Monthly Archives: February 2012

by

The Cancer-Sugar Connection

The Cancer-Sugar Connection
Change your Diet, Change your Life

By Eva Johnson, MA, LCPC

I’d like to share with you a story of a man I know named Gary. Gary was a vibrant man in his 40′s who was a carpenter by trade and remained active in sports. He was one of those guys that rarely ever got sick and seemed to be the epitome of health. However, one day he called and said that he couldn’t climb up a ladder. Though he had no outward physical symptoms, after numerous doctor visits to find out what was wrong, Gary was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer and given his death sentence. He was told he only had 2-3 months to live.

Though his Doctor’s didn’t recommend any nutritional therapy for his Cancer, after diligently researching the disease, he immediately changed his diet. He eliminated all bread, pasta and anything with sugar. To support him, even his five year old daughter learned to read labels and shop with him. He ate primarily uncooked or lightly steamed vegetables, organic eggs, and occasionally grass fed beef. Gary also started chiropractic care which turned out to be instrumental in alleviating his symptoms and boosting his immune system. Once he decided to have chemotherapy, since his body was filled with healthy nutrients and he was under chiropractic care, he tolerated the treatments incredibly well and maintained his weight much to his doctor’s surprise.

As a result of his diligence in seeking natural health remedies and his will to live while sharing his days with his wife and two little girls, Gary stretched out his 2-3 month death sentence to over a year. Unfortunately, he recently lost his battle with cancer. His full name is Gary Johnson and he was my beloved husband.

Like Gary, over four million cancer patients are treated in America today with very little nutritional therapy beyond, “eat good food.” What they don’t know is that research has linked eating too much sugar with the major killers of mankind – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver damage and cancer. It is believed that many cancer patients would have a major improvement in their outcome if they controlled the supply of the cancer’s preferred fuel, glucose (which is made when the body breaks down starches such as carbohydrates). Understanding the cancer-sugar connection and controlling one’s blood glucose levels through diet can be one of the most crucial components to a cancer recovery program.

This is bad news for all those people who enjoy ice cream, candy and soft drinks. If people want to ward off some forms of cancer and work to starve tumors, they should avoid sugar, sweeteners and products that contain high-fructose corn syrup. Sugar itself is not bad. However, too much sugar, without enough protein, fat, and fiber to balance it out, can cause our bodies to make too much insulin. It is not the sugar, but rather the insulin that may be a problem for spurring cancer cell growth. To prevent this, you should limit the simple sugar in your diet. There is no need to follow a stringent diet and swear off every single dessert. The key is moderation. Use the following tips to help yourself find a healthy balance with your food choices:

·        Stick with naturally occurring sugar, such as sugar that is found in fruit. This is a much healthier option than processed sugar that is found in candy, cake, desserts, pie, and baked goods.
·        Avoid concentrated sources of sugar, such as soda and fruit drinks. It’s OK to have 100 percent fruit juice in moderation. Stick to a 6-ounce serving. But avoid fruit drinks that don’t contain any real fruit juice.
·        Limit your “treats,” such as dessert, to just a couple of times each week. Have a modest serving size.
·        Focus on whole, healthy, unprocessed food, including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes (beans, lentils, and peas), nuts, and seeds.
Remember, the quest is not to eliminate sugars or carbohydrates from the diet but rather to control blood glucose to help keep cancer cell growth at bay. When you understand the science behind the cancer-sugar connection, you can relax and focus on eating a healthy, well-balanced diet that you can enjoy.

Eva Johnson, MA, LCPC resides in St. Charles, IL and serves on Chiro One Wellness Centers’ Business Development Team.

Gary Johnson shared with Eva that he wished he had gone in for a chiropractic wellness check-up back when he felt “fine.” He stated that if he had spent the $20 for an exam (a promotional offer extended to the community from Chiro One Wellness Centers, maybe he would still be alive today.

