Alternative and Complementary Medicine

What is the Difference between Alternative and Complementary Medicine?

The term’s "complementary medicine" and "alternative medicine" often are used interchangeably, but the two are different. Complementary therapies are used together with traditional western medicine. For example, you may take prescribed medication to manage your day-to-day pain and use guided imagery to help manage a breakthrough pain episode. Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. For example, using a special diet to treat your arthritis instead of using medications recommended by your GP is using alternative medicine.

Complementary techniques to manage pain include diet, exercise, biofeedback, massage, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and self-regulation techniques such as self-hypnosis, relaxation training, yoga, reiki (a natural healing process using the hands to tap a universal life energy) and Jin Shin Jyutsu (a process to balance the body’s energies to bring optimal health and well-being).

Practitioners of complementary medicine, such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, and naturopaths, often view health as a balance of physical, emotional and spiritual factors. Complementary treatment often attempts to restore that balance. The most widely used complementary medicine practices in the United Kingdom are acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, naturopathy, and herbal medicine.

Choosing Practitioners and Techniques:

One of the most important decisions you can make when deciding to pursue complementary therapies is choosing a qualified and knowledgeable practitioner to ensure you receive the best care.
Another vitally important aspect of using complementary or alternative therapies is to make sure that you inform your GP. It is believed that as much as 60% of complementary therapy use is not disclosed to physicians—it cannot be emphasised enough that your health care providers need to know what therapies, herbs, or other medications you may be using or are considering using. Many herbal remedies interact adversely with medications and some complementary therapies may not be appropriate for your condition (e.g., massage may not be comfortable for people who suffer with arthritis)

Factors to Consider:

Speak with your primary health care provider regarding the therapy in which you are interested. Ask if he or she can recommend a practitioner or if they are willing to make a referral.

Ask basic questions about a practitioner’s credentials and practice (e.g., Where were they trained? How long have they been in practice? What licenses or certifications do they have? How much will the treatment cost?).

Be sure to check with your insurer to see if the cost of therapy will be covered. For example, most health insurers cover visits to a chiropractor.

Meet with the practitioner and determine if he or she is right for you (e.g., Did you feel comfortable with the practitioner? Did he or she answer your questions and respond to you in a way that satisfied you? Does the treatment plan seem reasonable and acceptable to you?).

Contact a professional organisation for the type of practitioner you are seeking. Often, professional organisations have standards of practice, provide referrals to practitioners, have publications explaining the therapy that their members provide, and may offer information on the type of training needed and whether practitioners of a therapy must be licensed or certified in your country.

Chiropractic Manipulation:

Chiropractors, osteopathic physicians and manual therapists most commonly practice this intervention, which involves moving tissue by the laying on of hands. According to the International Chiropractic Association, the primary focus of chiropractic is the detection, reduction and correction of spinal misalignments and nervous system dysfunction. Doctors of chiropractic attempt to get to the root cause of a health problem and seek to maximise the natural strengths of the body and its capacity to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.

When performed gently, manipulation is usually referred to as mobilisation. Doctors of chiropractic and osteopathy often perform manipulations that are called adjustments. Many patients can experience effective pain relief from this therapy and many prefer these interventions because they avoid the potential side effects or complications of medications or surgery.

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MS and Chiropractic Treatments

MS and Parkinson's Symptoms Reversed:Chiropractic Treatment:www.backtrouble.co.uk/

A recent study was the first to reveal that correction of upper neck injuries might help improve or even reverse the progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease (PD).

A study evaluated the data from 44 MS patients and 37 PD patients who received treatment over a five-year period.

Results of Treating Upper Neck Injuries in 81 Patients:

91 percent of MS patients showed improvement
92 percent of PD patients showed improvement

These findings led researchers to believe the correction of neck injuries could activate a reversal of MS and PD symptoms. For a long time, head and neck injuries have been thought of as contributing factors to the development of MS and PD. These results are the first to confirm the relationship between the two.

