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Understanding Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is the major cause of disabilities and the most disabling of all aliments. Chronic pain happens over a long time and therefore affords an opportunity for learned behaviour.

Rehabilitation may not produce a cure but it stands to greatly improve one’s quality of life. There is a need to identify the elements in a client’s environment that reinforce pain behavior. Chronic pain people sometimes manipulate and control out of a compulsion to remain as pain patients. As practitioners, we cannot take away a client’s pain but we can help them to release their pain when that is what he or she decides to do.

The practitioner’s purpose is to challenge the client’s beliefs; to shake them if they are flimsy; and to make the client support or change them until their beliefs are shaken down to those in which they can show interest and enthusiasm.

It is always a good idea to ask oneself whether the client’s pain is a warning of disease, a bid for attention or sympathy, a signal of unhappiness or depression, or merely a characteristic way of reacting to other people. With discussion, conflicts don’t disappear, but with insight the client can choose to change their behaviour and/or their reactions.

Clients often resist change and cling to their pain. They have a fear of change and lack something constructive to replace the pain. Bear in mind that not all chronic pain sufferers are professional pain clients.

When all is said and done, pain is when there is a sensation of hurting. A simple statement for sure, but nonetheless it is the bottom line. For pain is not a simple cause and effect process. It is very individual and very varied. One’s psychic structure at any point in time can raise or lower the pain threshold. Philosophy, religion, sex and culture can affect the perception of pain. What one person feels as pain, another might not notice. Pain is the accepted name that is put on a sensation that is felt. For some, pain is not a primary sensation but rather a complex state of mind, holding emotionally charged feelings that would better be described as anguish, grief, distress, tension or anxiety. Pain is a signal that something is not right or a warning that requires a reaction.

Clearly pain cannot always be separated from emotion and emotion plays a major role in the perception of pain in some cases, increasing the pain and others blocking the pain.

Pain can be controlled in some situations by increasing large fiber output such as initiated by massage or tactile stimulation, which Polarity Therapy does for example. Pain can also be lessened by such means of specific training as behavioral conditioning and/or using the power of suggestion and distraction techniques. There is truth in the sayings “As we think – we are” and “Our body is a reflection of our thoughts.”

The multifaceted, multi disciplined approach works best with chronic pain. There are four basic steps in the successful management of pain:

1) have check-up by your doctor to determine cause and whether or not medical treatment is indicated.

2) doing the proper work up and getting a complete history

3) determining the trigger for the pain

4) using the best strategy, in the right amount, at the right time for the particular client’s aliment

People can build their world around pain and a behaviour pattern that victimizes family, friends and even medical personnel can develop. Their environment is what molds the direction their behaviour takes. When a sense of reward or satisfaction follows a given behaviour in their environment, then that behaviour is repeated. Unknowingly, the pain behaviour finds reinforcement within the environment. When the client engages in some behaviour identified by others to be indicative of pain, then this behaviour becomes known as pain behaviour. (e.g. favoring a sore leg)

When the chronically ill begin rehabilitation, major gaps in their well-behaviour repertoire are found. They have been out of touch with healthy actions for so long that they don’t know how to be well. It has to be relearned, reprogrammed with healthy patterns and actions re-established. This is what brings about well being.

The reason that chronic pain is so hard to alleviate is that the memory of pain tends to lower pain thresholds. This can result in a more intense response.

Drugs do not kill pain, they change people’s perception of it. They work in the brain itself interfering with the communication between the cortex (thinking cap) and the deeper thalamus. Actually, our psyche operates in pain perception perhaps even changing the way parts of our brain and nervous system respond to one another and send signals. Our bodies produce endorphins and these are our natural painkillers. It has been said that when pressure is applied to the head these endorphins are produced. There are theories that joggers enjoy jogging because it stimulates the brain to release endorphins. Endorphins are powerful antidotes to depression and lift one’s spirits. In the case of acupuncture and acupressure, endorphin release again occurs. These principles are also used in other disciplines such as Polarity Therapy.

