Chiropractic, CTS and TOC: Where is your carpal tunnel?

You won’t find the carpal tunnel on any map-it’s in your wrist. Your carpal (wrist) bones form a tunnel-like structure-the carpal tunnel-through which pass tendons and the median nerve.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the occupational disease of the 21st century. Sufferers experience tingling and numbness in the hands, fingers and wrists; blanching (whitening upon pressure) of the hand; pain so intense that it awakens you at night and more. (1-2)

Who gets CTS?

Years ago, telegraph operators, seamstresses, carpenters and meat cutters were the CTS sufferers. Today office workers, computer operators, musicians and assembly line workers are more prone to it.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)

A similar condition is thoracic outlet syndrome. TOS affects the nerves in the upper back as they exit the neck. The symptoms include pain, weakness and numbness or tingling in the arm. (3)

The Medical and Chiropractic Approaches

The medical approach to persistent symptoms may include corticosteroid injections or surgery. For over a hundred years, however, Doctors of Chiropractic have been adjusting people’s spines to release stress from their nervous systems. Clinicians, researchers and patients have reported relief of classic carpal tunnel symptoms and improvement in overall body function after chiropractic adjustments. (4-5)

Davis L, Wellman H, Punnett L. Surveillance of work-related carpal tunnel syndrome in Massachusetts, 1992-1997: a report from the Massachusetts sentinel event notification system for occupational risks (SENSOR). Am J Ind Med. 2001;39(1):58-71.
Verghese J, Galanopoulou AS, Herskovitz S. Autonomic dysfunction in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. Muscle Nerve. 2000;23(8):1209-1213.
Narakas AO. The role of thoracic outlet syndrome in the double crush syndrome. Annales de Chirurgie de la Main et du Membre Superieur. 1990;9(5):331-340.
Bonebrake AR et al. A treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome: evaluation of objective and subjective measures. JMPT. 1990;13:507-520.
Davis PT, Hulbert JR, Kassak KM et al. Comparative efficacy of conservative medical and chiropractic treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. JMPT. 1998;21(5):317-326.

Coffee Is Good for You

Up to 25 Cups of Coffee a Day Is Safe for Heart, Says New Study

A British Heart Foundation funded study found that drinking five cups of coffee a day, and even up to 25, was no worse for your arteries than drinking less than one cup a day. Further, coffee won’t increase stroke or heart attack risk. (11)

Drinking Coffee Could Lead to A Longer Life, Scientist Says

Whether it’s caffeinated or decaffeinated, coffee is associated with lower mortality, which suggests the association is not tied to caffeine.

Drinking coffee was associated with lower risk of death due to heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease. People who consumed a cup of coffee a day were 12 percent less likely to die compared to those who didn’t drink coffee. This association was even stronger for those who drank two to three cups a day – 18 percent reduced chance of death.

Gunter M et al. Coffee drinking and mortality in 10 European countries: a multinational cohort study. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017;167(4):236-247. doi: 10.7326/M16-2945

Grilled corn and farro salad

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 cup uncooked farro ( Find it in the rice aisle at Meijer)

3 ears corn, shucked

1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided

1 cup chopped tomatoes

1/3 cup chopped pistachios

1/2 cup halved kalamata olives

1/4 cup chopped basil leaves

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Directions

Bring 5 cups of water and a large pinch of salt to a boil. Add the farro and reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until farro is al dente about 15 minutes. Drain and set aside

.While the farro is cooking, heat a grill pan over medium-high heat (or, preheat a grill to medium-high.) Rub the corn kernels with 2 teaspoons of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook, turning with tongs, until charred, about 10 minutes. Cut off the kernels and add to the farro bowl.

Add the chopped tomatoes, olives, pistachios and basil to the corn and farro bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, finely minced garlic clove, paprika and lemon juice until garlic is dissolved.. Slowly whisk in the remaining olive oil along with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Add the dressing to the farro bowl and toss well; season to taste, if needed and serve.

ENJOY YOUR GARDEN PRODUCE/FARMERS MARKET GOODIES…THIS IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR FOR STUFF STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GARDEN/FARM

Greetings from Charmaine: July/August 2019

Greetings all,

I hope those of you who have taken a vacation enjoyed your time away. It’s always good to let go of day-to-day worries and cares and take time to recharge our batteries.

I find it hard that this country has such apparent “disdain” for the vacation. In South Africa, we all got 3 weeks’ vacation from day one of working and it is said you need all three….one week to unwind, one to relax and one to slowly get prepared for going back to work. Norway gets 6 weeks a year and is one of the happiest places in the world!

