Relief for Aching Backs

Posted on September 16th, 2009

Relief for aching backs

Hands-on therapies were top-rated by 14,000 consumers

About 80 percent of U.S. adults have at some point been bothered by back pain. The Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center recently surveyed more than 14,000 subscribers who had lower-back pain in the past year but had never had back surgery. More than half said pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88 percent said it recurred through the year. Many said the pain interfered with sleep, sex, and efforts to maintain a healthy weight.

photo is from photobucket.com

Back pain can be tough to treat. Most of our respondents tried five or six different treatments. They rated the helpfulness of the treatments tried and their satisfaction with the health-care professionals visited.

Hands-on therapies were among the top-rated. Fifty-eight percent of those who tried chiropractic manipulation said it helped a lot, and 59 percent were “completely” or “very” satisfied with their chiropractor. Massage and physical therapy were close runners-up.

Many of those who tried spinal injections found them to be very helpful, although the techniques their doctors used varied. Most respondents had used some type of medication. Forty-five percent of those who took prescription drugs said they helped a lot, double the percentage of those who said they were helped by over-the-counter medications.

Where to go for treatment

“Everyone seems to be selling some kind of gimmick, treatment, or pill for low-back pain,” says neurologist Scott Haldeman, M.D., who co-edited the January/February 2008 issue of The Spine Journal, which reviewed ways of treating low-back pain. But when treatments abound, it’s usually because there’s no clear winner.

A visit to a primary-care doctor is a smart first step when back pain is severe. A doctor can help rule out disease, such as infection or cancer. Although many of our respondents who saw a primary-care doctor left dissatisfied, doctors can write referrals for hands-on treatments that might be covered by health insurance.

Enduring the pain or seeing a chiropractor or physical therapist as a first step might be OK for a recurrent, familiar back problem. Most of the 35 percent of our respondents who didn’t see a health professional had severely limiting pain for less than a week. Many of those with more prolonged pain who didn’t see a healthcare professional said it was because of cost concerns or because they did not believe professional care could help.

Research suggests that chiropractic manipulation can reduce acute low-back pain, and many, though certainly not all, of the respondents who tried it said it helped. Albert McCann, 54, a respondent from Lakeland, Fla., has kept working as a petroleum transport engineer, driving a semi truck and using 20-foot-long hoses several times a day. By following a chiropractor’s recommendations and getting treatment every few weeks—including manual adjustments, electric stimulation, and a spinalator (roller-massage table)—he is able to keep his back pain to a minimum.

Massage and physical therapy were other treatments rated very helpful by 48 and 46 percent of consumers, respectively. “My back pain was unrelenting,” says survey respondent Charlene Mower of Fayetteville, Ark. “Before physical therapy, I thought I was done for.” Mower, 51, hurt her back while trying to lift her bedridden mother. She credits the training in lifting and bending techniques that a therapist gave her and continued exercise for her long-term success in staving off pain.

Lifestyle changes can help .

Cindy Pickett developed low-back pain at age 22, when she was building a bookcase and suffered two slipped disks. Over the years back pain and other factors led to a 100-pound weight gain. At 59, Pickett, a schoolteacher from Flagstaff, Ariz., retired and decided to make weight loss and exercise her full-time job. She credits her improvement to the combination of weight loss and abdominal-strengthening exercises that reduced pressure on her lower back. Pickett reports that she has not had to take pain relievers for months.

Forty-four percent of our survey respondents found exercise helpful, making it the top self-help measure. And a surprising 58 percent of respondents wished that they had done more exercises to strengthen their backs in the past year. That is more than twice the number who told us they wished that they had reduced or avoided activities that might make the pain worse.

Use caution with surgery

Your doctor might suggest you see a surgeon if back pain is unrelenting and no other treatment seems to work. We conducted a separate survey of almost 1,000 consumers who have had back surgery in the past five years.

Those who had back surgery had tried nine to 10 treatments and described themselves as much more impaired by their pain than people with back problems who did not have surgery. Just 60 percent of the back-surgery respondents were completely or very satisfied with the results, compared with 82 percent of respondents who were satisfied after hip- or knee-replacement surgery in our 2006 survey.