Regularity in exercise is important to stimulate endorphin secretion. When starting to make regular exercise a part of one’s natural habit pattern it helps to remember that it takes about six weeks to develop a habit. Start gradually and work up to 1/2 – 3/4 hr. for three to five times per week. The best exercise is walking, swimming or jogging.

Dr. Stone the founder of Polarity Therapy said, “All pain is but an obstruction to energy flow.” Energy flow gets blocked when there is unexpressed emotion. Only when life’s currents are obstructed and become stagnant does fermentation of waste in the tissues cause decay and germs. Electromagnetic waves, their charge and cellular polarity are effected by depressed and repressed mental – emotional states. Even the cerebrospinal fluid becomes blocked when there is toxic waste build up. Through bodywork like Polarity and Cranial Sacral Therapy these blocks are removed as the energy currents are once again restored to free flowing. Remembering that force negates, and the supreme art is in the mastering of the art of “doing by – not doing” and to guide or facilitate the client’s return to the desired state of wellness and well -being.

Let your personal experience be the next step in your move forward to attaining your goals and dreams in life. For private sessions and for information on courses, call Sher Smith at Realizing Your Potential (905) 751-1076.

Sher Smith is a Registered Nurse, Registered Polarity Practitioner, Registered Cranial Sacral Therapist and Educational Kinesiology Instructor who has been involved in the holistic health field since 1979. As a metaphysical graduate, the ancient rituals, esoteric teachings and healing practices of the ages continue to be ongoing areas of study and interest.

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Chronic Acid Reflux

Prolonged Heartburn

The refluxed fluid from the stomach coming in contact with the esophagus causes heartburn, a burning sensation in the chest and throat. When we have an acidic feeling in the throat, we call it acid indigestion. Heartburn is common and its occasional incidence does not indicate any chronic condition. But when it occurs with a frequency of more than two times a week, it can be considered as chronic acid reflux with potentially serious consequences for health if left untreated. Not only adults but also infants and children can be victims of chronic acid reflux.

Symptoms

Although continued heartburn and acid regurgitation is the main symptom of chronic acid reflux disease, some patients instead of heartburn experience other symptoms like chest pain, hoarse throat especially at the beginning of the day and swallowing difficulties. There is also a feeling of stuck food in the throat and choking. Other accompanying symptoms of chronic acid reflux may be cough, dry mouth and halitosis.

In Children

Children often suffer from cough, respiratory disorders and vomiting due to irregular digestion caused by chronic acid reflux. While most infants recover from the symptoms, pediatric advice is necessary where the symptoms and the associated discomfort persist. For infants, the doctors usually advise such strategies as burping them during feeding or keeping them upright for sometime after feeding. For older children, the advice is to keep their heads raised during sleeping and putting them to sleep at least 2 hours after food. Fried, spicy and fatty foods as also any food that causes acidity are to be avoided.

Treatment

Opinion of a gastroenterologist should be sought for treating chronic acid reflux. Depending on the seriousness of the disease, mode of treatment may vary from lifestyle changes to medication or even surgery where warranted. Lifestyle changes include eating food in small servings and avoiding cigarette and alcohol. Medications can be through over-the-counter antacids or prescribed drugs.

Copyright – James Mwangi 2009. Founder and Owner of http://www.acidrefluxarticles.com. This is a comprehensive article resource to help people understand acid reflux disease, choose the best acid reflux cure, product reviews, heartburn related books and much more information about acid reflux, as we are passionate about helping as many people as possible regain and maintain optimal health.

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Chronic Yeast Infections

Chronic yeast infections can ruin your quality of life. Just imagine thinking that you finally have gotten rid of your yeast infection, only to have it reoccur shortly thereafter. Having a chronic yeast infection not only affects your life, but it affects those around you. Just think about how much fun you are to be around when you are itching, burning and in pain from the side-effects of this condition. It doesn’t matter if you have a persistent oral, vaginal or penile candida infection – none is any better than the other – they are all difficult to cope with. This article will describe why these infections might be reoccurring and what you can do to get rid of them once and for all.

