Rebound Headaches: When Getting Better Makes You Worse

The blog post Rebound Headaches: When Getting Better Makes You Worse is republished from: www.wellnessinmotionchiropractic.com

Rebound Headaches: When Getting Better Makes You Worse

Rebound headaches are caused by the very things that relieve headaches -- pain medication. So basically it becomes a choice of suffer now, or suffer later.

Rebound headaches are usually daily occurrences, beginning early in the morning. Rebound headaches can lead to other problems including anxiety, depression, irritability and sleeplessness.

Medications

Migraine medications work to raise serotonin levels to ease pain. However, when too much medication is ingested something happens to the serotonin levels, which causes the chemical to lose its effectiveness. Research has shown that serotonin levels are lower when you take too much pain medication and then they rise slightly after the headaches gets better and you stop taking the medication.

If prescription or over-the-counter drugs are taken too often or in greater amounts than recommended, this can lead to rebound headaches. In addition to sedatives and tranquilizers, other rebound-causing medications include:

1. Caffeine-containing analgesics (Anacin, Excedrin, etc.). Caffeine, a primary ingredient in many headache medicines, can relieve migraine pain temporarily. However, taking medicine containing caffeine every day -- as well as drinking caffeine-loaded beverages such as coffee or soft drinks -- can lead to more frequent and severe headaches. If the headache gets worse when you stop using caffeine, the caffeine may be the cause of some of your headaches.

2. Butalbital compounds (Fioricet, Fiorinal, Phrenilin, etc.); Isometheptene compounds (Duradrin, Midrin, etc.); Decongestants (Afrin, Dristan, Sudafed, Tylenol Sinus, etc.); Ergotamines (D.II.E. 45, Ergomar, Migranal, Wigraine); Triptans (Amerge, Axert, Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig); Opioids and related drugs (Darvocet, OxyContin, Percocet, Tylenol with codeine, etc.). Medications that include any form of codeine, such as Percocet, Tylenol 3, or Vicodin, must be used with care because they can cause dependency quickly.

Symptoms

* Your headache occurs daily or almost daily (3 or 4 times a week).
* Your headache deviates in form, location on the head, severity and strength.
* You have a lower than normal threshold for pain.
* You begin to notice evidence of an increasing tolerance to the effectiveness of analgesics over a period of time.
* You notice a spontaneous improvement of headache pain when you discontinue the medications.
* You are considered a sufferer of a primary headache disorder and you use prevention medication frequently and in large quantities.
* Even the slightest physical movement or bare minimum of intellectual expenditure causes the onset of the headache.
* Your headache is accompanied by any of these symptoms: anxiety, depression, difficulty in concentration, irritability, memory problems, nausea, and restlessness.
* You suffer withdrawal symptoms when you abruptly are taken off the medication.

Recovery

If you have rebound headaches due to the overuse of medications, the only way to recover is to cease taking the drugs. If it is caffeine that is causing your rebound headaches, reducing your intake may be of help. Before deciding on whether you want to stop abruptly or gradually, the following need to be considered:

1. Make sure you consult with a physician before withdrawing from headache drugs. Certain non-headache medications, such as anti-anxiety drugs or beta-blockers, require gradual withdrawal.

2. The patient (you) may need to be hospitalized if the symptoms do not respond to treatment, or if they cause severe nausea and vomiting.

3. During the first few days, alternative medications may be administered. Examples of drugs that may be used include corticosteroids, dihydroergotamine (with or without metoclopramide), NSAIDs (in mild cases) or valproate.

4. Whatever method you choose when stopping your medication, you will go through a period of worsening headache afterward. Most people will feel better within 2 weeks, however, headache symptoms can persist for as long as 4 months and in some rare cases even longer.

Good News

Many patients experience long-term relief from all headaches afterward. The conclusion of one study showed that over 80% of patients significantly improved 4 months after withdrawal.

The blog post Rebound Headaches: When Getting Better Makes You Worse is republished from: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center Park Ridge

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Kettlebells And Chiropractic – A Winning Combination!

Kettlebells And Chiropractic – A Winning Combination! is republished from: https://www.wellnessinmotionchiropractic.com

Kettlebells And Chiropractic - A Winning Combination!

After 14 years as a successful chiropractor I have finally discovered what I believe to be the very best tool for improving the back-strength and overall health of my patients. That tool is the kettlebell – something I had never heard of until two years ago. I have to admit that initially they intimidated me… until I needed them for my own injury.

The Doctor Becomes a Patient

Growing up I was always extremely athletic in high school and college. I lettered in volleyball, softball, and basketball, and I became a Doctor of Chiropractic because I knew firsthand how important a strong and well-aligned body is for physical activity.

As an athlete and a doctor I never experienced any problems with back pain – until about 5 years ago. I was adjusting a very large male patient (6’3” 300lbs), something I never had a problem with in the past because of my use of proper techniques.

Somehow this time was different. When I applied my force into this patient’s body to adjust his hips – nothing moved. I felt like I had just attempted to pass my hands through a pillar of marble. The resulting wave of resistance immediately reverberated through my entire spine. At that moment I knew I was injured.

I did everything I tell my injured patients to do. I stretched, iced, went for massage, received chiropractic care, physical therapy, and acupuncture treatments. Being in the healthcare profession, the treatment I received was the best available. At times I was in the offices of other providers 5-6 times per week.

Frustration with Traditional Methods

The treatments kept my back functioning so that I could do my job but the repair and healing of my body did not progress. If I sneezed it would throw my back into spasms. If I slept wrong I would have to wear a back support for a week. This was more than pain and inconvenience – my very livelihood was at stake! Nobody wants to put their trust in a chiropractor who clearly has a bad back herself. So I did everything I could to hide and mask my pain from my patients.

Two years into this constant pain I knew I had to try something different. I hired a personal trainer (a former N.F.L. player) who I hoped would whip me into shape. After 6 months, although I gained arm and leg strength, my body did not tone up the way I expected and my back pain did not improve. In fact it got worse. There would be times when I would spend half an hour on the treadmill in the evening and not be able to get out of bed the next morning.

Impressing A Skeptic

About this time I came across a book titled Beyond Stretching, by Pavel Tsatsouline. There was something different here. There were stretches in this book that I had never seen before. Even my physical therapy associates were impressed with this new and cutting-edge material. I had a feeling that Pavel could help me with my back, and hoped this might be the answer to restore my health and the future of my practice.

Fortunately I live close to Seattle because at that time Pavel was visiting the city twice each year. I took his stretching, strengthening and abdominal class. I was impressed – not something easily accomplished because I do body work myself, but also because I had experienced so many disappointments.

After attending Pavel’s classes my stretching improved and my pain was decreasing. In fact, I was so impressed that I encouraged all of my patients and colleagues to attend Pavel’s seminars.
I had patients drive 70-80 miles one-way to attend Pavel’s seminars, and I would bring no fewer than 10 people with me each time. I always made sure to bring my most acute patients – the ones I knew would experience the most benefit by attending.

When Pavel witnessed my third trek to Seattle with patients in tow, he was impressed with my commitment and suggested that I train with kettlebells – round cast-iron weights, like cannonballs with handles. He even implied that I should become certified as a kettlebell trainer to assist my patients. Well, I was more than slightly intimidated – in my mind there was no way I could throw around this big piece of iron without inflicting further injury. But everything Pavel had showed me so far was helping, and I was intrigued. I ended up purchasing a kettlebell, but picked it up maybe five times before it began to gather dust at home. I was so out of shape that I would get winded swinging the kettlebell only twenty times. Being an athlete, I think it hurt my ego more than anything else!

One Demonstration Makes All the Difference

Then in October 2004 I was fortunate enough to attend another one of Pavels stretching and strengthening seminars that included a quick kettlebell demonstration. One of the people who spoke was Dave Werner, RKC. He related his experience with severe lower back pain, nerve damage in his leg, and using a cane to walk.

I couldn’t believe it – this man had recovered and looked like an Olympic athlete! Right then I knew I had to give kettlebells another chance. I not only needed to try them for myself, but for the benefit of all my patients that were in the same predicament as me.