For more information about Chiro One Wellness Centers, call (877) 724-4761.

by

Case Study: Chiropractic Care Alleviates Constipation in Pediatric Patient

Case study shows exciting data resolution of Chronic Constipation in a Neonate following Chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation with Gonstead Technique

A recent article in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health reported on a study that documented the positive effects of chiropractic adjustments on an 11- week-old male with chronic constipation. An 11-week-old male presented for chiropractic consultation with the primary complaints being constipation and excess crying. The patient’s difficulty with pushing and grunting to achieve a bowel movement were associated with his crying. The patient’s constipation affected his eating and sleeping habits. Medical care consisted of leg exercises, abdominal massage, gripe water and Mylicon.

“Over 8 weeks the infant had only 5 bowel movements,” said Dr. Jeremy Hayes, Flossmoor-based D.C., who follows health and wellness issues closely in professional journals and other publications, “which his mother attributed to prune juice intake and suppositories twice a week.”

Associated with the subjective complaints of abdominal pain and bloating, incomplete evacuation or the need for digital evacuation to enable defecation, constipation is commonly characterized as infrequent bowel movement. “In children, its estimated that constipation has a prevalence ranging from 0.3% to 28% worldwide,“ said Hayes, “and this occurs at three common stages of childhood – at infancy during weaning, in toddlers learning toileting skills, and when the child is of school age.” In a long-term follow-up study of children less than 5 years of age presenting for medical care with complaints of constipation, some 30% of these children continue to suffer after 2 years.

“Over a period of 10 weeks, the patient attended a total of 14 visits using Gonstead technique to reduce vertebral subluxation.” stated Hayes. The result was an improvement in the child’s constipation by having several bowel movements per day, which was congruent with the bowel movement frequency of unaffected children. “This case report highlights the possible effectiveness of alleviating complaints of constipation in neonates with chiropractic adjustments,” explained Dr. Jeremy Hayes, D.C., “and it is encouraged that further research in this area be performed.”

Hayes reports similar results in his office: Read Kestyn Johnson’s Story.
My name is Jessica Johnson. I brought my daughter, Kestyn, to Chiro One Wellness Center of Flossmoor to see if chiropractic could help with her difficult bowel movements, acid reflux and allergies. I was skeptical at first, but willing to give it a try. When Kestyn was born, she didn’t have a bowel movement for the first ten days. She was extremely uncomfortable and colicky and she had a tough time breast feeding. She was diagnosed with acid reflux at two months old and I was told that she was allergic to cow’s milk. Kestyn was put on a special formula that cost nine dollars a day and I was told for her first year that she wasn’t allowed any soy, milk or dairy products. The GI Specialist that I took Kestyn to also said she would probably be on meds for her acid reflux forever. Kestyn was three months old when I brought her to Chiro One. After a couple months of chiropractic care, Kestyn was having regular bowel movements, was off her special formula (which is saving me tons of money!) and now she has no allergies to milk or dairy. After nine months of care, she was a normal baby.

Anyone wishing more information may contact Dr. Jeremy Hayes, D.C. at (708) 481-5444. Chiro One Wellness Center of Flossmoor is located at 3486 W. Vollmer Road, Olympia Fields, IL 60461.

by

Chiropractic Tips for a Healthy Spine

A healthy spine is an often overlooked and essential part of a healthy lifestyle. People who suffer from back pain, particularly if it is long-term, are generally less healthy than those who do not. In fact, back pain costs are staggering not only financially, but also in terms of lost time from work and because of psychosocial problems that arise during the healing process associated with long-term back pain.

Unfortunately, approximately 80-90% of the population suffers from spinal pain at some point. People who are overweight or obese, and who smoke, lift heavy objects, or had a previous episode of back pain, are more likely to experience back pain. Because so many people suffer from spine pain, it’s important for you to try to keep your spine as healthy as possible. Following simple posture, lifting, and healthy lifestyle guidelines can help you keep your back in good shape.

Chiro One Wellness Centers recommend the following spinal health tips:

Standing
• When standing, keep one foot slightly in front of the other, with your knees slightly bent. This position helps to take the pressure off your low back.
• Do not stand bent forward at the waist for prolonged periods of time. The muscles in your low back become deconditioned in this position, which may lead to pain.

Lifting
• At all times, avoid twisting while lifting. Twisting is one of the most dangerous movements for your —spine, especially while lifting.
• If the item is too heavy to lift, pushing it is easier on your back than pulling it. Whenever possible, use your legs, not your back or upper body, to push the item.
• If you must lift a heavy item, get someone to help you.

