Fibromyalgia and the Importance of Diet.

16 Dec

Fibromyalgia (FM) management involves many treatment approaches. As was pointed out last month, the importance of sleep quality, hormonal balance, infection management, nutritional supplementation, exercise and more was discussed as the “SHINE” approach. This month, we are going to explore how important diet is in the management of FM.

It’s been said that one of the most powerful tools the FM patient has in their possession is their FORK because, “…food becomes cells.” That is to say, the food we eat is used to build cells, tissues, and support our organ systems. The National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) has reported that all FM patients have some common physiological abnormalities that include:

Too much Substance P (a pain producing neurotransmitter).

Too little tryptophan (an essential amino acid that helps make serotonin which helps mood and many other things).

Not enough serotonin (a brain neurotransmitter that fights depression)..

Abnormalities in muscle cells, especially the mitochondria that provides energy (ATP) to the cell.

With the exception of substance P, we can control ALL of the above, at least in part, with diet and eating the right food. The following 7 nutritional recommendations can make a significant improvement for the FM sufferer:

ELIMINATE FOOD TRIGGERS: Eliminate foods that irritate the digestive system. The NFA reports that 40% of FM patients have irritable bowel problems and food sensitivities that trigger abdominal pain, diarrhea, and headaches. Common food triggers include: monosodium glutamate (MSG), caffeine, food coloring, chocolate, shrimp, dairy products, eggs, gluten, yeast, milk, soy, corn, citrus, sugar and aspartame. Regarding aspartame and MSG – a 2010 study out of France reported FM symptoms subsided significantly after eliminating both from the diet, as they found that they stimulated certain neurotransmitters.

EAT MORE TURKEY! That’s because turkey contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that can help combat chronic fatigue and depression, which are common FM symptoms. In a large NFA 2007 survey of 2,596 FM patients, about 40% of the group complained of energy loss. Tryptophan is only acquired through food as our bodies cannot make it or convert it from other substances. Tryptophan is needed by our body to make serotonin (the “happiness hormone”) which improves our mood and makes melatonin, the chemical that helps us sleep deeply. Hence, to fight fatigue, avoid the food triggers mentioned in #1 and increase tryptophan, which can be found in certain protein rich foods such as cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, anchovies, and mackerel), nuts and seeds, soy (soymilk, tofu, and soybeans), turkey, and yogurt. Many of these foods also contain tyrosine, which increases levels of brain neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. These brain neurotransmitters help with cell messaging, alertness, and reduce cognitive “fog,” often described by FM sufferers. Also consider taking melatonin if sleep is an issue.

EAT MORE SARDINES! Okay, turkey is more “palatable,” but sardines have the ability to reduce muscle pain, of which, according to the NFA survey, 63% of FM sufferers experience. This is thought to be due to coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deficiency, essential for muscle function and found in sardines and organ meats. Of course, if these natural food approaches don’t appeal to you, a CoQ10 supplement may be easier. In two studies, FM patients were found to be 40% deficient in CoQ10, and 30% experienced less muscle pain and fatigue after taking 300mg/day for 9 months.

If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

 

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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – What Makes My Hands Numb?

16 Dec

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) sufferers frequently report a cluster of symptoms, but almost all have one symptom in common – numbness, usually in digits 2-4 on palm-side of the hand. CTS is usually attributed to an over-use type of injury such as repetitive work including (but not limited to): typing, assembly work, packaging jobs, machine operators, and many more. Last month, we discussed CTS “Facts” and learned many important points about CTS. This month’s focus centers around the common question, “….where is this numbness coming from?”

To answer this, let’s review the anatomy: The carpal tunnel is made up of 8 small “carpal bones” that form an arch or tunnel, and the base of the tunnel is formed from the transverse carpal ligament. There are nine tendons that attach muscles in the forearm to each finger and work when we grip or form a fist with our hand. Wiggle your fingers and look at your wrist and forearm – do you see all the activity or movement going on?