I hired Dave to show me what to do, and one month into my training I sneezed -- and had NO PAIN!! For almost five years I had been in pain from the slightest movement, and after one month of training with kettlebells I was able to sneeze and not have pain. That may not seem like much to you, but for me it was a miracle. I started training harder and signed up for the April 2005 RKC. People must have thought I was crazy because I hadn’t exercised in well over a year due to my pain and now I wanted to go and subject myself to three days of Russian boot camp!

The more I trained in preparation for the RKC the more my fitness improved, and my back pain quickly became a thing of the past. I made it to the RKC and survived – believe me, I had lots of sore muscles, but never a twinge in my lower back. I had been given my life back!

Sharing the Secret

When I returned from the training I soon began working with one of my worst back injury patients. The type of patient I see has extreme back pain and most of them have such poor body mechanics and muscle tone that they can't even do a squat correctly. They’re afraid to move their body, believing they can prevent spasms by not moving, so I start them out slowly. This particular patient had constant pain and couldn’t do even simple household chores such as vacuuming or cleaning dishes
.
I started her out with the 4 Kg. bell, doing squats and swings in 5 sets of 5 reps each. If you’ve ever lifted the 4 Kg. bell, it weighs almost nothing, but it was heavy enough for her body and started improving her strength. We continued her chiropractic adjustments twice per week to control her pain and prevent spasms. After three weeks I introduced an 8 Kg. bell for one of the five sets, and her spine was starting to hold so I reduced her office visits to once per week. I have been training her now for five weeks and she has only minimal pain. She recently vacuumed her whole house without assistance – something she had not done in three years. You’ve never seen someone so excited about being able to vacuum the floor!

It’s now been almost two weeks since she needed an adjustment and I’ve added a figure eight with the 8 Kg. bell to expand her range of motion. It’s important for those with chronic back pain to expand their abilities so they don’t give in to the fear of triggering a back spasm. Kettlebells allow this incremental increase, and it builds confidence in patients like nothing I’ve seen before.

Kettlebells – the Missing Ingredient?

I’ve seen the kettlebell workout help one of my associates with his asthma. Another eliminated her wrist and knee pain after 6 weeks of doing kettlebells. Like me, she was very worried about her career as a chiropractor because her wrists kept giving out. Now she is stronger and more confident that she can do her job for years to come.

I’m still amazed at the improvement in back stability that comes with kettlebell training. I feel like a kid again! I can honestly say I am in the best shape of my life – after only 8 months! I now work a full day in my practice and then train people with kettlebells one-on-one and in groups 4-5 nights a week.

I now believe kettlebells to be the single most important tool that can be added to a recovery training schedule. There are too many people out there who cannot enjoy life, who are merely existing because of their back pain. Their abdominals and back muscles are so weak from repeated spasms that they fall apart with any activity. I believe all of them can be helped with kettlebells.

It’s important to start slowly, primarily because of the weakness and lost muscle tone that develops from repeated muscle spasms, but also because of the mental block created by the fear of pain. Kettlebells allow you to do this. I know, because I’ve been there. But at 39 years old I now feel better than I did in my twenty’s, and I can’t wait to see how I will be a year from now. Thank you Pavel for giving me my life back!

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Rolfing: Relive Stress and Physical Discomfort through Structural Integration

Rolfing: Relive Stress and Physical Discomfort through Structural Integration was first seen on: Anthony Cisternino

Rolfing: Relive Stress and Physical Discomfort through Structural Integration

ROLFING works with the connective tissue. Connective tissue wraps the body entirely, much like a wet suit does a swimmer. It wraps each muscle and muscle fiber in a continuous network, even supplying the internal membranes that wrap our bones and support our internal organs.

We all hold tension and stress in our bodies. You may feel it in your head, neck, shoulders and back most often. The stress may come from physical trauma like an auto collision, a fall or maybe surgery. It may be generated by life situations such as divorce, moving, abuse or a death in the family.

So what is ROLFING? To say that ROLFING is a technique for physically aligning and standing the body upright in gravity in 10 sessions somehow misses the point. For me, ROLFING is Dorothy, aged 67, a polio victim at three and surgery at 12, free of back pain and able to walk up and down stairs in a normal manner for the first time in 30 years.

ROLFING is Joyce, a 35 year-old attorney who says, “my shoulder and neck pain are gone, and the greatest surprise is my new attitude and positive outlook on life.” ROLFING is an Olympic medalist in gymnastics who had lived with the pain of working out and performing with bones broken and muscles torn in childhood, saying, “my back is better, the pain is gone and I feel better.”

The body responds to stress by tightening and shortening. Most people can identify the muscular body tightening associated with momentary stress. We say we ?hold ourselves together.? What most of us miss is how the yearly accumulations of day by day tightening and tension are locked into the body and affect our overall health. A distortion in one part of the dynamic system affects the total system. A hurt back, knee or neck might cause us to favor that area. Since we live in the field of gravity and are constantly struggling to hold ourselves upright our initial favoring can become a chronic imbalance and a limited movement pattern.

Physical approaches to dealing with stress and imbalance in the body have been around for a while. ROLFING is one of the earliest and most profound of the manipulation techniques; it is the most structured and developed system of "deep tissue work". Rolfing’s premise is that the body’s organ of structure is the fascia; and that life is an ongoing encounter with gravity, the force that is always with us.

Dr. Ida Rolf (she called it Structural Integration, her followers called it ROLFING), said:

"One individual may experience his losing fight with gravity as a sharp pain in the back, another as the unflattering contour of his body, another as constant fatigue, and yet another as an unrelentingly threatening environment. Those over 40 may call it old age, yet all these signals may be pointing to a single problem so prominent in their own structure and the structure of others, that it has been ignored; they are off balance. They are all at war with gravity."

Rolfing is also my 72 year old Uncle -- who at 72 was still teaching tennis and golf despite chronic pain in his neck, shoulder and heels -- standing upright in the kitchen telling my wife he still thought ROLFING was strange, but somehow it worked, he was no longer in pain.

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Early Pregnancy Back Pain

Early Pregnancy Back Pain is available on: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center Blog

Early Pregnancy Back Pain

Early pregnancy back pain is a normal phenomenon in early pregnancy. Most of the expectant mothers witness some degree of back pain during the early phase of pregnancy and this pain generally subsides after about 20 weeks. Back pain or spasm, which is reflected by stretching of muscles or burning pain in the left or the right side of the quadrant, is normally the result of the softening of the supporting ligaments and disks due to an increase in the progesterone hormone during the early phase of pregnancy. In some cases, urinary infection during pregnancy can also result in back pain amongst pregnant women. The extra weight of a pregnant women's body and the change in her centre of gravity also result in backaches and back pain.

Remedies for Pregnancy Back Pain

The most important and safe remedy for the treatment of early pregnancy back pain is exercising. This is mainly because certain medications for back pain are contraindicated during early pregnancy. Walking, pelvic rocking, bridging (done by lying down on the floor, bending your knees and lifting your buttocks into air), mini-crunches (done by lying down on the floor), bending your knees and lifting your head on exhalation, are good exercises for relief from pack pain during early pregnancy. Pregnant women do these exercises on their own relieve back pain during their pregnancy.

The right body posture and good body mechanics also play an important role in keeping one free of early pregnancy back pain. The right posture for prevention of back pain early pregnancy is standing straight and tall. However, the importance for correct postures is as essential in early pregnancy as before that. However, in late pregnancy, as the uterus becomes big, one tends to pull back her shoulders to offset the additional weight, which results in a back strain. You can reduce back pain during later stages of pregnancy in such a position by frequently changing your sitting position and avoiding standing for long periods.

Adequate rest and sleep are also essential for avoiding or eliminating early pregnancy back pain. You should take proper rest and avoid strenuous activities to avoid back pain during your pregnancy. You can also do normal yoga exercises to eliminate minor back pain. However, if the back pain persists you should consult your doctor and take proper medication for relief from back pain during pregnancy. In some cases of back pain during pregnancy, doctors may prescribe physiotherapy for back pain relief. Massages and use of special mattresses are also effective for back pain relief during pregnancy.

