The Vertigo Treatment Your Doctor May Not Know About

Have you ever felt the room is spinning around you, making it difficult for you to stand ?  If so, you are experiencing vertigo.  Although most cases are short lived, sometimes vertigo persists.  It can be caused by a number of issues, including inner ear disturbances, eye problems, brain pathology, infection or physical trauma.

Research into trauma-induced vertigo reveals that people who have had injuries to the head and neck, such as whiplash, are more likely to benefit from spinal adjustments.

One chiropractor reviewed 60 cases of chronic, trauma-induced vertigo that she treated over an 8-year period.  Of these patients, 56 recalled having experienced trauma to the head and neck prior to developing symptoms.  All these patients responded favorably to chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical area.  And 48 patients (80%) were completely symptom free after one to six months of chiropractic care.(1)

In another study, a research group followed 50 vertigo patients through orthopedic assessment, then treatment for their symptoms.  Of the 50 patients, 31 were identified as having cervical spine dysfunction.  The other 19 did not show signs of this problem.  When the patients with cervical dysfunction were treated with manipulation and mobilization of the cervical spine, 24 patients (77%) improved, and 5 patients were symptom-free.

In another group-which did not receive manipulation because cervical spine dysfunction could not be identified- only five patients saw improvement (26%) and no one became symptom free. (2)

If you are having vertigo symptoms, your medical doctor may not be able to identify cervical spine dysfunction as the cause.  They simply aren’t trained to look for it.  Fortunately, you can get evaluated for it, to see if a certain type of chiropractic care can help.

For more information, log on to www.stopvertigonow.com

Can Car Accidents Cause Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is one of those diagnoses that is pretty loose.  The name itself doesn’t mean much.  Fibromyalgia translated into English means muscle pain.  So if you have aches and pains all over, your doctor may tell you, “you have fibromyalgia.”

There is a diagnostic criteria that has been developed that says if you have 11 of 18 common tender points, you have fibromyalgia.  The problem is, you can have 11 of those points become tender for a variety of different reasons.  So fibromyalgia may not be the most accurate diagnosis.

This brings me to my point about car accidents and fibromyalgia.  Neck injuries sustained during car accidents can cause pain in the muscles all through the body.  It effects mainly the neck, but you can get pain in the back, arms, head and legs.  The pain can travel from day to day and it can vary in intensity.  If the injuries from the car wreck are not treated properly, they can lead to a lifetime of pain.(1)

Typically these neck injuries are called whiplash.  But that diagnosis is only made during the first few months after the injury.  This is because many doctors have been trained to think that whiplash will heal itself within a few months after the injury.  This idea is totally false according to the vast majority of scientific medical evidence.

So, you may show up at a doctors office years after your injury, telling him/her that you have pain that started after the crash.  Over the years it may have gotten progressively worse.  The doctor will diagnose you as having fibromyalgia, because there is no diagnosis code for chronic whiplash.  Even if there was, he/she wouldn’t look at it that way, because of their training.

In my experience, in successfully treating fibromyalgia, a minimum of 2 out of 3 cases have been whiplashed.  It could be from a car wreck, a fall or even a sports injury.

To find out more about how I treat fibromyalgia log on to: www.stopyourfibronow.com
For more information regarding car accident injury treatment, go to: www.thechiropracticimpactreport.com.

(1) “The Fluctuation in Recovery Following Whiplash Injury”, Injury, Volume 36, Issue 6, June 2005, pages 758-761

Ice or Heat for Fibromyalgia Pain?

Fibromyalgia patients often ask me if they should use ice or heat on their painful areas.  When I tell them not to use a heating pad, sometimes their faces will turn white.  The person will then tell me that they have been using a heating pad all the time because it “feels good.”

Using heat on sore muscles tends to feel pretty good, especially in cold weather areas like Wisconsin.  However, heat makes tissues swell.  The swelling can cause damaged tissues to take twice as long to heal.

People suffering from fibromyalgia tend to have inflammatory issues already.  The inflammation comes from a variety of reasons too lengthy to go into in this blog.  But, heat will make the inflammation worse.

Generalized heating of the body that comes from a hot bath or shower does not seem to be harmful. Its the heating pads that seem to cause the most trouble.  The localized heat causes blood vessels to open up and increase circulation.   The increased circulation to an already swollen area, causes more swelling.

If you are experiencing symptoms where your skin is very sensitive to the touch, discontinue the use of a heating pad immediately.  This is a sign that you have too much swelling and you are getting over sensitive.

I normally suggest ice in order to bring swelling down.  However, I know from experience that many fibromyalgia patients cannot tolerate ice.  The cold makes them feel too achy.  But ice is the best thing to do, if you can handle it.

