Pain Doc - Ask Dr. P - The Pain Doc

Arm, Wrist and Hand Pain From Overuse – Things You Can Do

by Pain Doc | Mar 1, 2017 | Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain

When I ran a large chiropractic practice in San Francisco’s Financial District during the late 1990s to 2002 about half of the cases I saw involved upper extremity pain due to “overuse.” They went by the names repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), cumulative trauma disorders, tendonitis, epicondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, stenosing tenosynovitis or just overuse syndrome.

Symptoms typically involved pain in the wrist tendons, forearm muscles and outer elbow; weak grip strength; shooting pains in the hands and sometimes loss of finger coordination.

Nearly all patients complained of neck and shoulder pains as well. About 20% were way beyond typical neck strain; these folks suffered an unusually pervasive pain that limited shoulder and neck movement enough to cause temporary disability (I had to take them off work). The neck and shoulder muscles were always rigid while the skin above felt unusually warm and a bit swollen/ boggy to the touch.

What could explain this surge of arm, wrist and hand pain from the late 90s to 2000s?

During this time frame, a couple of things occurred:

1. Laptops started entering the scene. This was significant, because up to this point people used a separate keyboard and monitor. And, they usually had the monitor raised on a monitor stand so you didn’t have to bend your neck down for so long. With the laptop, the monitor is connected to the keypad, forcing the user into an unfamiliar, awkward and ergonomically poor position. Neck and arm muscles were not accustomed to function in this position and experienced cumulative strain.

2. The internet developed, as well as desktop applications like Microsoft Office Suite. Employers saw how the internet could increase efficiency and job descriptions increasingly involved longer hours on the computer.

3. Mobile phones came on the scene, then smart phones. BlackBerrys (“Crack Berrys”) were all over the place, then the iphones. Like the arrival of the laptop these new devices caused people to assume postures that they weren’t accustomed to: forward craned necks multiple times throughout the day; thumb typing, slouching.

Wrist braces were a common site back then, and there was an increased incidence of carpal tunnel release surgery.

Now in 2017, you don’t hear much about repetitive strain injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome. I think we’ve witnessed a sort of “micro-evolution” phenomenon, where the human body gradually adapted to using laptops and smart phones due to them being “forced” on the population, and can now handle longer hours in these awkward positions.

How Chronic Arm Pain Develops

But that doesn’t mean you are immune to these overuse injuries. If you have a job that involves prolonged sitting (about one hour+ straight) and keyboarding, then it is prudent to do things to avoid developing chronic pain in your upper extremities. I’ve seen people who worked through arm and wrist pain because their job demanded it; then, a point was reached where the pain persisted even after weeks of resting their arms, and months after they left their job.

What typically happens is, with frequent typing you rapidly contract and relax the forearm muscles that move your hands and fingers. There are several of them tightly confined in a small compartment. These muscles and tendons are protected by tissue called bursae, which are basically frictionless pads so that they can rub against each other without much problem.

But if you continually engage in these movements the bursae basically dry out and lose their ability to protect the forearm muscles and tendons. Friction increases causing small tears to form in the bursae and fascia (muscle covering), triggering inflammation and swelling. The inflammatory chemicals irritate the nerves in the arm, which can lead to things like numbness, tingling and shooting pains.

Then, scar tissue develops and undergoes sclerosis, or hardening and permanent thickening. Now you are stuck with hardened tissues rubbing against one other when you type, making matters worse. It leads to a perpetual cycle of arm, wrist and hand pain that persists with or without hand and arm exertion.

And don’t forget the neck and shoulders. As you know, it’s nearly impossible to maintain an erect sitting posture. After some time, your neck and back muscles fatigue causing you to slouch. The muscles in the neck shorten, and may even pinch your cervical plexus on one side—the bundle of nerves that go to the arm—leading to a condition called thoracic outlet syndrome. Symptoms of TOS include numbness in the arms and hands, swelling and a weak pulse.

For some people, the combination of neck, shoulder and arm pain is so bad they can no longer return to office work.

So what should you do?

First and foremost, taking periodic rest periods in between arm and hand work helps. Do neck, shoulder arm and wrist stretches during this time.

Secondly, take a hard look at your workstation ergonomics. Take note of the body positions and movement patterns required by your particular job function. Are there things you can arrange to minimize strain to your body? Think in terms of positioning frequently used equipment in a way that requires the least amount of exertion to your arms, wrists and hands. It could mean positioning the item closer to your body or further; higher or lower, and/or angled in a certain way. The slightest adjustment in a frequently used item can make all the difference.