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Headache Facts

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Headache Facts

FACT: Headaches Affect Nearly 90% of Men and 95% of Women.
All kinds of pains are bad. But there is nothing as mentally
exhausting as a headache.
It affects our well-being, our productivity and even our social
existence. After a headache we feel mentally drained and
physically exhausted. But then we come to the interesting
question, should a bad headache keep a good man down? To find
a solution to this question, it is important that we understand
more about headaches.
Headaches are of different types.
They can be identified as headaches due
to migraine, sinus and tension. Now these headaches are very
different but they do affect the same part that is the head in
general. So if we understand more about them we can reach an
interesting conclusion.
And you know what that is?
Headaches are largely preventable. Of course there are a lot of
cures available over the counter now but do we really have to
wait for the headache to start to resort to treatment? Isn't
prevention better than cure? Isn't it better to be proactive
than reactive?
There are many factors that contribute to the onset of headache pain and even migraines.
A few of the most common factors are...
1. Stress
2. Diet
3. Environment
Being aware of what brings on your headaches is key to finding drug free relief.

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Physiotherapy To Treat Back Pain

The article Physiotherapy To Treat Back Pain was originally published on: Anthony Cisternino

Physiotherapy is the medical practice of manipulating parts of the body to insure movement. Physiotherapy was first practiced in the early 1920s and people who perform this therapy today are often called Physical therapists. Physiotherapy is used to treat many different medical problems, including chronic illness, pain, disease and injury. Physiotherapy to treat back pain is one of the more common reasons people seek this treatment.

Back pain is the most common reason for people in the United States to seek a physician. It is estimated that complaints of back pain account for more than 80 percent of doctor visits each year in the United States alone.

There are many different types of back pain and the most common is lower back pain. Lower back pain can be caused by a herniated disc, often called "a slipped disc" or a muscle spasm in the back. It can also be caused by a torn ligament. There are many ways to injure your lower back and most medical doctors will simply prescribe pain medication until the condition subsides. In most cases, improper lifting or bad posture is the culprit in lower back pain.

Some people with lower back pain experience the pain all of the time. This is called "chronic" back pain. Often, those who experience chronic back pain will opt to work with a physiotherapist to try to alleviate the back pain so that they can function normally. It is often preferable for people with chronic back pain to use physiotherapy to treat back pain than to undergo elective surgery for this problem as the surgery can often carry some risks. Some of the risks include making the pain actually worse or even causing paralysis.

When using physiotherapy to treat back pain, the physiotherapist will manipulate the spine in certain ways to try to alleviate the problem causing the pain. In many cases, if the problem is a herniated disc, the physiotherapist can move the disc back into place, eliminating the pain. If the problem is a torn ligament, the physiotherapist can massage the ligament and offer some form of treatment until this injury subsides.

Only a licensed physiotherapist should be permitted to work on someone who has back pain. It takes years of education to become a licensed physiotherapist and those who study are adept at not only determining what causes the back pain, but what will alleviate the symptoms.

Physiotherapy to treat back pain has become even more common in recent years, particularly in the instance of a herniated disc. Operations to repair a herniated disc are not only expensive and cause someone to be immobilized for a period of time, they carry an element of risk. If you have lower back pain and want an accurate diagnosis as well as treatment options and relief from pain, seek out a licensed physiotherapist. Physiotherapy to treat back pain is one of the most popular methods in the United States being used to treat those with chronic or acute back pain.

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Six Chronic Back Pain Relief Options

The following article Six Chronic Back Pain Relief Options was originally published to: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center Park Ridge Service

Six Chronic Back Pain Relief Options

There are two types of pain that you will feel. One is a sharp and quick pain that comes and goes quickly known as acute pain. The other kind comes gradually and lasts for long periods of time known as chronic. While both types of pain can be debilitating, especially in the back, chronic can be the most frustrating to deal with. It can cripple you and keep you from enjoying the life you have. While there may be no sure cure for the chronic pain you endure, there are options in chronic back pain relief that may help.

While you may find some methods and options that can help bring relief, this article is not meant to be taken as medical advice. For long lasting pain, you may want to have your family doctor make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment plan to help manage the healing and pain.

1- Acupuncture has been known to help treat back pain for generations. Even though it is an ancient technique to help manage pain, it is still be used with frequency today. Many are able to manage their chronic back pain without medication while going through acupuncture. Be aware of how the needles are taken care of and make sure that all needles are accounted for and unbroken when removed from your body. If you use blood thinners, you may not want to use acupuncture. Acupuncture is believed to calm the nervous system while releasing chemicals in hormones that ill help heal the body.

2- Creams with Capsaicin. Capsaicin is derived from cayenne and red peppers and has anti-inflammatory properties. It also is able to trigger an almost soothing sensation that takes the pain away. It might burn a little upon applying so use sparingly at first.

3- Epsom Salt will help in maintaining normal nerve and muscle function. It can be absorbed through the skin and much relief can be found in having a hot bath with two cups of Epsom salt poured in. After soaking for about a half hour, you should feel good results.

4- Deep breathing will you gain control of your body and manage pain. It allows you a chance to divert your attention from the area that is causing you pain. The same principle that helps pregnant women in giving birth by concentrating their breathing and mind on something will help. It is really most helpful because it can be done any time and any place.

5- Deep muscle massage can help with chronic pain. It can also help reduce anxiety and depression that can accompany chronic back pain.

6- Chiropractic care can help manage chronic back pain. The spinal and joint manipulation helps to relieve pain as well as tight muscles, but it can also help bring about healing.

Chronic back pain may knock you out for a little while, but there is little reason for it to knock you out completely. Although it may take a number of ways and strategies working in concert together, chronic back pain relief can be found.

Six Chronic Back Pain Relief Options is republished from: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center

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What You Need To Know About Stiff Necks

The following article What You Need To Know About Stiff Necks is republished from: http://www.wellnessinmotionchiropractic.com/

What You Need To Know About Stiff Necks

Have you ever woken up with a neck so painful you can't even move it to look to the side? Ever worked for long periods of time that you notice your neck muscles already stiffening up due the stress and strain? You may already be manifesting signs of having a stiff neck.

Thanks to our extremely fast-paced and bustling lifestyles paired with lack of rest and poor body posture, stick neck has become pretty normal for the average American. It is considered harmless as pain relief follows pretty quickly after having rested the neck stiffness for a couple of days or so. But if it persists for a longer time that the usual two to three day recuperation window, then it could be a manifestation or warning for an existed medical condition.

Clinically referred to as a cervical spasm, stiff neck pain is often the result of sore neck muscles. Although it is generally non-alarming, having a stiff neck can be an indication of an underlying medical condition that you may not be aware of. So it is best to consult a physician if you have chronic stiff neck pains.

Like what was mentioned above, stiff neck can develop from poor body posture or because of too much stress, however there are other causes that can cause having a cervical spasm or a stiff neck:

l Trauma or injury. Concussions or injuries to the head and neck may cause the neck muscles to spasm and start to stiffen and hurt.

l Underlying medical conditions. Meningitis and high blood pressure are two of the most common health complications that are manifested by having tensed, painful, and stiff necks. Brain inflammation can also cause stiff necks paired with nausea and vomiting.

People who've experienced having this condition know how difficult it is to function with a painful neck, and so neck pain relief is the common refuge. A variety of prescription and over-the-counter pain relief medication can be used to relieve the discomfort brought about by having a stiff neck. It is best to consult a physician once you've started feeling pain in the neck region to know whether or not it is a simple case of stiff neck or if it is caused by something else.

Nobody wants to bear the discomfort of stiff neck, not only is it difficult to move around, it also makes concentrating more difficult as the pain will always distract you. Here are some helpful tips to avoid having a recurring stiff neck:

l Avoid too much stress. Too much physical and emotional stress can cause strain on the neck muscles which can eventually lead to a stiff neck.

l Check the bed and the pillow. Make sure that your head is ergonomically situated on the pillow and that the bed is leveled just right so that it supports your entire body and it does not to put any strain on your neck and upper body.

l Perform isotonic exercise. Isotonic exercises are aimed at strengthening the neck and the back muscles. Having a strong neck and back muscle diminishes chances of having an injury in this region.

