Posts Tagged ‘alternative medicine’

Looking for a safe and effective back pain treatment? Breaking Back Pain News: Survey Says Chiropractic Outperforms Other Back Pain Treatments – Even Medication

Saturday, November 12th, 2011

SURVEY SAYS!!!! If you have back pain, you are probably old enough to remember Richard Dawson first yelling that phrase on the popular 70s and 80s game show, The Family Feud. If not – it doesn’t matter – you just learned something interesting about American pop culture and game show history.

 

So, What Does The Survey Really Say?

 

According to an August 9, 2011 article on chiroeco.com, “In a new survey, chiropractic outperformed all other back pain treatments including prescription and over-the-counter medications, deep-tissue massage, yoga, and Pilates. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), this news reinforces the use of conservative care options as a first line of defense against pain.

 

The survey, released by a leading consumer product rating and survey publisher in late July, found that 65 percent of those surveyed using chiropractic care for back pain said it helped a lot. Only 53 percent of respondents using prescription medications found them as helpful.

 

“Additionally, about half of those surveyed who are using, yoga or Pilates said those treatments helped a lot and only 28 percent of respondents using over-the-counter medications reported that they helped a lot.

 

“Current evidence-based guidelines support the use of conservative care such as chiropractic for conditions such as chronic lower back pain.” One serious eye-opener was that only 28% of respondents said over-the-counter medications helped a lot. It has been known for quite some time that common over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID) have serious side effects. One of these side effects is that an estimated 16,500 people die every year.

 

Natural, conservative options like Chiropractic, deep tissue massage, yoga, and Pilates are most likely better and safer choices when it comes to relieving back pain.

A Few Things To Keep In Mind When Looking For A Chiropractor

Monday, July 18th, 2011
When you need to see a chiropractor, you don't want to leave the job to just anyone. You need somebody you can trust to crack your back. Once you start looking, your head will spin with all the different styles, philosophies and methods they use. So, how do you find the right chiropractic practitioner? 

Word Of Mouth is still the best way to start. Ask your doctor for the names of a few good chiropractors. Your primary care physician will be able to direct you to some chiropractic offices that are well known, trustworthy and reputable. If you have any friends who have had work done, ask them for names. It's always best to go with a clinic that is turning out happy customers whose back problems have vanished because of their excellent quality treatment.

Is the clinic legit? Here are a few easy ways to tell if a practitioner is the real thing. First, they should have completed 4 years of advanced chiropractic training from an accredited institution. Look for their diploma and credentials on the wall. Second, they must have a license to practice in your state. This should be prominently displayed in their clinic. If they don't have it, or if they start telling you reasons why they don't have it, skip them. There are lots of practitioners out there, and not all of them are legitimate.

During the consultation, a good chiropractor will take a thorough history and give you a complete physical, orthopedic, and neurological exam. The chiropractor should palpate for any misalignments or abnormalities. They should look at the areas that hurt as well as the surrounding areas that may indirectly affect your area of complaint. You don't need a lot of x-rays a minimal series might be adequate to diagnose your problem.

Some chiropractors primarily provide treatment for symptomatic relief, while others believe in providing some degree of rehabilitation of underlying problems, and still others do long-term treatment to permanently correct skeletal alignment as much as possible. The differences in these approaches are considerable when it comes to the frequency and duration of treatment prescribed. A good chiropractor will give you honest expectations about how many visits you might need before you see real noticeable results. But most importantly, go with what feels right to you.

Chiropractic Care Can Enhance Your Health And Overall Well-Being

Thursday, May 19th, 2011
A chiropractor is able to alleviate a host of symptoms associated with your musculoskeletal system. The most common symptoms presented to a chiropractor are headaches, migraines, neck, back, and shoulder pain. Chiropractic is a holistic approach to pain management and the alleviation of symptoms associated with misalignments of the joints and vertebrae. Chiropractic care however is intended to extend health beyond just the alleviation of symptoms. Spinal adjustments allow the free flow of nerve impulses which facilitate overall health to the body. As every cell in the human body is governed by nerve impulses, it is vitally important that these nerves send information free of interference. The application of gentle spinal adjustments removes nerve pressure and allows proper nerve conduction.
The main focus in chiropractic care is placed upon the proper alignment of the vertebrae and associated joints. Proper balance and functioning of the joints is of importance to the continued health and well being of every patient. Attention is also placed upon the proper functioning of your neurological system, as pinched nerves and neuralgia can adversely affect a patient’s quality of life.
Posture correction therapy involves the use of exercises to strengthen your core muscles to help better support your entire frame. Once strengthened, they aid in supporting the correct positioning of your spinal column to ensure adequate flexibility and mobility for your entire frame.
An improper posture can result in neck and upper back pain and is a large contributor to headaches and shoulder blade pain. Tingling, burning and numbness experienced in the areas mentioned above are symptoms of pinched nerves and can be alleviated through chiropractic care.
A chiropractic adjustment is the usage of gentle physical pressure applied to an affected joint. The application of external pressure works to correct the misalignment therefore removing fixation of the joints and allowing proper mobility. Your chiropractor is also qualified to give advice to patients regarding nutrition, weight loss and safe exercise routines to help maintain health and fitness.