First of all, what have you been doing to get rid of your chronic yeast infections? Most people begin treatments with topical treatments that are prescribed by your doctor, nurse or nurse practitioner. This includes creams, lotions and pessaries. Does this only provide temporary relief from your discomfort? “Congratulation” – then you are just one of millions of people who don’t respond to traditional methods (that do in fact work for many people).

If traditional treatments for chronic yeast infections don’t work for you, perhaps it is time to try some natural home remedies. A couple of things that you could do right away is to change your diet and eliminate foods that contain sugar – any sugar. If you must have sugar, switch to a sugar substitute. Yeast and sugar are a toxic combination in the body. If your body does not effectively convert sugar to energy (you don’t need to be a diabetic to have this problem), then your blood contains excessive blood glucose levels – a breeding ground for yeast to multiply and thrive (and wreak havoc in your body).

Another thing that you can do is to stop wearing tight fitting clothing in your lower body – particularly your undergarments. Also – make sure that the clothing closest to you (your underwear) is 100% natural – preferably unbleached as synthetic, colored materials can cause irritation to your genital area. Other natural remedies for a chronic yeast infection include yogurt as well as tea tree oil.

So – before you pull out all of your hair trying to cure your candida infection, seek out alternative natural remedies that have proven to work for many others who have also suffered just like you.

Now pay close attention here,

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Yoga For Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain sufferers deal with pain most of the time with no relief. With awareness, the gentle movements of Yoga can relieve some of that pain. Studies have shown that a Yoga practice can reduce the amount of pain in people who suffer from fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic back pain and many other painful ailments.

Chronic pain carries anxiety and frustration with it because we constrict our breathing when we feel pain. Constricting the breath can lead to anxiety. Anxiety can make the pain worse. Constricting the muscles when they hurt, also increases pain. The frustration of it all can make us not want to do anything. Sedentary lifestyles can be detrimental to the whole body. Your muscles weaken, your immunity levels drop and your state of mind can move from frustrated to depressed. It can be a vicious cycle or a downward spiral.

Even with the popularity of Yoga today, some of you may think of a bunch of old men wearing sheets and sitting in pretzel poses. The actuality is that if you can simply calm your breathing, you can reduce the anxiety associated with chronic pain (and you can wear any comfortable clothing that you choose – no sheets required). Once you can relax a little, you can generate some healing properties into painful areas and the focused energy and blood flow can often reduce some of the pain.

Deep, slow breathing into painful areas can reduce the constriction in the muscles and send a fresh supply of oxygen to body parts that are in need of healing. The breath is a powerful tool that everyone possesses but many people don’t take advantage of.

Can Yoga cure you? We won’t go that far, but wouldn’t it be worth it to try to alleviate some of the pain? Let’s look a little more into some specific analogies.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that gives you widespread chronic pain in your muscles and even into your ligaments and tendons. It is described as a deep ache with trigger point areas that are more painful when touched. Basically ~ everything hurts and you can experience extreme fatigue.

Yoga can provide less pain, better sleep, more strength, endurance and stamina and increased positivity in everyday life. It is a practice of easy postures that can be adjusted according to your level of activity and pain on any given day. You can practice Yoga to reduce fatigue, to strengthen muscles or to simply relax your body.

Arthritis sufferers also have chronic pain. The sharp intense pain associated with arthritis can make you want to reject all movement. But people who live with this pain know that movement is essential. Unless your arthritis is severe, exercise is recommended for people with arthritis due to decreased strength and endurance. You may not want to practice first thing in the morning when pain is sometimes at its worst, but later in the day, once your joints have warmed up a bit, a gentle Yoga practice could be the best form of exercise for you.

When you do practice Yoga, adjust your poses so that you feel your stretch. Don’t’ go so far into any pose that you feel sharp pain in the joints. Some days you might be able to stretch certain muscles and other days the same stretch might be painful. You need to really listen to your body and adjust your poses and the intensity of your stretches accordingly.

