OFFICE HOUR CHANGE

Office Hour Change for April
The office will be closed April 27 (Wednesday) and 28 (Thursday) and Saturday the 30th. 
Dr. Riggs will be out of town.  Normal hours should be in effect Friday the 29th.

If you have an emergency during my absence please call 911 or go to the emergency room

April Blog

OFFICE HOUR REMINDER:  I will be closed April 14th, Thursday all day (normally only morning hours).

NECK PAIN: 

Acute neck pain can be caused by many things.  Strains/sprains to the neck from whiplash, sports, or certain sudden movements can result in muscular or ligament pain.  Injuries to the muscles take about 4-6 weeks to heal and ligament and tendon injuries take somewhat longer.  Mechanical joint pain can also result from sleeping postures, physical activities, repetitive movement injuries, and simply moving wrong.  When the joint locks and prevents normal joint motion pain often results.  Osteoarthritis/degenerative disc disease can also lead to neck pain.  Calcium build up called spurs can sometimes press on sensitive nerve structures resulting in radiating pain and lack of normal movement.  Disc injuries (swelling or herniation) can lead to severe neck pain due to disc material pressing on nerves.  Vascular problems (heart disease, artery disease) can also cause neck pain as can viral infections, certain cancers, and some diseases.


Chronic neck pain frequently results from years of abuse and the development of degenerative changes in the spine such as decreased disc spaces, calcium spurs, narrowed nerve openings, structural changes, and abnormal muscle and ligament tension.  Chronic musculoskeletal problems are generally progressive-i.e., they get worse with time and age.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome:  This is another condition often accompanying neck pain and arm pain or numbness and tingling.  Generally, it is caused by mechanical pressure on the bundle of nerves and vessels coming out of the neck.  The increased pressure can be caused tight muscles in the neck or chest, an extra rib in the neck, postural problems, blocked arteries, and other causes.

Treatment options abound.  Conservative treatment may involve chiropractic manipulation, mobilization, stretching, exercises, structural changes, nutritional support and various physical medicine modalities to relax muscles and speed up healing.  LASER therapy also works well with neck pain.  Non-responsive cases may require steroid injections or surgical intervention.  Doctors of Chiropractic are trained to provide conservative treatment for acute and chronic neck pain.  By focusing on the normal structure and function of the neck we have various methods available to us.  My clinic focuses on manipulation (low force and traditional), traction, physical medicine modalities (ultrasound, electrical stim, exercises) and the use of low level LASER therapy to help return patients to normal in as short a time as possible.  Chronic cases and patients with radiating pain may take longer than normal due to tissue and structure changes and the nature of the condition.  Referals are provided in non-responsive cases.  Medical treatment may include:  medication, injections, or surgery.  X-rays may or may not be necessary depending on clinical findings and the patient's response to treatment.

NUTRITION NEWS:

• There is evidence that fish oil, vitamin D, carnosine, multi-vitamins and a healthy life style can slow the rate of telomere shortening which is responsible for aging.  Recent research has made strides in discovering how to prevent telomere shorting and thereby extend life span.
• Magnesium supplements may reduce diabetes risk.
• Green tea may help prevent Alzheimer's disease.
• Eating lots of fruits and vegetables can give you a healthy glow.
• Increased zinc intake was found to be associated with lower risk of prostate cancer death.
• Vitamin E was associated with longer life span in a Finnish group over 71.
• High dietary fat, cholesterol linked to increased breast cancer risk.
• Belly fat puts women at risk for osteoporosis.

Change in Office Schedule

My Schedule has changed for the end of the month.  I WILL be in the Office on March 31, April 1 and Saturday April 2.  I will be closed Thursday April 14 for an eye doctor appointment in Lubbock.

Losing Weight Eating Healthy

OFFICE SCHEDULE FOR MARCH: 
Saturday 3/12/11:  the office will open at 11 AM instead of 10 AM.  Dr. Riggs has to do a relicensing teleseminar from 8-11
Thursday 3/31/11 and Friday 4/1/11 and Saturday 4/2/11:  The office will be closed.  Dr. Riggs will be out those three days.  If an emergency go to the emergency room:

HEALTHY EATING

Eating healthy is a challenge in modern society with all the fast food restaurants, our busy lifestyle and our time constraints.  However, the highly processed food market appears to contribute heavily to our national obesity epidemic.  A recent article by Dr. Alex Vasquez (DC, ND, DO) has suggested a supplemented form of the paleolithic/mediterranean diet.  The paleolithic diet is the diet eaten by our ancestors when they were hunter/gatherers.  The mediterranean diet is considered to be very heart healthy.

What does the diet recommend?  Here are the components.  As a side note, I have been following the diet and have lost 23 pounds since January.