If you like the heat because it gives you temporary relief of pain, then take a shower or bath.  Limit the time to 20 minutes.  This will keep you from overheating.  If you take a warm bath, you may try using Epsom salts.  The magnesium in the Epsom salts has been found to be beneficial for fibromyalgia sufferers.

To find out more about how I treat fibromyalgia, log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com

How Do You Know If You Have Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition where there is widespread / whole body pain that is often difficult to diagnose.  Some patients may spend years of going to different doctors, undergoing many tests (of which most, if not all, are “negative”), and they may be diagnosed with different conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, or mononucleosis before a diagnosis of FM is finally given.  Needless to say, this process can be very frustrating!

The reason for this dilemma is that there is no single diagnostic test (blood test, x-ray/image finding, etc.) that verifies the diagnosis of FM, leaving doctors in a position to “rule out” all other possible “diagnose-able” conditions first, before considering FM as “the” diagnosis.  Another challenge is the fact that FM symptoms vary widely from one person to the next and even vary within the same person at different times of the year.  There are a few “guidelines” doctors can use to help secure the diagnosis of FM.

One such guideline is from The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) which requires that “widespread” pain be present throughout the body for at least 3 months (“widespread” is defined as pain on both sides of the body, above and below the waist).  The ACR also has identified 18 points on the body of which at least 11 of the 18 “tender points” must be present to secure the diagnosis of FM.  There is debate as to the accuracy of this rather stringent criteria as FM symptoms can come and go and vary, making the 11 of 18 tender point findings sometimes change between visits.  Hence, widespread pain above/below the waist on both left/right sides of the body for at 3 months has become a more accepted indicator for diagnosing FM.

Yet another challenge in pinning down the diagnosis is that the FM sufferer may experience signs and symptoms seemingly unrelated to FM, such as stomach ache/digestive problems or headaches. This can lead the doctor down other paths before considering FM as a diagnosis.

Fibromyalgia can be primary (no other condition caused it) or secondary (other condition(s) lead to the development of FM).  Hence, the diagnosis process focuses on identifying conditions which can be identified through standard diagnostic tests, often overshadowing the diagnosis of FM.  Testing for conditions such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, sleep apnea, diabetes, Crohn’s Disease, and/or others, often makes sense to both you and your doctor, but adds to the delay in diagnosing FM.  Here are some suggestions to help your doctor through this diagnostic maze:

• Ask questions:  Ask about what each test is for and what the next plan is if the tests are negative.  By increasing your understanding, this will reduce your frustration in this process.
• Keep records:  Obtain a copy of EVERY test you have and share the information with any new doctor or specialist.  This can save time and money!
• Find the “right” doctor:  Find a doctor you can trust and “talk to.” Not all doctors “believe” FM exists and some are close minded to considering it.  Try to locate a doctor with a lot of experience with FM cases and is willing to “…work with you.”
• Build a good relationship: Be open, honest and avoid anger, skepticism and don’t be confrontational.  Be upfront about what is frustrating you about your symptoms.
• Take care of yourself: Ultimately, “success” of treating FM demands a “team” effort between you and your doctor.  Managing stress (eg., deep breathing exercises), obtain care that works (eg., chiropractic, massage), eat a healthy diet (eg., gluten-free), exercise regularly but don’t overdo it, and get plenty of sleep and rest.

We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment planning and realize you have a choice of providers. If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, 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.

For more information on how we treat fibromyalgia, log on to: www.stopyourfibronow.com

Whiplash & Chiropractic Treatment

The term ‘whiplash’ represents a collection of symptoms that occur as a result of a soft tissue injury of the neck.  This includes over stretching and/or tearing of muscles, tendons, ligaments, disk tissue and/or nerve injuries due to the extreme movements that occur during a whiplash event (usually arising from a car accident).  We have discussed the mechanism of injury and the symptom complex that can arise in past articles.

