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Archives for 2007

The Importance of Headache Diagnosis

All good doctors know the importance of getting an accurate diagnosis of a patient's problem. But why is this so important? It's important because it's difficult to achieve a positive treatment outcome without knowing more about what disease or injury is present. Unfortunately, when it comes to headaches, many patients do not receive an accurate [..]

Major Study Questions the Use of Muscle Relaxants, Pain Medications, and NSAIDs in Whiplash

A 2007 scientific review (Chochrane Database Syst Rev, July 2007) casts doubt on many common whiplash treatments. Despite billions spent on scientific research each year, it is surprising that many common treatments lack valid scientific evidence for safety and effectiveness. As studies accumulate in libraries, some groups take an interest in figuring out the data [..]

Low Back Pain and Problems with Balance

Our sense of balance comes from a few different areas of the body. The inner ear gives us input on the position of our head and whether we are moving. This is combined with input from the eyes, which gives similar information. Most people think this is where it ends, but the spine is also [..]

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Gadgets and Alternatives

Many patients attempt to use gadgets to treat their carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. But is this a good choice or another fad? Sometimes our health advice comes from friends, family, and customers at the local health food store. I am sure you were given a persuasive story before buying. Late night TV infomercials are used [..]

Is Fibromyalgia-Type Pain Caused by Disk Herniations?

Disorders such as fibromyalgia, whiplash, and irritable bowel syndrome share the common symptom of muscle hyperalgesia (more sensitive to painful pressures and stimulation). Obviously, more sensitive patients may find it more difficult to stress their bodies with stretching or physical exercise. If you are more sensitive to pain, you may be more likely to consume [..]

Headaches, Hygiene, and Pillows

We hear about dental hygiene and how to eat right, but when was the last time you considered if you slept well in a way that does not stress the spine? Most of us know it's important to avoid head and neck trauma because serious and devastating injuries can occur. Less understood is how minor [..]

Whiplash Down the Road

Whiplash injuries of the neck and spine commonly occur in motor vehicle collisions. Even minor impacts with little vehicle damage can put significant stress on the spinal ligaments, disks, and delicate nerves. Some people get symptoms right after the accident (which is a very bad sign) but most people feel somewhat unscathed, at least initially. [..]

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 [..]

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Wrist Sprain and Stretching

One important cause of wrist pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome is a sprain of the delicate ligaments holding the 12 wrist bones together. These 12 small bones connect the hand to the arm and have many tiny ligaments, which limit the range of motion. During a sprain, the range of motion of the bones [..]

Fibromyalgia: Does Massage Help?

When looking at treating fibromyalgia, there is a range of natural alternatives to choose from. Most fibromyalgia patients use a variety of complementary and alternative approaches including vitamins/herbs, chiropractic, and massage. These more natural approaches carry fewer risks of side effects and should be encouraged.Massage treatment can be helpful to many patients. Some common techniques [..]