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Migraine Pain Relief: Causes, Treatments and Alternatives

The post Migraine Pain Relief: Causes, Treatments and Alternatives was first published on: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center Blog

Migraine Pain Relief: Causes, Treatments and Alternatives

Serotonin is a hormone that is technically called 5-hydroxyterpitamine and is produced and found in the pineal gland, blood platelets, the digestive tract, and the brain. Seroronin acts both as a chemical messenger that transmits nerve signals between nerve cells; and a substance that causes blood vessels to narrow. Changes in the serotonin levels in the brain can alter a person’s mood. Serotonin, based on some studies, also cause or trigger migraine headaches.
Migraines occur mainly due to the constriction of blood vessels near the brain. Typically, migraine pain lasts from four to 72 hours. Migraine affects about 15% of the entire U.S. population. Three times as many women as men have migraines. More than 80% of people with migraines (called migraineurs) have other members in the family who have them too. Migraine headaches are the second most common type of primary headache and they can have other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light.
A migraine is caused by the enlargement of the temporal artery, which is the artery that lies on the outside of the skull and under the skin of our forehead. When this artery enlarges, it stretches nerves around it and they in turn release certain chemicals. These chemicals are the cause of the pain that is called a migraine, and they also cause the artery to enlarge even more…more pain, more enlargement. Migraines are just a never-ending circle of agony.
Prescription-strength non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce the frequency of attacks in over half of migraine sufferers. Mefenamic acid (Ponstel) and naproxen (Anaprox) are particularly useful for preventing migraines associated with menstruation. Beta-blockers are usually prescribed to reduce high blood pressure. Some, however, are also useful in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks and their severity when they occur. Propranolol (Inderal) and timolol (Blocadren) have been approved specifically for prevention of migraine. Others medications that have been found to be effective include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), and nadolol (Corgard).
However, regular headache pain relievers and other oral medications are probably going to do little to help. They are simply not absorbed the way they should be. However, a person with migraine could try some natural remedies such as massage, heat, a hot shower, relaxation techniques or any activity that helps puts aside the worries for the moment and relaxes the body.
Another non-chemical method used by people to treat migraines is called acupuncture, a procedure that helps calm the temporal artery and the sympathetic nerve system. There are a lot of practitioners of Acupuncture. They are licensed, highly trained professionals that can be trusted by patients.
When considering how to naturally prevent a migraine headache, you can try lavender or peppermint oil as a topical solution or inhaler. These can be put in a vaporizer or washcloth. Calcium and magnesium supplements also help relieve muscle tension.
Alternative medicines for migraine headache pain sufferers are available without the risks or adverse effects of the regular pain relief medications. Besides being more conservative than the medical establishment's methods of migraine pain relief, they're often just as effective, if not more so.

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5 Ways to Relieve Migraine Headaches Naturally!

5 Ways to Relieve Migraine Headaches Naturally! was originally published on: http://www.wellnessinmotionchiropractic.com/

5 Ways to Relieve Migraine Headaches Naturally!

There are many new migraine headache treatments available that can be both safe and effective. Natural treatments for migraine headaches are usually safer and cheaper than traditional pain medications. And in many instances they can relieve pain just as well or even better than prescription or non-prescription drugs. The possibility of a negative reaction to a safe and natural migraine headache treatment is still there, but it is less with most natural treatment methods than it is with pain-relieving medications.

Every person on the face of the earth is unique. Their body chemistry is different than anyone else's. One person may find relief from their migraine headaches with one type of treatment while someone else may try that same treatment and find no relief at all. No two people will experience the same reaction from the same treatment. But why is that?

Every body is made up of a mixture of chemicals. Every person produces certain chemicals in their body so that they will be able to function at their best. Histamines will increase gastric secretion and dilate the capillaries. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas and helps regulate the blood sugar levels. Hormones are produced by the body for many different functions. Adrenaline (epinephrine) is produced in response to stress. Every body is unique and produces different chemicals in differing amounts. When a person takes aspirin (a chemical) for their migraine headaches it changes the chemical make-up of that person's body.

You've always heard that when two chemicals, in the same amounts, at the same temperature, etc. are mixed together they will cause the same reaction. That may be true, but when one chemical (such as aspirin) is taken by two separate people their reactions will never be exactly the same because no two people have identical chemicals in their body. One person taking aspirin will not have the same reaction as someone else taking aspirin. And it's the same with natural migraine headache treatments. Since no two people are identical no two people will respond exactly the same to a treatment method for migraine headaches.

So just because one migraine headache treatment does not work for one person does not mean it won't work for your migraine headaches. There are many effective alternatives to taking medications when it comes to relieving migraine headaches. You just have to try one for yourself to see if it will work for you.

One natural and popular treatment method for migraine headaches is chiropractic care, or chiropractic manipulations. Studies have shown that over 80% of headache patients find some type of relief for their headaches with chiropractic treatment. And chiropractic treatment has been shown to be extremely safe. Spinal problems cause headaches and when these spinal problems are treated by chiropractors a high percentage of their patients experience relieve from their pain.

Another natural way to relieve migraine headaches is biofeedback. This is a safe and potentially effective way to eliminate pain. Biofeedback is not actually a treatment, but a training program designed to help a person develop the ability to control their autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. Functions that are normally automatic in the body, such as blood pressure regulation or heart rate can be controlled voluntarily. This technique makes it possible for a person to control their own heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature or relaxation of their muscles.

It's no secret that stress causes muscle tension. And nobody will deny that muscle tension causes pain and headaches. And it's also a fact that by relaxing this muscle tension, especially in the neck and head, it is possible to relieve the migraine headaches or neck pain that is being caused by the tension. With biofeedback the machinery is not always necessary. Once the biofeedback technique is learned there is no longer any need for the equipment. The patient with migraine headaches can now produce the desired effect at any time. A person that has been trained with biofeedback can control some of their bodily functions, such as muscle relaxation, which can help relieve their headache pain.

Another cause of headaches can be the intake of too much salt. Some people just can't get enough of it. They pour it onto their food with wreckless abandon. And too much salt can and does cause headaches. What's the solution? Simply lessening the salt intake can sometimes prevent the headaches from occurring.

Food sensitivities have also been shown to cause migraine headaches in some people. Foods such as cheese, alcohol, MSG (monosodium glutamate - a food additive), yeast, wheat, nuts, avocados, beans, bananas, oranges (and other citrus fruits), pork, vinegar (and pickled foods), dairy products, caffeine, chocolate, onions and others can cause migraines. Foods that cause migraine headaches are called "migraine triggers." People who experience migraine headaches because of food allergies can reduce or eliminate their pain by eliminating the foods that cause the headaches.

It sounds simple, but it takes a little detective work to figure out which foods, if any, are causing the migraine headaches. So how can you determine which foods are the culprits? The logical way is to keep a diary of what you eat and when. Get a small notebook, with each page representing one day, and make three columns on each of the pages. The first column on the left side of the page will contain the hours in the day. The second column down the middle of the page will be a list of the foods eaten that day. And the third column on the right side of the page will list the symptoms (headaches) that you experience.

Here's how the food diary works: if you had an orange, cereal and milk for breakfast at 8 AM you would write "orange, cereal, milk" in the middle (food) column directly to the right of 8 AM in the left (time) column. Make a note of everything that you eat on this list and at what time you ate them.

Next, whenever you experience a migraine headache write "migraine headache" or "headache" in the right (symptoms) column that corresponds with the time (in the left column) your headache began. For example, if you started feeling pain from one of your migraine headaches at 2 PM you would write "headache" in the right (symptoms) column directly across from 2 PM in the left (time) column.

Once you've had enough time to experience a few migraine headaches you will be able to examine your food diary to determine which foods you ate shortly before you began experiencing your pain. For example, if you had 3 migraine headaches over a one-month period, and you had milk shortly before each of the migraine attacks, milk may be the culprit. It may take a few weeks or even a few months to come to any conclusions, but over time, by figuring out which foods or ingredients in these foods, are causing your pain, you will be able to eliminate these ingredients and relieve your pain caused by these foods.

Probably the most common cause of headaches is just plain old stress. People who experience tension in their lives can get headaches from their increased tension. Stress can be caused by many things including work-related stress or family-related stress. And although it's not always possible to eliminate the cause of the stress it is often possible to relieve the muscle tension and pain that originates from the stress.

Biofeedback training (as explained above) is one way to help reduce stress. Other ways are taking a warm bath or shower, lying down and relaxing in a quiet dark room, having someone massage your neck and head (temporal region) muscles to help relieve your tension and muscle spasms or placing something cold (ice) on the back of the neck (at the base of the skull). When using ice it should not be placed directly on the skin. Some wet paper towels that have had the water wrung out of them should be placed between the ice and the skin. Regular exercise can also, over time, reduce tension.