Sitting
• Keep your knees slightly higher than your hips, with your head up and back straight.
• Avoid rolling your shoulders forward (slouching).
• Try to maintain the natural curve in your low back.

Reaching and Bending
• When reaching for something above shoulder level, stand on a stool. Straining to reach such objects may not only hurt your mid-back and neck, but it can also bring on shoulder problems.
• Do NOT bend over at the waist to pick up items from the floor or a table.
• Instead, kneel down on one knee, as close as possible to the item you are lifting, with the other foot flat on the floor and pick the item up.
• Or bend at the knees, keep the item close to your body, and lift with your legs, not your back.

Carrying
• When carrying objects, particularly if they are heavy, keep them as close to your body as possible.
• Carrying two small objects—one in each hand—is often easier to handle than one large one.

 Healthy Diet and Exercise
• While the proverbial jury is still out, we suspect that extra weight puts undue strain on your spine. Keep within 10 lbs. of your ideal weight for a healthier back.
• “Beer belly” is likely the worst culprit, as it puts unwanted pressure on the muscles, ligaments and tendons in your low back.
• The most efficient and effective way to reduce weight is by eating a sensible diet and exercising regularly.
• Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise program, particularly if you have a health condition.

Sleeping
• Sleeping on your back puts approximately 50 pounds of pressure on your spine. Other positions may be better.
• Placing a pillow under your knees while lying on your back cuts the pressure on your spine roughly in half.
• Lying on your side with a pillow between your knees may also reduce the pressure on your back.
• Never sleep in a position that causes a portion of your spine to hurt. Most often, your body will tell you what position is best.

Quit Smoking
Smokers have more spine pain than nonsmokers, and they also heal more slowly when they have an episode of back pain because the chemicals in tobacco smoke restrict the flow of blood to the tissues in and around your spine.

While following these instructions is no guarantee that you’ll be free from back pain for your entire life, it can certainly reduce your risk of developing it. These simple steps will help you keep your spine in good shape, making you a healthier, happier person!

What is the Spine?
The spine is our backbone, which extends from the neck to the tailbone. The spine consists of 33 relatively small bones, called vertebrae. The neck part of the spine, called cervical spine, consists of 7 vertebrae. There are 12 vertebrae in the upper and mid-back (thoracic spine), and 5 in the low back, or lumbar spine. Five bones fuse together in the tailbone region to form the sacrum, and below that is the coccyx, formed by 4 bones. The spine is an integral part of the body. Without it, people would not be able to stand upright. The spine houses and protects the spinal cord, absorbing shock and allowing us to bend and twist. Hundreds of muscles, ligaments and tendons are attached to the spine, as well.

Chiro One Wellness Centers is ‘Sharing the Love of Chiropractic’ in February, offering free spinal health exams to community members. For more information, call (877) 724-4761 or book your appointment online at ChiroOne.net. Use promotional code: SHARE THE LOVE

by

Common painkillers linked to increased risk of heart problems

Commonly used painkillers for treating inflammation can greatly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to an analysis of the evidence published on the British Medical Journal’s electronic journal, bmj.com.

The drugs include traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) as well as new generation anti-inflammatory drugs, known as COX-2 inhibitors.

NSAIDs have been among the most freely prescribed of all pain suppressing medications in patients with osteoarthritis and other painful conditions. In 2004, the COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib was withdrawn from the market after a trial found that the drug increased the risk of cardiovascular disease. Since then, there has been much debate about the cardiovascular safety of COX-2 inhibitors and traditional NSAIDs, but little has been done to stem the tide of prescriptions.

The BMJ study, conducted by researchers in Switzerland, involved a comprehensive analysis of all randomized controlled trials comparing any NSAID with other NSAIDs or placebo.

They included 31 trials and 116,429 patients taking seven different drugs (naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, celecoxib, etoricoxib, rofecoxib, lumiracoxib) or placebo to provide a more reliable estimate of the cardiovascular risks of these drugs than previous studies.

