3311 East Willow Street
Long Beach, CA

Robb Russell, D.C.

My dedication to living a healthy lifestyle took a big leap during my sophomore year at San Diego State University (which was a long time ago, by the way). A guest lecturer came to my class on Clinical Nutrition and within a few minutes I had forgotten what class I was attending. The professor was wowing us with great pictures of his trips to mountain tops, remote deserts, wild rivers and other adventures. After he had the class hooked, he asked a rhetorical question: “What do these pictures have to do with diet and health?” His simple answer: “You can’t get to any of the places I have shown you if you aren’t healthy.” I was sold on the concept. Since that time I have attempted to live that kind of lifestyle and pass my knowledge to my patients. Over the past several years, the concepts of Paleo Diet and Ancestral Health have shaped my opinions and fueled my commitment to health and wellness.

I am a 1978 graduate of San Diego State University and a 1982 graduate of the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic. I have held several leadership positions including Chairman of the Chiropractic Section of Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, several posts with the California Chiropractic Association and I served as an Exam Commissioner and Expert Consultant for the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners (the state’s licensing board). I am currently an Examiner for the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners as well as an Expert Examiner and Witness for the Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

I have published articles in chiropractic magazines and journals and made presentations before chiropractic and medical conferences. I have also presented numerous talks before workers in various job settings on the topic of injury prevention.

Specialties

I am a chiropractic musculoskeletal specialist and I rely strongly upon evidence based treatment and diagnostic protocols. I have a unique approach in the management of pain and inflammation that embraces a holistic model of health care with Paleolithic Dietary principles as my primary guide. I teach patients how to best manage their own health care needs. I do not want patients to become dependent on my services or that of any other medical providers so I educate patients to manage, reduce and, if possible, eliminate complaints with their own resources.

Your body’s inflammatory response is upset when you eat a diet that is deficient in fruits and vegetables (which are anti-inflammatory) and instead eat excess sugar and simple starches (breads, cakes, cookies, potatoes), vegetable and seed oils (soybean, corn, safflower, peanut, cottonseed), trans fats, and go overboard on saturated animal fat (particularly from sedentary, obese, industrially raised cattle, chicken and pigs). This all too common diet generally will not cause immediate symptoms but eventually, diet-driven inflammation can lead to chronic aches, pains and many other health problems.

It is the careful selection and successful blending of the best diagnostic and treatment procedures plus self-care and lifestyle advice that lends itself to the best clinical outcomes.

Background

I have a special interest in applying Paleolithic Dietary principles in the management of chronic pain because of the anti-inflammatory nature of the diet. As a bonus, patients who reduce inflammation with Paleolithic Dietary changes usually report significant improvements in general health status.

Since 1999 I have been in practice with a group of chiropractic doctors, medical physicians (pain management, general and neurosurgery, internal medicine and neurology), physical therapists and an acupuncturist. We specialize in the treatment of acute and chronic pain.

Hours and Prices

There is an old Russian proverb that says, "The doctor is an angel when he tenders his cure and a devil when he tenders his bill."

Many of my services are covered by insurance including PPOs, some HMOs, state, federal and Longshoremen’s workers’ compensation acts and Medicare. Cash, credit cards and a special payment program, Care Credit, are accepted as well.

Prices will depending on the nature and complexity of a problem however an initial consultation is typically $115. Follow-up visits range from $45 to $60 for chiropractic care. In depth consultation regarding diet and exercise is $100 per 30 minute office visit. There may be additional charges for outside lab testing (such as Adrenal Stress Index, 24-hour Cortisol and GI Health panels) and review of lab results, if necessary.

Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9AM to 6PM (lunch 1PM to 2PM) and Tuesday and Thursday from 9AM to 1PM.

For more information, please see my website: http://spinepainspecialists.com

A message from the doctor...

For 99% of the time humans have walked the earth, we have eaten mostly plants (vegetables and fruits) and animals that ate vegetation. Our owner’s manual, as I like to call it, is pretty straight forward. In some chronic health conditions, targeted functional medical testing is necessary and taking appropriate supplements may be helpful in overcoming pain and injury. Getting off the couch and moving are essential. Boiled down to its most basic level, eating and moving in a manner consistent with our design are critical to promoting a pain free, anti-inflammatory state. My primary focus is the care of musculoskeletal complaints, particularly chronic pain that has failed to respond to conventional treatment. In addition to chiropractic care, I am excited to offer alternative management of pain and inflammation especially to patients who are personally motivated to change their diets and activity levels in a manner consistent with how our bodies are designed to operate. Paleolithic Dietary advice, exercise (strength, flexibility and High-Intensity Interval Training), sound sleep habits and stress management are the cornerstones of recovery from chronic inflammatory pain.

Robb Russell, D.C.

Specialties

Background

Memberships