Dr. Brandon Blood

01/30/2026

Coming very soon!

We’re excited to be adding this new service SOON to our Apex medical offerings. Our team is passionate about helping patients get to the root cause of their health concerns, spending meaningful time with each individual, and looking at the whole picture—not just isolated symptoms.

This approach allows us to care for patients in a way that’s thoughtful, personalized, and different from the traditional medical model.

01/26/2026

10/20/2025

Exciting News!

We’ve expanded our Comprehensive Weight Loss Program to give you even more options to achieve your health goals!

✅ NEW Natural Approach Available– A program designed around supplements, personalized nutrition, and activity planning for those who prefer a more natural path.
✅ Proven Medical Support – For patients who desire or need additional support, we still offer safe and effective medication-based options to accelerate results.
✅ Truly Comprehensive – Whether you’re focused on lifestyle changes, medical solutions, or a combination of both, our team has a tailored plan for you.

Your journey begins with a one-on-one consultation with our medical team. Together, we’ll review your goals, explore your options, and design a personalized plan to help you succeed.

Don’t wait to start feeling healthier, stronger, and more confident.

Call us today (330) 497-9797 or send us a message and we can schedule your consultation!

10/15/2025

Today's health post: Sciatica

If you’ve ever felt pain shooting down your leg… numbness in your foot… or a deep ache that won’t go away, it might not just be simple “back pain.”

You could be dealing with sciatica, and understanding what it is (and what it isn’t) is key to beating it without surgery.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica is a set of symptoms caused when the sciatic nerve (the largest nerve in the human body) becomes irritated or compressed.

This nerve runs from your lower back through your hips and down both legs.

When it’s irritated, it can cause:

Shooting pain down the leg
Numbness or tingling
Muscle weakness
Burning or electric sensations

Common Confusion: Sciatica vs. Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain

Many people (and even some clinicians) confuse SI joint pain with sciatica.

SI joint pain often stays localized near the buttock or pelvis.

True sciatica typically follows a distinct path radiating down (one or both legs) the back of the thigh and sometimes to the calf or foot.

That’s why a thorough evaluation is essential before starting any treatment.

Conservative Treatment Options

Before jumping to medications, injections, or surgery, there are several effective, non-invasive treatments that can help resolve the root cause of sciatica:

Chiropractic care to restore proper spinal function and relieve pressure on the nerve

Spinal decompression therapy to reduce disc bulging and improve space for nerve roots

Targeted rehabilitation exercises to strengthen and stabilize your spine

Infrared or electrical cell signaling therapy to improve circulation and reduce inflammation

Lifestyle adjustments such as posture correction, ergonomic support, and core strengthening

Medical Approaches

In some cases, conservative care is paired with medical support, such as:

Anti-inflammatory medications or targeted injections

Physical therapy or pain management strategies

Surgical options in select cases may be warranted

However, the goal should always be to restore normal function and reduce dependency on medications or invasive procedures whenever possible.

If you are struggling with chronic sciatica issues and are looking for options, our team will do a thorough evaluation and help determine appropriate diagnosis and treatment options.

10/09/2025

When It comes to your health… here’s the reality of the situation…

Health insurance was never designed to make you healthy. it was designed to pay for you when you’re sick.

It covers medications, surgeries, and expensive tests… but rarely covers anything that actually helps you feel better, move better, or live better.

If you truly want to improve your health, you have to invest in it yourself… outside of the insurance system.

Once you realize your health is your responsibility, not your insurance company’s, the sky is the limit.

10/01/2025

Could Chronic Allergies Be Driving Your Chronic Pain?

Many people living with chronic pain never realize there may be more going on beneath the surface. While injuries, posture, and lifestyle factors play a role, chronic allergies, whether from foods or environmental triggers, can also fuel ongoing inflammation and pain.

Here’s why:

Allergies can cause systemic inflammation that doesn’t just affect your sinuses or skin—it can also increase joint and muscle pain.

Certain food sensitivities (like dairy, gluten, or preservatives) may trigger flare-ups and worsen symptoms.

Environmental allergens (dust, mold, pollen) may create a constant “background” stress on your body, keeping you in pain.

At Apex, we believe in a comprehensive approach to evaluating and addressing chronic pain:�
A detailed physical exam to understand your musculoskeletal health�
Testing for potential environmental and/or food allergies�
Reviewing lifestyle, nutrition, and other contributing factors

When we put all the pieces together, we can build a customized plan that doesn’t just mask pain, but works to reduce the root causes of inflammation.

If you’ve been struggling with ongoing pain and feel like you’ve tried “everything,” it may be time to look at a bigger picture.

Relief is possible when we evaluate the whole person, not just focusing in on the symptoms.

09/24/2025

We would like to say a big, giant ‘Thank you!’ to all who voted Apex’s chiro division as ‘Best Chiropractic Clinic’

Thank you to our Apex team for making Apex what it is and what it has become in our community.

We had a fun evening celebrating with everyone. ❤️🙏

09/22/2025

The Hidden Connection Chronic Pain and Your Cells:

When most people think about chronic pain, they think of joints, nerves, or muscles.

But what if the real issue starts even deeper…inside your cells?

Research shows that oxidative stress (cell damage from free radicals) and mitochondrial dysfunction (when your cells’ “power plants” don’t make energy efficiently) are major drivers of chronic pain.

When your cells are stressed or inflamed, your body struggles to repair and recover.

Add in poor nutrition, and the cycle of pain and inflammation can spiral.

Nutrition and Inflammation:�The foods we eat either fuel inflammation or help fight it:

Processed foods, sugar, and unhealthy fats are known to drive inflammation.