Benefits Of Using Chiropractic For Back Pain

Saturday, March 19th, 2011

When back pain strikes, it can bring your everyday activities to a screeching halt. But for a person who doesn’t like the idea of using traditional pain medications to treat back ailments, a chiropractor is a viable option.

Chiropractors are trained to treat conditions that are caused by misalignment of the spine, as well as other conditions that affect the central nervous system. Some of the most common conditions treated by a chiropractor include: fibromyalgia, poor postural alignment, strains and sprains, degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, osteoarthritis and sciatica.

A chiropractor is required to do two to four years of undergraduate studies, and then spend a specified amount of time at a licensed chiropractic college. Before a chiropractor can treat patients legally, he must pass a national and state examination. To find out if your chiropractor is licensed to operate in your area, contact the local Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

Chiropractors use a number of drug-free methods to treat back pain. These methods often include massage, hydrotherapy, decompression, and spinal realignment. Massage relieves pain in the back by releasing endorphins and easing muscle spasms. There are several types of massage used to treat back pain. Talk to your chiropractor to see which one is best for you. If you have blood clots, cancer, or are pregnant, talk to a doctor before getting a massage. Hydrotherapy is commonly used by chiropractors to relieve pain in the back. This type of therapy can include sitting in a pool of warm water, or using ice packs on the affected area. Spinal decompression therapy is used to treat conditions such as degenerative disc disease and herniated discs. Decompression therapy uses vacuum pressure to relieve pressure and restore fluids and nutrients to the discs. Ultrasound is commonly equated with pregnancy, but this machine can be used by chiropractors to treat back pain. This method uses ultrasound waves to warm the tissue, and reduce swelling in the back.

Spinal realignment requires a chiropractor to use a specialized technique to readjust the spine and improve alignment. Modern equipment makes it possible to adjust the spine painlessly and without any “back popping.” If natural treatment methods are not an enough to manage back pain and drugs are needed, a chiropractor can point you in the direction of a doctor who can help.

A quality chiropractor not only treats conditions of the spine, they offer education to help patients keep these problems from reoccurring in the future. Regular exercise, good posture, weight loss, and proper sleep habits are some of the recommendations chiropractors will make to patients to help keep back pain at bay. A chiropractor is trained to carry out his job duties effectively by offering a wide range of drug-free treatment options to manage conditions of the spine and central nervous system.

Taking Pain Medication Can Be Hazardous To Your Health

Saturday, March 12th, 2011
If you are like most in this society, when pain rears its ugly head, you immediately turn to some form of pain reliever. The kind of pain reliever that we take can depend on a variety of factors. These include the types of and causes of the pain, whether it is from acute injury or chronic disease processes, inflammation, swelling, fever, etc. If the pain is infrequent, you resort to over-the-counter pain reliever.
Over-the-counter pain reliever are those that are easily accessible and do not require a prescription from a doctor to obtain. They are available from pharmacies, grocery and convenience store. Because they are sold without a doctor’s prescription, we assume it’s safe to consume. This disregard for possible harmful side effects make each of us guilty of overusing pain reliever. So let us explore some of the improper ways of taking pain reliever that we usually consider harmless.
First, many of us take over-the-counter pain reliever like candy because they are readily available.  We take one pill and then another until we start feeling a little better, without paying attention to the proper dosage. Sometimes, we think that one pill is not enough and by taking two or three at a time, the effect will be stronger and the pain will go away faster.  When you are taking more than the maximum dosage recommended, we are now dealing with pain reliever addiction.
Second, frequent usage of certain medication over time will cause bad side effects such as lightheadedness,  trembling, extreme fatigue, rash, itching, hives, sore throat or fever, bleeding or bruising, anemia, yellowing of the skin or eyes, blood in urine, and painful or frequent urination . It is found that continued use of Ibuprofen can increase the risk of stroke and Acetaminophen such as Tylenol can cause serious liver and kidney damage.
Lastly, most of us do not know the chemical makeup of these pain reliever. It has become a habit for some people to combine or mix different kinds of pain reliever, either at the same time or switching back and forth between various types. Because of potential chemical interactions and toxicity levels that can build up in the bloodstream, mixing pain reliever, and any other medications, can be extremely dangerous. Some interaction could be fatal.