So the question is – how many patients who sustain a whiplash injury actually improve and recover compared to those that don’t? In one study, it was stated that 43% of patients will suffer long-term symptoms after a whiplash type of injury. More specifically, if a patient is still symptomatic after 3 months following the injury, “…then there is almost a 90% chance that they will remain so.”  They go on to state that no conventional treatment has proven to be effective in helping these chronic cases.  The purpose of their study was to determine the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment in a group of chronic whiplash patients.  To do this, they studied 28 patients (20 women and 8 men, between ages 19-66, mean 39) over a 2-year time frame, injured in motor vehicle collisions. Their symptom severity was graded on an A to D scale (A=minimal symptoms vs. D=disabling symptoms, with B= nuisance and C=Intrusive or partially disabling). Those in Groups C & D either had to significantly modify their work or, they lost their jobs and relied on continual use of medications.  The chiropractic treatment included spinal manipulation (adjustments), controlled resistance of muscles to improve stability and coordination, and the use of ice.  Treatment from an emergency facility and/or their general practitioner and physical therapy had been previously utilized for on average 15.5 months, before entering this chiropractic-based study.  Initially, 27 of the 28 were classified into symptom groups C or D and symptoms included neck pain (82%), neck stiffness (36%), and other complaints of headache, shoulder, arm and back pain. Following treatment 26 of the 28 (93%) improved, 16 by one symptom group and 10 by two symptom groups and this degree of improvement was assessed and agreed upon by both an orthopedic surgeon as well as by a chiropractor.  Seventeen (61%) improved to a point of satisfaction where care was discontinued after the 1st assessment with 4 of the 17 considering return for treatment due to a return of symptoms.  Litigation was still pending in 20 of the 28 cases at the time the study concluded.

This study is very important as over 90% of chronic whiplash cases improved from chiropractic management well beyond the point of improvement obtained through standard emergency, family practice and physical therapy.  Other studies have pointed out that early intervention or treatment with chiropractic manipulation and management approaches generally results in a more favorable response compared to waiting for longer time periods. To be able to obtain this level of success after an average of 15.5 months is truly remarkable!

Chiropractic methods often utilized for patients with a “whiplash” injury include spinal manipulation (or adjustments), mobilization techniques (this includes stretching, figure 8 movements, manual traction), muscle release work (this includes trigger point therapy, myofascial release/friction massage, and others), and promoting self-help approaches (this includes exercise, home traction methods, computer station modifications and other job modifications as indicated, and others).

We realize you have a choice in where you choose for your healthcare services.  If you, a friend or family member requires care for whiplash, chiropractic care is a logical first choice and we would be honored to offer our services.

For more information on these types of injuries, log on to www.chiropracticimpactreport.com

YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE
FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306

The Dangers of Medication for Back Pain

The most common medications prescribed for back pain are non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.  (NSAID’s)  The medication works by stopping the swelling associated with injured tissues.  By controlling swelling, you can reduce the pain and promote healing.  At least that’s how they work in theory.

The research does show that NSAID’s are effective in reducing back pain.  However, there can be severe side effects.

16,500 people die every year as a result of taken prescription pain medication and another 20,000 people die from taken over the counter pain relievers. (New England Journal of Medicine 1999) The deaths occur mostly form gastro-intestinal bleeding because these drugs are really tough on the linings of the stomach and intestines.  But, there are other dangers as well.

The number one reason for liver failure in America is the use of NSAID’s.  The kidneys also get damaged and failure of these vital organs is also.  1000 doses of NSAID’s in a lifetime doubles the risk of renal disease. (New England Journal of Medicine 1994)

Those who consumed the highest amounts of NSAID’s increased their risk of dementia including Alzheimer’s dementia by 66% (Neurology, 2009)

What the drug companies won’t tell you is that chiropractic has been shown to be five times more effective than the NSAID’s Celebrex and Vioxx in the treatment of chronic  low back pain. (Spine 2003)  And, chiropractic has an impeccable safety record.

To find out more about how I treat back pain, log on to www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com

Is Obesity Linked to Low Back Pain?

Low back pain has been recognized as a problem of epidemic proportions.  It’s estimated that approximately 80% of the North American population will experience low back pain at some point in their adult lives.  It’s no surprise that more and more people are going to chiropractors to find relief.

What’s alarming is the apparent link between the incidence of low back pain and obesity.  According to the American Obesity Association, 64.5 % of adult Americans are considered overweight or obese.  Recent evidence suggests that obesity seriously impacts the musculoskeletal system.   Obesity increases the risk of low back pain, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis.

Why obesity causes back pain hasn’t been totally investigated.  However, I think common sense can be applied here.  The laws of physics would tell you that the excess weight causes more wear and tear on the joints of the spine.  The extra stress would cause more degeneration and pain.

Also many of the foods that lead to obesity like sugar and toxic fats, also cause inflammation.  Inflammation causes pain and accelerates the production of arthritis.

In order to lose weight, overweight people will need to exercise.  However, if the person is suffering from back pain, they may not be able to do anything.  The inactivity leads to more weight gain, which leads to more back pain, and on and on.

The good news is that chiropractic care that focuses on posture correction can relieve pain and restore function in people even if they are over weight.  The treatment along with diet correction and exercise can lead to dramatic improvements in health.

For more information on how I treat back pain, log on to: www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com.