Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder involving chronic pain that has no known cause. It is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue and mood disorders. FM affects about 2% of the US population and ranges between 1% and 11% in other countries.  It is more prevalent in adult women than men (3.4% vs. 0.5%) and is most common with increasing age with the highest occurrence between 60-79 years of age. The criteria for the diagnosis of FM was established in 1990 by the American College of Rheumatology as widespread pain of at least 3 month duration and pain on palpation (pushing with the fingers) of at least 11 of 18 specific tender sites on the body. Pain, fatigue and sleep disturbance are observed in all patients with FM. Additional features can include: stiffness, skin tenderness, post-exertional pain, irritable bowel syndrome, cognitive disturbances, overactive bladder syndrome or interstitial cystitis, tension or migraine headaches, dizziness, fluid retention, paresthesias (numbness), restless legs, Reynaud’s phenomenon (white finger disease), and mood disturbances. FM is also strongly associated with anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, myofascial pain syndrome, hypothyroidism, and many of the inflammatory arthritic diseases. Though there are no specific tests for FM, neurotransmitter deregulation including serotonin, norepinephrine, and substance P, result in an abnormal sensory processing in the brain and spinal cord. This results in a lower pain threshold commonly seen in FM.

The treatment of FM may be best looked at from 3 specific goals which include: 1. Alleviate pain; 2. Restore sleep; and 3. Improve physical function. Thus the most successful approach to the treatment of FM has been reported to be multidisciplinary or, involving several different types of health care providers. Clinical tools often used by doctors to monitor symptom change include a 0-10 pain scale, a body function scale called the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) which measures physical function, common FM symptoms and general well-being; and, for measuring the physical and emotional side of FM, the SF-12 or SF-36 (SF = “short form” and either a 12 or a 36 item tool). The use of these tools helps monitor the success of the treatment that is being applied to the patient.

Though medications are reported as an important treatment option (such as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, corticosteroids, opiates, various injections and more), the focus of this discussion is aimed at the alternative or complementary treatment approaches, as many FM patients cannot tolerate the side effects of the many different medications. Alternative approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (counseling), exercise (strength & flexibility), acupuncture, and chiropractic treatment approaches, particularly manipulation but also soft tissue therapies and guided exercise training. Physiological therapeutic approaches frequently used in chiropractic clinics include low-power laser therapy, hydrotherapy such as whirlpool, Balneotherapy – using minerals and oils in the moving water, pulsed electromagnetic field, traction and massage therapy. Another exercise approach that can have great value in managing stress and facilitating sleep is Yoga. The key to a successful treatment outcome requires finding a “team” of health care providers that are willing to listen to the patient and work together to improve the patient’s quality of life. Through this concerted team approach, in addition to the patient taking responsibility by performing exercises on a regular basis, following a proper diet, and getting adequate restful or restorative sleep, FM can be quite well “controllable” and, a relatively “normal” lifestyle can be enjoyed.

If you, a friend or family member requires care for FM, we sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence shown by choosing our services!

When considering additional treatment for muscle pain, our chiropractic and physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ offer state-of-the art technologies to offer relief from muscle pain. Our physicians come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).

It is difficult to not know someone who suffers from chronic headaches or migraines.

In 2004, the percentage of adults who experienced a severe headache or migraine during the preceding 3 months was 18%. Migraine headaches, which are characterized by painful, disabling, and recurring symptoms, have no known proven cause, treatment, or cure. They occur more often in women than men and in one ten year period, the proportion of adults with migraine increased 64-77%.

Chronic migraine headaches are classified either as “common” or “classical.” Symptoms of the common migraine headache include nausea, dizziness, fever, and general malaise. The classical migraine headache is most noted for an aura that immediately precedes the headache. This aura could be visual or auditory. In addition, the classical migraine headache is characterized by a relatively short duration (less than or equal to 12 hours) compared with the common migraine headache (up to 4 days).

Although clinical studies have not clearly defined the cause of chronic migraine headaches, potential risk factors include diet, allergy, air quality, and stress. Many patients use complementary treatments such as chiropractic care. Recent studies have shown that patients who have had neck trauma such as whiplash are at greater risk for headache. Cervicogenic headache is a term for when the neck or cervical spine causes pain to be experienced in the head. Usually the neck or upper back region has muscle tightness and limited mobility.