It is not something to brag about “I don’t need a vacation”……YES you do- unless you happen to work only half days and have a phenomenal sense of balance and spend at least an hour or two each day on self-care. That’s why so many executives and “high powered” administrators end up with all these nasty things like cancer and heart attacks…they have not taken time to recharge their batteries and have a life of balance….a lot of these “millennial” startup companies have the right idea about bringing your dog to work, having a gym on the premises, fresh food cafeterias and goof off rooms, etc.

Sages have said that we should spend a little time each day going on vacation. Every day we should do something that we especially love to do, something that’s deeply true to our purpose in life. Whether that’s making music, meditating, praying, exploring, learning, sharing heartfelt time with someone or another healthy diversion, it should be done every day. Why? So our lives will have balance.

Enjoy the summer and remember…. as the kids go back to school and get into sports….chiropractic care will keep them functioning at their best!!!

See you on the table, on the yoga mat, under the barbells or just walking around town!

Researching Chiropractic: ADHD, Meniere’s Disease, Pins-and-needles

Chiropractic clinical case histories have been a regular feature of our patient newsletter since its inception. There seems to be no limit to the health problems that respond to chiropractic care. How many people suffering, on drugs, facing a life of limitation could be helped by chiropractic care?

Probably most of them.

If you know anyone suffering from any of the following conditions, please share this article with them and encourage them to give us a call. We can help. 517.627.4547

A child with headaches, autism, ADHD and OCD

An 11-year-old boy diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and headaches affecting his school attendance and sleep was brought in for chiropractic care.

A chiropractic analysis showed that he had subluxations in his left hip, sacrum, occiput (back of the skull) and neck and mid back vertebral subluxations (C1, C2 and T8).

The boy’s subluxations and structural distortions were addressed. His headache symptoms improved as did his behavioral problems and his quality of life. (1)

Meniere’s Disease

A 55-year-old man had been diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. He was experiencing constant dizziness, occasional vertigo (sensation of spinning), earache, ear noise and occasional deafness. His symptoms continued to worsen over eight years.

The patient was evaluated using chiropractic methods and found to have a subluxation in his upper neck (C1 vertebral subluxation).

He had his first chiropractic visit and adjustment and had an immediate improvement. After two weeks his condition completely resolved. (2)

Chronic migraines, pins-and-needles and disability

A 35-year old man with a history of sports injuries presented himself at a chiropractic clinic. His complaints included neck pain and stiffness, pins and needles into his left shoulder, low back pain and difficulty sleeping. The patient had a previous history of chronic headaches and migraines.

Over an eight-week period he received 24 chiropractic adjustments for vertebral subluxation correction. In addition to resolution of his pain, the patient-centered outcome assessments revealed improved physical, social and psychological functioning and decreased disability. There were improvements in cervical curve and reduction of anterior head carriage. (4)

Pubic pain in a pregnant woman

A 28-year-old who was in her 20th week of pregnancy was suffering from symphysis pubic dysfunction. The pubic bones are in front of the pelvis. She was experiencing pain at the pubic bone region and in both inner thighs for the prior three months.

She had one previous pregnancy and had experienced mild pubic pain, but with this pregnancy the pain was much worse.

Her spine and structural system were analyzed using chiropractic procedures. Her upper neck vertebra (C1), coccyx (tail bone) and right inferior pubic bone were found to be subluxated. All were corrected using chiropractic techniques and after three visits her pain abated and she had full mobility. She felt fine during the rest of her pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby boy. After birth (postpartum), she reported greater comfort while walking. (5)

Stone LL, Alcantara J. Resolution of chronic headaches, improved sociability, health & physical behavior in a child with autism, ADHD and obsessive compulsive disorder following chiropractic care to reduce vertebral subluxation: a case report & review of literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. June 17, 2019:63-70.
Fraser J. Resolution of symptoms in a patient with Meniere’s disease following upper cervical chiropractic care: a case report. Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research. May 30, 2019:36-41.
Spriggs M. Resolution of chronic migraines & disability with improved physical, social and psychological functioning following chiropractic care using CBP® protocols: case study & review of the literature. Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research. May 19, 2019:66-78.
Shtulman I, Miller H, Alcantara J. Resolution of symphysis pubic pain & dysfunction following chiropractic care in a pregnant patient: case study & review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic. April 18, 2019:36-40.

BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALAD

Servings: 8

Author: Elizabeth Lindemann

For the Dressing:

1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons honey
zest and juice of 2 limes
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the Salad:

45 oz. canned black beans (3 small cans) drained and rinsed
16 oz. frozen corn (3 cups) thawed and patted dry
2 jalapeño peppers de-seeded and diced
1 bell pepper diced (I used 1/2 red and 1/2 orange for color)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped
1/2 cup red onion diced

Instructions

Whisk together olive oil, honey, lime juice, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl.
Add remaining ingredients to bowl. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.
Mix and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Serve cold.