But satisfaction depended on the diagnosis and the type of surgery. Those with degenerative disk disease (arthritis of the spine) were far less likely to be highly satisfied with surgery (54 percent) than those with a herniated disk (73 percent) or spinal stenosis (71 percent).

Alfonso Sanchez, 38, a state senatorial aide from Sacramento, Calif., was highly satisfied with his lumbar discectomy. His back pain turned excruciating when he was canvassing door-to-door in the hills of San Francisco last June. After failing to improve with acupuncture, physical therapy, and chiropractic treatments, Sanchez underwent a microdiscectomy last August. Remarkably, as soon as he woke up from the anesthesia, his pain was gone. He is now back to gardening and riding a bike to work.

But not everyone does so well. More than 50 percent of respondents reported at least one problem with recovery, finding it lengthier and more painful than they had expected. Indeed, 16 percent of back-surgery respondents said that their back pain did not improve, and half of those said it became worse after surgery. The most common regret was that more post-surgery rehabilitation was not planned.

If you’re told you need surgery, get a second opinion from another practitioner, preferably one who is not a surgeon. If you decide that surgery is the best approach, ask whether the surgeon is board-certified and find out how many operations he or she has done.

For more guidance, see our free diagnostic tool for back pain at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org. More detailed information is available to subscribers to that site, including consumer ratings and the medical evidence for 23 back remedies

Who helped the most?

The percent of people highly (completely or very) satisfied with their back-pain treatments and advice varied by practitioner visited.

Professional - Highly satisfied
Chiropractor 59%
Physical therapist 55%
Acupuncturist 53%
Physician, specialist 44%
Physician, primary care 34%

Differences in Ratings for physical therapists and acupuncturists were not statistically significant.

Article is from “Contents: Consumer Reports” Magazine
May 2009 pages 12-13

Tags: Anti Inflammatories, Back Injury, Chronic Pain, Spinal Decompression, Sports Injury, Treatment
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Reflexology – “Foot Focus”

Posted on September 4th, 2009

Feeling Tired?
Stressed Out?
Feet Hurt?

It’s time for some Reflexology with “Foot Focus.”

The Theory is that your feet mirror your body. If you placed an image of your body over your feet, you can see how the toes correspond to the head area. Where the toes join the foot is the shoulder line and so on down the body.

Each foot has over 7,200 nerve endings (reflex points) that directly correspond to every organ and part of your body. Over time, crystalline deposits form wherever there is a blockage of blood or energy.

Benefits of Reflexology

*Stress Reduction- Doctors agree that over 75% of our health issues are stress related.
*Stimulated Nerve Function – encourage the opening and clearing of neural pathways. Reduces pain by interrupting pain pathways.
*Improved Circulation – Results in better oxygen and nutrient supply to all cells in the body.

Reflexology is the “drugless” way to better health, requiring no exercise and no expensive equipment. Reflexology is an effective technique for regaining better health, but it IS NOT intended to replace the care of your physician.

Fun Foot Facts

*Our feet bear a cumulative weight of 1,000 tons a day.

*They cushion as much as a million pounds of pressure during only one hour of strenuous exercise!

*The average person walks over 115,000 miles during their lifetime!

*One-fourth of all the bones in your body are in your feet!

Reflexology uses a specific touch technique of applying pressure to the reflex areas which breaks up those deposits and releases them into the bloodstream for proper elimination. This type of therapy creates a physiological change in the body by naturally improving circulation, which reduces your body tension and stress.

Welcome to Foot Focus where I can improve your wellness by improving your circulation and reducing your body stress!

Foot Focus offers you an inexpensive, relaxing foot treatment in the comfort of your own home of office.

A one hour session consists of a consultation, warm foot bath, reflexology session and ends with a soothing oil treatment.

Give it a try…. Your feet will love you for it!

Call and make an appointment with Cindy Hauk (Certified Reflexologist).

