A Generally Good Idea

I recently read an article written about Brigadier General Becky Halstead (retired). General Halstead is the first female West Point graduate in U.S. history to command at the strategic level in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Regrettably, she decided to retire prematurely due to the disabling symptoms that she was experiencing because of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a painful condition. There is no lab test, x-ray, MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound test that can be used to diagnose the condition. The diagnosis is one of exclusion. Once all the tests are done and there is no definitive abnormality, the patient is finally told that they must have fibromyalgia... or that the pain is psychosomatic (all in their mind).


Traditional treatment for fibromyalgia is... you guessed it... pain medication. Sometimes a sleeping aid will be used as well because of a possible link of fibromyalgia to insomnia and lack of REM sleep.  I have had patients who have been treated with anti-depressants as well.

What in the world is going on here?  Lets step back and take another look at this...

1) We have a disease/problem that is impossible to diagnose.  It does cause significant pain and in some cases the pain can be debilitating.
2) Fibromyalgia, being a chronic condition, is treated with pain drugs, sometimes over a lifetime, that only cover the symptoms and do nothing for the disease itself. This is done at the expense of the patient's liver, kidneys, stomach, heart, lungs, mind, etc.

There are alternatives... and General Halstead found them.  General Halstead said: "Chiropractic treatment helped improve my whole outlook on dealing with this chronic ailment. The spinal adjustments along with the postural and nutritional advice I received helped to treat the fibromyalgia and allowed me to have many days with minimal pain -- and most days without any medications. The care of a doctor of chiropractic was life changing for me."

Follow the leader. Stop taking medications like they are candy and like they have no bad impact on your overall health.  Try something else!  Try Chiropractic... or how about acupuncture to help manage the pain. How about doing some gentle exercise, or changing your diet for the better? If you try any of these alternatives to treat your fibromyalgia, the worst that will happen is that you will be generally healthier, even if your pain doesn't improve!

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com
http://www.therapeuticfoods.blogspot.com

Office hours change for today

Hello,

This is just a friendly reminder that our office hours will be a little bit different for today.  We will be closing the office at 3:00 PM; taking our last patients around 2:00 PM.  In order to accommodate our patients, Dr Biggs will be working through the lunch hour.  Please call our office if we can help you anyway we can. We will resume normal business hours on Monday at 8:30 AM.
Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Dr. Biggs and Staff

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Keith E. Biggs, DC

3617 E. Southern, Suite 8
Mesa, AZ  85206
www.eastmesachiropractor.com
biggschiropractic@gmail.com
Office:  480-985-3334
Cell:     480-375-0068

Colds and Flu

Did you know that an acupuncture analysis can often predict whether or not you are coming down with a cold or the flu, even before you have any symptoms?

This is a picture of an Acugraph analysis. According to Dr. Kimberly Thompson, L.Ac., a deficiency or split of the LU (lung meridian) is an indicator that the person might be coming down with a cold, and when combined with a split in the LI (large intestine) meridian, that the person has low immunity.

In the above case, it is clear that the LU points, as indicated in blue, are low, and that the LI meridians are "split" from left to right (one is high and the other is low), indicated by purple.

Acupuncture theory and treatment has been around for thousands of years. Now, thanks to modern technology, analysis, and charting, we can perform reproducible tests and accurately form an acupuncture diagnosis.

Have you seen the Chi?

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com