There are studies that recently revealed that Yoga can help with chronic back pain. Practicing restorative types of Yoga, such as Iyengar Yoga, can help with posture, range of motion, and reducing recovery time from injury.

Chronic back pain patients need to focus more on alignment, using props such as blankets and Yoga blocks to achieve some of the poses. The muscle strengthening and lengthening should be practiced slowly while focusing on the breath-work. The same benefits previously discussed will provide relief with stress, anxiety, frustration and depression.

Chronic pain is a maddening issue to deal with. Always being in pain, sometimes worse than others, can carry negativity and depression with it. The breathing practice that is incorporated into Yoga poses sends fresh oxygenated blood into areas to warm the muscles. Gently moving through breath connected poses is stress relieving, immunity building and mobility promoting.

Even slow strength improvements can make a big difference with chronic pain. If Yoga can be a comfortable form of exercise why not try it? Awareness of your body and adjustments are important while practicing Yoga, but that awareness can carry into your everyday life. Being aware of breath constriction and adjusting as necessary can ease some discomfort ~ even while you are not practicing.

As always, please check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. If he or she thinks Yoga could provide some relief to you, have an open mind and breathe into your Yoga practice.

Namaste,

Peace to you.

By Kathi Duquette

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How Chronic Are Chronic Health Problems?

It seems ambiguous to ask, “How chronic are chronic health problems?” Obviously, chronic means long lasting, reoccurring, perhaps even devastating to the individual who has this type disease or illness. Usually, the results of these illnesses are debilitating to say the least.

So what do we mean by asking the question, “How chronic are chronic health problems?” Of course the illnesses and diseases are real, and most often they are life threatening. The reason we ask such a question is because nearly all the long-lasting health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels didn’t have to take place in your body.

These chronic health problems are in most cases self inflicted. You have eaten your way into the problem. America is overweight-even our young people! Instead of trying to avoid health problems with proper diet and exercise, you generally continue down the road toward some major health problems.

A diet consisting of all natural and organic foods along with dietary supplements and minerals can nearly assure that you will not be plagued by a chronic health problem. And in some cases the problems you’ve developed can be reversed by starting an all natural diet along with a good exercise program. Before you begin any diet or exercise program, you need to consult your physician to be sure your body can physically participate in either.

Most generally speaking, an all natural diet along with herbs, natural supplements and minerals can be used by everyone without side effects. Obviously there are some physical and mental conditions that limit your use of these all natural products, but most of the population can use them. Again, you need to consult your physician.

When your physician gives you the go ahead, you can find all natural health products online or maybe there is an all natural health store near your home. One word of caution might be: always check the labels on the packages and bottles. Some advertised “All Natural Health Products” only have the name of being all natural. You need to be sure you are taking the kinds of health products that are indeed all natural.

It’s important to you especially if you have a chronic health problem. Your goal for taking these all natural products and eating an all natural diet is to begin the process of reversing your long lasting health disease(s).

So by asking the question, “How chronic are your chronic health problems?” we’re actually saying, they don’t have to be chronic at all. By eating correctly and exercise properly, you may never contract them. If you have been diagnosed with one or more, there’s a good chance you can reverse the debilitating process.

Can eating the all natural way really keep you healthy? Find out at my blog site: http://www.rejuvenatenaturally.wordpress.com. At this site Deborah and I will have information you need to live and be healthy. Also, get your free report while there! In the free report, we tell how to remove blockages, increase microvascular elasticity, improve circulation and strengthen blood vessels to prevent heart disease. Diet is the first step and recommended products from the report are helpful to accomplish these goals. Sign up for our first ever, world-wide Webb scavenger hunt.

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Chronic Pain Relief For Chronic Pain

What causes chronic pain? It is believed that a number of diseases and disorders are responsible for it. Is there a way to find the source of the pain? Yes there is but it may take an experience and good doctor to be able to confirm that the pain isn’t your imagination. The good news is chronic pain can be cured or if it cannot be cured, you are still be able to manage the pain. In this article we are going to explain what is chronic pain, its common causes, and a whole list of chronic pain relief which can be adopted.