When Neck Injuries are Left Untreated:

Upper neck injuries usually occur as the result of accidents in which the individual sustains a sudden hit to the head. Examples of this include experiencing whiplash or a concussion from a car accident. Symptoms of MS and PD could surface in months, years or even decades following the accident. Often, the individual doesn't even realise the extent of the injury they sustained.

Experts suggested putting some of the funding dedicated to MS and Parkinson's research toward research on chiropractic treatments.

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Live Life-Control Your Back Pain

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1. A back disorder can develop over a period of time or a patient may actually have a sudden onset of back pain. There may be one specific incident or known injury such as a fall, direct trauma, motor vehicle accident, or the back injury may be the cumulative result of one or all of the following:

*.Poor posture
*.Improper body mechanics
*.Stressful living situations and poor working habits
*.Limited flexibility and decreased strength

Poor posture is one of the leading causes of back pain. You can help prevent or even help cure a back disorder by trying to improve your postural awareness and by making changes in your activities of daily living.

Listed below are some useful tips to remember:
Correct sitting and standing postures are one and the same; head and shoulders erect and balanced, stand up straight and look straight ahead.

Do not sit or stand for long periods of time (take periodic rest breaks and change positions as needed).
Always position yourself close to your work and work at a comfortable height.

2. Always practice good posture and proper body mechanics.
Faulty Body Mechanics involves improper lifting techniques.
One must maintain proper posture and keep objects close to the body.

3. One must use the strong muscles of the lower extremities to perform the lift instead of bending at the waist and using the lower back.

4. Do not twist while lifting and obtain assistance if needed.

5. Stressful Living Conditions and Poor Work Habits.

This may aggravate the symptoms of back pain and may even create a flare-up of pain following periods of increased tension.

6. Utilising stress management is an important tool to help improve emotional factors in one's life.

Most individuals will cope better by understanding the nature of their injury and taking the appropriate steps necessary to eliminate back pain and provide for a healthy back.

7. Exercise:

Exercising aerobically 3 to 5 times weekly and maintaining good strength and flexibility are the keys to having a strong and healthy back. Generally, people in poor physical condition tend to be more vulnerable to back injuries than those who maintain a high level of physical fitness. One of the most important components of good health is to maintain a daily exercise program.

8. In conclusion Back problems can be prevented most of the time. It is certainly easier to prevent a back injury by taking the appropriate measures. Patient education is one of the most effective tools in preventing back injuries. Patients can be taught to understand what their back problems are, how to prevent them and what to do if they occur. Self-responsibility and a desire to have a healthy back is the first step to success!

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Crusader: I'm Pregnant and My Back Hurts?

I'm Pregnant and My Back Hurts?

Back pain during pregnancy is a very common problem. At least three out of four women experience some degree of back pain during pregnancy.

For some women, symptoms may begin before they are showing and last throughout pregnancy. The cause of back pain during pregnancy is related to many factors, change in body posture, hormones that cause the relaxation of connective tissue in the body, poor body mechanics and muscle fatigue.

The actual incidence of a pinched nerve during pregnancy is very rare.

So, how do you relieve and manage back pain during pregnancy?

Regular aerobic exercise and general conditioning exercise, such as walking, swimming, and bicycling, are the best methods. These types of exercises increase muscle tone and strength, improve endurance and decrease fatigue. Swimming and water aerobics are also excellent exercises for pregnant women.

Frequent position changes, including stretching throughout the day, sleeping on your side with a pillow between your legs, and using proper posture and body mechanics are also important in maintaining a healthy back. Care should be taken to use the larger muscles of the legs and arms in moving objects to prevent muscle strain. You may strengthen your leg muscles by doing lunges and squats.

If you experience back pain, you may apply moist heat and/or cold packs as needed to decrease pain.

You can wear a pregnancy support or SI (sacroiliac) belt to decrease pain and improve posture. Medications, including over-the-counter ones, should be taken only under the direction of your physician or health professional.

