How to Improve Your Odds of Crash Survival
You might ask, what does this headline have to do with chiropractic? It’s often said case management or patient care is much more than just what we do to our patients (such as in chiropractic, applying a spinal adjustment). The patient education portion of our care plan can frequently make or break a successful outcome in a case. It is the goal of this Health Update to potentially save your life by empowering you with the knowledge needed when it’s time to purchase your next car. This is about what specific automobile features contribute to crash survival – hence, saving lives!
Did you know the car you choose can improve the odds of crash survival by 400%? In the popular magazine Consumer Reports, they wrote, “Ultimately, safety is active and passive, balancing the ability to avoid an accident and to survive one.” Typically, the first thing we do as consumers when we consider safety in a particular car is to look at the crash-test results. While this is important, we must first consider the size and weight so we compare crash-test results between cars in the same weight class since statistics show there are two times as many occupant deaths annually in small vs. large cars. Keeping size and weight in the foreground, when evaluating crash-test results, the front and rear end “crumple zone” of the car should be designed to absorb crash forces by buckling and bending in a serious collision. If you’ve ever watched race cars crash, you usually see car parts bend and break off as they bounce off the guard rail or other cars, sometimes to the point where all that is left is the cage surrounding the driver. Amazingly, the race car driver often climbs out of the cage and walks away, seemingly unharmed.
The next important car feature to consider is a car with a structurally superior passenger compartment. Look for a high quality “restraint system” made up of 3 components: seat belts, airbags, and head restraints. These work together to keep us safe and in place during a crash while the outside of the car crumples, absorbing the energy of the crash.
So where do you look to get this information? There are several resources available:
- The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) tests front end impacts at 35 mph, and in 1997 added side impact tests at 38 mph. They also test for the rollover potential for SUVs and trucks and grade the results for each category from 1 to 5 stars representing the likelihood of suffering a life-threatening injury in a crash.
- Since 1995, the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) has used a method reviewed by Consumer Reports as being more realistic by crashing only half of the vehicle at similar speeds into fixed barriers, since most crashes are not direct, whole car strikes.
- Consumer Reports is a 3rd option. They integrate the data from both NHTSA and IIHS and gives us their “CR Safety Assessment,” and run 40 new cars each year through numerous individual tests.
Other important “accident avoiding” features often overlooked include: Tires – greatly impact braking and emergency handling so REPLACE them as needed; Braking-check for the distance required to stop the car at different speeds- the shorter, the better; Emergency Handling-data about accident avoidance and choosing a vehicle with electronic stability control (ESC), especially in SUVs is wise; Acceleration-the quicker a car can get to highway speeds, the better; Driver position and visibility-a good view of the surroundings, especially the “blind spots” is important. We realize you have a choice in where you go for your health care needs and we truly appreciate your consideration in allowing us to help you.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR WHIPLASH! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306 OR FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO: WWW.THECHIROPRACTICIMPACTREPORT.COM
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – Why is it so common?
Carpal tunnel syndrome or, CTS, is a condition where a nerve (called the median nerve) is compressed in a relatively tight or restricted space (called the carpal tunnel), resulting in altered nerve function that includes numbness and weakness. In order to fully understand what CTS is, let’s devote this Health Update to better understanding the anatomy of the carpal tunnel.
The carpal tunnel is made up from 8 bones (2 rows of 4 carpal bones that are stacked on top of each other) that are arranged in the shape of a horse shoe. The “roof” of the tunnel is a ligament (transverse carpal ligament) that stretches tightly across the two ends of the horseshoe completing the formation of a tunnel – actually, an upside down tunnel when looking at the palm side of the wrist). The contents of the tunnel include 9 tendons and their covering (sheath), blood vessels and on top of all that just under the roof is the median nerve – the culprit that creates most of the symptoms of CTS. The cause of CTS is simply anything that causes the contents inside the tunnel to swell, which then compresses the median nerve up into the roof or ligament, pinching the nerve. This can create numbness, tingling, the falling asleep sensation and weakness. It’s important to point out that the median nerve starts out from the neck, passes through the shoulder, past the elbow, through the wrist’s carpal tunnel and ends in the hand – specifically fingers 2,3, and 4. Therefore, the ENTIRE nerve must be looked at for all CTS cases as pinching can occur anywhere along its course from the neck to the hand.
It’s said that pictures say a thousand words, so let’s take a look!
Using the pictures here, familiarize yourself with the words and re-read the 2nd paragraph above, periodically looking at these pictures until you feel you understand where everything goes. Once you’ve accomplished that, you’ll be able to better appreciate CTS, how the anatomy relates to the condition, and appreciate the need to reduce the swelling inside the tunnel when symptoms occur. The treatment is simple: “PRICE” – P protect R rest I ice C compress E elevate – accomplished by bracing (especially at night), ice cup massage (5 min. until numb 5x/day), rest (light duty work), and therapy (see your chiropractor!).
