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Medical LibraryArtificial Disc Therapy Outperforms Spinal Fusion Surgery  Replacing a ruptured spinal disc in the neck with an artificial disc leads to results that are at least as good, and often better, than spinal fusion surgery, a recent study found.
Back Pain: Causes and Treatments There's a good chance you or someone you care about has suffered with back pain that lasts a long time. Back pain is the second leading symptom seen by doctors in the United States. Now, one might think a powerful group of pain medicines can help relieve the agony. But it appears, their effectiveness, at least with back pain, might be overblown. Chronic back pain--meaning, pain that lasts more than three months--is reported in 19 percent of working adults. That's one in five! Thambal Yima will tell you first hand how debilitating it can be. She suffered five herniated discs, and two fractures a couple of years ago. “I went through all kinds of medical treatments. I was in so much pain to get up on the examination table I would scream.” She came in in intractable pain, certainly, sounding like someone, if there was someone, who would benefit from opioid pain medicines…drugs in the morphine family. These are drugs like fentanyl, percocet, oxycontin, and vicodin. They are powerful pain killers. But according to new research in the annals of internal medicine, the difference in pain relief between these medicines and placebo was not significantly different long term, believe it or not. (Read more)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Chiropractic Care The incapacitating hand and wrist condition that accounts for 60 percent of work-related injuries is often treated surgically, but need not be in many cases, according to an Illinois chiropractor. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most commonly reported medical problem in the workplace, said chiropractor Jeff King, of Quincy, Ill. Every day, countless assembly line workers, keyboard operators, grocery store clerks and others suffer microtraumas from vibration and repetitive motion that, combined with spinal and joint problems, cause the condition (Read more)
Chiropractic Can Relieve Rising Economy-Related Stress Stress, and the tension in the spine, nervous system, back and neck that it breeds, is rising like a tide in America today along with the economic woes afflicting the nation – and chiropractors are well positioned to tackle the problems.
Chiropractic Normalizes Diabetic's Sugar Levels A recent report studies the case of a man with type 2 diabetes who underwent chiropractic care for a month and saw his blood and urine glucose levels return to normal.
Chiropractic Stress Management May Boost Overall Health When the wear and tear of life start to “get on our nerves,” it’s exactly our nerves that may be getting impacted. Stress bears down on the nervous system, and that in turn can create problems with headaches, backache, neck pain, fatigue or digestive difficulties. And that’s where chiropractic care comes in. Chiropractors’ primary area of expertise is the nervous system, especially the spine. The nervous system as a whole is the coordinator of all of the body’s processes – including those in the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, reproductive, endocrine and musculoskeletal systems. So to correct problems in those systems, the chiropractor focuses on the all-important nervous system, which underpins them all. (Read more)
Chiropractic Targets Back Pain Caused by Sacroiliac Physical therapy and chiropractic care can often relieve the lower-back pain associated with problems of the sacroiliac joint. Some 40 percent of lower-back pain stems from sacroiliac joint issues. This joint is one of two - one on the left and one on the right - in the pelvis that link the tailbone (sacrum), which is part of the spine, and the large pelvic bone (ilium). This strong, snug union produces the base for spinal movements to take place. The sacroiliac joint can be injured by such things as a direct fall on the buttocks, a vehicle accident, or even overlifting - and sometimes it just happens through normal activities without a noticeable trauma.
Chiropractic's Effect on Learning Disorders and Dyslexia Chiropractic care of the spine may stimulate nerve pathways to an area of the brain important to learning, resulting in enormous benefits to children with learning disabilities and dyslexia, according to a recent study.
Heavy Hand Bags and Back Pain So have you noticed a fashion trend lately? No, we’re not talking about shoes or hair styles; the discussion is on accessories--specifically, hand bags. They’re getting bigger and bigger. Is that causing women to suffer more aches and pains? When we’re talking fashion, usually we’re talking about high heels and how they’re bad for the feet and the posture; but this is a lot like the issue of backpacks--what you’re carrying in your dior could be putting too much strain on your back and spine. Still, it’s not hard to find folks who are sore from all that schlepping. “My shoulder hurts a lot at the end of the day,” says Rosa. Celia adds, “All the time, right now my left shoulder is killing me, I think over stuffing the bags, you don’t know if you should bring two small ones or one large one and no matter how you work it you put to much in them.” (Read more)
How to Wear Backpacks Well Watching students carrying their backpacks on a college campus can be a chiropractor's nightmare, for much damage is in process to young backs that will show up years later in multiple back problems. "A lot of people are wearing their backpacks too heavy, which is harming their backs and their health," said Allison Gross, a chiropractor at the EnCana Wellness Center at Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta. (Read more)
Knee Cartilage Damage Raises Osteoarthritis Risk A recent study of middle-aged and elderly patients showed that damage to the cushioning cartilage in the knee can often lead to osteoarthritis. The cartilage is known as the meniscus. Actually, there are two menisci, one on the inside of the knee and one on the outside. These tough, resilient, wedge-shaped cushions protect the thigh bone (femur) and main shin bone (tibia) from damaging one another and properly distribute the load of the body onto the joint.
