More pain medications are coming under closer scrutiny. Opioids (that include Oxycontin, Hydrocodone, Tramadol and Propoxyphene) have recently been shown, according to a recent study, to be linked with heart diseases and increased bone fractures.
The study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. It looked at 13,000 Medicare patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis who received a prescription for either NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen), COX-2 inhibitors (such as Vioxx and Celebrex), or opioids (such as oxycodone and hydrocodone). The study was performed over a six-year period.
The study indicates that those that took opioids were at a 4.5 times greater risk of suffering a hip, pelvis, wrist, or arm fracture!
On top of that, the study suggests that opioid consumers were more likely to suffer from a heart attack than those that take COX-2 inhibitors (Vioxx was puled from the market because of its link to heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues). According to an article on CNN:
"In addition to the increased risk of fracture, people who took opioids were more than twice as likely to have a heart attack than their counterparts who took NSAIDs. Surprisingly, the risk of heart attack associated with opioids was even higher than that seen with Vioxx and other COX-2 inhibitors, a class of drugs that has been plagued by concerns about heart problems, including heart attack. (Vioxx and Bextra were withdrawn from the market for this reason, and Celebrex is now the only COX-2 inhibitor sold in the U.S.)"
Wow! I have told patients for years that taking any pain medication is a trade off, and this recent study confirms it. Man-made chemicals are a risk to you and your health and should only be taken when all else fails.
Dr. Daniel H. Solomon, MD and lead author of the study said that "Opioids are not as safe as people had hoped," ( Dr. Solomon is a rheumatologist and epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston, Massachusetts.) "We need to recognize that opioids are not without risk."
Dr. Solomon further recommends that physicians should take a closer look at the non-opioid pain reduction methods, such as NSAIDS (advil, motrin), and other NON DRUG METHODS for the treatment of pain...
Thank you Dr. Solomon.
Here are some suggestions for the treatment of pain without drugs:
1) A healthy, anti-inflammatory diet
2) Chiropractic manipulation or adjustments
3) Acupuncture therapy
4) Increased exercises and stretching
5) Massage therapy
Do you know what the side affects of the above 5 treatments is? Good health...
The risks of non-medicine approaches for pain control are SOOOO minimal. Patients have nothing to loose to try them and possibly much to gain.
Keith E. Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
TMJ
TMJ discorder is a condition that is characterized by abnormal motion, function, or pain in the jaw joints. In my office, we have historically used jaw joint adjustment techniques and soft tissue therapies to the muscles involved in jaw joint movement. At times, we also recommend a bite guard or "splint". Sometimes an oral surgeon or dentist must be employed.
Just today, in my office, I used a new technique to treat a patient with bothersome clicking and discomfort in the jaw joint. I used a type of acupuncture therapy known as auriculotherapy. To put it simply, I used a small, hand-held electrical devise to stimulate acupuncture points in the ears that are related to TMJ disorders. The result was amazing and instantaneous. The patient moved her jaw after only 5 minutes of treatment, and the look of surprise in her eyes told of the amazing results. She was experiencing no more clicking in the jaw. The amazing thing about this case is that she has been my patient for several months, and I had tried many things to try and help the jaw clicking. All of my typical treatment methods had failed, and I had sent her to her dentist and an oral surgeon for treatment. Within the past month or so, however, I had learned more regarding Auriculotherapy, and I decided today, with the patient, that we had nothing to loose by trying it.
Based on the results, I will be using this specialized acupuncture technique more frequently!
Keith Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
Just today, in my office, I used a new technique to treat a patient with bothersome clicking and discomfort in the jaw joint. I used a type of acupuncture therapy known as auriculotherapy. To put it simply, I used a small, hand-held electrical devise to stimulate acupuncture points in the ears that are related to TMJ disorders. The result was amazing and instantaneous. The patient moved her jaw after only 5 minutes of treatment, and the look of surprise in her eyes told of the amazing results. She was experiencing no more clicking in the jaw. The amazing thing about this case is that she has been my patient for several months, and I had tried many things to try and help the jaw clicking. All of my typical treatment methods had failed, and I had sent her to her dentist and an oral surgeon for treatment. Within the past month or so, however, I had learned more regarding Auriculotherapy, and I decided today, with the patient, that we had nothing to loose by trying it.
Based on the results, I will be using this specialized acupuncture technique more frequently!
Keith Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Arthritis Pain Alternatives
Recently I came across this article that was posted on MSN. I thought that it was well done, and provided some valuable information, so here is the link: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100267432
Pain medication for the treatment of arthritis pain only masks the symptoms. There are also several negative side affects related to taking pain medication. For example, Ibuprofen is linked to gastrointestinal bleeding, and is responsible for an estimated 100,000 deaths every year. Tylenol, on the other hand, is severely toxic to the liver.
The good news about the alternatives listed in the article is that the side affects are improved health generally. In other words, if they don't have any affect on your arthritis pain, they are likely to help your body be more healthy generally.
Say No to Drugs... something that we try and teach our children, but something that many of us, as adults, should take to heart.
Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com
Pain medication for the treatment of arthritis pain only masks the symptoms. There are also several negative side affects related to taking pain medication. For example, Ibuprofen is linked to gastrointestinal bleeding, and is responsible for an estimated 100,000 deaths every year. Tylenol, on the other hand, is severely toxic to the liver.