We realize that you have a choice in who you are considering 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.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME! FOR MORE INFORMATION LOG ON TO WWW.RELIEFFROMCARPALTUNNEL.COM
Is Chiropractic Safe for Elderly Patients?
One of the more common concerns that elderly patients have about chiropractic care is…Is it safe?
As we know…it’s not like we get bigger and stronger as we age…although, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle (and chiropractic care) will help preserve us and slow down the effects of aging.
In any case…most elderly patients are concerned that chiropractic adjustments could harm them, because of the force involved, or the twisting and “cracking”. Heck…I would be concerned too.
But here’s the deal. It’s not only elderly patients that may require special care…it’s every patient. What about children? Does a chiropractor do the same adjustments on them as an adult? What about a patient with whiplash? What about someone that is very sensitive to the touch and has a low pain threshold?
Chiropractic is a philosophy, science, and an art.
The philosophy is based on the premise that nature is perfect and cannot be improved upon. The science is the understanding of the relationship between the nervous system, the spine, and health. When the spine is in alignment the nervous system functions properly and can control and coordinate all body functions as intended. This is when the body is in a state of balance, harmony, or homeostasis. Or as chiropractors like to say…a state of ease.
When the spine is out of alignment it interferes with this process and creates imbalances which can lead to sickness and dis-ease. The art of chiropractic is locating, identifying, and correcting subluxations so that the body can heal itself and restore health and function.
This can be done in hundreds of different ways. As long as the objective and outcome is the correction of subluxations than it is considered chiropractic (in my opinion).
Chiropractic techniques vary and can be used with very small amounts of force. They also can be done without any uncomfortable twisting. Knowing what chiropractic technique, and what level of force, and what complimentary therapies to use with each patient…especially the elderly patient, is the art of chiropractic.
At our office, we incorporate chiropractic techniques that can be custom tailored to your body. They can be very gentle techniques…or more aggressive techniques when indicated. Complimentary therapies like cold laser can also be used to effectively reduce pain without any sensation at all.
So I guess the moral of the story is that chiropractic is safe and effective and makes sense for the elderly patient. But chances are…it won’t be the same treatment we do for the 20 year old grandson. There is a chiropractic technique, and level of treatment and intensity for everyone…and applying it is an art…the art of chiropractic.
For more information on us, log on to: www.painfree-greatposture.com
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
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.
Can Chronic Back Pain Shrink the Brain?
If you’re one of the millions of people with chronic back pain, scientists say your brain may age up to 20 times faster than normal.
In the first study of its kind, researchers from Northwestern University have found that chronic back pain actually shrinks the brain by as much as 11%. Specifically, it shrinks the gray matter, which makes up the part of the brain responsible for memory and information processing.
It is well documented that chronic back pain negatively impacts quality of life and increases anxiety and depression, but it has been assumed that any brain changes revert to a normal state after the pain stops. This is according to researcher A. Vania Apkarian who has an article in the Nov. 23, 2004 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
Apkarian and colleagues compared 26 healthy volunteers with 26 patients who had chronic back pain in the lower region for more than a year. Some patients’ pain radiated through the buttock, thigh, and leg — a sign of sciatic nerve damage, or sciatica. The source of the pain was not considered.
MRI brain images and other sophisticated imaging tests, which measured gray matter size, were performed on all patients. After adjusting for age and gender factors, scientists found that, overall, chronic back pain patients lost about 5%-11% of gray matter a year — about the same as 10 to 20 years or normal aging, the researchers say. Typically, normal aging results in only about 0.5% of gray matter loss each year, they add.
Those with chronic back pain with sciatica had the largest decrease in gray matter. In addition, the more years someone has chronic back pain, the more brain loss they suffered.
What’s Behind the Brain Shrinkage?
By definition, chronic back pain is a state of persistent pain with associated negative mood and stress, says Apkarian. Therefore, one possible explanation for the decreased gray matter is that nerve cells are working overtime.
The researchers hypothesize that as chronic back pain persists, it may become more irreversible and less responsive to treatment due to these brain changes.
The good news is that chiropractic has been found to be a very effective and long lasting treatment for chronic low back pain. The elimination of chronic pain now, may prevent future problems of anxiety, depression and dementia.
For more information on how I treat chronic back pain log on to www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com or visit my website at www.painfree-greatposture.com .
Why We Hurt?
A book I highly recommend to anyone who deals with chronic pain is called Why We Hurt by Dr. Greg Fors.
He wrote the book after his daughter was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. He is a doctor of chiropractic and he was broken hearted watching his daughter crawl up the stairs to bed because she couldn’t walk. He thought “how could this be ? She has eaten nothing but organic food her whole life and she has been receiving good chiropractic care. Why would she have this problem.”
So, he did a lot of studying. He learned from some of the best experts in the country. He was able to find out what was wrong with his daughter and cure it.
