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

Can Fibromyalgia be Caused by an Infection?

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome where patients feel pain in multiple areas of the body.  They can often feel sick, like they have the flu and suffer from chronic fatigue or depression.

One of the interesting studies to come out in the last few years about fibromyalgia found that 100% of the people tested had dysbiosis problems in their small intestine.

What is Dysbiosis ?  Normally your small intestine should have certain bacteria in it that help you to digest your food.  In dysbiosis, bacteria, fungi and parasites that should not be there, are growing in the intestines.  These bad bugs create toxins that get absorbed into your system.  The toxins cause inflammation, pain and a feeling of sickness.

You can find out if you have dysbiosis by running certain lab tests.  Urine tests to look for organic acids that are byproducts of harmful micro-organisms can help pinpoint what problems you are having.  The best test is a comprehensive stool culture that will be able to see exactly what is growing in you intestines.

From there, treatments can be prescribed that will eliminate the harmful micro-organisms and replenish the helpful micro-organisms.  By doing this, you will eliminate many of the toxins floating around in your body that cause pain and fatigue.

In my experience with treating fibromyalgia, solving the dysbiosis problem is not the complete answer to the pain.  However, it is one big step up the ladder to a full recovery.

To find out more about how I treat Fibromyalgia go to www.stopyourfibronow.com.

Can You Recommend A Detox Product?

Several of my patients have asked about different detox products they have seen on TV or in health food stores.  The product I recommend and use myself is Total Tea.  I use it because it is gentle acting and the herbs in it have multiple benefits, not just in detoxification.  It is not the total answer if you are concerned about toxicity in your body, but it is a great start.

Total Tea contains:

GynoStemma (Gynostemma pentaphyllum)

• Acts as a scavenger in the stomach and intestines to eliminate waste and toxins from the body
• Helps accelerate metabolism by adjusting blood sugar and reducing blood fat
• Contains many beneficial amino acids and vitamins and minerals, including selenium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, manganese, phosphorus and more
• Strengthens the body’s overall health and thought to have a strong anti-fatigue effect

Senna (Cassia angustifolia, Locust Plant)

• A “cleansing herb” that relieves constipation, increases peristalsis, and helps soften stools

Papaya (Carica papaya)

• Contains “papain”, an enzyme chemically related to “pepsin” which helps digest protein in the body and acts as an anti-inflammatory
• A safe and natural digestive aid that helps prevent indigestion

Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)

• Excellent digestive aid that helps reduce stomach acids and contains anti-inflammatory components
• Relieves indigestion, gas pains, irritation to the intestinal walls, diarrhea, and stomach cramping
• Contains therapeutic properties that stimulate blood circulation, toxin removal, and cleansing of the bowels and kidneys

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

• Soothes and comforts the stomach, promoting healthy digestion
• Stimulates the flow of digestive juice and bile and the expulsion of gas from the GI tract
• Helps with the treatment of ulcerative conditions of the bowel and intestinal colic

Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)

• Stimulates the immune system to counter both bacterial and viral infections
• An alterative herb that can be used for long periods of time to gradually and gently detoxify the blood stream thus improving digestion, glandular secretion and assimilation
• Contains anti-inflammatory components

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• Calms and relaxes the entire body; reduces anxiety; supports a healthy nervous system; helps ease digestion, tense muscles, and menstrual pain; relieves irritability; and helps sleep
• Contains anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the digestive tract and help relieve pain, indigestion, acidity, gas, gastritis, bloating, colic, ulcers and other inflammatory conditions of the digestive system

Rosehips (Rosa canina)

• Mild diuretic and laxative that helps soften stools without purging
• Beneficial for constipation, infections, bladder problems and diarrhea
• Excellent nutritional supplement and helps prevent colds

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)

• Used to combat microorganisms, diarrhea and other GI disorders, and has anti-oxidant properties

Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

• Used to treat constipation
• Possesses anti-inflammatory properties

For more information on Total Tea go to www.totaltea.net.  You can also get it at my office for the same price as online.  If you would like to sample it, ask Jennifer on your next visit and she will make you some.

Does Stretching Help Low Back Pain?

Like most health conditions, low back pain is a chronic problem. Patients with low back pain typically suffer off and on for years. Back pain seems to come on when we overexert or do something out of the ordinary, such as moving boxes or when returning to a sport we have not tried since our high school days.

Most patients will say that stretching seems to prevent problems and injuries from the activities of daily living. Both the weekend warrior and the daily athlete will attest to the benefits of stretching prior to the activity.