In tension-type headache there is a great deal of muscle tension in the neck, and the headache begins as a band of tension around the head, rather than a severe pulsating pain on one side as seen in migraine.

Whatever ever the type of headache, most patients have suffered for years and have been taking many pain pills such as ibuprofen and aspirin with few results. Recent research has shown that when these medications are consumed for long periods, they can actually cause a rebound effect and increase headache frequency. The headache can initially get worse as the patient has the medication withdrawn. In addition to actually increasing the severity of the headache, long-term use of these medications can cause organ damage to the stomach, liver, or kidney.

It is important to remember that a headache is a symptom that tells you something is wrong. Covering up the symptom will not solve the problem. Physical approaches involving spine posture are important to consider and are generally preferred to injections, sprays, and medications. A seeming endless diet of pain medications with unknown safety is not the answer for patients with headache.

When considering treatment for headaches, our chiropractic and physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ offer state-of-the art technologies to offer relief from headaches. Our physicians come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).

]]> http://www.njpainandnumbnessrelief.com/ibuprofen-acetaminophen-migraines-worse/feed/ 0 http://www.njpainandnumbnessrelief.com/walking-healthy/ http://www.njpainandnumbnessrelief.com/walking-healthy/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:41:02 +0000 Dr. Eric Chludzinski http://www.njpainandnumbnessrelief.com/?p=837 Scientists who have the studied the architecture of the spine have concluded it is meant for walking. That may come as a surprise since we humans do very little walking these days. Our lives, over thousands and millions of years have gone from a day filled with walking and searching for food, to one that is largely sedentary. Many of us spend the bulk of our day working at a desk, and inactivity has become a major problem to our spinal health. It has been shown prolonged sitting increases the pressures in the disk and leads to decreased strength of the spinal and leg muscles.

Many of us do not sit all day, but instead engage in heavy and repetitive lifting tasks. The heavier the loads we lift, the greater is the risk for spinal degeneration. Whether it is heavy lifting or sedentary life, the effects are the same: low back pain. Low back pain has now become an epidemic in society. Depending on which study you look at up to 90% of us will experience low back pain at some point in our lives.

A study of adolescents inNorwayshowed about 57% had back pain in the past year. We tend to think of our children as immune to back troubles, but the statistics show otherwise. Back pain seems to start in adolescence, and follows us into adult life.

When LBP was compared to activity levels, an inverse relationship was shown. This means that the less time children spent at the computer or watching television, the less likely they were to report back pain. Walking decreased the occurrence of back pain.

In a study of adults who engaged in regular, low to moderate exercise, such as walking, significant differences were noted when these people were compared to those with a more sedentary lifestyle. The group of patients who exercised, had improved mood, reduced need for physical therapy, and used less pain medication. They also tended to have less work disability.

The positive effects of walking continue into old age. Those who walk regularly show less lower body disability.

There was a time when medical doctors thought bed rest for two weeks was a good treatment for patients with low back pain. However, over the past two decades, multiple research studies have shown this prescription will actually increase your low back pain.

Whether you have back trouble or not, it is important to stay active and walking is one of the best ways to keep you pain free. You don’t need a gym membership to do it-just some comfortable shoes. It lowers your risk for back trouble, and is also the best activity to engage in during rehabilitation following an injury.

Back pain is one of the most common problems we treat in our office. You can always schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your health concerns, and the different techniques we use in our office to help get you well again. Just call (201) 339-8889 for an appointment at our Bayonne office and (908) 490-1800 for an appointment at our Scotch Plains office.

It’s usually not a difficult connection to make, that if it’s the low back that is strained, it is the low back that is injured. But in some cases the back pain seems to creep up, or come out of nowhere. Sometimes you wake up with the pain, and there was no trauma at all. In these cases it is even more important to examine the entire spine for the cause of the problem.

The nervous system is enclosed within the bony spinal column and skull. Nerve signals travel from the brain to all distant areas of the body; to organs, muscles, etc. All of these nerves pass through the neck region, even nerves to the legs. This is why an injury that affects the neck can have ramifications in the areas below. The nerve system is a communication link from brain to tissue, and when the nerve is pinched or irritated, there’s a break or miscommunication in the signal.

Most of us are aware that a person can become paralyzed from a bad neck injury such as a fracture. But what is less well known is that minor sprains of the neck can have an effect on muscle tension and pain in the low back. Some chiropractic techniques specialize in only adjusting the upper portion of the neck because this area can have a profound effect on the entire body.