GREEN GODDESS PASTA SALAD

serves 6-8

1 lb gemelli cooked according to package instructions, drained
6.35 ounce Pesto Basil Pesto
1/2 cup vegan Mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups frozen peas cooked according to package instructions
2 cups steamed asparagus chopped
1 1/2 cups chickpeas drained
3/4 cup pine nuts

While pasta is cooking, stir together the pesto and mayo until smooth.
Combine hot pasta, pesto, salt, peas, asparagus, chickpeas, and pine nuts in a large bowl and stir to toss.
Sprinkle with chives and serve!

Chiropractic and Disc Problems

You have discs – spongy pads found between most of your vertebrae (spinal bones), in your jaw joint (TMJ) and between your pubic bones (in women, they separate a little during the birth process).

The discs help give your spine its curves and flexibility and make it better able to withstand stress. Discs also prevent your vertebrae from crashing into each other (that would hurt a lot!). And they also help create spaces (foramina) through which your nerves travel on their way to your internal organs.

But there are times your discs can cause you pain. If your discs flatten out, are twisted or bulge or are otherwise distorted, you can suffer from a lot of neck, back, leg and other pain.

Do You Have a “Slipped” Disc?

A disc cannot “slip” since it is knitted into the vertebrae from both above and below. What sometimes do slip are the vertebrae, which may stress the disc and contribute to its damage. Many “slipped discs” would be more accurately called slipped vertebrae or subluxations.

Disc damage may be due to an accident or fall (called macro-trauma) or from doing the same thing over and over (called micro-trauma). In addition, long-standing subluxations (tiny spinal distortions) can cause disc damage.

Disc damage may cause pain. The pain can get so bad people have resorted to surgery. But there’s another approach to disc problems – chiropractic!

Chiropractic has been a blessing to millions of people with spine and disc problems, often saving them from neck or back surgery (which has a very high failure rate, meaning the patient is as bad or worse after the surgery). (1)

Chiropractors have various techniques to restore the natural curve to your spine, take pressure off of discs and begin a process of healing. Before anyone you know considers back surgery, please tell them about chiropractic care. (2-3)

Amirdelfan K, Webster L, Poree L et al. Treatment options for failed back surgery syndrome patients with refractory chronic pain: an evidence based approach. Spine. July 15, 2017;42:S41-S52.
Robinson GK. Reabsorption of a herniated cervical disc following chiropractic treatment utilizing the Atlas Orthogonal Technique: a case report. Abstracts from the 14th Annual Upper Cervical Spine Conference, Nov. 22-23, 1997. Life University, Marietta, GA. Chiropractic Research Journal. 1998;5(1).
Ben Eliyahu DJ. Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical follow-up: study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniations. JMPT. 1996;19(19):597-606.

Latest News from Charmaine: July 2019

Greetings all!

We are back from our adventure packed trip to Norway and Mr. Alfred and his parents. It was a great time, but flying these days is not as nice as it was once upon a time.

This newsletter is going to be a combo June and July issue and I hope you will find the articles interesting.

I am hoping to get to my first farmers markets before this actually hits your hands. What with travel and the way wetter and cooler weather, the farmers are struggling to get produce out and I have had no opportunity to get out to them (not a huge fan of schlepping around in driving rain).

I will be competing in the Michigan Senior Olympics in early August and hope to do a competition in September to qualify for State level competition in December.

This past June 14th Dr. Ray and I Celebrated 39 years since graduation from Chiropractic College and by totally randomness ended up in Grand Ledge on 6/14/89 and fell seriously in love with the community. We have been extremely grateful for the opportunities to help guide local residents on the path to health and for the many opportunities to serve the local community as well.

SEE YOU IN THE OFFICE, ON THE TABLE, ON THE MAT OR UNDER THE BARBELLS

Taco Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

Note from Dr. C I made this with brown rice instead and it was awesome! Sitting outside in our gazebo eating theses on a yummy spring evening was AMAZING!

Taco vegetarian lettuce wraps with quinoa and black beans put a tasty spin on tacos that will actually keep you full with 16 grams of protein per serving!

Ingredients

1/2 cup quinoa
3 ears of corn, shucked (or 1 cup frozen)
1 15 oz. can black beans
1/2 Tbsp. coconut oil
2 bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 lb. mushrooms, washed and sliced
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 cup chopped cilantro, split in half
3/4 cup salsa
1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese ( I have used feta too!)
1 head of lettuce (I like butter leaf), washed and leaves separated
1 avocado, diced