The good news about the alternatives listed in the article is that the side affects are improved health generally. In other words, if they don't have any affect on your arthritis pain, they are likely to help your body be more healthy generally.
Say No to Drugs... something that we try and teach our children, but something that many of us, as adults, should take to heart.
Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Scientific Evidence of Acupuncture Benefits
A recent study in Germany showed activities within the brain on "functional" MRI with the application of acupuncture. Here is the link http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/209596.php
I found the article quite interesting. I demonstrated changes within the brain during the application of acupuncture that possibly describe how acupuncture helps to control pain.
Keith E Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com
http://www.therapeuticfoods.blogspot.com
I found the article quite interesting. I demonstrated changes within the brain during the application of acupuncture that possibly describe how acupuncture helps to control pain.
Keith E Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com
http://www.therapeuticfoods.blogspot.com
Monday, December 6, 2010
Ear Acupuncture for Headache
It was a long day at work today, and at the end, I had one last patient to treat today... Kim, my receptionist. She is an awesome worker, and she said that she was feeling a nasty headache in the base of her skull and top of her neck.
Normally, I would place her on the adjusting table and look for abnormal joint motion in the upper neck and hypertonic or tight muscles in the neck and shoulder region. Instead, I grabbed the Stim Plus Pro, a small electrical acupuncture device, and I pulled up some auriculotherapy, or ear acupuncture charts, and started treating points in her left and right ears.
The response was amazing. I started working on her right ear, and within 2-3 minutes, the headache was totally gone on the right side of her head. I then moved to the left ear. Again, after spending a few short minutes treating points (all without needles!), the pain was gone in the head completely.
This was accomplished WITHOUT any medication, without chiropractic manipulation, without trigger point work, and WITHOUT NEEDLES.
Auriculotherapy, or ear acupuncture, is a branch of acupuncture, and it is amazing how powerful it is. If you or somebody you know suffers from headaches, perhaps this is a treatment method that they would benefit from. It is safe, affective, and relatively easy to apply.
There are many other conditions that respond well to this type of treatment. They include back pain, pain in other parts of the body, digestion issues, allergies, and smoking addiction, just to name a few. I am also currently treating patients for weight loss with auriculotherapy to help reduce appetite.
Keith Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
www.therapeuticfoods.blogspot.come
Normally, I would place her on the adjusting table and look for abnormal joint motion in the upper neck and hypertonic or tight muscles in the neck and shoulder region. Instead, I grabbed the Stim Plus Pro, a small electrical acupuncture device, and I pulled up some auriculotherapy, or ear acupuncture charts, and started treating points in her left and right ears.
The response was amazing. I started working on her right ear, and within 2-3 minutes, the headache was totally gone on the right side of her head. I then moved to the left ear. Again, after spending a few short minutes treating points (all without needles!), the pain was gone in the head completely.
This was accomplished WITHOUT any medication, without chiropractic manipulation, without trigger point work, and WITHOUT NEEDLES.
Auriculotherapy, or ear acupuncture, is a branch of acupuncture, and it is amazing how powerful it is. If you or somebody you know suffers from headaches, perhaps this is a treatment method that they would benefit from. It is safe, affective, and relatively easy to apply.
There are many other conditions that respond well to this type of treatment. They include back pain, pain in other parts of the body, digestion issues, allergies, and smoking addiction, just to name a few. I am also currently treating patients for weight loss with auriculotherapy to help reduce appetite.
Keith Biggs, DC
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
www.therapeuticfoods.blogspot.come
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Auriculotherapy
Auriculotherapy is s sub-specialty of acupuncture in which the points being treated are within the ears. It offers many benefits to the patient.
1) All of the points being treated are in the ear. The patient doesn’t have to get into a gown or disrobe.
2)
2)
The treatment can be done with or without needles. In my office, I prefer to use a hand held electrical device that allows me to search for and treat the acupuncture points.
The results of treatment can be instantaneous. Just last week I had a patient that excitedly said her lower back pain was gone after only 20 seconds of stimulation on 3 acupuncture points in her left ear!
The results of treatment can be instantaneous. Just last week I had a patient that excitedly said her lower back pain was gone after only 20 seconds of stimulation on 3 acupuncture points in her left ear!
There are literally hundreds of conditions that can be treated with auriculotherapy. Some of the most commonly known are the addictions. Many people find that auriculotherapy helps in smoking cessation, alcohol addiction, and in weight loss programs. Auriculotherapy is also very beneficial in treating painful conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches. As stated before, it is painless and often immediately affective.
Like full body acupuncture, many internal organ issues can be benefited. Just yesterday I had a patient that was being treated for weight loss. She was in my office for her second treatment. When we were done, she asked me if the treatment that I had given her might have some affect on her digestion. She said that she felt that her bowel movements were more regular after her first treatment. She confided in me that she often went for several days without evacuating her bowel. A review of the points used for the treatment of digestive issues, when compared to those used for weight loss revealed several overlaps.
In short, auriculotherapy offers a painless, no-needle acupuncture option for the treatment of many conditions. There are no side effects and few contraindications for its use.
Keith Biggs, DC
www.therapeuticfoods.blogspot.com
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