Advanced Injury Center- A Wellness Clinic
4695 Hallmark Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407
909-648-3551

Tags: Chronic Pain, Foot Pain, Reflexology, Sports Injury, Treatment
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Migraines and Headaches

Posted on July 30th, 2009

Sometimes Drugs Don’t Help MIGRAINES and sometime they just cover up symptoms.

HEADACHES are a very common complaint in my office. A lot of people think that headaches are a part of normal life! Unfortunately, Headaches are a sign that something’s not OK. Some of the common causes of headaches are: alcohol, stress, toxic fumes, food preservatives and even certain foods. Like coughing, some headaches are related to an underlying problem.

Headaches, on many occasions and many times overlooked, can be caused by the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck and upper back.
Loss of normal vertebral bone position or motion can make nerves sensitive, and cause interference to blood vessels to the head and causing problems.
When spinal nerves and related tissues are stretched or irritated, they can produce throbbing headaches. Ibuprofen and other pain medications may cover up these warning signs, but do not correct the underlying structural cause.

Many people experience correction and relief through chiropractic care. Specific chiropractic adjustments can help correct mechanical restrictions in the cervical spine that may be related to headache symptoms.

Some estimates suggest 25% of the population has a headache right now!A comprehensive U.S. study reported that 10 million Americans suffer from moderate to severe disability from various forms of headaches.

If a thorough examination reveals reduced range of motion, loss of normal spinal curves, or mechanical restrictions, neurological deficits, chiropractic care should be considered. After a complete explanation, you’ll receive a care program designed for your unique spinal problem. Specific chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy, oxygen therapy, as well as, other therapies can help correct spinal joint dysfunction created by the various chemical, emotional and physical stresses in our lives. We have an 85% success rate with Headaches. Some of our patients find that the correction of their condition takes longer because their spinal problem has existed undetected for many years. Every patient responds differently.

Benefit from the drug-free results thousands have enjoyed by consulting our office.
Call and talk to Dr. Mike 909-648-3551
Get started today!

Tags: Anti Inflammatories, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Neck Pain, Oxygen Therapy, Sports Injury, Standard Process, Treatment, Vitamins, Whole Food Supplements
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Anti-inflammatory Diet Tips

Posted on July 30th, 2009

Can the Foods You Eat Make a Difference in Chronic Pain?
You may be familiar with the anti-inflammatory medications, but have you heart of anti-inflammatory foods? The foods you eat really do have an affect on how you feel.

What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is defined as a localized reaction of tissue to irritation, injury, or infection.
Symptoms of inflammation include pain, swelling, red coloration to the area, and sometimes loss of movement or function. We commonly think of inflammation as the painful component of arthritis. Inflammation is also a component of chronic diseases such as heart disease and strokes.

Medical Anti-Inflammatory Treatments
Common medical anti-inflammatory treatments include rest, light exercise, weight maintenance, stretching, and medications designed to reduce the inflammation and control the pain.

These medications include Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), steroid medications, and perhaps ultimately joint replacement surgery.

Avoid Pro-Inflammatory Foods
Pro-inflammatory foods will increase inflammation, increase your pain from the inflammation and may also raise your risk for chronic disease. Loading up on junk foods, high-fat meats, sugar and fast foods will increase inflammation in your body.

This is partially due to the unhealthy fats used in preparing and processing these foods, especially trans fats and saturated fats. Processed meats such as lunch meats, hot dogs and sausages contain chemicals such as nitrites that are associated with increased inflammation and chronic disease.

Saturated fats are also found in meats, dairy products and eggs. While all of these foods are important source of minerals and vitamins, you don’t need the extra saturated fat. These foods also contain fatty acids called arachidonic acid.

While some arachidonic acid is essential for your health, too much arachidonic acid in the diet may make your inflammation worse.

Be sure to choose low fat milk and cheese and lean cuts of meat, which will not promote inflammation.

Diets high in sugar have also been associated with inflammation, obesity and chronic disease such as diabetes. Eliminate high sugar foods such as sodas, soft drinks, pastries, presweetened cereals and candy.

Another possible source of irritation comes from the nightshade family of plants.

