Pain Relief Chiropractic

Patients frequently obtain chiropractic services for aches and pains associated with their muscles and joints. In fact, some of the most common diagnoses chiropractors make are “sprains and strains” of the neck, back, and extremities. So, how does this fit in with the use of statin medications?

Statins are a group of medications frequently prescribed to lower cholesterol, particularly LDLs (low density lipoproteins) – the “bad” cholesterol. Not long after FDA approval was granted in 1987, patients taking the new statin medications began complaining of muscle pain, sometimes so severe that the pain remained permanent after they stopped taking the medication. A recent study offers NEW EVIDENCE that statins are linked to “skeletal adverse events,” NOT just muscle aches and pains. Researchers found that statin users are up to two times more likely to receive a diagnosis of musculoskeletal disease (including degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis) than non-statin users. This is of great concern especially in reference to the recent recommendation that statins should be prescribed to PREVENT cardiovascular disease in young healthy patients! This recommendation has the potential to significantly increase the number of people taking statin medications even though studies show NO significant benefits when statins are prescribed to members of a healthy population! With this anticipated increase in statin use, a 20-25% increase in patients presenting with musculoskeletal side effects such as muscle pain and/or bone/joint pain is likely. Since these complaints frequently drive patients to chiropractic physicians, it is VERY IMPORTANT that both patients and doctors are aware of these relatively common side effects.

Common symptoms/conditions associated with taking statins can vary considerably, making the association between the two difficult to determine in some cases. These include (but are not limited to) myopathy (muscle pain, weakness, cramps), liver damage, autoimmune muscle disease (rhabdomyolysis), tendinous diseases (like tennis elbow, shoulder, or knee tendonitis), cataracts, kidney failure, cognitive impairment, impotence, and diabetes mellitus. Here are some interesting facts about cardiovascular disease (CVD): 1) CVD is one of the most misdiagnosed and mistreated conditions in medicine; 2) Eating cholesterol and saturated fat does NOT increase the risk of heart disease; 3) It’s NOT the amount of total cholesterol or LDL in the blood that drives heart disease risk but rather, the number of LDL particles (LDL-P); 4) It is a myth that statin drugs save lives in healthy people without heart disease and in this group, the side effects associated with statins are far more potentially dangerous and quality-of-life altering.

There is evidence that statins benefit those with pre-existing heart disease to some extent. In a 2010 large meta-analyses regarding statin use in those with pre-existing heart disease who took statins for five years, Dr. David Newman noted the following: 1) 1.2% (1 in 83) had their life span extended (were saved from a fatal heart attack); 2) 2.6% (1 in 39) were helped by preventing a repeated heart attack; 3) 0.8% (1 in 125) were helped by preventing a stroke; but, 4) 96% saw NO benefit at all; 5) 0.6% (1 in 167) likely developed diabetes because of statin use; 6) 10% (1 in 10) experienced muscle damage related to their statin use. As noted in points one through three, there are some benefits, but at what risk? The study also reported that in men or women over age 80, regardless of their cardiovascular health, statins did not extend their life span. The objective of discussing this subject is to inform the reader that you have choices, and it’s wise to discuss both the benefits and risks with your primary care physician prior to taking a statin.

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, we would be honored to render our services.

Chiropractic is often sought after for managing conditions associated with the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints (or the “neuromusculoskeletal system”), and typically NOT for conditions associated with blood sugar (which is also called dysinsulinism, since insulin controls our blood sugar levels). Insulin controls the level of our blood sugar and is secreted by the endocrine part of the pancreas. Can chiropractic help in the management process of diabetes, and if so, how? Let’s take a look!

In 2012, the American Diabetes Association reported that 29.1 million Americans, or 9.2% of the population, had diabetes compared with 25.8 million (8.3%) in 2010. Worldwide, the number of diabetics in 2010 was estimated at 165 million people and may reach 330 million by 2025! More importantly, 8.1 million were undiagnosed in 2012 vs. 7 million in 2010. Since diabetes (Type II) is usually acquired later in life, the prevalence among seniors in America (>65 years old) in 2010 was 25.9% (11.8 million), including both diagnosed and not diagnosed. What is most alarming is the growing rate of diabetes among our youth (younger than 20 years old), which affects approximately 208,000 Americans (about 0.25% of that population) with an annual incidence rate of 18,436 with Type I and 5,089 with Type II diabetes. The list of problems that can arise BECAUSE of diabetes includes (but is not limited to) hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hypertension, high “bad” blood fat (LDL, cholesterol), cardiovascular disease-related deaths (1.7 times higher), stroke, blindness/visual problems, kidney disease, and amputations. In 2013, the total cost associated with diabetes in the United States was $245 billion ($176 in direct medical costs and $69 billion in reduced productivity).