Definition of Chronic pain

It is a progressive discomfort which can be of different degree;mild to severe. The pain can go on from several months to a lifetime in duration. On the other hand, acute pain can last for a specific amount of time and has a straightforward cause. The inception of chronic pain’s can sometimes be identified. Oftentimes, pain progresses over time and the cause may be isolated. The ironic thing that the chronic pain sufferers have to endure other than the pain itself is the difficulty in finding someone who believes in their pain and at the same time can provide the answers about chronic pain relief.

The Causes of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can be caused by autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid conditions like Grave’s disease, genetic disorders like multiple sclerosis, back or neck trauma, and less defined disorders like fibromyalgia.

Does Chronic Pain Exist?

There are many doctors who are sceptical with the disorders caused by fibromyalgia. This is because there are no identifiable effects by x-ray or blood work. Many arthritis sufferers on the other hand will be able to show negative x-ray and blood test results for many years even before signs of bone and joint damage can be seen. Chronic pain does exist though the effects cannot always be seen with the naked eye and the causes are not always instantaneous Therefore chronic pain sufferers is indeed needed the chronic pain relief. Techniques for Chronic Pain Relief

Chronic pain sufferers sometimes have to cope with ongoing pain and it is more than about taking medication. Many of them have never recovered. For these patients the focus of treatment is learning how to live with the pain.

Pain management specialists help patients use a multifaceted approach to treat pain. These treatment programs are specific to each patient because every human being has a different pain tolerance and reacts differently to pain. However, many patients worry if they may cause more problems than solve them because of medicating the pain with habit-forming opiates.

You are not abusing medications because you are taking prescribed medication as ordered. However be cautious you can be addicted and this can add to the current problems.

Pain management specialists also use both over-the-counter and prescribed medications along with lifestyle management techniques to help patients manage pain. Stress management techniques, exercise, physical therapy, diet, and counseling are all treatment methods which can be added to medication to provide effective chronic pain relief. If you would like to know more about all the other pain relief and minor joint pain relief, please click here Chronic Pain Relief

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Chronic Sciatica

Chronic sciatica is a torturous and difficult to resolve back and leg pain syndrome. Sciatica is not a diagnosis, but a symptom of an underlying causative condition. True sciatica is sourced by a spinal abnormality, while pseudo-sciatica can come about due to muscular, circulatory or even psychosomatic reasons. No matter what the actual cause of sciatica, chronic symptoms can make life very difficult for affected patients.

Chronic means long lasting or recurring. For sciatica sufferers, there are a great number of different chronic patterns associated with their symptomatic expressions. Some patients endure the same pain everyday, while others endure a variable symptomology which can change hour to hour in some cases. Many patients endure constant back and leg pain, while others suffer only at certain times of the day, or with certain activities or positions. Some patients have a little or a lot of pain everyday, while others will have good days without pain and bad days with hellish symptoms. Finally, recurrent bouts of acute sciatica or “flare ups”, as they are often called, can be one of the most agonizing clinical profiles possible and can create a tremendous amount of anxiety in every sciatic nerve pain sufferer.

Statistically, the most common diagnostic conclusion used to explain sciatic nerve symptoms is a herniated lumbar disc, typically at L4/L5 or L5/S1. These are the levels which suffer the greatest and most universal degeneration in the human spine, so it is easy to see why herniations at these locations are common diagnostic scapegoats. However, in order for these bulging discs to enact symptoms, they would have to affect surrounding neurological tissues through the processes of spinal stenosis or foraminal stenosis. This is because the spinal discs themselves do not feel pain, as they do not have blood supply or nerve endings.

Foraminal stenosis is the usual diagnosis for herniated discs theorized to cause sciatica. These “pinched nerves”, as they are often called, go on to form the sciatic nerve, so it is thought that compression of one or more nerve roots can enact sciatica pain. Clinical research has decisively shown that actual compressed nerves stop signaling altogether, causing a condition of true objective numbness and weakness in the regions served by the affected nerve structure. There would be no lasting pain or tingling, as well as no subjective numbness and weakness common to the vast majority of sciatica complaints. This makes the pinched nerve theory lose tremendous credibility as a true source of sciatica. Additionally, in order for a herniated disc to actually have any effect on the nerve at all, the bulge would have to virtually completely close off the neuroforaminal space, which is a very rare scenario indeed.

