Archives for 2007
The advertisements are everywhere—at the supermarket, gas station, billboards, or TV—compelling
us to ingest this pill or that drug if we have any aches or pains and
they will go away. But have you ever thought about how you, the
consumer, are being manipulated? These over-the-counter drugs are a
booming industry and make huge profits [..]
Back surgery is quite common in the United States with hundreds of
thousands of operations performed each year. Sometimes these are
laminectomies and diskectomies, and other times the spine is fused
together so certain joints no longer move—a critical spinal function.
The conservative medical approach/thinking to back pain is rest,
medications, exercise, and physical therapy. [..]
Manual techniques refers to massage, deep tissue mobilization, and
manipulation of the joints. These procedures are performed by
chiropractors as a mainstay of their treatment. Several studies have
shown that these techniques are helpful at reducing carpal tunnel
symptoms. Sometimes scar tissue and tightness of the muscles of the
forearms develop. Specific stretching exercises are [..]
The fibromyalgia
diagnosis is based on widespread bodily AND spinal pain. Most patients
think that fibromyalgia is more a problem related to how intensely the
brain perceives pain. While this is important, you have to also
consider why the fibromyalgia patient is susceptible to such little
pressure at various points. What makes their nerves so [..]
We often think headaches
are caused by different stressful triggers. It could be long days at
work, staring at a computer screen all night, or the aggravation of
spending an extended amount of time stuck in traffic. Some of us get
headaches after drinking red wine or eating certain foods. While these
triggers make headaches [..]
Torticollis is a condition where a joint or disk is injured and you
can't move your neck. Sometimes the head is bent or turned a little to
one side, and sometimes it's straight but can barely move in any
direction. This type of problem is usually caused by a disk injury. Whiplash can cause this [..]
Getting your health back after a spinal injury can be problematic if you do not approach it holistically. What is meant by the term holistic? In general, it is caring for the person as a whole vs. individual parts, and using techniques that assist different bodily systems.
When dealing with a mechanical spinal problem, the [..]
Carpal tunnel syndrome
occurs when the median nerve, which starts at the neck and runs from
the forearm into the hand, becomes compressed or squeezed at the wrist.
In some cases, there may also be compression at other anatomical
locations along the course of the nerve, like the neck.The median
nerve controls sensations to the [..]
Syndrome X is called the lifestyle disease or metabolic syndrome. Patients with this disorder are overweight, have high "bad" cholesterol (i.e. LDLs) levels, and high blood pressure. They may also have insulin resistance or even be diabetic. This syndrome leads to heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and even certain types of cancer. Most of [..]
It's remarkable to consider how many different types of pain relievers there are for headaches—not
just at the corner drug stores but also supermarkets, convenience
stores, and gas stations. Drugs like aspirin, acetaminophen, and
ibuprofen are consumed daily in America by the truckloads.Have
you ever thought about how we approach a health problem or symptom? [..]