NIH Endorses Alternative Therapies for Back Pain In the midst of the debate on healthcare, it may be interesting to note to what extent the Federal government is changing its bureaucratic mindset about what is good medicine and healthcare. The evidence: The National Institute of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Number of Children Getting Chiropractic Care Increases The number of American children receiving chiropractic care is steadily increasing, recent surveys have showed.
Rapid Rise in "Complementary" Medical Services Have you been to a practitioner besides your family physician? Whether chiropractic care, acupuncture, yoga or homeopathy, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has become increasingly common in the United States, and 72% of adults use some form of CAM therapies according to the US National Centers for Disease Control and US National Center for Health Statistics. A recent cover story in The New York Times Magazine highlighted how chronic pain tends to be under treated because doctors worry about over prescribing medications, and being liable for malpractice or even criminal penalties. Many doctors fear entering the field of pain management at all. Many patients are also concerned about becoming dependant on medication or about the invasiveness and dangers of surgery and anesthesia. CAM therapies, which are able to treat pain and help manage diseases without medication or surgery, are rapidly growing services as people search out better, safer approaches. So how effective are Complementary and Alternative Medicine therapies? (Read more)
Reducing Stress Lowers Risk of Cardiovascular Problems A Review in The Lancet reveals the importance of healthy lifestyle choices to reduce stressors related to cardiovascular risk factors. Researchers from John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore examined records between 1990 to 2006. They observed how stress affects the sympathetic nervous system, impacts physiology, and the effect it has on the cardiovascular system. Lead author, Daniel Brotman, claims "Acute physical stressors such as sugery, trauma, and intense physical exertion are well known triggers of cardiovascular events. Emotional stressors are increasingly recognized as precipitants of such events." (Read more)
Spine Force Machine for Herniated Discs The Spine Force machine is the only device capable of stimulating the deep muscles of the spine. A groundbreaking device called the Spine Force has the potential to transform how we care for the muscles and structures in the lower back. LPG Systems is a France based company that has developed this machine to stimulate the deep connective tissue within the spine that can break down with sedentary lifestyle habits. With the advent of the Spine Force, health practitioners who specialize in treating spinal diseases and disorders may now have a resource to ensure that patients don't have recurring spinal problems. (Read more)
Test for Lou Gehrig's Disease Investigated A long-sought simple test to identify Lou Gehrig’s disease in its earliest stages may be in the offing with the discovery of high levels of several proteins in the spinal fluid of the disorder’s victims, a recent study published in the journal Neurology revealed.
The 3 Legs of the Chiropractic "Stool" Chiropractors the world over see their profession supported and given solidity by three “legs,” much like a three-legged stool – all three of which are necessary for it to be stable.
The Cause of Chronic Tension Headaches Poor posture is at the root of chronic tension headaches. An article written by holistic care author Doug Fogel explains how having a tight neck, shoulders, and upper back contribute to chronic tension headaches. He says the tension is caused by poor posture and/or accident-related trauma. Conventional treatments like pain medication have little effect on long term relief. The only way to relieve symptoms is to treat the cause of the tension and address instances of poor posture. (Read more)
Understanding Slipped Disc | Symptoms, Causes, Treatments What is a Slipped Disc? One of the most common injuries to the spine is slipped or a herniated disk. This condition may be extremely painful and may damage surrounding muscle and nerve systems. (Read more)
Waiting May Reduce Need for Back Surgery New studies demonstrate that waiting may be the best alternative to back surgery. Approximately 1.5 million back surgeries are performed worldwide. These surgeries are performed to address painful problems associated with slipped or misaligned disks. Intransient sciatica and other lower back conditions are extremely painful and can impact the quality of life of those afflicted. New research though suggests that 75% of such cases will improve on their own if left untreated. (Read more)
Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There A recent report by health provider BUPA has found that people's worries are damaging their health by causing sleepless nights, loss of sex drive, and erratic eating habits. The 2007 Worry Report demonstrates that almost one in five people constantly worry about numerous things, and more than half feel they worry more now than five years ago. Half of the people surveyed this year, which is 6% more than in 2006, claimed they were more worried about their health and their family's health than about other concerning issues such as climate change or terrorist attacks. The survey finds that almost three quarters of people worry, but around 19% admit to worrying all the time or about a number of things. (Read more)
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