We have discussed 5 natural treatment methods that are available to migraine headache patients. They are all considered safe and are effective for many people. There are many other natural treatment methods out there for you to try. If you have headaches it may be beneficial for you to try some of these treatments or search for others on your own. But as a word of advice, it is always a good idea to talk with a chiropractor or medical doctor before treating yourself for a health condition.

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Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet was originally published on: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center

Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: ASPIRIN® - a Trusted Brand
Acetylsalicylic acid, or ASA, the active ingredient in ASPIRIN® was launched on the German market under the trademark ASPIRIN® in 1899.
Today, ASPIRIN® is a registered trademark of Bayer AG in Germany and in more than 80 other countries.
With its history, ASPIRIN® has earned the trust of citizens and medical communities worldwide.
ASPIRIN®'s mechanism of action has been thoroughly documented and described over the years.
Pain Management
ASPIRIN® is indicated for over-the-counter treatment of acute pain. It is recommended for the relief of headache, pain and fever of colds and flu, muscle aches and pains, menstrual pains and toothaches.
ASPIRIN®, as an over-the-counter medication, is indicated for the temporary relief of minor aches and pains of arthritis. ASPIRIN® relieves the burning pain of arthritis inflammation right at the site.
Doctors may recommend ASPIRIN® for other types of pain management. Talk to your doctor to determine if ASPIRIN® is right for you.
Long Term Preventative Therapy
Coated ASPIRIN® Daily Low Dose is doctor recommended for daily therapy.
Coated ASPIRIN® Daily Low Dose contains a special formulation of ASA. Other ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen that are meant to relieve pain do not have the same action as Coated ASPIRIN® Daily Low Dose.
Doctors say it's okay to take more ASPIRIN® for pain relief if using ASPIRIN® for doctor supervised preventative therapy.*1
* As with any medication, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before using.
1 - Data on file.

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Back and Neck Pain

The article Back and Neck Pain is courtesy of: https://wellnessinmotionchiropractic.com

Back and Neck Pain

As people get older, back and neck pain becomes extremely common. The condition affects not only the physical health of these individuals but also their social and economic well-being. Back and neck pain can disrupt work, routine and other daily activities you engage in. In fact, the condition is one of the leading causes of doctor’s visits and one of the most common reasons why people miss work.

However, while back and neck pain can make your life awfully difficult, majority of cases are treatable without resorting to surgery. There are also certain management steps you can take in order to handle the issues that may arise as a result of back and neck pain. These measures will not only help relieve the pain but also help you reduce the likelihood of recurrences of this condition.

Causes

In most instances, back and neck pain is caused by strains or other injuries to the muscles and ligaments surrounding the spinal column. These, in turn, may be caused by sports injuries or a sudden increase in physical activity to which the individual is not accustomed.

Viral infections may also cause flu like symptoms that are often accompanied by muscular pain affecting the neck and the back. The condition is known in medical circles as myalgia.

Another possible cause of your back and neck pain is the degenerative change that your spine undergoes. A person’s spinal column is made up of individual bones (vertebrae) that are joined together by the intervertebral discs, joints and ligaments. All these combined form the strong but flexible structure of your spine.

As a person ages (middle age and beyond), back and neck pain occurs as a result of the wear and tear of your intervetebral discs and other associated components of your spine. The number one cause of these degenerative changes is movement. Motion causes the neck (cervical) and the lower parts (lumbar) of the spine to gradually break down.

Being biological structures, your ligaments and joints will try to heal and repair themselves but as a result, your spine also becomes deformed with several bulging discs, buckling ligaments, and bone spurs. These changes could also affect the canals through which the nerves pass through, pinching them as a result.

Treatment

Although there is no definitive cure, back and neck pain is a highly treatable condition. The most common therapy used to treat back and neck pain is medications with pain-killing or anti-inflammatory properties.

Passive physical therapy used in conjunction with exercise (active physical therapy) is also another option. Hot or cold compresses are applied to the area affected in order to alleviate the pain. Other modalities may also be used, including the application of electric impulses in order to override the muscular spasms that so often characterize back and neck pain.

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Does Back Pain Have You Down? Read This! (2)

Does Back Pain Have You Down? Read This! (2) is republished from: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center, Inc

Does Back Pain Have You Down? Read This!

Back pain can be a difficult condition for anyone to live with. People are left in great pain as they attempt to do normal everyday activities that are necessary for survival. Back pain sufferers can rejoice, though, as there are some methods to ease back pain. The following article features tips on back pain.

The type of shoes you wear can help to alleviate back pain, so try to get some of those comfort cushioned shoe soles to help out. Those types of soles with the gel inside of them are a great pick. If those are a little too pricy for you, just try a pair of shoes that are more comfortable for you to wear.

In some cases, back pain sufferers find that acupuncture is a good treatment for their ailment. The jury is still out on acupuncture, and it might be a little too pricy depending on how available it is in your area, but thousands of back pain sufferers swear by the results of the needles.

What you're sleeping on might be responsible for the back pain you're dealing with, so always thoroughly check your mattress to see if you should make a change. Maybe you can get by with a memory foam mattress pad, or maybe you will have to replace the entire mattress. Either way, it's important to take care of the issue to take care of your back.

If you are experiencing back pain regularly, give pineapple a try. Bromelain is a natural enzyme, found in pineapple, and it has been shown to reduce inflammation. Back pain is often caused by inflammation around the lumbar area. Adding pineapple to your diet is natural, and just might provide you with some pain relief.

Ice or heat your back as needed. Some people only respond to coolness on their back, yet others respond to heat. Try alternating coolness and heat to see which helps your back pain the most. It may be that both work at different times for you, so experiment until you find the right combination that gives your back the most relief.

Accepting that your back pain is a necessary part of life may cause serious damage, so have it looked at right away. Most people consider back pain a normal aspect of daily living, but it could very possibly be some type of injury that will evolve into greater problems if left untreated. So, try to have your back pain evaluated as early as possible.

In order to help prevent back pain from occurring, make sure you use chairs properly. For example, many office chairs have controls for adjusting the height and position of the seat back part of the chair. Utilize these controls to ensure you are getting the most comfortable, back-friendly position possible when using these chairs.

Furthermore, back pain can be difficult to live with. When people who have back pain try to do normal activities, they are often met with excruciating pain. Back pain sufferers can ease their pain with the right methods, such as the ones found in the tips of this article. Use them to ease your back pain.

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Acupressure and Migraines

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Acupressure and Migraines

Acupressure is a completely non-invasive treatment option that has a high success rate among migraineurs (people who suffer from migraine headaches). It has a proven track record as a successful pain abatement technique. Acupressure is also efficacious in reducing both the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are over 800 vital energy points in the human body. These points lie along meridians that run throughout a person’s body. Chi, or life energy, flows along the meridians and through the energy points in healthy people. Chi that is blocked or overabundant near particular energy points causes illness and pain.
Acupressure massage applies pressure to these energy points in order to release chi and stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms. The energy points are massaged with the fingers, thumb, or occasional blunt object with medium pressure in a circular pattern.
The simplest acupressure a migraineur can learn is an all-over head massage. This technique just requires the practitioner to massage the scalp as though they were washing their hair. Sit with the elbows resting on a table to prevent arm strain and the head resting lightly in the hands to perform head and neck acupressure.

Moderate pressure applied to the GB20 points offers the best relief for migraine pain. They are on either side of the neck, approximately one inch to each side of the spinal column just below where the skull and neck muscles connect. GB20 also goes by the more romantic-sounding Chinese name “The Gates of Consciousness”.

Migraineurs seeking to relieve their headache and neck pain should practice deep breathing while using the thumbs of both hands to press firmly on the GB20 points for one to two minutes. If this is painful at first, home practitioners can start out by pressing and releasing the points in five to fifteen second intervals.