Paleo-Mediterranean Diet:

• Emphasis on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and berries and lean proteins such as chicken, fish, lean meats, soy, and eggs.  This is a high anti-oxidant, high fiber and anti-cancer oriented diet.
• Soy and whey protein isolates (anti-cancer, heart protective, mood enhancing).
• Avoids:  potatoes, starchy vegetables, wheat, grains including rice (due to high glycemic index and load).  Avoid wheat, barley, rye (high glycemic index and gluten sensitivity)
• Forbids:  colas.sodas, processed foods and manufactured foods.

Supplementation:

• Supplemented with multi-vitamin and minerals with limitation of 10000 IU of vitamin A in childbearing age women.  Helps reduce inflamation and is health promoting.
• Vitamin D3:  4000 IU although some respond better to 10000 IU.
• Fatty Acid Supplementation: 
• ALA (omega 3 flaxseed), EPA (omega 3 -fish oil), DHA (omega 3 fish oil, algae), GLA (omega 6-borage oil), EPO (black currant seed oils),  Oleic acid (flax and borage seed oil).
• Olive oil for salads and cooking (omega 9- oleic acid + other anti-inflammatory/anti-cancer phytonutrients).
• Improves diabetic neuropathy, respiratory distress, Chron's, lupus, RA, cardiovascular disease, eczema, migrains, depression, osteoporosis, musculoskeletal pain, MS.

PROBIOTICS for gut flora modifications:

• Good bacteria and yeast (probiotics), prebiotics (fiber, arabinogalactin, inulin), and fermented foods (kefir and yogurt if not allergic to milk).
• Advantages-restores the gut microbial balance.

Iodine and Iodide:

• 12mg/d is consistent with intake in countries like Japan
• Antioxidant, antimicrobial, mucolytic, immunosupportive, anti-estrogen and anti-cancer.

Balance- March Blog

Balance

   We all seek to achieve balance in our lives.  Excess tends to invite problems in many ways.  Excessive waste invites pollution, degradation of our environment and leads to things like a break down of the ecosystem.  Excessive intake of bad food can lead to a multitude of health problems:  diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and many degenerative diseases.  Excessive cell production is of course cancer. 
   Achieving balance can be difficult.  We are inundated with opportunities to engage in excess:  fast food restaurants galore, fast cars, drugs and alcohol, and media overload.  Balance on the other hand requires discipline.  The ability to temper impulses and desires with what is healthy and safe, right and wrong, dark and light, etc.  This is much the ying yang concept of the orient.  In the health area, balance can be a very difficult challenge.  We are busy as a society:  rushing, rushing constantly.  It is far too easy to grab a fast food burger or a donut than to fix a healthy breakfast or prepare some fruit.
   Some thoughts on balance:

1. Take the time to find quiet.  Find or set up a special place in your house where you can just sit and have quiet with no interruptions, no phones or internet, no noise, and minimal light.
2. Breathe.  Learn to breath properly and practice breathing.  There are many types of breathing exercises available from yoga, chi qong, tai chi and martial arts that have rejuvenating abilities.
3. Clear the mind.  Practice prayer or meditation or whatever your method of getting in touch with the ethereal or energy of your spirit.  This is a good place to practice breath as well.  Learn to get all the noise that courses through our minds to be quiet.  One person said a long time ago that "all of mankind's ills come from the inability to sit quietly in a room and be alone."  Or something to that effect.
4. Practice relaxation.  Relax the mind, relax the body, relax the breath.  Let all the tension progressively release from your body.  You can lie or sit and start with an area of the body and relax it totally.  Then move to another area and work through the whole body.
5. Learn to make balanced decisions.  Help your body function best by choosing positive alternatives to fat, sugar laden fast food meals.

   Balance can also be addressed other ways in the body.  Often times musculoskeletal injuries are a result of imbalances in the function of muscles.  Over time muscle imbalances cause joints to break down and cause pain and dysfunction.   An example is low back pain caused by weak hip flexor muscles.  I find almost all the time in women with low back pain, for example, that either the major hip flexors or secondary hip flexors on one or both sides are weak.  The result is the body has to recruit other muscles to walk and perform normal activities.  Like a misaligned wheel on your car, over time your start having problems (breakdown) due to repetitive stress. 
   Muscular imbalances can be treated with the laser to restore the energy connections, unless there is severe nerve injury.  By fixing the connections further or future injuries can be prevented.  It allows balanced stressors and minimizes wear and tear.  Maintaining balanced muscle function is essential to an effectively functioning musculoskeletal and nervous systems.

February Blog

OFFICE HOURS NOTICE:

• I will be closed the normal office hours on SATURDAY, February 26th, 2011.  I will be in the area so if you need to be seen in the evening, contact my cell number at (770-3155).  I will be tied up from 9 AM to 5 PM at a seminar and I haven't figured out my voice mail yet so just call me after 5 PM.