How neck problems can affect low back is not well understood and is being researched. Some theories are that neck problems tend to cause changes in balance. People tend to sway a bit more when neck problems such as whiplash are present. Perhaps this in-coordination of muscles leads to poor recruitment of muscles when we lift?

Another theory is that if nerves are initially irritated at the top of the neck, they become more susceptible to pinch or irritation at other more distant regions of the spine. The spinal cord is also attached to the upper neck vertebrae. If twisting of the upper neck bones occurs, this can pull on the attachments which link to the cord. Disk protrusions in the neck can also compress the front of the cord, sometimes causing symptoms into the arms or legs.

A thorough examination by a doctor of chiropractic will determine if your low back condition is coming from a neck injury.

When considering treatment for back pain, our chiropractic and physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value). 

Poor posture is often due to years of standing slouched and this bad “habit” usually starts at a young age.  Just look around when you’re in an airport or shopping mall and notice the many people have poor posture.  In fact, people’s posture may reflect their attitude – if they’re happy, sad or depressed.  Poor posture may be related to self-consciousness, especially during adolescence.  It is also genetic as we frequently see a “trait” throughout family members with similar postural tendencies.

The most common postural fault associated with headaches is the forward based head and shoulders.  From the side, it appears that the head is significantly forward relative to the shoulders, the upper back is rounded forward and the shoulders are rolled forwards and rotated inward.  One exercise that helps reduce this postural bad habit is tucking in the chin and pretending a book is balancing on top of the head.  The objective is to not allow the book to slide forward off your head and land on your toes!

It takes approximately 3 months of CONSTANT self-reminding before the new “good habit” posture becomes automatic, so be patient.  Soon you’ll “catch yourself doing it right” without thinking about it.

Frequently, posture is faulty lower down the “kinetic chain.” The first link of the chain is the feet and the last link is the head. Since we stand on two feet, any change in that first link or the feet, can alter the rest of the chain, especially areas furthest away – the head, resulting in headaches. For example, if one leg is short, the pelvis drops, the spine shifts (scoliosis), the shoulder drops and the head shifts trying to keep the eyes level. A short leg usually needs to be managed with a heel lift, an arch support or combination of both to properly treat the headache patient.

Most health care providers EXCEPT Chiropractic Physicians typically ignore these issues. Chiropractic Doctors are specifically trained to analyze posture and correct it. You can depend on our clinic for up-to-date treatment approaches such as these.

When considering treatment to correct bad posture that may be causing your headaches, our chiropractors and physical therapists come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value). 

Let’s take a look at these!

1. Should you obtain the services of an attorney?  If you want to significantly reduce your stress when it comes time to negotiating with the insurance company, especially towards the end of the process, then YES!  Needless to say, you HAVE TO seek council if you plan to not settle and need to go to court.  However, you do not have to get an attorney immediately unless you just don’t want to deal with the insurance company at all. Typically, it’s worth having an attorney as they are experienced in “…the process.”
2. Recovery from neck pain can vary between a simple strain at 2-6 weeks to a herniated disk that may require surgery. We recommend you ask us this question about once a month as it will help you decide about this as well as questions 1 and 7.
3. The insurance company may delay the payment of the car repair costs for a number of reasons.  Until the insurance company inspects the car’s damages, they will not authorize the repair shop work, which can take weeks!
4. If you have hired an attorney, he/she will communicate for you.  If not, it is appropriate for you to communicate with the insurance company.  The important thing is to NOT settle the claim until you’re sure you can do all of your pre-MVC activities without difficulty or pain, which often can take a full year or more.
5. These are call “discovery depositions” where you will be asked questions about the accident such as, where you hurt, what you can and can’t do since the MVC, what tests and treatment you’ve received and what the results were. Your attorney will tell you the strengths and weaknesses of your case. The deposition “process” is quite easy and there is no reason to feel intimidated.  Most attorneys are very courteous and will treat you kindly so don’t worry unnecessarily!
6. Preparing for court is similar except you can’t ask questions – they ask & you answer!  Your attorney will tell you to answer only the question being asked and your attorney will later be able to ask you to clarify what was “left out.” Always be kind, courteous, and NEVER let the other attorney get you angry!
7. See #2 above.  If you have ongoing radiating pain in your arm (from your neck) or leg (from your low back), the “prognosis” for complete recovery is less favorable. Similarly, if you have ligament damage in your neck, there will probably be an accelerated pace of arthritis formation that may not bother you much for 5-10 years or longer but may later in life.  We, as your expert witness, will describe your “impairment” and bring this to the jury’s attention.