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Amazing Headache Home Remedies For You

The following article Amazing Headache Home Remedies For You was first published on: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center Park Ridge Service

Amazing Headache Home Remedies For You

Having a headache might just be one of the most painful things that can happen to a person. When you have a really bad headache or migraine people scoff and say, what? It's just a headache, suck it up! I cannot count how many times I have heard things like that from people. The truth of the matter is that a headache or a migraine can be crippling. They can affect your entire life, your relationships and your career.
The worst part about getting a headache or a migraine is trying to treat it. Most of the medications on the market don't work at all and those that do are like $250 per pill, yeah, PER pill! Who can afford that kind of money, I know I can't, no matter how bad of a migraine I get. That is where headache home remedies come in. These babies can fix you up in no time. Don't laugh, it is totally true. Why do you think that those old wives tales have hung around for so long? Because they work!
Many headaches are due to inflammation and there are some great headache home remedies that will take care of this problem quickly and simply and most importantly for very little if any, money at all. Do you have a Willow tree in your yard? If so then you are in luck because the bark of a willow tree is one of the best headache home remedies that you will find. Simply chew on the bark and you can get rid of headache pain and even fever.
This was being used to treat migraines and headaches before Jesus was born, and it still works today! This is one of the most used headache home remedies around and it has lasted all these hundreds of years because it really will work to cure you of your headache. And the best part about using willow as your remedy or in your headache home remedies is that it is all natural. It is not a toxic chemical like many of the drugs that are on the market today. By chewing some willow bark you will be able to stay healthy, not destroy your stomach and liver and get rid of your headache or migraine all at the same time.
All willow trees will work for these headache home remedies, whether they are white, black, purple or violet. They work because they all have salicin in them and by chewing the bark you are releasing this handy dandy chemical into your bloodstream and it goes straight to work to reduce the inflammation causing your headache or migraine. This is actually what aspirin is, but this is the real deal, whereas aspirin is synthetic. S in reality when you are using willow bark in your headache home remedies you are using natural occurring aspirin, only this stuff works even better!
If you suffer from a headache often but it is not the serious or scary kind like a migraine then you may not need to take anything like willow bark for your headache home remedies. You may be able to get off with something a little more palatable like tea. Chamomile tea has been known to do wonders for people in many different situations and for many different reasons.
Chamomile is a great way to relax and many a headache is caused by stress alone. By taking some time out to relax and unwind you may be able to eliminate your headaches completely. Chamomile tea is a great way to do that. And the caffeine in many teas can also help you with your headache or migraine trouble. Did you know that many headache medicines actually have caffeine in them? They do, read the boxes the next time that you go to the supermarket.

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Musicians Injuries

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Musicians Injuries

Ouch! Does it seem like every note you play on your guitar or musical instrument results in pain? Maybe it’s a nagging ache in your neck and shoulder. Perhaps you’ve had long rehearsals for that important gig or recital, and now you notice severe pain and loss of strength in your elbow and wrist. Or maybe you are trying to cope with hands that are increasingly numb and clumsy. Well it’s all part of being a serious musician, right? You’ve got to keep practicing – too much depends on it! Sound familiar?
Guitarists and instrumental musicians are a special risk group for repetitive strain injuries, with sizable percentages of them developing physical problems directly related to playing their instruments. In fact, “RSI” or repetitive strain injury in musicians was around centuries before the term was recently coined for computer injuries. Incorrect posture, overuse, stress, insufficient rest, excessive force and incorrect ergonomic technique all contribute to chronic pain and injuries that spell the end to careers. For many musicians, repetitive movement injuries are more feared than stage fright or an unresponsive audience. If they are also heavy computer users (my category of experience!), their risks are further compounded.
Doctors and therapists have long known that musicians are notoriously hard to convince that playing should be reduced or stopped to allow time for injuries to heal. Many guitarists and musicians are afraid to find out they might have a severe injury, and much prefer the head-in-sand approach of ignoring the pain and pushing on. This is a disastrous policy for a musician – if it hurts, it should be checked out!
As a systems accountant consulting to small business, I spend most hours of my working day in front of a computer. Not surprisingly, this has resulted in several serious repetitive motion injuries over the years. In similar fashion to the approach of many guitarists and musicians, I spent a long time trying to “ignore the pain and push on”. It is only in recent years that I have discovered the optimum program for managing the injuries and avoiding future repeats, with regular chiropractic care well and truly established at number one on my list of priorities.
WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?
Meaning “done by hand”, chiropractic is a method of restoring good health through adjustments of the spine. The basic chiropractic premise is that the spine and nervous system control the body completely. Any interference to nerve function by spine misalignments can therefore result in poor organ function, resulting in any number of seemingly unrelated diseases and ailments. Chiropractors generally subscribe to the theory that technically, they don’t ‘cure’ anybody, but simply help the body to heal itself.
In the past, chiropractors traditionally had trouble gaining the respect of medical doctors. Although basic philosophical differences between medicine and chiropractic still exist, chiropractic care is now considered mainstream and is routinely recommended by members of the medical profession.
WHAT TREATMENT DO CHIROPRACTORS GIVE?
Ever wondered what happens at the chiropractor? Perhaps you’ve heard they’re just “bonecrackers, not doctors!”. Not so.
In the US and many other countries, the educational program for chiropractors includes training in the basic medical sciences, including anatomy with human dissection, physiology, and biochemistry. Thorough training is also obtained in differential diagnosis, radiology and therapeutic techniques. This means, a doctor of chiropractic can both diagnose and treat patients. (This separates them from non-physician status providers, like physical therapists.)
As with all healthcare practitioners, chiropractors follow a standard routine to secure the information needed for diagnosis and treatment. When the source of pain involves musculoskeletal structures, chiropractors manually manipulate or adjust the spinal column. This typically requires the chiropractor to bend and twist the patient into various positions, which may cause some patients (myself included!) to tense up. Other more gentle methods, such as the activator method, deliver a high-speed, gentle, thrust to the vertebrae via a small rubber tip.
Atlas orthogonal chiropractors focus on the atlas bone (the first bone that the spinal cord passes through). Using x-rays and precision measuring equipment, the atlas bone is gently realigned without using manipulation techniques. I can personally vouch for this chiropractic specialty, which worked like magic on the most recent and severe of my repetitive neck injuries.
Many chiropractors also use water, light, massage, ultrasound, electric, and heat therapy and may apply supports such as straps, taping and braces. They may also counsel patients about wellness concepts such as nutrition, exercise, lifestyle changes, and stress management, but do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery. Some chiropractors also specialise in orthopedics, sports and musician injuries, neurology, nutrition, internal disorders, and/or diagnostic imaging.
HOW CAN MUSICIANS BENEFIT FROM CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
The benefits of chiropractic care for guitarists and musicians are widespread and numerous. Chiropractors can help with relief of specific pain being experienced at the moment, or as part of an overall wellness program, which also includes exercise, proper nutrition and rest. Many musicians understand that the position they assume while playing stresses their body, and are seeking to offset this stress and prevent further problems from developing.
Chiropractors evaluate and analyse the spine with an understanding of physics and how gravity and distorted postures can stress areas of the spine, ribs, neck, shoulders and hips. Specific adjustments are used to offset these distortions.
Chiropractors who specialise in helping musicians repetitive injury problems usually examine the musician patient and the instrument together. By thoroughly analysing their patient's posture, movement patterns and range of motion with the instrument, the chiropractor can detect areas of dysfunction in and around the spine. They also make recommendations as to what guitarists can do, both while playing and before and after playing, to keep the stress from returning. They teach their musician clients exercises to offset the repetitive stress placed on certain joints while playing a particular instrument.
Chiropractic care is reportedly simple, yet it is profound in its ability to help the body regain and maintain its health. Bob Birch, Elton John’s bass player and background vocalist said his chiropractor showed him pictures and told him “muscle stuff” that no other doctors ever did. Certain things that he had wrong with him, like the extensive pain in the left shoulder blade that shot up the side of his head (which other doctors pooh-poohed) were explained and put right with chiropractic adjustments.
Make no mistake about it, regular chiropractic care for guitarists and musicians is the way to go. If you play an instrument and want to avoid repetitive strain injuries for good, go find a musician-friendly chiropractor now!. Scores of famous musicians agree with me!

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A Workout For People Who Don’t Want To Work Out

The following article A Workout For People Who Don’t Want To Work Out was originally published to: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center

A Workout For People Who Don't Want To Work Out

There's good news for people who want to watch their weight without giving up watching TV. Now there's a new workout for couch potatoes and people who think they're too busy to find time to stay fit.

With time at a premium, many Americans are turning to creative forms of exercise. In a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the North American Spine Society, three out of four people said they used the stairs rather than the elevator at work, 58 percent said they started parking their cars far away in parking lots and almost half reported walking while on the phone.