In 29 trials there were a total of 554 heart attacks; in 26 trials there were 377 strokes, and in 28 trials there were 676 deaths. While the absolute risk of cardiovascular problems among people taking painkillers was low, the researchers did find that, relative to placebo, the drugs carried important risks.

For instance, compared with placebo, rofecoxib and lumiracoxib were associated with twice the risk of heart attack, while ibuprofen was associated with more than three times the risk of stroke. Etoricoxib and diclofenac were associated with the highest (around four times) risk of cardiovascular death.

The researchers concluded: “Although uncertainty remains, little evidence exists to suggest that any of the investigated drugs are safe in cardiovascular terms. Cardiovascular risk needs to be taken into account when prescribing any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.”

An accompanying editorial says these cardiovascular risks are worrying because many patients have both cardiovascular disease and musculoskeletal disease, and suggests that it is time for an evaluation of a broader range of alternatives.

SOURCES: “Cardiovascular safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: network meta-analysis” BMJ 2011; 342:c7086 (www.bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.c7086)

“Cardiovascular safety of NSAIDs” (BMJ 2011; 342:c6618) http://www.bmj.com/cgi/doi/10.1136/bmj.c6618

Article Source: Health Watch, Impartial News from The World Chiorpractic Alliance – Author, Terry A. Rondberg, DC

(Dr. Terry A. Rondberg is founder and CEO of the World Chiropractic Alliance and publisher of The Chiropractic Journal. His reports on other health and wellness news appear on www.TerryARondberg.com and www.TerryRondberg.com.)

For more information about the Chiropractic, drug-free approach to treating pain, contact Chiro One Wellness Centers at (877) 724-4761.

by

Get the facts about heart disease and get heart-healthy!

February is American Heart Month
Your Heart is in your Hands

February is American Heart Month. Since Heart Disease continues to be our Nation’s #1 Killer and is the greatest burden on our health care system today (costing the United States billions of dollars each year in health care costs) and showing no signs of stopping, there’s no better time to find out more about the importance of heart health.

According to a recent study published in the journal Circulation, less that 8 percent of Americans are considered to be at low risk for heart disease. It’s still the number one killer of both men and women, and more than 80 million—1 in 3—have already developed heart disease in one form or another, chiefly high blood pressure and clogged arteries. Medical doctors suggest that those at risk get on meds to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol as a preventative measure. Unfortunately to say, taking drugs as a first course of action is the American way, but this raises a whole set of questions and concerns. Can you be okay without taking the medication? Are you doomed if you don’t take it? Is a grim future really in your genes? The answers may surprise you.

Emerging science suggests that for many people with heart disease risk factors, cholesterol lowering drugs and other medications aren’t necessary and may, if fact, be detrimental to overall health. According to Mark Hyman, M.D., author of The Ultramind Solution, “Doctors are over-prescribing medications with the idea that lowering the numbers will lower the risk, but that’s not the case.” It’s resulted in a generation of Americans who think that they can take the pills and do whatever they want and everything will be fine. But if you look at the data carefully, the drugs aren’t really that helpful. “You can’t prevent or treat heart disease without addressing the real causes: poor diet, stress, environmental toxins and a sedentary lifestyle. In fact, your lifestyle can trump your genetic legacy. For 80 percent of us, it’s how you live your life that determines whether or not your genes express themselves,” Hyman adds.

Although family history and genetics do have a part, most of the commonly known lifestyle choices that are Risk Factors like smoking, excessive weight, stress, lack of physical activity, and diets high in saturated fats, for example, are under your control. So what changes should you make to lower your risk? The basics are simple: Stop smoking, eat a diet low in saturated and trans fat and simple sugars; don’t overdo alcohol; beyond that Chiro One Wellness Centers recommend these heart healthy tips:

•Do cardio. Walking, running, swimming, skiing, biking, dancing, skating are all excellent forms of cardiovascular exercise that increase the rate at which your heart pumps blood, helping it stay strong and perform better. This form of exercise also helps lower cholesterol and assists in weight management.

•Fill up on whole grains. In addition to helping you maintain a feeling of satiety for a longer time and taking the place of fatty foods in your diet, whole grains help reduce cholesterol levels and sweep toxins from your digestive tract. For example, consider choosing instant oatmeal for a quick breakfast or replacing your white toast with whole-wheat toast.