The tendons travel through sheaths which help lubricate the sliding tendons. When we move our fingers fast (such as typing, playing piano, performing assembly work, etc.), friction and heat builds up, resulting in swelling. If adequate rest does not occur, the increased pressure from the swollen tendons end up squeezing all the contents within the tunnel, which includes the median nerve. It’s the median nerve pinch that results in the numbness, tingling, and/or pain into the index, third and forth fingers.

There are other conditions that can either complicate or cause CTS. These include: hypothyroid disease (due to myxedema), diabetes (due to neuropathy), inflammatory arthritis (of which there are several kinds – rheumatoid is the most common), and pinching of the nerve either in the neck, shoulder, elbow or forearm (called double or multiple crush syndrome).

The reason chiropractic helps so much is that we can alleviate the pressure on the nerve from the neck down to the wrist and restore nerve function. This alleviates the multiple sleep interruptions, weakness in the grip that is so common, as well as helping to restore the nerve’s function. Many studies support the success of chiropractic and CTS – try it first as surgery should be the last resort.

We realize you have a choice in who you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend or family member require care for CTS, we would be honored to render our services.

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Can Chiropractic Help the Post-Surgical Patient?

16 Dec

Low back pain (LBP) accounts for over 3 million emergency department visits per year in the United States alone. Worldwide, LBP affects approximately 84% of the general population, so eventually almost EVERYONE will have lower back pain that requires treatment! There is evidence dating back to the early Roman and Greek era that indicates back pain was also very prevalent, and that really hasn’t changed. Some feel it’s because we are bipedal (walk on two legs) rather than quadrupedal (walk on four limbs). When comparing the two, degenerative disk disease and spinal osteoarthritis are postponed in the four-legged species by approximately two (equivalent) decades. But regardless of the reason, back pain is “the rule,” NOT the exception when it comes to patient visits to chiropractors and medical doctors. Previously, we looked at the surgical rate of low back pain by comparing patients who initially went to spinal surgeons vs. to chiropractors, and we were amazed! Remember? Approximately 43% of workers who first saw a surgeon had surgery compared to ONLY 1.5% of those who first saw a chiropractor!  So, the questions this month are, how successful IS spinal surgery, and what about all those patients who have had surgery but still have problems – can chiropractic still help them?

A review of the literature published in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons showed that in most cases of degenerative disk disease (DDD), non-surgical approaches are the most effective treatment choice (that includes chiropractic!). They report the success rate of spinal fusions for DDD has been only 50-60%. The advent of artificial disks, which originally proposed to be a “cure” for symptomatic disk disease, has fared no better with possible worse long-term problems that are not yet fully understood. They state, “Surgery should be the last option, but too often patients think of surgery as a cure-all and are eager to embark on it.” They go on to write, “Also, surgeons should pay close attention to the list of contraindications, and recommend surgery only for those patients who are truly likely to benefit from it.” Another study reported that, when followed for 10 years after artificial disk surgery, a similar 40% of the patients treated failed and had a second surgery within three years after the first! Similar findings are reported for post-surgical spinal stenosis as well as other spinal conditions.

So what about the success rate of chiropractic management for patients who have had low back surgery? In a 2012 article, three patients who had prior lumbar spinal fusions at least two years previous were treated with spinal manipulation (three treatments over three consecutive days) followed by rehabilitation for eight weeks. At the completion of care, all three (100%) had clinical improvement that were still maintained a year later. Another study reported 32 cases of post-surgical low back pain patients undergoing chiropractic care resulted in an average drop in pain from 6.4/10 to 2.3/10 (that means pain was reduced by 4.1 points out of 10 or, 64%). An even larger drop was reported when dividing up those who had a combination of spinal surgeries (diskectomy, fusion, and/or laminectomy) with a pain drop of 5.7 out of 10 points!

Typically, spinal surgery SHOULD be the last resort, but we now know that is not always practiced. IF a patient has had more than one surgery and still has pain, the term “failed back syndrome” is applied and carries many symptoms and disability. Again, to NOT utilize chiropractic post-surgically seems almost as foolish as not utilizing it pre-surgically! GIVE US A CALL!!!