At the same time, however, 46 percent of people described themselves as couch potatoes--a major contributing factor to being overweight. Many adults say they have procrastinated working out in order to do other activities, such as watching television, sleeping in, doing household chores or working.

Approximately three in four adults say they would exercise more if they could fit it into their daily routines, however, and a majority of adults say they would exercise more often if they could do it at home. Among noncouch potatoes, 80 percent would like to get more exercise, but say they don't have the time.

Meanwhile, more than 4 million Americans suffer disc problems. One out of four Americans over 30 will have recurring back pain, and one in 14 will seek medical care for back or neck pain this year, totalling almost 14 million visits per year. Back pain is the second most common reason that people visit a physician. Back and neck pain result in more lost workdays than any other condition. Due to absenteeism, medical and other related expenses, the cost of back injuries exceeds $80 billion each year in the United States. Exercise is one way to avoid back problems.

That's why it's important to find time to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. In addition to things such as climbing stairs and parking farther away, there are a number of fun ways to make your daily tasks opportunities to exercise:

• Feet Alphabet. This exercise can be done anywhere you are sitting, except while driving. It should not be hard to find a place. Simply write the alphabet in the air with each of your feet and ankles. You can do the letters in capitals or small letters and, for that matter, in any language you would like. Doing this two or three times on each ankle will begin to strengthen the ankle and maintain or improve motion.

• Doing the Dishes Neck Circles. This exercise is easily done while doing the always fun task of washing the dishes. As you are standing there at the sink, slowly rotate your neck in a clockwise position, trying to extend the tip of your head out as far as possible. After three or four rotations, repeat the exercise in a counter-clockwise position. Remember, these rotations should be done slowly and in a pain-free range of motion. Besides increasing the flexibility of the neck, these exercises can pass the time of doing dishes.

• Overhead Laundry Toss. Put the laundry basket directly in front of you and have the washer or dryer directly behind you. Grab a piece or two of dirty clothes, reach over your head slowly and drop the laundry into the washer. Again, start with dry clothes, then progress to wet clothes from the washer into the dryer.

• Remote Wrist Lifts. This can be done on any Sunday afternoon watching multiple football games. Simply take the remote control (use the biggest one you have from the pile of remotes) and, while sitting watching your favorite team or movie and with your arm pointing toward the TV, aim the remote at the ceiling, moving your wrist only. Hold it there for 10 seconds, then aim it at the floor, again only moving the wrist. Repeat this three to four times during every commercial. Be careful not to accidentally change the channel when doing this exercise or it may irritate people who are watching TV with you.

These are just some ideas from "The Couch Potato Workout: 101 Exercises You Can Do At Home!" by Joel M. Press, M.D., president of the North American Spine Society and medical director of the Spine and Sports Institute at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. "The Couch Potato Workout" describes numerous practical and functional exercises people can do to build strength, balance and flexibility as part of their normal daily routine.

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Top Five Treatments As Back Pain Relief

Top Five Treatments As Back Pain Relief is courtesy of: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center, Inc

Top Five Treatments As Back Pain Relief

The back is indeed one of the most functional part of a person’s body. Everyone basically needs to rely on their backs as the central workforce of the human body, for it is very important in almost all bodily movements and functions. Functional as it is, the back, however, is also very susceptible to pains and injuries.

Back pain can be very distressing and disabling for most people. Eight out of 10 adults suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is among the top reasons for health consultations of adults to doctors and experts.

Although back pain is a very common illness that one can easily acquire or develop, it is actually a very treatable health condition. There are a lot of simple back pain remedies that a person can perform in the comfort of his home. Also, proper health maintenance is also essential to avoid having back pains.

Most cases of back pain generally improves when treated with simple, alternative cures. However, if the condition does not show any improvement, then it needs to be consulted immediately to a doctor.

The following are some back pain conditions that require one to immediately consult a doctor:

1. If the pain is intense and constant.
2. If the pain causes numbness and weakness in the legs.
3. If the pain goes with sudden weight loss.
4. If the pain causes bladder or bowel complications.
5. If the pain is accompanied with fever or abdominal pain.

For non-serious cases of back pains, the following are five simple treatments that are known to provide back pain relief:

1. The power of heat and cold

It is said that heat and cold are among the best mediums to treat back pain. A hot bath and a cold compress are sure to give soothing relief to aching back and inflamed muscles. Most people prefer to use a cold treatment first to calm the spasms in the back muscles. When the spasms subside, a heated pad is applied on the aching back to loosen the tighten muscles.

2. The magic of pain relievers

Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and aspirin are among the commonly recommended back pain relief medications by most doctors today. These anti-inflammatory drugs control stiffness, pain, and swelling.

3. Acupuncture as a stimulating treatment

As acupuncture becomes a popular alternative cure for a number of health conditions today, it is also a perfect complementary remedy to simple back pain conditions. This type of back pain relief treatment can stimulate the body’s central nervous system to discharge natural pain-relieving endorphins.

4. Simple stretching routines

Perhaps the simplest form of back pain relief is stretching. Back pain is relieved in this simple routine as one stretches his back gently, thus, making the muscles relax. Stretching prevents the muscles become tense.

5. Move, move, move

If a person is suddenly attacked by serious back pains, he tends to crawl back to bed, thinking that it is the best way to relax the aching muscles in his back. This doesn’t, however, help in any way to remedy the pain. Instead, it is better to avoid doing the things or activities that trigger back pains, and just continue doing other tasks that are not painful.

Top Five Treatments As Back Pain Relief was originally published to: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center

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Relieve Migraine Headaches the Natural Way!

The following post Relieve Migraine Headaches the Natural Way! was first published to: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center Blog

Relieve Migraine Headaches the Natural Way!

Natural treatment methods for migraine headaches are usually harmless and cheaper than traditional pain medications. Sure, it is possible to have negative reactions to natural treatments, but the chances are much less than with medications.

Different things work for different people. No two people are alike and a headache treatment method that works for one person may not work for another. But on the contrary, just because one method does not work for someone else does not mean it will not relieve your migraine headaches. There are many alternatives to taking medications when it comes to migraine headache relief. One may be just what you need.

Chiropractic adjustments are surely the most popular form of natural headache relief. Patients with migraine headaches have been visiting chiropractors for decades, and with very good success. As many as 80% or more of headache patients find relief with chiropractic care. Spinal problems do cause headaches and chiropractors do an outstanding job of correcting spinal problems.

Biofeedback is a training program designed to help a person develop the ability to control their autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. After learning the technique it is then possible for a person to control their heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature, and of course, the relaxation of their muscles.

Muscle tension can cause headaches and by relaxing muscles, especially in the neck, it is possible to relieve migraine headaches. Once the technique is learned there is no longer any need for the biofeedback equipment. The patient with migraine headaches can now produce the desired effect any time they wish.

Sometimes too much salt can cause headaches. And by simply lessening the salt intake headaches can sometimes be prevented.

Some migraine headaches are caused by food sensitivities. Certain foods can cause migraines and eliminating these foods can prevent migraine pain. Some common foods that can trigger migraine headaches are cheese, alcohol, monosodium glutamate (a food additive), nuts, beans, caffeine, chocolate, onions and others.

A very common cause of many tension headaches and migraine headaches is just plain old stress. People that get tense experience headaches from the increased tension.

Relieving tension can often relieve migraine headaches. Tension can be relieved in many ways such as by taking a warm bath or shower, lying down in a quiet dark room to rest, putting something cold on the back of the neck (at the base of the skull) or having someone massage your neck muscles and possibly your temporal region to help relieve your tension and muscle spasms.

There are many other natural treatments available to migraine headache patients including the Soothe-A-Ciser Migraine Headaches Cushion. This pillow was designed by a chiropractor to help correct neck problems that can cause headaches.

All of the above treatment methods for migraine headaches are considered safe. However, it is always a good idea to talk with your doctor before attempting to treat yourself for a health problem.

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Migraine Criteria

Migraine Criteria was first published on: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center Park Ridge Service

Migraine Criteria

The Classification Subcommittee of the International Headache Society (IHS) publishes and revises the “International Classification of Headache Disorders”, now in its second edition. This book offers specific diagnostic criteria for diagnosing migraines and is currently used worldwide.