•Eat flax seeds. These small seeds are packed with one of the most beneficial heart helpers—omega-3 fatty acids. This “good fat” provides the materials necessary to improve arterial health while protecting you against heart and vessel diseases, reducing blood clots, and decreasing cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

•Replace meat with fish once or twice a week. Fish offers a low-fat, lower-cholesterol alternative to meat and provides the same omega-3 fats as flax seeds. Some kinds of fish, however, may contain high levels of mercury and should only be eaten in moderation. For more information on safe fish, visit http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm077331.htm

•Avoid hydrogenated oils (trans fats). These fats contribute to clogged arteries and heart disease. Manufacturers of all foods containing trans fats are required to state trans fats content on their labels.

•Choose oils high in unsaturated fats. Coconut, palm kernel, cottonseed and corn oils are higher in saturated fat and can nearly always be replaced with oils containing less saturated fat and higher levels of unsaturated fats such as olive, safflower and canola oils. Butter, margarine, and other shortenings can often be replaced with these as well. While most fats and oils contain the same amount of fat per tablespoon, unsaturated fat is much healthier for the body and especially for the heart. Replacing saturated with unsaturated fats will reduce your “bad cholesterol” and improve your “good cholesterol” levels for improved heart health.

•Know your Numbers. Keeping an eye on your cholesterol can help you troubleshoot cardiovascular problems by showing you what might be out of balance. To find out what is considered healthy for both men and women, visit, www.AmericanHeart.org.

•Shake the Salt Habit. Excess sodium is a contributing factor to high blood pressure. Limit your intake to 2,300 milligrams a day; 1,500 milligrams if you already have high blood pressure, are older than 40 or are African American.

•Stress Less. When you get stressed out, a cascade of hormones are released. The most well known are adrenaline, which can cause skipped heartbeats and raise blood pressure; cortisol, which leads to putting on unhealthy body fat and suppresses immunity; and aldosterone, which causes the body to hold on to water, raising blood pressure. Try yoga, meditation, walking, or even a warm bath to relax.

•Get Adjusted. Maintaining a healthy spine and nervous system that is free of vertebral subluxations (misalignments) and is functioning at 100% is vital to your heart health. Having nerves that flow from the brain to your heart, that tell your heart how to work every moment of your life, working at 100%, not 99%, but 100% is key! Chiropractic adjustments are a great way to ensure your spine is healthy and that your nervous system is functioning at 100%.

For more information about how Chiropractic care can help you maintain a healthy spine and nervous system, call Chiro One Wellness Centers today at (877) 724-4761.

by

Chiropractic Care Lowers Health Care Costs, Study Shows

A study published in the October 11, 2004 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine  showed that including chiropractic care into health plans actually reduces the health care expenditures for those in the plan as well as reducing the overall cost to the insurance company for that plan. This study was a retrospective claims data analysis, where the records of 700,000 people with chiropractic coverage in their plan were compared to another 1 million people who did not have chiropractic coverage. The utilization records were then compared for a 4-year period to see if there were any differences in usage and expenses.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect access to chiropractic care would have on the overall usage of health care resources as well as neuromusculoskeletal-specific conditions, (such as back pain) within a large managed-care system. The study noted that back pain accounts for more than $100 billion in annual health care costs in the US and is the second leading cause of doctor visits and hospitalizations.

The results showed that chiropractic care reduced costs across the board. For instance, total health care expenditures for plan members with chiropractic insurance coverage, was on average $1463, compared to $1671 for those without chiropractic coverage. As expected, there were also savings for those with specific back pain problems. The study showed that less x-rays were needed, less MRIs taken, and considerably less hospitalizations were needed for the members in the plan that included chiropractic over those where chiropractic was not included. Comparing the health plans that include chiropractic to the ones that do not, the study found that: Chiropractic care cut the cost of treating back pain by 28%. Chiropractic care reduced hospitalizations among back pain patients by 41%. Chiropractic care reduced back surgeries by 32%. Chiropractic care reduced the cost of medical imaging, such as X-rays or MRIs, by 37%.