We hope this information is appreciated! We realize that you have a choice in where you go for your health care needs.  We truly appreciate your consideration in allowing us to help you through this potentially difficult process.

When considering treatment for whiplash injuries, our chiropractic and physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).

Muscle pain can be quite severe and heat can sometimes soothe muscle pain. For this reason, many patients take to the hot water bottle or the hot tub to try and get some relief. This should be avoided in an acute injury because inflammation is present. With inflammation, there is increased heat and the additional heat you provide is like adding gasoline to a fire. The results are usually not good.

A better choice with an acute injury is to ice the area, but this also needs to be done with some caution. The simplest ice pack is ice cubes placed in a plastic bag. While effective, you can cause a frostbite injury if you leave the pack on for too long. When you first ice the area, you will go through several phases before some pain relief is achieved. At first the pack will feel cold. The next phase is a burning sensation and the ice will almost feel hot. This is followed by an aching or throbbing sensation. Just before the area is numbed, a very sharp pain will be experienced followed by the relief you desire. This can take from five to ten minutes to go through all of the phases. Once numbness is achieved, the pack should be removed. You should most definitely not fall asleep while the pack is on.

If this simple procedure does not solve the problem it’s best to get your spine checked by a doctor of chiropractic.

Back pain is one of the most common problems we treat in our office. You can always schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss your health concerns, and the different techniques we use in our office to help get you well again. Just call (201) 339-8889 for an appointment at our Bayonne office and (908) 490-1800 for an appointment at our Scotch Plains office.

Most people are aware of the “lift with the legs” motto, which means bending your knees when lifting something. But there are also some other gems you need to know to avoid a back injury. First, the back disks are highly pressurized (full of water) first thing in the morning. This makes your back more stiff. It also makes stresses on the disk more substantial with lifts. So if possible, avoid lifting heavy things or in stooped awkward positions, first thing in the morning. If you have a choice of doing laundry first thing in the morning or at night, do it at night.

Another thing to think about when lifting something awkward or heavy is to get some help. There’s no point in trying to be superman or superwoman and test the limits of your back strength. A second person helping could save you a trip to the chiropractor.

Another “don’t” for the low back is to avoid sitting as much as possible. While some jobs make this difficult, there’s no reason to follow eight hours of sitting at the job with four hours of evening sitting at home. The back craves and thrives on motion, especially walking. Why not go for a thirty-minute walk after dinner, instead of being a couch or chair potato? The spine is architecturally designed for walking. This is where it is at its optimum. Sitting in a chair is a very unnatural position for the lumbar spine. The walking, while helpful for the back, can also pay dividends for your heart health and longevity.

Another important “do” for the low back is stretching. Simple stretching for 30 seconds each, the calves (lower legs), hamstrings (back of the thighs) and quadriceps (front of the legs), can help to keep the back flexible. Recall that we are supposed to lift with the legs. If the legs muscles are tight and/or weak, then the low back is going to take up much more of the weight and stress, increasing your risk for injury.

If you’d like to discuss this information more specifically for your spinal type and condition, or have concerns about injuries you’ve suffered in the past, just call (201) 339-8889 for the Bayonne office and (908) 490-1800 for the Scotch Plains office to make an appointment. Consultations are always complimentary. Adhering to a few good spinal “hygiene” principals can do a lot to maintain spinal health and keep your visits to our office to a minimum. Prevention is the key to good health.

However, once you realize that lots of people have degenerated discs and it does not mean surgery. It is important to understand how the disc works in the low back, how it is injured, and how it can be safely treated, to get the best results with your condition.

So what is a disc? A disc is nothing more than cartilage similar to the cartilage in your knee. Cartilage covers bones and connects them allowing a joint to be formed. Cartilage and ligaments are what make motion possible but they also restrain movements that are too large. In the case of the spine, there are 24 individual bones called vertebrae. The disc is a cartilage that connects each of these vertebrae.