What Are Nightshades?
Tomatoes, white potatoes, red and green bell peppers, the “hot” peppers such as chili and paprika, as well as eggplant belong to the Nightshade Family, a botanical genus called Solanaceae species.
This species also includes tobacco, poisonous belladonna, and the toxic plants herbane, mandrake, and jimson weeds.

Whole fruits and vegetables are important to eat for their vitamins, minerals, and natural antioxidants, however some vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant may actually make pain from inflammation worse.

These vegetables are part of the nightshade family of plants and contain a chemical alkaloid called solanine. Solanine can trigger pain in some people.

Choose Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Adding foods that reduce inflammation will improve how you feel and help to decrease your risk for chronic diseases. Here are some suggestions.

Fats and Oils
The right types of fats in your diet will impact pain and inflammation in a positive way. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are very powerful anti-inflammatory agents.

They are found in cold water oily fish, walnuts, flax seeds, canola oil and pumpkin seeds.

Adding omega-3 fatty acid supplements from Nordic Naturals fish oil may also help reduce inflammation, pain and promote healing.

Healthy oils include Coconut, Macadamia oil, rice bran oil, grape seed oil, walnut oil and Olive oil.

It is very important to avoid any saturated fats and oils such as: hydrogenated oils or partially hydrogenated oils. These oils will increase inflammation in the body and can contribute to several different health disorders,

Protein
Your body needs protein to build healthy body tissues. Good protein sources include lean poultry, fish and seafood, nuts, legumes and seeds.

Red meats may trigger inflammation, so cut back on fatty red meats. When you do eat red meat, choose lean cuts of bison, venison and other game meats, or the lowest-fat cuts of beef, preferably grass-fed beef.

Carbohydrates and Fiber
Most of your carbohydrates should come from vegetables and fruits. These are excellent sources of fiber, and a high fiber diet will reduce your inflammation.

Choose green leafy vegetables, green and brightly colored vegetables and lots of fresh whole fruits.
You should eat at least five and preferably more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

Green vegetables and whole fruits are also important as sources of dietary fiber.

Berries are also a great food choice, especially blueberries and strawberries which are packed with anti-inflammatory phytochemical’s and anti-oxidants.

The pigments in brightly colored fruits, vegetables and berries contain many phytochemicals that have anti-inflammatory properties. One example is quercetin, which is found in apple and red onion skins and has strong anti-inflammatory properties.

Ask Dr. Trudeau about New Greens or Greens First products. These 2 products contain several fruits, vegetables and additional compounds that can reduce inflammation, promote good health and reduce the acidity in the body which also contributes to inflammation in the body.

Healthy Beverages
Your body needs water day. The simplest and best form of water is distilled water (make sure you are also taking a good multi mineral supplement) or purified drinking water. The best water in Washington county can be purchased at Water 2 Go.

“Food Allergies and/or Food Sensitivities
Some people believe that allergy-like reactions to foods may increase inflammation and pain. These type of “food allergies” may make pain and inflammation worse. The underlying problem may be due to faulty digestion or excessive consumption of any particular food. Most any food that is consumed more than four days a week can be suspected as a possible allergen, but some of the more common allergic foods are milk and dairy, wheat, corn, eggs, beef, yeast and soy.

Even healthy foods can cause problems if you are sensitive to them. There are certain types of tests that can be performed, or elimination diets that can be undertaken to determine the problem foods.

Anti-inflammatory Diet Tips
Over all, when you are choosing anti-inflammatory foods to help reduce your inflammation and pain, choose fresh foods instead of heavily processed foods.

Here are some tips:

 Breakfast could be oatmeal served with fresh berries and walnuts, with a cup of almond or rice milk.

 Snack on whole fruits, nuts, seeds, and fresh vegetables throughout the day instead of cookies and candy.

 Eat more fish and less fatty red meat.

 Stay away from deep fried foods and bake or stir fry your meals instead.

 Choose green, orange, and yellow vegetables for your side dishes.

 Drink plenty of water, fresh 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices, herbal teas and green tea.