But stretching is typically not a good treatment plan when the pain comes on. Why is that? Why is something so effective for preventing a problem and completely useless as a cure. Some patients are lucky however. Through trial and error, they may find that the stretching actually causes their back pain to get better. But over the years its effectiveness diminishes. Some patients will say that their normal pre-activity stretches actually make the pain get much worse.

Stretching is designed to lengthen muscles and tendons. But back problems typically affect the ligaments and the discs. And the problem here is that the ligaments are stretched out, allowing the bones to creep into abnormal positions. So while stretching may help a tight muscle, its affect on ligaments can be detrimental.

Another factor to consider is that the delicate nerves of the lower spine cross the disk areas. With stretching, those nerves can lengthen and become even more irritated.

If you find that your normal stretches seem to have no effect on your pain or even make the pain worse, then that is a sign the ligaments have been damaged. Stretching will not help in this scenario and you will need to consult a chiropractic doctor who will perform an examination of the ligaments and discs.

The adjustments that chiropractors perform are designed to align the bones of the spine so that the ligaments do not remain stretched-out, producing pain. Over weeks, the bones begin to hold their normal position for longer periods of time and gradually the ligaments begin to shorten.

The doctor can also advise you on stretches that lengthen the muscles but do not cause further stretch to the already damaged ligaments of the lower spine.

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Can Emotions Cause Low Back Pain?

This article discusses how anger and emotional expression may affect your back pain. For years many medical doctors thought back pain was more of an issue in the brain than the spine. Research has shown this to be the case in many who are disabled from work. But mechanical sprain injuries of the spine are also critical to body function and how much pain you may experience. You just cannot separate the brain from the body and expect to tackle a difficult problem like low back pain.

Researchers at Duke University looked at this complex problem by measuring the amount of emotional expression, anger, and back pain in patients. The studies included 61 persons with chronic low back pain. The results were quite interesting. Patients who reported greater conflict with regard to expressing emotions may be experiencing higher pain and anger.

Have you ever considered that how you express your emotions could affect how much the back hurts? Do you hold on to angry thoughts and feelings? Ignoring these issues does not make the problem go away. And covering-up your emotions with a cocktail of medications doesn’t seem like a good long-term solution, especially with the unhealthy side effects that can sometimes occur.

Of course there is a difference between “blowing up” at someone and expressing emotions appropriately. Have you tried opening up to someone? A friend, or counselor can help show how your emotions can be dealt with constructively. Some patients have severe emotional conflicts and may require psychological support. Others can become more “in tune” with the emotional side of life through simple awareness. Does your back flare up around emotional periods of your life? We can help with the mechanical stresses of the spine, but to maximize your potential you have to consider emotions and the brain. By integrating a mind-body approach to health, the complexity of back pain is addressed more fully. This may get you more engaged with life, more active, and with a healthy outgoing attitude.

Being in chronic pain is no fun, for us, as well as our friends and family. So if you think your emotions (or lack of emotions) may have something to do with your back pain, consult a competent health care provider who addresses the whole person. When patients can confront these issues in a calm and supportive environment, the need for medications if often reduced.

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.

What Can I Do to Prevent Low Back Pain?

One important concept in spine care is making the patient an active participant in their rehabilitation. It’s important to change our sedentary lifestyles so that we not only get well, but also do things that prevent problems from occurring in the first place. But first, it is important to understand how back injuries occur. When we bend and twist and pick up things, tremendous forces are placed on the disks and ligaments of the spine. It’s important for muscles to be coordinated and flexible so you have maximum strength to resist.

Hopefully you’ve begun an exercise program. One of the more neglected areas of daily spinal hygiene is stretching. By stretching the muscles that move the bones and joints, we make them more flexible. This can make you more resilient at resisting heavy or awkward loads.

The important thing is to do stretches correctly. In general you want to be warm when you stretch. If you’re not too warm, then proceed slowly, gradually bringing more circulation to the area. After a long walk is a good time to stretch. You can also do stretches throughout the day, even in your office chair. Simple hand and shoulder stretches can be done at the computer, and can help to release tension in the shoulders and wrists.

It’s helpful to hold the stretch for at least 40 seconds so that the muscles have a chance to respond and elongate, and do not bounce, or move in a quick or rapid way.