For desk workers, I highly recommend that you get an adjustable standing desk such as the VariDesk. Set it to the standing height and stand for an hour; then effortlessly switch it back (takes all of five seconds) to the sitting position for half an hour, then back to standing. Standing gives you better posture and is actually better for your low back than sitting although it is harder on your feet and knees.

Third, think like an athlete. An athlete makes his/her body strong in order to perform the best, and to handle the physical challenges of his/her sport.

Well, sitting and typing is not exactly a sport but like a sport it puts physical demands on certain parts of your body—your low back, neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Strengthen those areas using weights and whole body functional exercises. This will make your body resilient to the physically stressful position of sitting at a desk for 8+ hours a day.

Fourth, there is self-therapy. If you are developing pain in your arms and hands, consider doing massage therapy. Myofascial release and Active Release Technique (ART) are especially good for upper extremity strain problems. Ask around; these techniques are advanced “medical” massage techniques that not your typical massage therapist is trained to do.

If you want to try it yourself, I made a video that shows you a modified form of myofascial release using an edged instrument.

If you are having neck and shoulder issues, find a good chiropractor and get some adjustments to those areas. Adjustments can help loosen fixated joints, removing pressure to nerves and blood vessels that service your arms.

Last but not least, use nutrition as therapy. Like a marathon runner who needs certain nutrition to recover from muscle breakdown in the legs, those whose job requires frequent arm and hand exertion at work should use nutrition to compensate for muscle breakdown in the upper extremities. I recommend green juice, whey and anti-oxidants.

Click here for the specific, nutritional supplements I recommend for maintaining good musculoskeletal health.

Bottom Line: Your arms and hands are indispensable to you. If you have a job that requires frequent keyboarding or other use of hands and arms, take preventive action to ensure you don’t develop chronic strain. Most of the best things you can do to achieve this, you can do on your own, without a doctor.

Till next time,

Dr. Dan

How to Do Home Traction for Low Back Pain

by Pain Doc | Feb 23, 2017 | Low Back Pain

Lumbar traction is one of the things you can do to manage low back pain yourself, and not have to spend $$ on the chiropractor or physical therapist.

It involves stretching the lumbar spine in the axial plane; i.e. length-wise; causing slight separation between the vertebral bodies and smaller facet joints. The traction force has to be strong enough to overcome the resistance from muscles and ligaments in order to derive benefit; otherwise it’s just a muscle stretch.

Why Your Height Changes Throughout the Day

Do you notice how you have to adjust your car’s rear-view mirror in the morning in order to align it properly with the rear window?

That’s because you are sitting higher in the morning, and are actually taller; perhaps a full centimeter.
When you stand or sit throughout the day, the force of gravity compresses the discs in your spine; mostly the thick ones in your low back (lumbar). At the end of the day, the discs are slightly thinner due to this constant pressure, and you are shorter. If you drive your car around this time, you probably don’t notice that you have to adjust your rear-view mirror downwards.

When you sleep, you are in a horizontal position and the effect of gravity on your discs is reduced. As you sleep, your discs slowly re-hydrate themselves, like a dry sponge soaking up water, and you become taller overnight!

Most of your upper body’s weight is supported by your lumbar spine, or low back. That’s why the lumbar vertebrae and discs are the thickest and strongest in the spine (compared to those in the neck and torso). The discs/vertebral bodies absorb 80% of the weight placed at that level; the two facet joints behind the vertebral body bear about 10% each.

As you age, your lumbar discs lose some of their ability to resorb fluids. That is one reason you tend to get shorter as you reach 60 and beyond. Like a car tire or other moving machinery part, its function degrades over time.

Factors that accelerate disc wear and tear are being overweight; having an occupation that requires prolonged sitting (desk job, truck driver, airline pilot, etc.); injury to your low back in sports or an accident; and having parents who had back problems.

If any of these describe you, then definitely try doing home lumbar traction periodically. If you currently have low back pain, traction can alleviate some of it by reducing pressure to your discs and facet joints, which do have nerve endings. If you don’t have low back pain, traction can be done to help prevent your discs from degenerating; or at least arrest the progression of disc degeneration. This can save you from major back problems in the future; perhaps even surgery.

What are your home traction options?

The most effective traction is done by the professional equipment used by chiropractors and physical therapists. Sometimes referred to as “non-surgical spinal decompression,” it basically involves lying prone or supine on a special table that has a movable lower section that glides on rails.

