Name: Dr. Nahinu James DC
Professional Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Doctor Of Chiropractic
Certifications: Webster Technique Certified, Cranial Sacral Certified
Location: Portland Oregon
Years in Practice: 5 years
- What is your healthcare license and education? How long have you been involved in your specialty?
Dr. Nahinu James is originally from Hawaii but now finds herself specializing in Prenatal, Postnatal, and Pediatric Chiropractic care in Portland Oregon. She graduated from University of Western States Chiropractic College and immediately went into her specialty post graduation working with fertility, prenatal, post natal, and pediatric chiropractic.
- What led you to it?How is it different from the mainstream of your field?
Dr. Nahinu originally was hoping to become and optometrist. However, she fell in love with Chiropractic care after a summer job as a receptionist in a Chiropractic clinic. She immediately went in to working with Children while she was in clinic at School, at that time she immediately realized how strenuous birth is, like an Olympic event, and wanted to support people through that experience as well. Working with parents and children as a chiropractor is a little different. Anyone who is not in a specialty is really just working with aches and pains, migraines etc. Working with parents and children gives one the opportunity to work very detailed with a specific pain issue. It also helps keep kids healthy naturally as opposed to dosing them with antibiotics. For example, did you know that one could treat persistent ear infections with chiropractic care? According to Chiropractic medicine principles, it can help to increase space in the inner ear, so that the Eustachian tube can drain properly, and thus decrease the likelihood of ear infections.
- Did you work with other forms of pain management before arriving at your specialty?
No, Dr. Nahinu went straight from undergrad, to chiropractic school, then specialized in pediatrics immediately. However, she did have to work with a wide array of individuals throughout school, and so she can treat any type of body, and any type of pain thrown at her.
- What is it about this approach that you feel is especially effective?
Dr. Nahinu is certified in Webster technique. Webster technique is specific in creating optimal pelvic alignment. “There are 14 ligaments that hold the uterus to the pelvic bowl, so if you can align the pelvic bowl you can take the stress of the pelvic ligaments, and create more room.” Webster technique helps with creating room for breach babies to turn. It helps with creating space for delivery so that the birthing person can have a smooth delivery with little complications. Dr. Nahinu also focuses on prepping birthing people for what to expect once the baby arrives. She talks to them about nursing neck, wrist tendonitis, and other signs to be aware of. Nursing neck happens because the woman is hunched over her baby nursing very frequently in the beginning and this can create tension in the neck.
- How do you explain your approach to patients? What expectations do you set up with them at the outset of treatment?
Dr. Nahinu feels it is important to do a thorough history and exam. For the new patient who is an expecting individual she especially wants to know past and present details of what their body has been through. A thorough intake helps her know what to expect, where to begin with treatment, and also gives her some idea around healing patterns of the patients body. Dr. Nahinu’s treatment style is to take things really slow. She let’s people know exactly what she is doing at every moment of the treatment, and makes sure that people are really comfortable with everything they are experiencing. Chiropractic care can be a lot for your body to integrate, some discomfort can happen, and it is important for patients to know what to expect. If there is discomfort following treatment it should only last 24 to 48 hours, and should be pretty mild, but she always encourages patients to reach out if they are concerned.
- What conditions respond particularly well to your approach? Are there any that are particularly difficult to treat, and if so, why?
Prenatal care responds very well to Webster technique. Webster technique can help anything from pubic joint pain, pelvic bowl pain, and tension in the uterus. In her experience, ear infections also react really well to chiropractic care.
Tongue-tie can be difficult to treat, and is probably the most controversial thing that chiropractic care treats. Tongue-tie is hard to diagnose and there is a lot of debate around it. Some dentist think it is over diagnosed and isn’t as much of an issue. Dr. Nahinu swears that tongue-tie is a real issue, and has even seen third degree tongue-tie. Tongue-tie happens when the frenulum below the tongue is very tight, and the baby cannot move its tongue very well. This leads to problems with the baby latching on for breast-feeding, the baby can loose weight, become fussy, and it can be painful to breast feed. It can even cause the upper palate of the mouth to not for well and become concave.
- Do you combine your approach with any other modalities? Why or why not?
Dr. Nahinu often uses electronic stimulation to soothe tight muscles before an adjustment, as well as cupping, and heat pads. She likes to use K tape when she wants to send the patient home with extra stabilization. If a patient needs a gentler adjustment she also has an activator at her disposal, which uses light tapping with a handheld device to adjust joints. She also likes to use ultra sound to treat mastitis.
- Have you found certain modalities to be highly effective with pain management?
Webster technique and electronic stimulation are Dr. Nahinu’s favorite two modalities that she employs. If someone is really acute then electronic stimulation, cupping, and heat are very effective.
- Where do your patients come from (e.g. referrals from insurance, PCPs, word of mouth) and how are the treatments compensated (insurance, Medicare/Medicaid, out of pocket)?
Dr. Nahinu’s patients mainly come to her through word of mouth, but she also tried to facilitate relationships with other providers such as mid wives and lactation consultants. She takes all major insurance as well as Medicare and out of pocket.
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