The disc can be injured just like a knee or an ankle can be sprained. The injury will stretch the ligaments and cartilage and cause them to tear. Whenever the body is injured, inflammation follows which serves to begin the healing process. Damaged tissue is consumed and scars are laid down.

In the case of the disc, the degeneration is usually at the back portion of the disc, because that is the location of the original injury. The disc also contains a more watery center called the nucleus. When injury to the disc occurs, the joint does not move properly. Lack of movement can be just as detrimental as too much movement. With this lack of motion there is less movement of water, in and out of the nucleus. The nucleus then dehydrates and the disc begins to collapse under the weight of gravity.

You were likely shown an x-ray of the degenerated disc and told that the space between the vertebrae is smaller because the disc material is degenerating. An MRI or CT scan can also show the degenerated disc. However, it does not mean that you need surgery.

The body is meant to handle degeneration of the disc and many people do quite well despite what an MRI or x-ray may show. Other patients have a bulging of the disc along with the loss of height. This bulging, called a herniation, can press on the nerve and cause back or leg pain (sciatica).

If the pressure within the disc can be lowered, then it is possible to create a vacuum that draws the bulging disc away from the nerve. Decompression treatment uses this effect as a treatment for back pain and leg pain caused by a degenerated disc.

When considering treatment for your back pain due to a degenerative disc, our chiropractic and physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ can offer you relief. Our physicians come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value). 

This relationship is the rule, not the exception and therefore, treatment for headaches must include treatment of the neck to achieve optimum results.  The term, “cervicogenic headaches” has been an accepted term because of the intimate connection between the neck and head for many years.  There are many anatomical reasons why neck problems result in headaches.  Some of these include:

• The first 3 nerves exiting the spine in the upper neck go directly into the head.  They penetrate the muscles at the top of the neck near the attachments to the skull and therefore, any excess pressure on these nerves by the muscles or spinal joints will result in irritation and subsequent pain.
• The origin or nucleus of the 5^th cranial nerve called the Trigeminal, innervates the sensation to the face and is located in the upper cervical region near the origin of the 2^nd cervical spinal nerve, which innervates sensation to the back of the head up to the top.  Therefore, problems located in the upper neck will often result in pain radiating up from the base of the skull/upper neck over the top of the skull to the eyes and /or face.
• The 11^th cranial nerve that innervates the upper shoulders and muscles in the front of the neck arises from the top 5 to 7 spinal cord levels in the neck.  Injury anywhere in the neck can result in spasm and pain in these large muscle groups.
• Other interconnections between the 2^nd cervical nerve and trigeminal/5^th cranial nerve include communication with the 7^th cranial / facial nerve, the 9^th cranial / glossopharyngeal nerve, and the 10^th cranial / vagus nerve.  These connections can affect facial muscle strength/movements, taste, tongue and throat movements, and stomach complaints such as nausea from these three cranial nerve interconnections, respectively.

When patients seek treatment for their headaches, a thorough examination of the neck, upper back, and cranial nerves is routinely performed for the above reasons.  It is common to find upper cervical movement and vertebral alignment problems present in patients complaining of headaches. Tender points located between the shoulder blades, along the upper shoulders, on the sides of the neck and particularly, at the base of the skull are commonly found.  Pain often radiates from the tender point over the top of the skull when pressure is applied in the upper neck/base of the skull area. Tenderness on the sides of the head, in the temples, over the eyes, and near the jaw joint are also common. Traction or pulling the head to stretch the neck is often quite pain relieving and this is often performed as part of the chiropractic visit and can also be applied at home with the use of a home cervical traction unit. Chiropractic adjustments applied to the fixated or misaligned vertebra in the upper neck often brings very satisfying relief to the headache sufferer.  Exercises that promote movement in the neck, as well as strengthening exercises are also helpful in both reducing headache pain and in preventing occurrences, especially with stress or tension headaches.

When considering treatment for headaches, our chiropractic and physical therapy clinics in Bayonne and Scotch Plains NJ offer state-of-the art technologies to offer relief from headaches. Our physicians come highly recommended by numerous physicians in Hudson and Union Counties. Feel free to contact us for a Free, In-Office Evaluation. If you are looking for faster service, give us a call at one of our two New Jersey locations. For our Bayonne, NJ location, call 201-339-8889, and for our Scotch Plains, NJ location, call us at 908-490-1800. Just tell them that you read this article and you will receive our complimentary in-office evaluation (a $145 value).