According to IHS, a common migraine headache, also known as a migraine without aura, is defined by the specific criteria found below.

Frequency

The patient must have at least five of these headaches.

Duration

The headache, excluding attendant symptoms or prodromes, must last a minimum of four hours, up to seventy-two hours. Headaches that last over seventy-two hours generally require immediate medical attention in order to rule out other, more dangerous conditions.

Pain Descriptors

In order to be classed as a migraine a headache must include at least two of four different qualities of pain:

1) The pain is one-sided; the headache is primarily on one side of the head.
2) The pain is not constant; it throbs, pounds, or pulsates.
3) The pain must be of moderate or severe intensity, to the point where the sufferer is inhibited in daily activity, potentially to the point of being temporarily disabled.
4) The pain is increased, sometimes only slightly, by routine physical activity like bending over, climbing stairs, or moving quickly.

Side Effects

Headache pain must be accompanied at least one of four common side effects:

1) Nausea
2) Vomiting
3) Photophobia – sensitivity to light
4) Phonophobia – sensitivity to sound

Secondary Exclusions

Appropriate medical testing, such as a MRI or CAT scan, and/or a physician’s exam must be conducted to rule out other conditions that may have caused the headache.

These criteria have helped simplify the diagnosis of migraine for many. However, because migraines are historically associated with extremely high levels of pain, people suffering from moderate migraine may not realize that is what they are experiencing.

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Making the adjustment: How chiropractic care helps your newborn

The post Making the adjustment: How chiropractic care helps your newborn is courtesy of: https://www.wellnessinmotionchiropractic.com

Making the adjustment: How chiropractic care helps your newborn

Birth is a physically stressful experience for your baby, especially if the delivery is natural or assisted. The force of being pushed through the birth canal can leave his tiny body out of alignment, not all that unlike the misalignment that causes millions of Americans to seek chiropractic care each year.

What does this misalignment mean for your baby? Research suggests it may be responsible for common conditions like irritability, colic, and feeding problems in infants. Chiropractic provides a natural approach to alleviating these conditions and keeping your child healthy.

Why does your baby need a chiropra

Doctor? Chiropractors diagnose and treat subluxation. A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that occurs when one or more of the vertebrae move out of position and put pressure on spinal nerves. This pressure interferes with the ability of your nervous system to effectively transmit nerve impulses to various parts of the body. When the nerves can’t transmit messages well, your body cannot function optimally. As a result, you develop symptoms that depend on which nerve is being irritated or compressed. A chiropractor is a doctor specially trained to locate these misalignments and correct them through gentle manipulation.

When your baby is born, his body must rotate and flex as baby finds his way through the birth canal. This traumatic process, though completely natural, can result in misalignment – especially of the cervical vertebrae. For your baby this could mean feeding problems, fussiness, colic, or sleep disturbances, in the short term; and in the long term, if undetected and left untreated, the consequences could be lifelong, hidden damage to a child’s nervous system.

The only way to tell if your baby’s symptoms are related to subluxation is to visit a chiropractor. A Doctor of Chiropractic can examine your child to determine if a spinal misalignment is affecting your baby’s wellbeing. If so, he can perform gentle adjustments, as light as the touch of a finger, to correct your newborn’s subluxations and relieve his discomfort. The result is a healthier, happier baby.

To determine if chiropractic could help your baby, you can contact the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association to find a doctor. Members of ICPA are Doctors of Chiropractic who go on for specialized training in specific techniques for pregnant mothers, infants, and children. The association offers a Chiropractor locator on its website www.icpa4kids.com.

You want the best for your newborn and that includes optimum health. Chiropractic care provides a natural alternative for treating common newborn problems. And a gentle adjustment just may make a dramatic difference.

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How Physical Therapy Can Prevent Injuries

How Physical Therapy Can Prevent Injuries was originally published to: https://wellnessinmotionchiropractic.com

Customized physical therapy may be a useful way to ease low back pain, which affects an estimated 31 million Americans a new study says. Researchers from La Trobe University observed that ‘many patients with low-back disorders persisting beyond 6 weeks do not recover.

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Basilar Migraines

Basilar Migraines is republished from: http://wellnessinmotionchiropractic.com/

Basilar Migraines

Migraines can be more than just a pain in the head. Basilar migraines, once known as basilar artery migraines or BAMs, are an extraordinarily rare but potentially life-threatening variant of the classic migraine with aura.

Basilar migraine symptoms are caused by constriction of the basilar artery, which supplies blood to the brain stem. BAMs were originally thought to affect only young women and adolescent girls, but research shows that while they are primarily a problem for these groups they can occur in people of all ages and genders.

During the aura phase, basilar migraine symptoms may include loss of balance, double vision or partial vision loss, lack of coordination, numbness on one or both sides of the body, weakness, dizziness or confusion and severe vomiting. The symptoms typically last an hour or less and disappear when the headache begins, but may last as long as days after the headache pain has disappeared. Some basilar migraine sufferers pass out or lose consciousness during the aura phase as well. In extremely rare cases, they may even slip into a coma that can last hours or days.

The danger of basilar migraines is that they can lead to a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke. A transient ischemic attack is essentially a miniature stroke resulting from a temporary interruption of the flow of blood to the brain. Unlike strokes, TIAs have not been shown to cause permanent damage to the brain and most neurological problems that arise from them, like slurred speech or weakness on one side, clear up within twenty-four hours of the attack.

The basilar artery is located at the back of head. The headache associated with basilar migraines is usually a severe throbbing ache on both sides of the back of the head, as opposed to the unilateral temple throbbing more commonly associated with migraines.

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A Very Effective Way Of Avoiding And Relieving Neck Pain

The following article A Very Effective Way Of Avoiding And Relieving Neck Pain was first published on: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center Park Ridge Service

Are you one of the millions Americans who suffer from neck pain? If not, it’s very probable that you know someone who does. Indeed, neck pain is a very widespread problem because the head and neck area is very susceptible to several stresses. Besides, neck pain can be produced by muscle strains, osteoarthritis, herniated intervertebral discs. In fact, something as trivial as a bad position can produce an unhealthy alignment of the neck and spine; consequently, neck pain will take place. Thus, what measures can you take to avoid or relieve neck pain?

One of the most common causes of neck pain is a bad posture while sleeping. Well, most people have incorrect posture habits not only when they sleep but also during the day without noticing. Even when you perform a task that you may judge harmless (like reading in bed without a posture pillow) can eventually produce to neck pain or even more serious issues.

A basic suggestion is to avoid sitting in the same position for a prolonged periods of time. Unfortunately, most of us have to because of myriad reasons. We have to not curve or bend the neck forward during long periods, as the neck and back should have enough support to achieve a better posture.

As you can see, the sleep positions you take while you rest in the night are more important than you believe because they are the most frequent cause of neck troubles. Why this happens? Because most of us use regular pillows, which make you sleep with your neck at a too high or too low angle and does not maintain your spine straight; consequently, it cause neck pain, back pain, discomfort and exhaustion. This drooping sleep surface typically provokes an unhealthy spine alignment, thus the muscles of the back will attempt to balance by tensing up trying to restore a more natural posture of the spine. However, this muscle tension produces the morning stress and the neck and the back pains.

Therefore, the best way to avoid and relieve neck pain is to maintain a correct posture. That is reason why the Better Sleep Pillow is so beneficial, because this neck pillow easily adjusts to the form of your neck and brings you correct spine alignment. This pillow is made with memory foam technology, which effectively redistributes the weight of your head, neck and body, encouraging better circulation and eliminating neck and spinal pressure.
Besides, it is not a problem if you prefer side sleeping or back sleeping because this memory foam pillow let you sleep comfortably in any position you may sleep and helps you wake up energized the next morning.

An orthopedic neck support pillow is necessary to have a relaxing night’s sleep without neck pain and other problems. With its hypoallergenic urethane memory foam that provides full support to the neck and head’s contours, the Better Sleep Pillow brings the most restorative sleeping experience alleviating strain on the neck and back.
You don’t need to keep suffering neck pain. Just try the Better Sleep Pillow to start sleeping well and pain-free.

The article A Very Effective Way Of Avoiding And Relieving Neck Pain is republished from: Wellness In Motion Chiropractic Center, Inc

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