We realize you have a choice in whom you consider for your health care provision and we sincerely appreciate your trust in choosing our service for those needs.  If you, a friend, or family member requires care for back pain, we would be honored to render our services.

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The Real Life Batman You Should Know About!

16 Dec

One of the best things about being a kid is believing that superheroes really do roam the earth.  But as we grow older, we quickly learn they do not exist.  There are no altruistic do-gooders with super powers dashing around in tights and capes saving the world from the brink of disaster.

Well, what if I told you superheroes DO exist? I’m talking about REAL superheroes with REAL superpowers. I can prove it to you, and I guarantee you will never look at the world the same way again.  I also guarantee you will be a happier person from this day forward.

Here’s the story (and proof)…

In 2012, police in Silver Springs, Maryland pulled over a car because of an issue with its license plates.  The car was a black Lamborghini and the license plate was simply the bat symbol. Who do you think was driving?  You got that right… BATMAN… in full Batman outfit, including mask, utility belt, and cape.

A picture of the incident quickly ended up on social media sites and was so popular that the late night shows joked about it.

As it turns out in this case, Batman’s real name is not Bruce Wayne.  It’s Lenny B. Robinson, and he had the real license plates on the back of his “Batmobile.”  So, he was set free to do what this Batman does: Bring hope and happiness to sick children.

You see, Robinson, 48, is a self-made millionaire.  He recently sold a commercial cleaning business he built from the time he was a teenager.  He now spends about $25,000 a year on Batman toys that he brings to children fighting cancer.

Robinson brings them toys and memorabilia, backpacks, shirts, etc., and signs every book he gives them with a simple “Batman.”

Batman visits hospitals at least twice a month and gives talks at schools about bullying.  There is no doubt that he brings a lot of joy to a lot of suffering children.

But there are other “rich” people who do good things and give to charity.  Why is Robinson different from all the other “rich guys who write a check to charity?”

Robinson actually spends a lot of his personal time doing everything himself.  He is NOT just writing a check, and the time he gives is much more valuable than the value of the toys he hands out.

But the most important reason is Robinson’s intention.  Robinson has been doing this since 2001, and no one knew he was doing it until he got pulled over in 2012.  For 11 years, he did it without any expectation of recognition other than the reward of giving.

This is clearly different from other people who donate to charity and alert the press.  They do it for the great publicity it will attract to them and their business.

Joel Goldsmith, author of many books on spirituality wrote, “the only measuring stick of our [charity] is how much we give in secrecy without drawing the attention of others to our benevolence.”

With this definition, we can all be superheroes.  All you really have to do is start helping others for the right reasons.

We love helping our patients and their friends and relatives through their tough times and getting them feeling better!  We are here to help you stay feeling better and looking younger! Don’t be a stranger.  You really can afford Chiropractic care! Don’t wait until you can no longer move!

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Low Back Pain and Travel Tips.

16 Dec

Low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint when it comes to traveling, whether it’s in a car, bus, train or airplane. Traveling is hard on our joints, muscles and nerves for many reasons. Traveling requires us to do something our bodies are not used to, such as prolonged sitting in a cramped area. Remember the last time you had the middle seat on a plane? Also, unless you have a very unique exercise routine, injuries commonly occur from hoisting carry-ons into overhead bins or yanking them off the baggage claim belt. This month’s article will offer tips about traveling and things you can do to minimize risk of irritating or creating LBP. Bon voyage! 

Luggage Wisdom 

Lifting (in preferential order of lowering the risk of LBP injury): 

Ask for help if you know your carry-on is too heavy for you to place into the overhead bin safely. There are many kind co-travelers who will jump at the chance to facilitate (especially if you ask them nicely). If that fails, most flight attendants will be happy to help if they know you are struggling with LBP (be honest with yourself; now is NOT the time to be in denial of your back issue!) 

