Fibromyalgia Its Real and Its a Global Problem

What do I mean by global? Well it does occur in countries around the world, but more to the point, fibromyalgia is only one piece of a complex full-body puzzle. Patients with fibromyalgia will report widespread pain in the neck, back and in other areas, but there’s also much more to the story.

Usually, patients will have sympathetic activation-stressed nerves, which can result in a depressed immune system, obesity, TMJ problems, and even high blood pressure. Headaches are also quite common, as are other aches and pains. Fibromyalgia sufferers usually have a long list of symptoms they have had over the years.

And after years of pain, most patients have avoided certain movements and exercises, thus further diminishing their quality of life.

This can all seem daunting to many doctors who want to find a pill for every pain. You may have also been prescribed antidepressants thinking this would get at this global bodily disorder.

I’m Dr. Paul Kramer DC and I’ve treated many fibromyalgia patients over the years. There is not one thing that seems to help these types of patients-no silver bullet. If there were such a cure, I’d do it tomorrow.

Rather you need to address the problem globally by correcting misalignments of the spine and extremities.  Correcting your posture does absolute wonders in relieving pain. Diet is also an issue. For many patients they will need to lose weight and I can assist in doing this in a controlled way. Most patients need guidance about certain foods and fats that promote inflammation, which is a key point in addressing symptoms.

There may also be certain chemicals that you are ingesting that are contributing to the problem, rather than helping.
Lastly, all of my patients need to start exercising. Being a couch potato is no solution for fibromyalgia. Inactivity and inflexibility just makes joint and muscle pains worse.

I start patients off with simple daily stretches to add flexibility followed by walking. Some patients can barely get out of bed, so we start with walking to the end of the block. The goal is to get up to 15-30 minutes of fast paced walking each day. Once your weight is down to a manageable level, I encourage patients to join a gym, so they can develop more strength in all of their muscles. This comprehensive approach I believe is key to addressing fibromyalgia symptoms, as well as other important health problems that often accompany it.

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Fibromyalgia and the Swine Flu Shot?

Many people are wondering what to do about the H1N1/Swine flu “epidemic.”  I am not a proponent of vaccination for anything, so maybe I am not the person to ask.

But you should be aware of some of the risks involved.  The additives that are put in the vaccine can cause problems for many people.  The additives include metals like mercury and aluminum that have been shown to cause neurological damage.  A mercury based additive called thimersol has been linked to autism.  Vaccine manufacturers took the mercury out of many vaccines but they replaced it with aluminum that is less toxic, but causes the same problems.

People with blood brain barrier problems, which includes pregnant women, children and people with fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome should not take the shot in my opinion.

The H1N1 vaccine has not been tested for safety or effectiveness. I’ll say it again, this vaccine has not been tested for safety or effectiveness.  It is being sold by the opinions of doctors who “feel” it is safe. All the famous doctors, like Dr. Oz, that are taking it, are either vaccine zealots, unaware of the problems associated with vaccines or are getting paid to do so by the vaccine manufacturer.

The government gave out a billion dollars in research grants to develop the vaccine.  The companies that make it, stand to make billions more.  When this is all over, politicians will stand up and say “look at the fine job we did in stopping the swine flu epidemic.”  Vaccine manufacturers will use the “swine flu epidemic success” as a means to get quick money from the government in the future.

If you feel that you trust the government and your doctor enough to put your life on the line and take the vaccine, I respect your choice.  Not me, not my wife, not my kids.

I am not the only one that feels this way. Check out this video from Youtube:

Medical Commentator Says Vaccine is More Dangerous Than Swine Flu: Won’t Give It To His Kids:

For information on how I treat fibromyalgia, log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com.

Carpal Tunnel and Its Diagnosis

Pain in the wrist and hand can be a difficult thing to diagnose properly. The first problem is deciding what type of doctor to see. A chiropractor,  internist, orthopedist, rheumatologist, or neurologist, will all agree to schedule you for an appointment, but who is best?

At your visit it’s important to have a thorough examination and to ask a lot of questions. I’d be skeptical if the doctor only examines the wrist and hand, and leaves out the elbow, shoulder and neck. The reason this is the case is that problems of the neck and other joints distal to the pain, can refer pain into the wrist and hand. Not all wrist pains are a problem with constriction at the carpal tunnel. Pain into the hand can come from compression of nerves in the neck. Your carpal tunnel pain needs to separated from a problem in the neck, such as a radiculopathy or thoracic outlet syndrome.

Your doctor should ask are how long the problem has lasted, and if there has been any trauma. Trauma to the neck is especially important, and could be a sign that your wrist problem is really a neck injury.