Whole foods, colorful vegetables, omega-3 fats, and spices like turmeric are known to naturally calm inflammation.

Supplements That May Help Support Cellular Health�(Always check with your provider before starting anything new.):

Omega-3 fatty acids – calm inflammation and support nerve health.

CoQ10 – fuels mitochondria for better energy production.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) – powerful antioxidant for nerve and metabolic health.

Magnesium – supports muscles, nerves, and cellular repair.

Curcumin (from turmeric) – well-studied for reducing inflammation.
�Chronic pain is not just a problem of joints or nerves, it’s a cellular issue too.

By supporting your cells with the right nutrition and targeted supplements, you can reduce inflammation, improve healing, and feel more in control of your pain.

Small, consistent changes in what you eat and how you support your body at the cellular level can have a big impact on how you feel.

(For informational purposes only)

09/16/2025

Story time…

The Mind-Body Connection of Pain

When we think about pain, most people picture a simple process: you hurt your body, nerves send signals to the brain, and you feel pain.

But science shows it’s not that simple.

Dr. Ronald Melzack, a world-renowned researcher, discovered the “Neuromatrix Model of Pain.” This model shows that pain is not just a physical signal—it’s created by a network in the brain that combines:

Physical inputs (like injuries or nerve signals)
Thoughts & beliefs (what we expect or fear)
Emotions (stress, anxiety, hope, or frustration)
Past experiences (memories of old injuries or trauma)

In other words, pain is a whole-person experience, not only a physical sensation, but something that affects (and is affected by) your mind and emotions too.

That’s why chronic pain can be so exhausting—not just on the body, but on mental and emotional health as well. The cycle of pain → stress → more pain can leave people feeling stuck and hopeless.

My own story:

Years ago, I developed chronic neck pain that I originally blamed on my workouts.

It got so bad that I stopped exercising, because even the thought of going to the gym made my pain worse.

Later, I was diagnosed with advanced spinal stenosis in my neck. But what really surprised me was how much my mindset and stress influenced my pain. When I believed exercise would hurt, my pain spiked.

By learning how to better manage both the physical and mental/emotional sides of pain, I was able to return to exercise—and today, I manage my condition to the best that I can while still living an active lifestyle.

The takeaway:
Pain is real, but it’s more than just what’s happening in the body.

The brain, emotions, and past experiences all play a role. That’s why chronic pain can feel overwhelming—and why addressing the whole picture is so important for healing.

If you’re struggling with chronic pain, know that you’re not alone.

With the right approach, relief and a return to the life you love is possible.

07/03/2025

Why Traditional Medicine Often Falls Short for Chronic Conditions... Like in the case of Peripheral Neuropathy

If you’ve been struggling with chronic health issues—like neuropathy—you’re not alone.

And if you feel frustrated with the lack of real progress from traditional treatments… you’re not wrong to feel that way either.

Here’s why:

Most standard medical treatments are designed to manage symptoms, not heal the root cause.

For example, in neuropathy, the “standard of care” usually addresses the symptoms of nerve pain, burning, and numbness with medications. But those medications don’t fix the underlying problem—which in this case, is often reduced circulation to the nerves that continue to drive nerve damage.

When it comes to health insurance, they typically only 'cover' what is considered 'standard of care.'

That means insurance often covers treatments that help you cope with symptoms, but not therapies designed to actually restore health and function.

We see this every day: people who are prescribed medications for years to try and manage symptoms, but never given a plan to help their body heal as it medically is outside of the 'standard of care.'

At Apex, our focus is on identifying and improving the root cause of your condition—working to actually restore health rather than just try and manage symptoms.

If you’re tired of living with the same symptoms year after year, and you’re ready to explore restorative options that go beyond what insurance covers, we’d love to help.

Call us today or send us a message to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you take the first step toward real healing.

07/01/2025

Top 5 Things You Can Start Doing TODAY to Help Restore Health and Reduce Chronic Pain

If you’re living with chronic pain, it’s easy to feel like your only options are medications, injections, or simply learning to “deal with it.”

But real healing starts from the inside out — and there are powerful things you can start doing today to support your body’s natural recovery.

Here are 5 simple but foundational habits that support your body’s ability to heal, reduce inflammation, and restore function:

1. Support Your Mitochondria
Your cells’ energy factories (mitochondria) play a crucial role in tissue repair and reducing inflammation. Support them by eating antioxidant-rich foods (think berries, leafy greens, turmeric), limiting processed sugars, and considering nutrients like CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid, or magnesium.

2. Hydrate Like It Matters — Because It Does
Dehydration can worsen joint and muscle pain. Aim for at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day (e.g., 150 lbs = 75 oz). Proper hydration improves circulation, cellular function, and detox pathways.

3. Calm Your Nervous System
Stress and chronic pain go hand-in-hand. A few minutes of daily meditation, deep breathing, or mindfulness can lower cortisol, reduce inflammation, and help you sleep better — all of which help your body heal.

4. Gentle Movement & Stretching
Motion is lotion. Even if you’re in pain, light stretching or walking helps prevent stiffness, boosts circulation, and supports your nervous system. Start with just 5–10 minutes a day and build from there.

5. Get Outside & Soak in Natural Light
Sunlight helps regulate your circadian rhythm (better sleep = better healing), supports vitamin D levels (key for inflammation), and improves mood. Morning light exposure, even for 10–15 minutes, can be surprisingly powerful.

You don’t need to wait for a perfect day to start healing — you can take one step today.

At Apex Physical Medicine, we help patients get to the root cause of pain, not just cover up the symptoms. If you’re ready for a more comprehensive approach to getting your life back, we’re here to help.

Message us with questions.

06/28/2025

Dinner with a view 😍