Spinal stenosis as a source of sciatica is more complicated, since stenosis anywhere in the spine can create a variable pain pattern, along with the typical neurological symptoms in the legs. Stenosis in the lower back can create sciatica, as can stenosis far up in the cervical spine. This makes diagnosis very difficult, when the causation is indeed structural. Add to this fact that most stenosis is not symptomatic in anyway, even though anatomical alteration is evident upon diagnostic imaging, and you really have a hard time differentiating between potentially troublesome stenosis and innocent spinal canal narrowing. Many herniated discs, for example, may impinge on the thecal sac surrounding the spinal cord, but do not have any effect on the cord itself. Even herniations which do press into the cord typically may displace the cord (creating a frightening image on MRI films), but usually do not cause any pain or sciatica. However, in some cases, spinal stenosis can be problematic and truly enact lower back, buttocks and leg pain syndromes.

Despite all this doom and gloom, there is some good news about sciatica. Structural causations which are accurately diagnosed and truly do create symptoms most commonly respond very well to indicated medical and complementary treatment. This means that most true anatomical issues responsible for enacting pain can be completely cured. For patients with long term symptoms which have proven themselves to be unresponsive to various forms of treatment, the answer is simple. In these cases, the condition is virtually always misdiagnosed, leading the sufferer on a wild goose chase using treatments which are all targeting mistakenly identified causes of pain. No wonder the treatments fail…

Sensei Adam Rostocki suffered with crippling chronic sciatica and lower back pain for 18 years. Sensei Rostocki is the author of popular self help book, “Cure Back Pain Forever” (ISBN 1-59971-997-5). His Cure Back Pain Network Sciatica website provides honest and understandable information about a wide range of problematic sciatic nerve pain conditions.

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Chronic Fatigue, histamine & mast cells

Dog Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, portrait dog on a studio color background, dog lying on a chair in the studioChalk up another one to a dysfunctional immune system – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Researchers recently proved (for the first time), that the condition is not psychosomatic (yeah, thanks for calling us hypochondriacs all these years). This wasn’t news to some: according to NHS funded researcher Dr. Theoharides, CFS is one of many mast cell linked conditions that he has known to be linked for years. It wasn’t so long ago that narcolepsy was pegged to an imbalance of brain histamine levels.

Scientists in Australia have found that immune cell receptor abnormalities are behind CFS debilitating symptoms. So basically a receptor defect, which is really a problem because there are many cells and so many receptors to mess with, can’t transfer calcium from the cell to the outside. The discovery of abnormal calcium cells coincides with where CFS pain usually happens, in the brain, spine, pancreas and stomach.

To date there’s still no cure for CFS. Doctors and researchers have been telling folks it’s all in their head and that all they need is more exercise (yes, I’m referring to the PACE trial debacle). The researchers say they believe that it affects from 1%-2% of the population (presumably Australia they mean?).

According to Dr. Theoharides, director of Immuno pharmacology and Drug Discovery at Tufts, CFS is a complex disease involving the nervous, hormonal and immune systems with symptoms that include fatigue, sleep disturbances, malaise, muscle aches, migraines, gastrointestinal complaints, and cognitive problems. Viruses and inflammatory cytokines (like those in mast cells which contain histamine) play a role. He says that the stress hormone CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone) activates brain mast cells (which contain histamine and other inflammatory mediators), and that this causes blood-brain-barrier disruption. His research shows that there’s a relationship between the mitochondria, calcium and mast cell activation.

As someone who has literally fallen asleep on a plate of food, I can attest to the narcolepsy-histamine link. It all depended on how long it would take me to eat. If I had a short meal, I might make it to the sofa before falling into my food coma, but a long one meant face-in-food for dessert. The weird thing was I wasn’t actually asleep.