When it is possible, try to ship your heavy items ahead of time. It’s not only good for your back, but it’s often cheaper than the cost many airlines charge per bag! If you do this, all you need is a small carry-on that can easily fit under the seat in front of you. 

Why NOT simply check a bag, especially heavy items? You still have to be careful removing it from the luggage carousel, but again, ASK FOR HELP!

Try a backpack. It sure beats slinging a heavy briefcase over only one shoulder, which should be reserved for a light hand bag only. 

If no one comes to help, and you end up having to complete this often unpleasant task yourself, think before you lift. Break the lift into small movements or actions. For example, when placing your carry-on into an overhead bin, keep the luggage close to your body since the farther away from your body you hold the bag, the heavier it becomes to your lower back (up to 10x the load!). Try this method: 1st lift the bag to the arm of the seat that lies below the overhead bin; next lift it to the top of the seat back top; and then (the hard part), squat down, arch your low back, grip the bag, and in a smooth continuous movement, raise the bag up and onto the edge of the overhead bin. At that point, wiggle it in the rest of the way. Another important point about lifting is to try to avoid twisting, ESPECIALLY if combined with bending. A bend / twist combination is often the cause of a low back injury. Try to pivot your feet to move your body to avoid your back from twisting. 

We realize you have a choice in who you choose to provide your healthcare services.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for low back pain, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

 

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Whiplash “101.”

14 Dec

Whiplash diagnosis: The diagnosis of whiplash first and foremost requires a thorough history. Here, we discuss the factors leading up to the MVC (motor vehicle collision), the angle or direction of impact (front end, angular, side or T-bone, rear end), whether the head was pointed straight or rotated, whether the head hit anything inside the car, airbag deployment and any related injury, seat belt location and effectiveness, the conditions of the day (weather, road, lighting, etc.), the onset of each injured area including neck, upper/lower back, headache, memory loss, and radiating symptoms (time lapse to symptom onset), ER/ambulance involvement, the initial 24-48 hours, the point of maximum pain intensity, job and non-vocational capabilities, prior test results (x-ray, CT, MRI, lab, etc.), prior treatment effectiveness, and more! The physical examination centers on observation (posture, patient distress, mood); palpation or touching the injured areas; orthopedic tests (looking for positions that either relieve or increase symptoms); range of motion (how far forward, back, sideways, and in rotation can the head be voluntarily moved and its related level of comfort, speed/quality of motion); neurological exam (sensory, motor, cranial nerves, etc.); and special tests (x-ray, CT, MRI, lab, etc.) if not previously done.

Course of care: The type and length of treatment will vary based on the degree of injury (see last month’s “prognosis” discussion), the initial response to care (improvement vs. worsening), the compliance of the patient in modifying their activities, performing home-based care (ice, rest, exercise, etc.), and the patient’s motivation to get better. The latter may be partially dependent on factors like whether there is litigation planned or occurring, their belief that they will “get better,” and how the health care provider manages the care (the use of passive approaches where the patient must go and see the doctor vs. active approaches where the patient is taught how to self-manage through diet, exercise, activity modifications, education, etc.)

Treatment options: The patient has the choice of following a traditional medical model of initial anti-inflammatory medication, patient education, wait and watch, and/or a physical therapy referral. The chiropractic approach includes patient education, anti-inflammatory approaches (ice – NOT HEAT, anti-inflammatory herbs), exercise training and manual therapies including spinal adjustments. The latter, when applied properly, has been found to return patients to work faster than other approaches with a shorter recovery time and is less costly and more satisfying. When comparing treatment options beyond 6 or 12 months, the differences are more subtle. Other treatment options include acupuncture, massage therapy, and various forms of exercise. When necessary, injections, narcotics, and other pharmaceutical options exist but are not recommended as initial care approaches. Behavioral and cognitive therapy can help people cope with chronic, permanent pain related problems. There are many approaches to the management of whiplash and the patient needs a “quarterback” or someone to help them with these decisions. This is perhaps the most important role of the chiropractor!

We realize you have a choice in where you choose your healthcare services.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services and look forward in serving you and your family presently and, in the future.

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