New Fibromyalgia Program in San Diego Shows Promising Results

Sunday, March 6th, 2011
fibromyalgia treatmentWhat you’re about to discover is a step-by-step guide on how to stop your suffering and literally hand your life back to you. This is regardless of how hard you’ve tried before.  You don’t have to be told that Fibromyalgia is a terrible condition that not only robs you of strength and motivation, but also in severe cases, can even strip you of the will to live.
Some say that if you’ve been suffering from Fibromyalgia, it’s not surprising if the pain and agony that you’re going though makes you want to cry or even wish you would die. At the least, it makes even the strongest minded individual stop and ask why me.
If that describes you, you must want your life back. You must wish you could stop the torment and feel energized and alive again. If you’re like most sufferers, you’ve tried so many things. You’ve taken the medications, you’ve went to doctors, you’ve tried the magic oils, you’ve probably even gotten some type of therapy. You don’t know who or what to believe anymore. It’s even disturbing your quality of life and time with your family. When you finally get a chance to relax and enjoy yourself it attacks. Let’s say you’re out with your spouse, or the kids are with mom, or you have a chance to soak up some time to yourself. Maybe you’d like see a movie, grab dinner, simply have a nice evening out with your loved one. Then it happens. It creeps up and sets in.
Your night is ruined. You can’t enjoy even a waking moment. You go home, get in bed and try to at least to have a good night’s sleep but you end up sleeping poorly. The next day you awake to feeling chronically tired or even depressed. The cycle seems to repeat itself and go on and on.  You just want the pain to stop more than anything else, and you should! You deserve more. You deserve to live your life again. There has to be a way for this horror of a nightmare to stop!
In this article we are going to share how you can make it stop.  But first, here are some facts that you have to know about fibromyalgia. First of all, the diagnosis is difficult. The underlying cause of it is unknown. The frequency, degree and location of pain vary from day to day. Medical treatment is focused on managing the symptoms. Fibromyalgia affects 2% of people in the US.
Fibromyalgia can become a crippling disease. It ruins the lives of millions of people each year. This is because they never spend the time focusing in on the source of the problem. Most of the recent research on Fibromyalgia points to brain stem injury and malfunction as the major cause of Fibromyalgia. Sometimes a simple nerve system evaluation can detect the exact problem.
You must avoid the 3 myths that cause you more pain and suffering and make your situation worse. This is a big problem. Most people who suffer from fibromyalgia have been fed the myths by doctors, authorities, media, even friends. They are told that it’s all in their mind or that they just need to stop stressing so much and calm down.
Here are the three biggest myths about Fibromyalgia. Believing these will never get you the results you want and may make things worse. The first one is hoping that physical activity or exercise will work by itself. Exercise is important, but it sometimes makes the problem worse without first identifying the true cause of the symptoms. The second is hoping the problem will go away by itself. This is ludicrous. Fibromyalgia gets worse as it gets ignored. People that put off the correct treatment can look forward to even more pain and suffering down the road. The third is taking doses and doses of medication to alleviate the pain. This is most dangerous of all the fallacies. Medication or pain killers, and mind altering drugs pump chemicals into your brain to fool it and make it think the problem is gone. All the while, because of mistreatment and neglect the problem gets worse. But that’s the not as bad as the terrible side effects of pain killers and medication. Medication is the worse alternative to healing and eliminating Fibromyalgia. Not only does it make the condition worse, but it also creates additional problems and even dependency on medication.
What if there was a safe, simple way you could become pain free starting today? There is a way. A way you can eliminate your Fibromyalgia and quickly become pain free without drugs, medication, or surgery, and get your life back without losing any more quality time and missing out on the quality of life you deserve.
There are many natural alternatives to eliminate the pain of fibromyalgia. 3 effective techniques are specific nutrition, a fibromyalgia exercise plan, and specialized Fibromyalgia chiropractic care. First of all, nutrition is very important. Generally speaking, every day you should take a good multivitamin, a mega mineral supplement, a B-complex vitamin, an antioxidant supplement, and 5 servings of fruits and vegetables. These are just the basics.
Second, proper exercise that doesn’t make your condition worse is an essential component of any Fibromyalgia treatment program. You need to have a basic fitness program that doesn’t irritate your condition. You need to set realistic goals and start slow and build yourself up. And most important is to keep it simple and not to overdo it.
The last technique and probably the most important is specialized Fibromyalgia chiropractic care. If a vertebra should move out of place, you may have nerve interference that can impair the way your body functions and cause the pain associated with Fibromyalgia. Vertebrae can shift out of place due to trauma, tension, and toxins. It’s important to go to a doctor that will focus on all the causes that may be associated with Fibromyalgia.
To eliminate your Fibromyalgia, you need to get to the source of the problem and eliminate the cause. Once you treat the cause and not just cover up the symptoms, then eliminating Fibromyalgia is easier than you think.