If you have a back or other joint injury, it’s important that certain stretches are avoided, because they can further increase the stretch on ligaments. For example, you may not be able to touch your toes right now, but there are better ways to gain this flexibility than through toe-touching stretches. This is because bending forward can also aggravate a lower back condition. Instead you can bring the leg up to stretch the back of the thigh by placing the foot on a chair or table (acting as ballet bar). By keeping the low back in good upright posture, the back of the thigh is stretched while also lowering the stress on the spinal disks.

Our office can assist you with creating an individualized daily stretching program that fits your lifestyle, and minimizes the risk of injury.  Paying attention to these simple preventive measures can be worth a pound of cure down the road.

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Chronic Headaches and the Pill Industry

The advertisements are everywhere, at the supermarket, gas station, billboards, or TV, compelling us to ingest another pill for an ill. Nowhere is this more prominent than in the pain pill industry. We are told that simple pain relievers really do the trick to make that nasty headache 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 for the companies that push them.

Have you wondered why you don’t see an advertisement suggesting that you should see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis, to determine the cause of your headache? Instead, we self-diagnose and self-medicate all while finding no long-term solution for a chronic and long-term problem.

The first question a consumer needs to ask is, “why do I have a headache?”

Why is my body signaling pain? Humans and other animals have a nervous system that warns us of problems by making us experience pain. The pain is a like a fire alarm. What would life be like if the fire department responded to a house fire by cutting the fire alarm? We’d still be in a raging inferno. But when pain is temporarily silenced with medicine, the cause of the pain continues. No one could seriously think that headaches are caused by a lack of ibuprofen in the diet? That’s CRAZY! But these pain pills are consumed by so many Americans, they have almost become part of the national diet. And of course the dirty little secret is that many people double and triple the dosages recommended on the bottle.

The warnings on the bottle don’t seem to help much either. Stomach bleeding, liver and kidney problems are all serious unintended consequences of taking these pills over a long duration. The side effects are even more dangerous if we drink alcohol regularly.

So what’s a person to do? First, get examined by a doctor of chiropractic to determine if there an underlying spinal cause for your headache. The doctor can also rule out rare things that can be causing the headache, such as high blood pressure or a brain tumor (very rare causes). Next, it’s important to realize that pain is a signal and should be embraced rather than ignored or suppressed.

Through natural chiropractic care your headaches can go away without pain pills. Clinical research in the form of randomized clinical trials, have documented the effectiveness of chiropractic care in patients with headaches. The safety profile of chiropractic is far superior to pain medications, including the over-the counter variety.

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FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION CALL 262-251-8306

Or Log on to: www.painfree-greatposture.com for more information.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome In Your Neck?

Over the decades we have come to expect that a pain or tingling in the hand and wrist means there is a local injury in the area. Since many surgeries are done each year on the wrist to relieve these symptoms, it seems logical that this is the case. But many patients with “successful” surgeries still have problems over time. Others get only temporary relief and the problem quickly returns. Other patients can develop wrist and hand symptoms that mimic carpal tunnel syndrome, after a whiplash injury or sprain/strain of the neck. These patients may not have any trauma at all to the wrist and hand area but have severe hand pain. Why does this occur?

One possibility is that the carpal tunnel diagnosis was incorrect. Because your body is interconnected with joints and nerves, symptoms often occur at another location from that of the actual problem. Taking this approach is more holistic, vs. the often-fragmented medical view of things. We have doctors of the feet, the eyes, and various other body parts. These types of specialists, while often good at specific problems, can sometimes miss diagnoses that are complex and involve multiple body systems.

More and more research has shown this to be the case in carpal tunnel patients. A study from 2006 looked at the spines of patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. MRI’s, x-rays, and nerve testing were done on patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, and another group with referred pain from the neck and into the wrist and hand. Another group of subjects, with no symptoms at all, served as the control. The x-rays showed that degeneration of the disks in the neck were present in both patient groups. The MRI took things a step further, to see if the tiny holes between the neck bones showed narrowing and a pincer effect on the nerves.

This study showed that in carpal tunnel syndrome there is often degenerative changes in the neck and supported the “double-crush” nerve hypothesis. Seeing a doctor of chiropractic to make sure that your wrist and neck is properly examined is key to proper diagnosis. Without proper assessments, treatments are often unsuccessful, especially surgery. Before embarking on the more invasive option of surgery, consider conservative chiropractic care. If the problem in your wrist is more a problem in your neck, specific wrist treatments will be ineffective.

If you are interested in more information on how I treat CTS log on to www.ReliefFromCarpalTunnel.com and order a free report.

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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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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