Spinal Stenosis: A Conservative, Functional Approach When Surgery Feels Like the Only Option Published by Dr. Michael Veselak, D.C., CFMP You’ve been told your spine is narrowing. Maybe you’ve seen the MRI. Maybe a surgeon has already mentioned surgery as the next step. You’re living with pain, numbness, or weakness in your legs — and […]
Chronic Pain
MTHFR and Methylation: What These Gene Variants Mean for Your Health
You may have heard about MTHFR in the context of pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, or mental health — but the full scope of what this gene variant affects is far broader than most patients are told. MTHFR is one of the most clinically significant genetic variants in functional medicine. It affects a biochemical process called methylation […]
The Gut-Brain Axis: How Your Gut Health Affects Your Brain, Mood, and Pain
There is a communication superhighway running between your gut and your brain. It operates continuously, in both directions, carrying signals that influence your mood, your pain sensitivity, your immune function, your cognitive performance, and your stress response. This is the gut-brain axis — and it is one of the most important and most neglected systems […]
Functional Medicine Lab Testing: What Standard Blood Work Misses
One of the most common frustrations patients bring to Dr. Veselak’s office is this: “I’ve had every test done. Everything came back normal. But I feel terrible.” This is not a mystery. It is a predictable consequence of what standard laboratory testing is designed to do — and what it is not designed to do. […]
Peripheral Neuropathy Treatment: A Functional Neurology Approach
Peripheral neuropathy — the burning, tingling, numbness, and pain that typically begins in the feet and hands — affects an estimated 20 million Americans. It is one of the most common neurological conditions and one of the most undertreated. Standard care offers little beyond symptom management: gabapentin, pregabalin, antidepressants, and pain medications that reduce the […]
Post-Concussion Syndrome: How Functional Neurology Speeds Recovery
The standard advice after a concussion is rest. Avoid screens, dim the lights, stay quiet, and wait for the brain to heal. For most people with mild concussions, this approach works. Symptoms resolve within days to a few weeks, and the person returns to normal life. But for an estimated 15–30% of concussion patients, symptoms […]