What can chiropractors do about this? First, we can help get the condition properly diagnosed. Symptoms such as numbness/tingling in the hands and/or feet may be related to diabetic neuropathy, and these symptoms often drive the undiagnosed diabetic patient to our clinics. Other common symptoms that “look like” a typical chiropractic complaint include limited joint motion, stiff hands, muscle pain, shoulder capsulitis, osteopenia, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and more! A simple urine and blood test can identify whether diabetes is part of the problem, which we may be able to conduct in the office or refer you to your primary care physician, if necessary.

So, what can we as chiropractors do for those with diabetes? First, recognize that blood sugar must be controlled. There are many nutrients — herbal, vitamins, and minerals — that can help (see WebMD for a LONG list). Dietary management can include an anti-inflammatory diet, removing grains (gluten is BAD), and emphasizing fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and “good“ fats. The use of chromium (up to 1000 mcg/day) can have significant benefits in both prevention and treatment of diabetes with studies that date back to the 1950s! It’s considered safe for most children and adults and can even be used during pregnancy! Besides reducing high blood sugar, it can help lower “bad” cholesterol (and raise “good” cholesterol), fight depression, aid in weight loss, increase muscle mass, and decrease body fat! Some reports include athletic performance benefits and increased energy as well! Let us help guide you in this process!

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, we would be honored to render our services.

Because the spinal cord is housed by the spine and the exiting nerve roots communicate with the autonomic nerves that basically run our organ function, maintaining alignment of the spine and pelvis is very important to minimize nerve irritation and subsequent health-related problems. The focus of this Health Update is on leg length, its effect on our posture, methods of assessment, and treatment.

Leg length plays and important role in posture. When there is a difference in leg length, the pelvis cannot maintain a level position, and because the spine’s base is the pelvis, it cannot stay straight if there is a leg length discrepancy. Doctors of all disciplines realize the importance of leg length, especially orthopedic surgeons as they consider hip and knee replacement! There are many causes of leg length issues, and some include a genetic predisposition (inherited), trauma during bone growth years (15mm.

From a treatment standpoint, a heel lift (with or without arch supports) can be placed into the shoe on the short leg side. Unfortunately, there is not a 1 to 1mm correction of the leg length deficiency with heel lifts. In adults, it has been reported that about a 66% correction occurs, which means a 10 mm lift would result in around a 6.6mm leg length deficiency correction. Many doctors have found that it is usually wise to GRADUALLY increase the amount of heel lifting, and so patients often start with a 5mm lift and at one week intervals, increase it to the next height, such as 7mm, followed by 9mm, and so on. At 12mm (0.5”), problems with the heel lift being pushed out of the shoe and/or sliding forwards in the shoe may prohibit the use of these thicker lifts after which point the bottom of the shoe can be built up by a shoe cobbler (some services can be found online as well). We look forwards to helping you gain stability and proper spinal posture!

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, we would be honored to render our services.

Many people seek chiropractic care for low back, mid-back, neck pain, and pain in the extremities, but what about balance and / or dizziness, as they often go together? Can chiropractic management help people suffering from frequent falls due to balance and/or dizziness problems? Let’s take a look!

When considering treatment for balance, we must talk about the “proprioceptive system.” The way the body “communicates” between all the various body parts is by proprioceptors, which are located in skeletal muscles and joint capsules, and these relay information to the brain. This information from the various body parts is then integrated with incoming information from the vestibular system (inner ear). The brain also relies heavily on the cerebellum located in the back of the head, which is largely responsible for coordinating the unconscious (automatic) aspects of proprioception. The ability to maintain balance, such as when standing on one leg (eyes open and closed), is dependent on the ability for the ALL THREE of these systems to work properly, and like any other skill, “…practice makes perfect!” Please try standing on one leg and then shut your eyes. Can you feel your ankle, foot, leg, and the rest of your body struggle to keep you balanced? For those of us under age 60, it’s “normal” to be able to balance on one foot with eyes closed for 25 seconds (or 10 and 4 seconds if you are between 60-69 or, 70-79 years old, respectively)! Scary, isn’t it? But don’t feel bad, as most of us can’t do this at first. With practice and the right exercises, you will be able to do it. Your “kinesthetic sense” CAN BE improved, and we as chiropractors can guide you in the process. So, how does dizziness fit into this picture? Let’s talk about the ear!