Laptop Use and Testosterone Showing Some Links

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Many patients in San Diego come to New Century Spine Centers to see a chiropractor for their back pain from sitting at the computer for too long. But here’s another problem from sitting at the computer for too long that may not be related to your back. A November 8, 2010 article published by Reuter’s reports placing a laptop computer on your lap might be, “cooking your gonads.” According to the article, “It turns out, unsurprisingly, that sitting with a computer on your lap will crank up the temperature of your nether regions, which could affect sperm quality.”

Authors of  a study  in  the journal of Fertility and Sterility,  say the only way you can  prevent this is by putting  your laptop  on  a desk  or  somewhere besides your  lap.  Even using a lap pad, the temperature quickly rises above the acceptable range.

“Millions and millions of men are using laptops now, especially those in the reproductive age range,” said Dr.  Yefim Sheynkin, a Urologist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, who led the new study.  ”Within 10 or 15 minutes, their scrotal temperature is already above what we consider safe, but they don’t feel it,” he added.

On another interesting note, you won’t want to miss this one. There seems to be a television commercial about it every two minutes.  It’s either Viagra or Cialis for “performance” issues, or the new buzz-word, “Low T” for low testosterone.  Well, here’s something very important you should know about testosterone and sexual problems…

According to an October 29, 2010 Reuters Health article, authors of a new study say, “we need a lot less testosterone for sexual function than people think.” Dr. Frederick Wu, a hormone expert at the University of Manchester, is quoted as saying, “Most people with erectile problems do not have hormone problems, but often have blockage in their penis arteries.” They also state that very low levels of testosterone can cause a problem, but they are not sure what this level is.

Health Tips To Think About…

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

If someone asked us to choose between good health and great wealth, most of us would pick good health, without a question. However, if asked to define “health,” we might have trouble putting into words what this concept means to us. For some of us health might mean absence of illness, disease and pain. For others good health might mean a more positive state of being, including strong bones and teeth, shiny hair and eyes, strong muscles, appropriate weight, etc.

One thing we all agree on: we want good health. But this goal may be difficult to reach with a health system focused primarily on treatment, rather than prevention of illness and disease. Though we have extensive research about the illnesses of the body and treatment of symptoms, what have we studied about creating wellness within the body to prevent health problems before they happen?

For heart patients, heart bypasses and angioplasty do not address the underlying cause of the heart problem. Surgery merely treats the existing problem, which sometimes returns if the patient doesn’t also make a lifestyle change. When patients make comprehensive life changes consistent with a healthy heart, the patient has a good chance of improving. This reality is being proven through research.

Many times a patient is hospitalized with an end-stage illness that has taken years to develop. During previous years the person has eaten donuts, salami, french fries and ice cream every day. The patient may ask, “What’s wrong with me, Doc?” The doctor replies, “I don’t know, we’ll have to run more tests.”

The reality is that we can look at the whole person and his or her lifestyle over the years, and the illness will be written all over the body.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to study what causes the body to be healthy? Unfortunately, only 20 percent of today’s research is spent on preventative health care. Part of the problem might be that it is harder to study prevention than it is to study treatment for illness and disease.

Some researchers examining the factors that help keep the body healthy are becoming increasingly convinced of the importance of the mind/body connection as a critical factor in health. This factor is an important reason more people are turning to chiropractic health care as part of their health building strategies.

Chiropractic care works directly with the mind/body connection for health. The brain contains all the information to run the body correctly. The nervous system is a channel of communication from the brain to each tissue cell in the body. We all understand the function of the skull in protecting the brain. In similar fashion, the spinal column houses and protects the nervous system.

We understand brain functions can be affected unless we keep it safe and free from serious trauma. The same is true for the spine and proper nervous system function. When the spine is traumatized and the spinal cord (bundle of nerves) becomes severed, the body can become paralyzed because the brain can no longer communicate with the rest of the body. This principle also applies when trauma to the spine is on a smaller scale, resulting in misalignment of spinal bones and pressure on nerve function. Spinal misalignment results in a partial communication breakdown, leading to an incomplete connection between mind and body. When this happens, the body loses much of its ability to maintain health.