What was the problem ? She had a claustidium infection in her small intestine that was spilling toxins into her system. The toxins caused her to hurt all over like she had the flu. Once the infection was treated properly, the pain went away.
The book is a great read. The information in it is fantastic for both patients and doctors. Though it is written for patients. It outlines many different testing procedures that are helpful in finding out what is wrong and how to fix it.
Due to an arrangement I have with Labcorp Labs and Genova Diagnostics, I am able to order and analyze all the blood, urine and stool tests outlined in the book. Because I have taken seminars with Dr. Fors, I have access to him if I have any questions, which is a huge help. He’s a great guy.
If you are suffering from chronic pain, fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue, then this book would be a great thing for you to have. You can get it at Amazon.com.
To find out more about how I treat chronic pain, log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com or go to my web-site www.painfree-greatposture.com.
Chronic Pain and Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an important nutrient to overall health. Low vitamin D levels have been associated with persistant, nonspecific, musculoskeletal pain.(fibromyalgia) and depression.
A recent study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings tested 150 patients with chronic pain. 93% or 140 of them had low vitamin D levels. An interesting finding was that 100% of all African American, East African, Hispanic and American Indians were deficient in Vitamin D. The study concluded that “All patients with persistant, nonspecific musculoskeletal pain are at high risk for the consequences of unrecognized and untreated severe hypovitaminosis D.”
I talk about vitamin D a lot in my practice. Too little vitamin D is common, especially in the Wisconsin climate. Typically the symptoms of hypovitaminosis D are treated with drugs that don’t do anything to fix the problem and in fact can deplete the body even more.
This year, I have partnered with a professional co-op so that I can order vitamin D tests at a cost of about $40.00. Already I have found patients that have severe vitamin D issues and it has been a pleasure to help them with a simple course of supplementation.
To schedule a free consultation with me, contact Jennifer at 262-251-8306 or log on to www.stopyourfibronow.com or www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com.
Fibromyalgia – Does This Sounds Familiar?
“I am exhausted and hurt all over. I can’t get to sleep at night and when I do, I wake up at the drop of a dime. I went to my doctor and they ran some blood tests and took some x-rays and said that nothing was wrong. I just don’t know what is wrong or what to do about it.”
This is a classic history obtained from a patient suffering from fibromyalgia or FM. Because the onset of fibromyalgia is slow and gradual, it is common for patients to postpone visiting their health care provider until the symptoms are quite significant. The diagnosis may also be delayed as many healthcare providers do not feel fibromyalgia is a legitimate medical condition and minimize the symptoms frequently categorizing them as “depressed,” which postpones an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
The classic definition as defined by the American College of Rheumatology includes at least a three-month duration of symptoms with the presence of 11 out of 18 potential tender points although diffuse, widespread pain not necessarily restricted to these exact locations may also represent an appropriate diagnostic finding in fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is more common in females and affects approximately 2% of the population in the United States. The risk of developing fibromyalgia increases with age, usually developing during early and middle adulthood but can also develop in children and older adults. Other risk factors include a positive family history where one may be more likely to develop FM if a relative suffers with the same condition.
A major risk factor of developing fibromyalgia includes is disturbed sleep pattern and this remains controversial as to whether sleeping disorders are a direct cause or simply the result of fibromyalgia. However, in either case, people with FM cannot obtain deep “restorative” sleep and feel fatigued and tired upon waking in the morning. Sleep disorders including sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome are often present in patients with fibromyalgia.
Certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, hypothyroid, and other endocrine/hormonal conditions may preceded the onset of fibromyalgia in which case the condition is considered “secondary fibromyalgia.” Hence, a diagnostic evaluation usually includes a blood test for hypothyroid, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and a complete blood count to rule out infections and/or anemia. In most cases, these tests prove negative and the diagnosis is made by excluding other possible primary conditions.
Other causes can include physical and/or emotional trauma where a high-level of stress can trigger this condition. Although experts still debate why patients with fibromyalgia hurt so intensely, the current explanation centers around a theory called central sensitization. This is essentially a lower pain threshold where patients with FM feel pain much sooner than those without it because of increased sensitivity in the brain and/or spinal cord to incoming pain signals.
Treatment of FM relies on a multidiscipline, multifactorial approach including stress reduction, obtaining enough sleep, exercising regularly, pacing yourself, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise. Other highly effective treatments, according to the Mayo Clinic website, include chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, and/or acupuncture. The concepts of chiropractic treatment includes restoring movement in restricted spinal joints resulting in improved nerve function and subsequently, improved overall function and reduced pain. Chiropractic care also includes cold laser, nutritional counseling and patient education. We recognize the importance of including chiropractic in your treatment of FM and realize you have a choice of providers. We would be honored to be part of your management team.
YOU MAY BE A CANDIDATE FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR FIBROMYALGIA! FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306