Some patients simply need to have their computer monitor adjusted, or are given stretching exercises to do between long periods at the computer keyboard. The stretching may be for the wrist, but should also address the entire arm and neck to be comprehensive. How we sit and whether there is forward head posture are also important considerations. The forward head posture can stretch your spinal cord and nerve roots making the nerves more susceptible to pressure when they eventually pass through the carpal tunnel.

In others, the problem of joint alignment needs to be properly addressed. Through specific chiropractic adjustments, the motion of the joints and their alignment can be restored. The misalignments may occur at the wrist or even the neck.

I am Dr. Paul Kramer D.C. and I treat many patients with carpal tunnel symptoms. Sometimes the problem is local to the wrist but most patients will require a more comprehensive approach. If you’d like care that emphasizes proper posture and alignment and avoids the problems of long- term medication use, then log on to www.relieffromcarpaltunnel.com

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The Problem of a Low Back Problem

If you watch much television or have paid a visit recently to a family medical doctor for low back pain, the information you’re getting may be a flawed. For example, you’ve probably been told that back problems are not very serious and that the problem is quickly cured with simple treatments, such as going back to work or taking an aspirin. One commercial recently aired, shows a patient bent-over in a stuck position, who is apparently cured by taking two aspirin. These advertisements convey the message that back problems are trivial and that cures come in a bottle.

The reality is far different. Few studies show that taking pills does any good at all. More importantly, they tend to mask mechanical problems of the back that need mechanical types of treatments. Most back pains are problems of the spinal joints, either moving too little (fixation dysfunction), or too much (instability). These small problems grow bigger when you consider the spine is the lifeline of good posture. You really cannot do too much with a bad back. You may not be able to work, play, or even sit for longer than fifteen minutes. This can have far reaching consequences for everyday life and its enjoyment.

By treating these minor aches and pains as signals of something wrong that needs to be properly diagnosed and corrected, is the best way to manage this type of injury. When these problems are ignored or improperly treated, it’s only a matter of time before the minor sprain turns into a disk protrusion, and eventual degeneration or arthritis. With arthritis there will be substantial limits on the function of the low back. With lack of function comes reduced quality of life.

I am Dr Paul Kramer and I specialize in the mechanical treatment of these painful spinal conditions. My treatments involve spinal adjustments, which are designed to correct the misalignments of your low back vertebrae, and improve the range of motion of the individual spinal joints. When joints are functioning normally, then the nervous system will be less irritated. Your back muscles will become more relaxed and less painful if the joint is not irritated through improper position or excessive motion.

A comprehensive examination is the only way to determine if chiropractic treatment will be right for your particular spinal problem. I can also provide advice on how to minimize recurrences and prevent future flare-ups. By addressing problems when they’re small, future disability may be avoided.

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Log on to: www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com

Mattresses, Pillows and Back Pain

I am often asked, “what is the best kind of mattress for my back?” The answer may surprise you..

Contrary to what is currently being sold in every mattress store in the country, I suggest that you sleep on a firm mattress.  Pillow-tops, memory foam, Swedish foam, water-beds and gel- beds are all too soft.  Way too soft.

You see, your spine needs support at night. It needs a steady, firm surface so it can rest and your discs can get re-hydrated.  If the mattress is too soft, you will not relieve the pressure on the discs.  They will never recuperate at night, leaving you more prone to spinal degeneration.

People mistakenly believe that when they have sore spots or “pressure points” when they sleep, they need a softer mattress.  When in fact, what they need to do is change their pillow height.

If you sleep on your side, you need to have your head propped up slightly.  Most people have a pillow that is too low.  The low height causes you to get more pressure on your shoulders and you will inevitably toss and turn.  Slightly propping up the head will take pressure off your shoulders and make it possible for you to stay in one position all night.

If you sleep on your back, you need to be as flat as possible.  Just a few layers of a towel under your head is often all you need. If what is under your head is too big, you will feel like you need to put something under your knees to take pressure off your back.  Or, you will feel like you need a softer surface.  Don’t make these mistakes, use a firm surface with the correct pillow height.

If you wake up sore, stiff, dizzy or with a headache, something is wrong with your mattress or pillow.  Work with the pillow height first because it is easiest to change.  If that doesn’t work, look at your mattress.  Mattresses never last more than 10 years and if your mattress is over 5 years old, it is probably getting worn out.

I recommend one of three options for a new mattress.

1) Go to a mattress store and ask for the firmest mattress they have and don’t listen to what the salesman says about how “softer is better”.  Softer is more expensive, it feels good to lay on for a few minutes in the store, but in the long run, it is bad for your back.

2)  I recommend the Sleep Number Bed basic model.  (The one without memory foam.)  The foam makes these too soft.  The Sleep Number can be pumped up firmer than most mattresses, it costs the same and it has a 10 year warranty.  A sleep number above 80 with the correct pillow height works great.

3)  The Mercedes Benz of mattresses can be found on www.new-chiropractic-solutions.com.  They also sell an adjustable height pillow that is great for side sleepers.

