protect your back and prevent back pain:
• Listen to your body, and don’t push through pain during any exercise or activities.
• Set up your work and home office ergonomically. Use a small lumbar support at your waist level when sitting, feet flat on the floor with the knees at a 90 degree angle. The middle of the computer monitor should be at eye level, and the keyboard just above your lap with the arms at 90 degrees or a little lower.
• Get up and move. Do not sit for more than one hour at a time. Take one minute each hour to stretch a different part of your body.
• Use good body mechanics when lifting or moving objects. Avoid bending over at the waist to pick things up; use your legs — never your back.
• If you have to perform heavy manual labor, take frequent breaks, and stretch throughout the day.
• Don’t be a weekend warrior. Take time to stretch every day in preparation for your favorite weekend sports.
• Strong core muscles help support your back. Simple balance exercises such as standing on one leg for one to two minutes will work your abdominal muscles without the need for sit-ups.
• If you are re-starting an exercise routine, start low and slow. See how your body adapts before increasing time or intensity.
• If you are overweight, work on losing weight to help lower the strain on your back.
Practicing healthy habits and taking preventive measures will reduce your chances of suffering from back pain, whether you are 5 years old or 75 years old. Taking care of your body before a problem appears is always the best medicine.