My eyes were forced closed, all movement would have to cease, and I’d be aware of the world around me, but incapable of interacting with it. The experience was more like something out of a nightmare where you’re paralysed but still able to be hurt. It’s apparently called syncope.

I’d lie there in a weak panic, feeling my heart beat slowly ebb away, as I begged my thoughts to magically reconnect with my voice to tell people, hey, I’m actually awake! Don’t be fooled, I’m not asleep. But no matter how hard I tried to convey this to people, they were all convinced I was dreaming it all up.

Whether it was a histamine-narcolepsy link, or a mast cell-CFS one, I ended up spending about a year mostly in or on bed, and desperately trying to make people understand that my inability to climb a flight of stairs at times isn’t a lack of cardio fitness (mine could always be better but it’s still good) but rather a result of my mast cells having a temporary bout of madness.

Interestingly, Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Michael Van ElZakker has a hypothesis he’s working to prove, that an infection of the vagus nerve, which connects the brain to the stomach, can cause a prolonged “sickness response”. This human response to illness involves extreme fatigue, probably to force us to rest up and isolate us from other humans to not spread the virus. He believes that in some cases the vagus nerve, which is responsible for signaling the need for this response, remains on high alert, which keeps the body stuck in this more.

You can read my interview with Dr. Van ElZakker here. 

 A review of fourteen separate dietary and supplement interventions were published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, but found that most studies showed no particular measurable benefit of them. Improvements in fatigue were found in response to NADH and Coenzyme Q10, probiotics and high polyphenol rich cacao.

For me personally, because my fatigue was a result of my mast cell issues, stabilizing them with Dr. Theoharides’ quercetin Neuroprotek supplement and a great diet really helped. But we all have different root causes and severity of symptoms.
Click here if you’d like to learn how I did it.

It’s finally here! Man Food – a high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory ingredient filled book geared towards guys, women who love to work out, yoga like they mean it, or just load up on healing nutrients. Features my personal shopping list of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory foods.

The Anti-cookbook and all liquid Anti-Detox Book, don’t treat any conditions, but feature a plethora of the high nutrient antihistamine and anti-inflammatory ingredients that have been instrumental in helping me feed myself on a limited diet. The Anti-cookbook features a four page list of antihistamine and anti-inflammatory foods and comes in regular and Paleo.

The Low Oxalate Cookbook features antihistamine and anti-inflammatory rich recipes.

Don’t miss the Low Histamine Beauty Survival Guide for non-toxic beauty tips, the skinny on histamine releasing (mast cell degranulating) beauty ingredients, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory beauty alternatives and the top brands natural brands I’ve found.

Take a peek at my other low histamine and antihistamine cookbooks for more high nutrient recipes

—–REFERENCES—-

Theoharides, Theoharis C. “Brain mast cells and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.” Grantome. NIH, 01 July 2012. Web. 24 Mar. 2017.

Appold, Karen. “UCLA Researchers Find Clue to Narcolepsy’s Cause.” Sleep Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2017.

Campagnolo, N., S. Johnston, A. Collatz, D. Staines, and S. Marshall-Gradisnik. “Dietary and nutrition interventions for the therapeutic treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a systematic review.” Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (2017): n. pag. Web.

Cooper, Luke. “Queensland Scientists Make Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Breakthrough.” Huffington Post Australia. The Huffington Post, 21 Feb. 2017. Web. 24 Mar. 2017.

Rehmeyer, Julie. “How bad science misled chronic fatigue syndrome patients.” STAT. STAT, 29 Dec. 2016. Web. 24 Mar. 2017.

 

 

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Back in business: treatment options for lower and chronic back pain

While back pain can be debilitating and distressing, there are a number of treatment options available. As the largest private hospital group in the UK, BMI Healthcare are used to providing a range of options and treatments for back pain, read there article below and find out what you can do.