Taking into account that this study was published in a medical journal, the stated conclusion was striking. The researchers concluded, “Access to managed chiropractic care may reduce overall health care expenditures through several effects, including (1) positive risk selection; (2) substitution of chiropractic for traditional medical care, particularly for spine conditions; (3) more conservative, less invasive treatment profiles; and (4) lower health service costs associated with managed chiropractic care. Systematic access to managed chiropractic care not only may prove to be clinically beneficial but also may reduce overall health care costs.”

Source: ChiropracticResearch.org

For more information about how Chiropractic can help you achieve optimal health and lower your health care costs, contact Chiro One Wellness Centers today at (877) 724-4761.

by

Chiropractic one of top ten complementary therapies for reducing stress and pain.

Complementary Therapies

Mind-Body Treatments helpful, healthy addition to traditional medicine

Sometimes it can seem as though complementary/alternative treatments and traditional medicine live in two different worlds — “Never the twain shall meet,” as the saying goes. We go to the doctor when we’re sick or for regular screenings and to the yoga studio or massage therapist for physical exercise and relaxation. Yet rarely if ever do we talk to our doctors about how one can support the other.

Now the tide may be turning — a recent study in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine has found that three percent of people seeking out mind/body treatments, such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation, are doing so based on a referral from a medical provider.

Dozens of US hospitals and major medical centers now offer complementary treatments in addition to conventional medical care and some of these therapies are covered by health insurance.

According to Mayo Clinic, below is an alphabetical listing of the top 10 complementary therapies:

BEST TREATMENTS

1. Acupuncture. In this treatment from traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncturists insert thin needles into strategic, energy-balancing points on the body. Acupuncture can prevent and treat nausea and vomiting and help relieve many types of pain, including that from osteoarthritis, low back pain, neck pain, headaches and postsurgical pain.

2. Guided imagery. Patients imagine a beautiful, soothing environment, such as a warm beach. Guided imagery, also referred to as visualization, helps reduce anxiety in patients who become claustrophobic during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans or who are having outpatient surgery without general anesthesia.

3. Hypnosis. The patient is led into a state of deep relaxation and focused attention by either a hypnotherapist or an instructional audio (self-hypnosis), and verbal suggestions are made to help relieve anxiety, pain, tension headaches and insomnia.

4. Massage. A massage therapist manipulates the body’s soft tissue — muscle, skin and tendons — using fingertips, hands and fists. Massage treats anxiety and low back pain and improves postsurgical healing.

5. Meditation. Attention is focused on breathing and/or on a word, phrase or sound (mantra), leading to a more relaxed body and calmer mind. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic use meditation to treat patients with anxiety and high blood pressure and to help people quit smoking without medication.

6. Music therapy. Many complementary medical centers employ music therapists. However, you can use music therapy on your own by listening to soothing music or your favorite genres.

7. Spinal manipulation. Practiced by chiropractors, osteopaths (medical doctors whose training allows them to correct structural problems in the musculoskeletal system) and physical therapists, this hands-on technique adjusts the spine to properly align the vertebrae with muscles, joints and nerves. Spinal manipulation is an accepted medical practice for low back pain and according to a recent Consumer Reports Health Ratings survey (May, 2009), 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. Chiropractic care can also provide a safe and effective alternative to surgery and prescription medication.

8. Spirituality. For some people, this means religious observance, prayer or faith in a “higher being.” For others, spirituality can be found through a deep appreciation of nature or art or participation in a secular community.

9. Tai chi.This gentle exercise, derived from Chinese martial arts, consists of a series of defined postures and movements performed slowly and gracefully. Medically, it is used to improve balance in older people who are prone to falls.

10. Yoga. These stretching postures and breathing exercises, which originated in India, help calm body and mind. Yoga is particularly effective for stress relief, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, anxiety and depression.

*To learn more about complementary therapies, go to http://www.nccam.nih.gov, the Web site of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

If you of someone you know suffers from low back pain or would like to find out more about chiropractic, call Chiro One Wellness Centers today at (877) 724-4761.

by

Study concludes chiropractic care best solution for sciatic pain and preventing needless surgery.

