Chronic Pain and Omega 6 Fatty Acids

If you suffer from chronic pain, you may be surprised to learn that the types of oils you consume are making your pain worse.  The biggest offender is the omega-6 type oil.  These oils cause the body to become more inflamed.  The inflammation not only causes pain, but a whole bunch of other nasty diseases.

Here is what the American Academy of Pain Management has to say:

“Changes in the modern diet are largely responsible for the increasing incidence of essential fatty acid (EFA) imbalances and deficiencies.”

“The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats has changed dramatically due to the

widespread use of vegetable oils (mostly n-6 fats) in cooking and to the processing of oils to alter omega-3 fats to improve shelf life and eliminate their stronger taste (just think of the distinctive tastes of cod liver or flax oil these are high in omega-3).”

“Historical estimates place the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 oils at nearly 1:1 for prehistoric humans.”

By the turn of the century (1900), the ratio had increased to about 4:1.

The current American ratio is about 25:1.  (unbelieveable !!!)

“The sharp rise is due to increased vegetable oil consumption:

from 2 lb. per year in 1909 to 25 lb. per year in 1985!”

“Many of the chronic inflammatory conditions that accompany EFA imbalance are currently treated with symptom-specific pharmaceutical drugs such as steroids, prednisone, aspirin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), sulfasalazine, and colchicine.”

“The problem with such drug therapies is that they prevent the formation of ‘good’ anti-inflammatory eicosanoids, or they shift the production of one type of eicosanoid to another.”

“For effective, long-term management, eicosanoid production should be modified through dietary changes (balancing dietary intake of specific fats) and controlling insulin levels in the circulation.”

“Maintaining a proper balance between the various families of dietary fats may be one of the most important preventative measures a person can take to reduce the likelihood of developing one of the chronic diseases of modern civilization, such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, and autoimmune disease.”

“And for patients who may already have one of these diseases, Essential Fatty Acid testing and therapy has been demonstrated to reduce both morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases.”

For more information on natural solutions to chronic pain log on to: www.stopyourfibronow.com or www.newbackpainreliefinfo.com

Information for this article was taken from:
American Academy of Pain Management
Weiner’s Pain Management
A Practical Guide for Clinicians
Seventh Edition, 2006, pp.584-585
Edited by Mark Boswell and B. Eliot Cole

Neck Pain Self-Help Techniques

Neck pain can flare up for many reasons. Trauma, posture problems, bad pillows and chairs or excess stress can all cause neck pain.  Research says that the best treatment for neck pain is chiropractic care.  But a good chiropractor is not always available.  Here’s what to do when neck pain strikes:

1. Acute stage: This is the period of time when neck pain first starts and it’s usually very sore and painful.  This stage occurs immediately after an injury and continues for 24 to 48 hours but can be perpetuated for a week or longer if you are careless about your activities and keep irritating it.  Injuries to the neck are similar to a cut on the skin. If you pick your cut, it will bleed again.  Sometimes, you have to wait a week or two before you can, “…pick off the scab.” This analogy also applies to neck pain after an injury.  At this stage, you need to apply the principle of “PRICE” (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate).  OK, I guess we’re not going to “compress” or “elevate” our neck but certainly the others apply nicely. To protect the neck, avoid quick/unguarded movements as these can “…pick at the cut” and re-injure the tissue. Rest means you may have to hold back on some activities that are strainful and might also, “….pick at the cut.”  Ice is a WONDERFUL pain killer and anti-inflammatory and should be rotated on/off/on/off/on at 20 minute rotations of ice/no ice/ice/no ice/ice. This creates a “pump-like” action that pushes away the swelling and therefore, reduces pain.  After 24-48 hours, you can alternate ice/heat/ice/heat/ice at 10/5/10/5/10 minute intervals as heat relaxes tight muscles and as a result, can help reduce pain. These self-help techniques can continue for a few days to a whole month, depending on the degree of injury and, how “nice you are” to yourself (so you don’t over do it!)  Cervical traction (home over-the-door traction) can really help a lot too!
2. Sub-acute stage: This stage of healing starts anytime after 48-72 hours and can last 4-6 weeks or more, depending on again, the degree of injury and is “niceness” dependant!  During this stage, the callus (scab) is hardening and its becoming stronger/less likely to “re-bleed.”  During this stage, range of motion, fiber stretching, isometric exercises can slowly be integrated into your program. Progressively harder exercises and re-introduction back into “normal” activities should be emphasized during this stage.
3. Chronic stage: This stage can last from 8 weeks to 1 or more years.  When neck pain persists, determine which activities you can do, including exercises. When “flare-ups” occur, a brief time period with PRI(CE) is nice!  Exercises here can be helpful based on your tolerance and exercise experience.

If pain persists in any of these stages and you want to get relief, call our office.  For more helpful tips log on to www.painfree-greatposture.com.

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

What Isn’t Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

That’s a strange question….well, maybe not as crazy as it sounds! Knowing what isn’t carpal tunnel syndrome, or CTS, may help you avoid an unnecessary surgery for a condition that looks very similar to CTS.  Because CTS is such a common problem, it’s not uncommon for other conditions to be mistakenly called “CTS.” Because of that, subsequent surgical treatment will fail.  So, what are similar conditions you should know about?  You’ll be surprised at the possibilities: Pronator tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, radial tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, cervical radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy, De Quervain’s Disease, fracture/trauma, degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), ganglion cysts, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), serum lupus erythymatosus (SLE), scleroderma, syringomyelia, multiple sclerosis, pregnancy, obesity, hypothyroid, gout, diabetes mellitus, Paget’s Disease, acromegaly, mucopolysaccharidoses, eosinophilic fasciitis, hyperlipidemia…

Obviously, you get the picture. There are MANY conditions that can either contribute and/or “cause” CTS. So, let’s discuss how we can determine what the condition is that may be causing CTS. CTS is “likely” if none of the above causes or contributes to these symptoms of CTS:

1. Numbness/tingling in the distribution of the median nerve in the hand only (not forearm) affecting the 2nd and 3rd (sometimes part of the 4th) fingers.
2. The need to shake and “flick” your fingers repeatedly during certain activities such as writing, sleeping, typing, driving, reading/holding a book / newspaper.
3. Waking up at night due to numbness.
4. Difficulty buttoning a shirt, picking up fine things, unscrewing a jar, riding a bike and more.

It may be necessary and appropriate to have some blood tests performed to help “rule out” (that means, “…get rid of..”) some of the above long list of conditions.  Some of these blood tests include (but are not limited to): a sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RA), ANA antibody test (for SLE), uric acid (for gout), glucose (for diabetes mellitus), thyroid profile (for hypothyroid), lipid profile and even a Lyme’s disease test to rule out the possibilities of that!  If any of these blood test return “positive,” get those conditions treated FIRST before consenting to CTS surgery so you can avoid having a poor / unsatisfying result.  Remember, you can always have surgery later, but you can’t “undo” the surgery after the fact (if it doesn’t help).

Therefore, why not consider a non-surgical treatment FIRST and if that fails, AND, blood tests prove none of the above conditions are present, THEN you can feel more comfortable that no underlying condition is present that is causing or adding to CTS.  Some of the common non-surgical treatments you can expect from our chiropractic approach for CTS include: wrist manipulation / mobilization, active release technique (ART) applied to the flexor forearm muscles, night wrist splint use, low level laser therapy, activity modifications, ergonomic or work station modifications.  Once you’re sure no other underlying metabolic cause or contributor is present, call us and we will help you with our non-surgical, no negative side-effect treatment approach!

We realize 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 A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306

Patient Had Vertigo But is Now Doing Much Better

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 .