Intro

Each year, 1 in 3 people develop back pain(1).  In most instances, people experience moderate pain in the lower back which can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Lower back pain is extremely common, affecting about 4 in 5 people at some point in their life, usually between the ages of 30 and 60. It can last days, weeks or even months. When pain continues for over three months, it becomes known as chronic back pain.

Back pain – especially chronic back pain – can affect people’s mood, sleep, work and quality of life. While it’s often difficult to identify the exact cause of back pain, it’s usually related to strained muscles, tendons or ligaments, or other structural damage.

spinal-surgery-back-pain

 

Surgical and non-surgical treatment

The use of surgery to treat back pain is quite rare; there are a number of non-surgical treatment options available, and spinal surgery will usually only be offered as a last resort if these treatments prove ineffective.

Indeed, unless you have a condition that specifically requires surgical intervention, doctors are likely to recommend painkillers, psychological therapies, exercise and physiotherapy, acupuncture or pain management before they opt for surgery. The most common conditions corrected by spinal surgery include prolapsed discs, which cause nerve symptoms in the neck and back, along with chronic neck and back pain.

Types of spinal surgery

However, if surgery is required, there are several types of intervention to consider. Some interventions are intended to relieve back pain caused by wear and tear, while others target limb pain – for example, sciatica in the leg caused by nerve pressure in the spine.

Your GP will help to determine whether or not you require back surgery. If a disc in your back has become damaged and is putting pressure on the surrounding nerves – sometimes referred to as ‘a slipped disc’ – you could be offered a discectomy. This procedure involves removing the whole or part of one of the discs between your vertebrae.

For a condition known as spinal stenosis, which causes the space inside your spine to narrow, you may undergo a laminectomy. This involves removing a small part of the bone called the lamina at the back of your vertebra.

Spinal fusion, meanwhile, is a procedure to join two or more vertebrae together using bone grafts, rods and screws in order to strengthen and stabilise the spine and prevent pain caused by movement. A spinal fusion may be recommended if you have a condition such as spondylolisthesis, whereby one of your vertebrae slips out of place, or if you suffer from severe degenerative disc disease.

Damage to vertebrae can also be repaired using a procedure known as vertebroplasty, which involves injecting a bone-cement into the vertebra. This procedure is often used to treat compression fractures caused by trauma or osteoporosis(2).

Be prepared

The back is a complex structure made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints and nerves. The spine supports the back and is made up of 24 separate vertebrae; it also encases the spinal cord, which carries nerves from the brain to the rest of the body.

Surgical intervention in such a crucial part of the body is no small undertaking and not a decision that should be taken lightly. If it’s recommended that spinal surgery is the best course of action available to you, you must make all necessary preparations in advance of your operation.

While most people can walk after back surgery, in the first days after an operation simple, everyday tasks such as lifting, driving, washing, cleaning or dressing may be painful and problematic. You may want to ask a friend or family member to help you during this time. You’ll certainly need someone to pick you up from the hospital.

If you smoke, you may be asked to stop before your operation, as smoking increases the risk of chest and wound infection, which hampers the recovery process. In the hours before the operation, you’ll most likely be asked not to eat or drink as most back surgery involves a general anaesthetic. In addition, during your time in hospital you’ll probably be asked to wear compression stockings to help prevent blood clots forming in your legs.

A personal choice

Ultimately, the final decision to proceed with spinal surgery lies with you and you alone. Your doctor and surgeon will discuss the options with you, but if you decide not to go through with surgery then they will respect your wishes.

Furthermore, pain is personal and subjective, and the way in which it is treated is down to the preferences of the individual involved. Back pain can become debilitating and severely impact your quality of life; some people opt for surgery, while others choose to manage their pain through physiotherapy and alternative therapies, such as acupuncture.

Whatever route you select, it’s vital to ensure your treatment pathways not only give you a chance to live a life free of pain and discomfort, but that they are appropriate for you and that you are happy with the choices you make.

To find out more and discuss your options with BMI Healthcare please get in touch and make an enquiry.

(1) http://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/directory/b/back-pain

(2) http://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/directory/b/back-surgery

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