Sciatica, lumbar disc herniation surgery vs. chiropractic

Study concludes drug-free approach of chiropractic care better for sciatica sufferers, preventing 60% from needless surgery.

According to a group at MayoClinic.com (2010), “Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve and its branches — from your back down your buttock and leg.

The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It runs from your spinal cord to your buttock and hip area and down the back of each leg. Sciatica is a symptom, not a disorder. The radiating pain of sciatica signals another problem involving the nerve, such as a herniated disk .

Sciatica symptoms include: Pain “… likely to occur along a path from your low back to your buttock and the back of your thigh and calf. Numbness or muscle weakness along the nerve pathway in your leg or foot.

In some cases, you may have pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another. Tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling, often in your toes or part of your foot. A loss of bladder or bowel control. This is a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a serious condition that requires emergency care.”

A prime symptom of sciatica is leg pain in conjunction with herniated discs. As reported by the U.S. Chiropractic Directory in 2010, “Pain radiating down your leg secondary to a herniated disc is a common and often disabling occurrence. A disc in your spine is comprised of two basic components, the inner nucleus pulposis that is gelatinous in composition and the outer annulus fibrosis that is fibro-cartilaginous and very strong.

When a person experiences trauma and the forces are directed at the spine and disc, the pressure on the inside of the disc is increased (like stepping on a balloon) and the internal nucleus pulposis creates pressure from the inside out. It tears the outer annulus fibrosis causing the internal material to go beyond the outer boundaries of the disc. This has often been misnamed a “slipped disc” because the disc doesn’t slip or slide, it is torn from the trauma allowing the internal material to escape.

Conversely, a bulging disc, which gets confused with a herniated disc, is a degenerative “wear and tear scenario” that occurs over time with the annulus fibrosis degenerating. This can also be a “risk factor” allowing the disc to herniate with less trauma due to the degeneration or thinning of the disc walls.

Lifetime prevalence of a herniated disc has been estimated to be 35 percent in men and 45 percent in woman and it has been estimated that 90 percent of all leg pain secondary to herniated discs occurs at either the L4-5 or L5-S1 levels.

It has also been reported that average duration of symptoms is 55.9 weeks, underscoring the critical necessity for finding a viable solution for these.

It was reported by McMorland, Suter, Casha, du Plessis, and Hurlbert in 2010 that more than 250,000 patients a year undergo elective lumbar discectomy (spinal surgery) for the treatment of low back disc issues in the United States.

The researchers did a comparative randomized clinical study comparing spinal microdiscectomy (surgery) performed by neurosurgeons to non-operative manipulative treatments (chiropractic adjustments) performed by chiropractors. They compared quality of life and disabilities of the patients in the study.

This study was limited to patients with distinct one-sided lumbar disc herniations as diagnosed via MRI and had associated radicular (nerve root) symptoms. Based upon the authors’ review of available MRI studies, the patients participating in the study were all initially considered surgical candidates.

Both the surgical and chiropractic groups reported no new neurological problems surfaced and had only minor post-treatment soreness. Sixty percent of the patients who underwent chiropractic care reported a successful outcome while 40 percent required surgery and of those 40 percent, all reported successful outcomes.

Of those patients choosing surgery as the primary means of treatment, 15 percent reported a failed surgical outcome and then chose chiropractic as a secondary choice. Of those 15 percent with failed surgeries, all were reported to have performed worse in clinical outcomes.

While it is clear that an accurate diagnosis could dictate that many patients require immediate surgery, many also do not. The above study indicates that a conservative non-operative approach of chiropractic care prevented 60 percent from needless surgery. While a larger study would give us more information, based upon the outcomes, cost factors and potential increased risks of surgery, it was concluded that chiropractic is a viable, first line treatment option.

These studies along with many others conclude that a drug-free approach of chiropractic care is one of the best solutions for patients with surgical lumbar discs and sciatic pain. To find a qualified doctor of chiropractic near you go to the U.S. Chiropractic Directory at www.USChiroDirectory.com and search your state.

Source: ChiroEco.com

For more information about how Chiropractic care can help treat sciatic pain and avoid needless spinal surgery for lumbar disc herniations, call Chiro One Wellness Centers TODAY at (877) 724-4761.