Our ears have two jobs: hearing and balance. The outer ear catches sound and funnels it to the eardrum which vibrates and moves three little bones that transmit the information to the cochlea and finally to the brain allowing us to hear sound. Deep inside the ear is the “vestibular apparatus,” which is the organ of equilibrium that assists in balance. Here, three semi-circular canals are filled with fluid and two sac-like structures located at the base called the utricule and saccule. The fluid in the canals flows past little hair-like structures that are connected to nerves that relay information to the brain, telling it where we are in space (horizontal – laying down, vertical – standing) and if we’re moving forwards / accelerating or moving up/down (like in an elevator).

There are little tiny “stones” in these two sacs that move the little hair-like structures but they can dislodge into the canal and alter the flow of fluid (like a rock sticking out of a flowing river creating eddy currents), which alters the direction the little hairs bend, resulting in vertigo or dizziness as the brain is receiving conflicting information from the hairs bending in multiple/different directions. This is called “BPPV” (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), which is brief episodes of vertigo immediately following a change in head position such as rolling over in bed, getting up from sitting or laying, etc. This is the most common cause of vertigo. If you Google “BPPV,” you will find different exercises that can move these little stones back into position (Brandt-Daroff and Epley’s maneuver), both of which work well often within a day or two. This is a good place to start, and if the balance/dizziness (vertigo) doesn’t improve, then we will consider other possibilities such as inner ear inflammation or acute vestibular neuritis, Meniere’s disease, vestibular migraine, acoustic neuroma, blood pressure issues, medication side effects, and more. We can teach you the BPPV exercises and perform cervical adjustments, which can also help significantly.

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, we would be honored to render our services.

Continuing this topic from last month, we are discussing various vitamin, nutriceutical, and dietary approaches that show promise with some published evidence to benefit those of us struggling with allergies.

The next herb to consider is: 6) Tinospora cordifolia as this can reduce allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and nasal discharge. 7) Combination allergy supplements include a number of natural allergy remedies that contain a blend of botanicals, of which one containing a combination of European elderflower, sorrel, cowslip, verbena, and gentian root help those with chronic sinusitis from allergies and also for those with bronchitis and acute sinusitis. 8) Other allergy supplements: While there are MANY supplements commonly used to treat allergies, there is less evidence to support their use in allergy management. The list includes Echinacea, grape seed extract, pycnogenol (pine bark extract), vitamin C, EPA, honey, cat’s claw, albizzia (Albizzia lebbeck), baical skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), goldenseal, and spirulina.

In addition to the precautions discussed at the conclusion of last month’s health update (pregnancy, breastfeeding, under 18 years old), keep in mind that long-term use of both supplements and drugs can increase the potential for developing a tolerance or even cause toxicity and harm. If you develop an allergic reaction, that is a clear indication to STOP taking the allergy supplement. Sometimes removing ALL the suspected supplements may be needed to properly identify a toxicity that has developed. TALK TO US (as well as your primary care physician and pharmacist) about any unusual symptom or signs that you may have developed! Also, remember to PLAN AHEAD, as most of us do not think about our allergy symptoms until they begin, and once an allergy symptom starts, it’s VERY HARD TO STOP (with medications as well as supplements). Try using these approaches four to six weeks BEFORE the allergy season comes or at least a few weeks before visiting your relative with six cats! And, during the ragweed season or when you’re at the six-cat aunt’s house, take these FIRST THING IN THE MORNING so the histamine reaction DOESN’T start – it’s MUCH more effective!

Remember, we are all different, and combinations of these things may be needed to get the best result. WRITE down the different combinations you try and your response (positive and negative) for future reference, knowing that while the same response may not be exactly the same every time, at least you’ll know what usually works for you! When adding supplements like quecetin or butterbur, you may have to lower your prescription or OTC drug dose (work with the physician who prescribed the medication and your pharmacist).

Other allergy approaches that have been found helpful include: 1) Reduce the allergens in your home (especially the bedroom). 2) Nasal irrigation using luke-warm distilled water (do not use water straight from the tap), non-iodized salt, baking soda, and for some, a few drops of eucalyptus one to three times a day REALLY HELPS. 3) Use HEPA filters in your AC units and vacuum cleaners. Wear masks when working outdoors. 4) Acupuncture is showing promise as well! We as chiropractors can guide you in this process of allergy management!