If you have persistent back pain which interferes with your overall function, talk to Chiropractic. They are specialists in restoring function and self-sufficiency in persons with disabilities and pain, utilising Individually tailored Therapies which are safe and gentle during pregnancy.

Remember that most women who experience back pain during pregnancy do not have symptoms after delivery. Back strengthening exercises done throughout pregnancy will help you during labor and delivery and while caring for your growing infant after delivery.

Exercise For A Healthy Back

These recommendations are for people currently not experiencing back pain. Modifications are necessary if you have back pain. Do not continue to perform an exercise that produces pain. Seek the advice of a GP or Chiropractic Therapist or other medical professional.

Exercise is an important part of improving and maintaining normal, comfortable back function. It is important to practice these exercises regularly so you can maintain your fitness level.

What are the different types of exercise? Exercise can be divided into three basic groups:

1. Strengthening: repeated muscle contractions until the muscle becomes tired.
2. Stretching or Flexibility: slow, sustained lengthening of the muscle.
3. Aerobic: steady exercise using large muscle groups.

All exercises should be performed slowly and comfortably to avoid injury. When performing strengthening and flexibility exercises, remember to breathe naturally and do NOT hold your breath; exhale during exertion and inhale during relaxation.

A program of strengthening, stretching and aerobic exercises will improve your overall fitness level. Research has shown that people who are physically fit are more resistant to back injuries and pain, and recover quicker when they do have injuries than those who are less physically fit.

Strengthening exercises help increase muscle tone and improve the quality of muscles. Muscle strength and endurance provide energy and a feeling of wellness to help you perform daily, routine activities.

Adequate strength of abdominal and back muscles helps stabilise the spine, allows proper spinal movement and makes it easier to maintain correct posture. Strong hip and leg muscles are important to perform proper lifting techniques and body mechanics.

Stretching/Flexibility Exercise:

Flexibility is the ability to move your arms and legs through their full range of motion. Stretching will help improve your flexibility.

Adequate flexibility of tissues around the spine and pelvis allows full, normal spinal movement, prevents abnormal force on the joints and decreases the possibility of injury. Stretching also prepares muscles for activity; stretching should be done before and after each vigorous workout to prevent muscle strain and soreness and to help avoid injuries.

When performing flexibility exercises, stretch as far as you can and hold the stretch for 10 seconds and then ease back. Each stretching exercise should be performed slowly, with no sudden jerking or bouncing. Bouncing is more likely to injure or strain a muscle or joint.

Aerobic Exercise:

Aerobic exercise provides cardiovascular conditioning--it strengthens the heart and lungs and improves the body's ability to use oxygen. Some other benefits of aerobic exercise include increased energy levels, improved mood, better sleep habits and decreased blood pressure. Aerobic exercise also burns calories and improves your metabolism, helping with weight loss. Some examples of aerobic exercise include:
Jogging, Cycling, Skating , Rowing, Swimming , Walking, Cross-country skiing and Dancing.

In general, to achieve maximum benefits, you should gradually work up to an aerobic session lasting 15 to 60 minutes, 3 or 4 times a week. Please check with your doctor before starting any aerobic program.
Your exercise routine should consist of a 5-minute warm-up (including stretching exercises) before the aerobic activity and 5 to 10 minutes of a cool down (stretching and slower activity) after the activity.

Here are some precautions with aerobic exercise:

Skipping or Jumping rope , puts too much pressure on the discs and should be avoided. Running can be done as long as it doesn't increase lower back pain. When walking or running, wear supportive, well-cushioned shoes and walk or run on a level surface.

What should I know about pain during exercise?

Do not ignore pain--if you feel increased pain or pain spreading to the legs, do not continue the activity. If you continue to perform the activity while you are in pain, you may cause unnecessary stress or damage on your joints. Seek the advice of a GP or a Chiropractor. Fear of pain can cause unnecessary inactivity.

Learn to "read" your body and know when you need to stop an activity.

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Your a Pain in the Leg!