HEALTH CARE NEWS

• A study reported in the American Pain Foundation, Pain Monitor notes that flat feet may contribute to knee pain and ostearthritis in the knee in older adults.
• Calcium and Vitamin C supplements may help protect against diabetes.
• Increased consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids may help ward off macular degenration.
• Pomegranate may help stop metastasis of prostate cancer.
• Folic acid reduces hot flashes.
• Branch Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) luecone, isolucine and valine intake show an inverse relationship to being overweight or obese.
• The polyphenols in blue berries may have the ability to combat high blood sugar, obesity, bad blood lipid profiles, hyper tension, insulin resistance and diabetes, in addition to its anti-cancer fighting agents.
• Ginger's compounds have been linked to providing relief for dozens of issues:  cough, bronchitis and upper respiratory infections; migraines, motion and morning sickness, rheumatoid arthritis, pain from surgery, gas, loss of appetite, diarrhea, upset stomach and somache ache, colic, and nausea from chemotherapy.  It also helps with inflammation.  Fresh is better than dried.

January Blog and Health News

Note:  I will be closed Saturday 1/22/11.  I will be teaching an Aikido seminar in San Antonio.

Thought for the day:  “A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.” —William James.

Nutrition Blurbs

• Mitochondrial Dysfunction:  mitochondria are the power houses of cells.  Dysfunction has been linked to diabetes, cancers, heart problems, aging and brain function.  A natural compound may promote new mitochondria formation in cells.  PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone).
• Magnesium may protect women against sudden cardiac death.
• Higher vitamin D levels is associated with lower risk for bladder cancer.  Patients will leukemia and vitamin D insufficiency may face earlier mortality risks.
• Olive Oil helps protect the liver from oxidative stress and aids in cardiac fat oxidation.
• Curcumin (household spice) may help prevent and treat fatty liver disease damage.
• Cinnamon Extracts may help reduce diabetes and heart disease risk factors.
• Fish Oils may help diabetes and one component DHA may help promote recovery from stroke.
• Ceramides (a fat-soluble constituent of normal cells) in addition to aiding skin aging may also help lower total cholesterol, increase HDLs, enhance insulin sensitivity and help prevent colon cancer.
• Anthocyanins (pigmentary compounds in fruits) may help with free radical damage, cancer, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and also enhance night vision.
• Glucose-control can be assisted with chromium, Indian gooseberry (amla), shlajit (rich in fulvic acid), brown seaweed and cinnamon.
• Carnosine in studies at high doses has been shown to boost longevity, helping cardiovascular health, combatting elevated glucose, safeguarding the brain, and containing anti-cancer properties.  Branched chained amino acids were also liked to increasing lifespan in mice.
• Multi-vitamin use lowers heart attack risk in women.
• Reduced testosterone levels is linked to increase mortality in men.

Herniated Discs

What is a Herniated Disc?  The disc can be viewed a lot like a jelly donut.  It is somewhat circular with an outer area and a center or core (nucleus).  When the core bulges into the outer layer it is a bulging disc and can press on sensitive nerve structures.  When it breaks into the outer layer (like the dough but with the consistency of crab meat) it is a herniation.  Sometimes it breaks totally out of the disc and becomes a free fragment which can be a serious condition causing loss of bowel or bladder function or numbness in the groin (cauda equina syndrome)-usually a surgical emergency.

What Causes a Herniated Disc?  The causes are many.  Basically, weakness in the outer layer of the discs or the inability of the disc to handle the pressure load of the nucleus causes the fibers to rupture allowing the nuclear material to escape its containment.  Lifting improperly, traumatic injuries, coughing, sneezing, and straining activities have all resulted in disc herniations.

What are the Symptoms of a Herniated Disc?

• Pain:  pain can be severe in the back and leg(s).  If the pain is immediately more severe in the leg, we are concerned about a free fragment (sequestered disc).  Pain is usually worse with sitting.
• Radiating sciatic pain (radiculopathy).
• Muscle weakness
• Numbness and Tingling

How are disc injuries diagnosed?  An orthopedic and neurological and x-ray examination normally needs to be performed to determine other possible sources (piriformis syndrome, osteoarthritic spurring, etc.).  A MRI may be necessary to establish the location and severity of the herniation.

What are my Treatment Options?

• In less severe cases, conservative management works effectively including:  spinal manipulation (chiropractic), physical medicine modalities for pain control (interferential current, ice, laser), acupuncture, rehabilitation exercises, medications.
• More severe cases may require epidural steroid injections, surgical excision of the herniation, disc replacement or fusion.
• Cauda equina symptoms generally require emergency surgery.

Many other conditions may mimic a disc herniation and are effectively treated non-surgically.