We know lifestyle factors are important in building health. We know we need proper rest, good nutrition, exercise and a positive mental attitude; we may not fully understand the importance of a fully functioning nervous system.

Building health within the body – wellness – is ultimately the path we all must discover for ourselves. It is not something a doctor can give us. It is something we give ourselves because healing and health are natural states, and we have the power to control our decisions.

B.J. Palmer, developer of chiropractic, said, “In the future, chiropractic will be valued for its preventative qualities as much as for relieving and adjusting the cause of many ailments.” The future is now because chiropractic is no longer alternative but the mainstream choice of millions who have turned to chiropractic for natural health and wellness care. Chiropractic is now covered by many insurance companies.

Doctors of chiropractic are committed to educating their patients about healthy lifestyle and their patients express appreciation for it. We need to be involved with our health by asking questions and beginning our own quest to discover just what “good health” is, and how it can be obtained.

The Lazy Person’s Way To Weight Loss. Study Says: SLEEP MORE To Drop Pounds!

Friday, December 17th, 2010

Are you lazy? Come on. You can admit it and it will be our little secret! Well, even if you aren’t “lazy,” I’m sure you look for the quickest and easiest way to get things done. For example, if you had these two weight loss programs – that work equally as well – which one would you pick…

(1)You have to wake up at 5:00 a.m. every day and run 5 miles, then you eat almost nothing for breakfast, then almost nothing for lunch, then you work out like a dog for 2 hours after work, and eat a teeny tiny dinner. Then, you go to bed and do it all over again tomorrow. And you do this every day. Or…

(2) You take a pill, sleep late… and wake up skinny. Obviously, you’d probably choose #2. Any sane person would – as long as the “pill” was safe. Anyways, you get the point. Well, there is no “pill” that works like that. But, a study has just been published that claims sleeping is a very important part of weight loss.

In fact, research from the University of Chicago showed dieters who slept for 8.5 hours lost 55 percent more body fat than dieters who slept only 5.5 hours. The authors of the study stated, “Lack of sufficient sleep may compromise the efficacy of typical dietary interventions for weight loss and related metabolic risk reduction.”

Researchers think sleep may affect levels of a hormone called ghrelin. Increased levels of this hormone have been shown to increase appetite and increase fat retention. The subjects in this study who slept less claimed to be hungrier than those who slept more. According to the study’s authors:“Together, these results suggest that the loss of sleep at times of limited food intake amplifies the pattern of ghrelin associated changes in human hunger, glucose, fat utilization, and energy metabolism.” It should be noted the sample size in this study was small and further research on this subject is needed to make definitive conclusions.

Getting rid of mid back pain with Chiropractic care.

Sunday, November 21st, 2010

Mid back pain is pain in the area below the neck and above the low back. The middle back is composed of 12 vertebral bones. This section of the back is called the thoracic region of the spine. The middle back is naturally strong and stable. The elastic cartilages which are found between each bone are called discs and they serve as shock absorbers.

There are many different problems that could trigger mid back pain. Muscle strains are the most common cause of pain in the middle back. Other causes of mid back pain include poor posture, emotional stress, improper lifting, traumatic accidents, standing for hours, sleeping uncomfortably, and overexertion.

Persistent mid back pain may indicate a more serious condition wherein if it continues for more than a couple of months, it would need medical advice. If the thoracic spine is directly injured, it can cause misalignment of the bones and create impingement of the spinal nerves therefore causing dysfunction to the nervous system. Within the spinal region, there are pairs of spinal nerves emitting from the middle back to various digestive parts which includes stomach, liver, gall bladder, and small intestine. Problems in communication with the nerves may lead to numerous digestive disorders.

Upon examination, it is common to find a certain type of back misalignment. Mid back pain is a common problem like low back pain. Back pain of that kind can be addressed using chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic care has been highly successful in treating patients seeking alternative health care. Without the use of drugs or scalpels, a chiropractor does multiple exams and takes x-rays to identify the underlying cause of the patient’s problem.

Once the x-rays are reviewed, the doctor will go over the treatment plan with the patient.  When the patient agrees with the treatment protocol, the chiropractor will perform an adjustment by applying precise and gentle pressure to the specific areas of misalignment. Other forms of conservative treatments that chiropractors may use are massage, electrical stimulation, hot/cold packs, and ultra sound.

Additional services chiropractors provide include exercise, pelvic stabilization, ergonomics, and education on diet. Exercise and rehabilitation are very important to prevent the pain from coming back. Many patients are relieved from their mid back pain after a few visits and others choose to continue into maintenance care because it keeps their bodies in optimum condition.