Watch for a video on my web-site www.painfree-greatposture.com that will explain how to sleep.

For more information on how I treat back pain, sciatica, degenerative discs and spinal stenosis, log on to www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com and order a copy of my free information.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): Management Strategies

Many patients ask whether I treat conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome.   Usually they are surprised to learn that chiropractic approaches are very effective for this condition.

Interestingly, it is the rule rather than the exception that carpal tunnel syndrome is accompanied with other conditions also caused by repetitive types of activities like work or hobbies.  Therefore, a very important treatment strategy is educating the patient about the causes of CTS.  Overuse and fatigue typically precedes the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Other types of conditions affecting the upper extremity such as tennis elbow, shoulder bursitis, and neck pain are often present with the CTS.  Once all the conditions are identified, the next important aspect in the treatment process is gaining an understanding of the patient’s work or hobbies. A successful outcome is dependent on identifying faulty workstations and modifying the work environment so that repetitive forces in awkward positions can be corrected.  This is important because the most effective treatment approach can be made totally ineffective by a faulty workstation.

To find out more about how I treat carpal tunnel syndrome, log on to www.relieffromcarpaltunnel.com

What Is Fibromyalgia and Can Doctors Agree On the Diagnosis?

Fibromyalgia (FM) has long been considered a condition involving the soft tissues of the body, that is, the muscles, ligaments and tendons. It is defined as “a chronic, generalized pain condition associated with symptoms of fatigue, stiffness, and sleep disturbance and is characterized by the physical findings of local tenderness in many specific but widely dispersed sites. Fibromyalgia is the most common cause of widespread pain. The prevalence of this disorder in the general population is between 3% and 5%… Most patients with fibromyalgia remain symptomatic for several years, and no cure has been identified.”  Disturbances in the central nervous system (CNS) has also been linked to this condition.

In one study, 168 FM patients had the CNS evaluated by hearing tests, eye movement tests, and a test that evaluates balance/dizziness.  Abnormal findings were common in the FM patient group compared to non-FM subjects. Another study utilized an electrical current treatment approach through the skull to stimulate part of the brain to see if that would help a group of patients with FM. Two different parts of the brain were stimulated as well as a sham or fake treatment approach.  One of two parts of the brain that was stimulated resulted in reductions of pain that lasted for three weeks and mild improvements in quality of life were reported.

Comparing 287 general practitioners (GPs), 160 orthopedists, 160 physiatrists, and 160 rheumatologists, evaluating a patient injured in a motor vehicle crash, those most likely to diagnose FM were rheumatologists (83%) with physiatrists and GPs in the middle at 60% and 71%, respectively.  Orthopedists were least likely at 29%. There were five factors found to be important in the respondent’s agreement or disagreement with the FM diagnosis:

1. The number of FM cases diagnosed weekly by the respondent (strong predictor).

2. The patient’s gender (females > males was a strong predictor).

3. The force of the initial impact (least important).

4. The patient’s psychiatric history before the trauma (more important).

5. The initial injury severity (least important).

This information is important as the shift from considering fibromyalgia to be strictly a condition of the muscles and other soft tissues to being a condition of the central nervous system will affect our future treatment strategies.  Obtaining multiple opinions from various types of practitioners will most likely result in a variety of opinions. Treatment options utilizing chiropractic, exercise, and strategies to facilitate sleep have been shown to be very effective.

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Medical vs. Chiropractic Treatment in Acute and Chronic Back Pain

Have you ever considered who is the best suited to treat back pain?  A study looking at this very question compared the effectiveness between medical and chiropractic intervention.  Over a 4-year time frame, 2780 patients were followed (initial, 2-week, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 month intervals) with questionnaires.  Both acute (symptoms <7weeks) and chronic (symptoms >7weeks) low back pain (LBP) patients were treated using conventional approaches by both the MDs and the DCs.  Treatments from the chiropractors included spinal manipulation, physical therapy, an exercise plan, and self-care education.  Medical therapies included prescription drugs, an exercise plan, self-care advice and about 25% of the patients received physical therapy.

The study focused on present pain severity and functional capacity, measured by questionnaires that were mailed to the patients. It was reported that chiropractic was favored over medical treatment in the following areas:

♦ Pain relief in the first 12 months (more evident in the chronic patients)

♦ When LBP pain radiated below the knee (more evident in the chronic patients)

♦ Chronic LBP patients with no leg pain (during the first 3 months)

This study also found that early intervention reduced chronic pain.  While both medical and chiropractic treatment approaches helped, it’s quite clear from the information reported that chiropractic treatment approaches should be utilized first.  Not only because it is more effective, but also because it is safer and less costly.

To find out more about how I treat low back pain and other low back related conditions like sciatica, spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis log on to www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com.