Advanced Injury Center / Dr. Mike Trudeau
4695 Hallmark Pkwy
San Bernardino, Ca 92407
909-648-3551
advancedinjurycenter.com

Tags: Anti Inflammatories, Back Injury, Chronic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Foot Pain, Headaches, Invisible Illnesses, Leg problems, Neck Pain, Nutrition, Oxygen Therapy, Sports Injury, Standard Process, Treatment, Vitamins, Whole Food Supplements
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Spinal Decompression Therapy Effectiveness

Posted on February 8th, 2009

Decompression therapy is a non-surgical, non-invasive, effective treatment for chronic and acute low-back pain sufferers.

Genuine decompression therapy has relieved some common problems that are related to the vertebral disc including: sciatica, disc herniation and disc bulges, degenerative discs, failed low back surgery, posterior facet syndrome and spinal stenosis /arthritis.

Decompression therapy holds great potential in treating a large population of people who might not otherwise be able to regain health and the ability to enjoy pain-free living, without restrictions and risks associated with back surgery.

There is now hope for the millions of Americans who suffer from chronic and severe low back pain with decompression.

Why Decompression Works

Decompression relieves pressure that builds up on the discs and nerves.

The task of relieving pain is a result of the application of negative pressure to reverse high intra-disc pressure.

The pain is relieved by moving areas of herniated disc back into place by the creation of negative pressure to draw disc material back into the disc space and relieve pressure.

Decompression allows for strengthening of the outer ligament bands that hold the disc material in place and which become weak and stretched during the bulging effect.

Protocol

We have developed a comprehensive decompression treatment protocol based on extensive clinical studies utilizing decompression therapy and in-house physiotherapy; ultrasound, diathermy, massage, and electric muscle stimulation, etc.

Initially, approximately 20 sessions lasting 20 minutes are often recommended to achieve maximum results.

With a symbiotic blend of proven technology and expert clinical reasoning, our program has often achieved high success – without painful surgery.

If you have a low back pain or a question about low back pain. Call 909-648-3551 and discuss it with Dr.Mike.  Or, email to drmike@advancedinjurycenter.com

Tags: Back Injury, Chronic Pain, Spinal Decompression, Sports Injury, Treatment
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Improvements already

Posted on September 27th, 2008

I have been in Chiropractic treatment with Dr. Mike for less than a month and I am already seeing results. If only I had known about him many years ago.
In the past thirteen years, I have been in Chronic Pain due to a head injury.
Yes, a lovely 20 lb box fell on my head. It has caused anywhere from back pain, neck pain, muscle spasms, fibromyalgia, TMJ jaw disorder, ongoing chronic pain etc… I guess you can say that every part of my body hurts; oh wait, my big toe doesn’t hurt, so I’m good.
For many years, my second home has been doctors offices or medical clinics. I have seen more doctors and specialists than I care to admit.
I have been through every kind of treatment out there: from trigger point injections, ultrasounds, TMJ realignment with braces and mouth splints, have had cortisone shots, wellness shots, physical therapy many times, jaw procedures, medications, and Electric stimulation (which I call the Electric shock treatment). I have had some kind of trigger point injections in my head. There is nothing like having injections in the head. It feels like I can hear my skull crushing as the needle invades my head. Last year, I even tried the acupuncture. It did not work for me; it caused more muscle spasms that shot throughout my body and lasted for three days. So yes, I have had every kind of treatment out there without surgery.

Everything I have tried, did not work or was temporary. One of my doctors is going to schedule me for another arthrocentesis (jaw procedure) but I am going to have to decline. Dr. Mike has been working on my jaw for a few weeks and I already see improvements. So bye bye other doctors. I also am seeing improvements on my neck and back. I have even noticed that I am able to move my neck easier and it feels so much better. After every adjustment, I feel so much free-er (if that’s a word.)

I also appreciate the hospitality of Dr. Mike and his staff. Okay I am done for now. Maybe more to come later.

Tags: Chronic Pain, Headaches, Neck Pain, Sports Injury, Tanya's Blog, Treatment
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