Compression or pressure on any of the nerve roots in the low back can cause pain, numbness or weakness along the different nerves as they travel down through the leg and into the foot. Because the sciatic nerve is commonly affected, leg pain and related symptoms are often generally referred to as sciatica, although medical professionals prefer the term radiculopathy.

Leg pain and foot pain quite often is not caused by a problem in the leg or foot, but rather by a condition in the lower back. Diagnosis of leg pain and other lower extremity symptoms should focus not only on the legs and hips, but should also include examination of the low back. In fact, with many low back problems, there is actually little or no low back pain. Instead, there may be leg pain, foot pain, and/or lower extremity numbness or weakness.

On a practical point many low back disorders can cause pain to radiate, or be referred to, the leg and/or foot, so an accurate diagnosis of leg pain or foot pain should include a low back examination. Not all leg pain derived from low back problems presents the same way. Leg pain caused by a low back problem is often accompanied by additional symptoms, such as leg numbness or weakness, or foot pain, and the type of leg pain experienced may vary widely from patient to patient.

These leg symptoms can be evidence of a problem in the low back, and it is usually advisable to seek medical attention to determine the cause of the pain and to find a course of treatment. Leg pain along with certain other symptoms may be a sign of a potentially serious condition and warrant urgent medical attention, such as:
Progressive weakness in the legs, which can be a sign of nerve damage
Bowel or bladder dysfunction
Fever and/or chills
Recent unintended weight loss
Significant trauma preceding symptoms
Several specific low back conditions, such as degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, and more, are common causes of leg pain and foot pain.

So remember that Pain is a communicator, a warning, if you are experiencing any type of persistant pain do seek professional advice as soon as possible.

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Two forms of Chiropractic. Two different Chiropractors

A Chiropractor based in Canterbury Kent, UK sates on their web-site that Chiropractic, around the world, is divided. There is one half that practice in a way that is congruent with medicine, but not what chiropractic was founded upon. This small faction of chiropractic only provide palliative care and provide treatment to relieve symptoms. It is the purpose of this kind of chiropractor to see a patient for 6-8 visits for pain relief and possibly some kind of treatment regime to minimise pain. This kind of chiropractor is trained in the UK.

Unfortunately, training is limited to this one form of chiropractic. It is unfortunate for the profession but even more unfortunate for the community who miss out on the many benefits that the other, more prevalent faction of chiropractic, provide all around the world, from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, Europe, South Africa and even Ireland.

They go on to state that the leading and most prevalent group of chiropractors are trained overseas in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.
This Chiropractor graduated with a double degree as a Doctor of Chiropractic in Australia, where they practised as a Chiropractor until June 2000 when they decided to move to the UK. They now practice as a Spinal Specialist in Blean, near Canterbury in Kent in the UK.

I am personally dismayed and find it very frustrating that certain practitioners of such an established and accredited profession as Chiropractic. Find it necessary to seek a commercial advantage by decrying other established practices and aspects of their Profession.
Chiropractic needs to present a united front to the world, not this "I’m trained in this technique and they are not". The I’m better than you are approach to attracting potential patients is only undermining the Chiropractic Profession as a whole and its ability to establish itself as the treatment of choice for those suffering from back related disorders!

Not a Painful Education

Pain is your body's way of communicating to your mind. We do not suffer from pain because our body was poorly designed. We have pain because we were ingeniously designed.
Every pain, every symptom you experience is a part of this ingenious design. Pain is the communicator, the warning!

A recent study suggests that education and advice from a chiropractor or physiotherapist may be as good as physical treatment for people who have back pain. Low back pain is one of the most common symptoms prompting people to seek medical advice. In the UK, patients often get referred to a Chiropactor, Physiotherapist or an Osteopath if medication and advice is not effective.

A team at Keele University once reported on a comparison between a pain management program delivered by physiotherapists and manipulation therapy. The study involved 400 adults and showed that there was no difference at the three month and 12 month point for participants in either group. Therefore, self-help and advice may be a useful option for those with persistent back pain. At least it needs fewer treatment sessions, puts the patient in charge and, in this study, resulted in fewer referrals on for specialist treatment.