You are secured to the table by some contraption, and a harness is placed around your pelvis. A cable connects the harness to a special motor, which can be programmed to pull in different patterns.

For example, there can be settings for frequency of pulls per session; strength of pull; duration of hold time; and pull patterns (step up, step down, constant, variable). The machine must be able to overcome guarding (involuntary contraction) of the erector spinae muscles of the lumbar spine, which are quite strong by the way, so that the traction affects the spinal discs and joints which start to separate only after the back muscles let go.

Now, if you want to get this level of traction you have to find a center that offers this and make an appointment.

Consumer-level home traction devices are entirely different. Most of them leverage your own body’s weight to do the traction.

Watch this video, as I review four devices that can be used for lumbar traction:

The four home traction devices I discuss in this video are the inversion table, the Back Bubble, the Stamina traction device and the PosturePump™ elliptical spine trainer. All have their advantages and disadvantages. If you want to give home traction a try, watch the video and do further research.

In summary, home lumbar traction can be a comparatively low cost approach to managing general low back pain, and a great preventive measure. Traction helps relieve pain by decompressing discs and facet joints, and assisting them in re-hydration, especially at the end of the day.

What’s the Best Natural Pain Relief Herb or Supplement?

by Pain Doc | Feb 16, 2017 | Uncategorized

I am often asked, “What supplements or nutrients have the strongest pain relief qualities?”

Great question. After all, most people these days worry about the side effects of popular over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Thanks to the wide reach of the internet, almost everyone knows about the dangers of drugs such as ibuprofen (kidney damage), aspirin (stomach bleeding), and opiates (constipation, addiction, sudden death), just to name a few.

Virtually all medications will have an adverse effect on your GI tract (stomach and intestines), kidney, liver, heart, and/or muscles and joints. Obviously, you won’t feel like superman taking these pills on a regular basis. Pretty scary, especially for those with chronic pain.

However, with nutritional supplements the pain-suppression properties are not as quick-acting or in most cases, as potent as synthetic drugs. But, if you can lower your pain through other means– home therapy, an anti-inflammatory diet, exercise and stretching, meditation etc.– then you won’t need dangerous, strong medicines to keep the pain down; herbs and supplements will be enough to do the trick.

If you have any sort of chronic musculoskeletal pain, I recommend that you maximize your body’s healing potential via an ongoing nutrient-dense diet and certain lifestyle changes, then resort to safer nutritional supplements/herbs to keep the remaining pain down. You may not even need these herbs if your body does a great job healing itself.

Never underestimate the power of food and the human body’s ability to heal and regenerate itself. Like a seedling, if you give it the proper nourishment and environmental conditions, your body will respond dramatically.

With that, here are three supplements that I recommend trying for joint and muscle pain. There are many others, of course, but today we’ll focus on these:

Cissus quadrangularis

Cissus quadrangularis is a succulent (like a cactus) vine originating from Africa and Asia. According to Web MD, it is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in Thailand, and is also used in traditional African and Ayurvedic medicine.

While it is used for a wide variety of disorders such as PMS pain, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and ulcers, cissus quadrangularis is best known for healing bone fractures, strengthening bones and relieving joint pain in athletes and body builders. In fact, it is commonly referred to as “Bone Setter.”

How does it work?

Like many herbs, unfortunately, much of the evidence is anecdotal. Large clinical trials involving hundreds of people are the best standard for confirming the therapeutic value of a nutritional supplement, but there aren’t such studies at this time.

However, anecdotal evidence; i.e. documented cases of people benefiting from the herb should not be dismissed. Nothing like actual humans (not rats) to vouch for the effectiveness of something.

Speaking of rats, test tube studies and research in animals show that cissus quadrangularis has antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. A study involving rats “demonstrated the anti-arthritic potential of C. quadrangularis and …validates its traditional use for the treatment of arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.”

As far as dosage goes, there is no set therapeutic dosage for cissus quadrangularis. It depends on age, body size, health status and level of pain. Start out with small doses; increase gradually every other day and note effects. Stick with the dosage that gives you max benefit.

Dr. David Williams Joint Advantage 5x Gold

Dr. David Williams dedicates his life to personally exploring the far reaches of the globe, investigating medicinal herbs used by the local populace. When he finds one that’s worth investigating, he makes sure medical research is strong enough to support its therapeutic value before he recommends it.

Meriva – “Golden” pain relief

His latest formulation, Joint Advantage Gold 5x is his flagship product for reducing joint pain. It features Meriva, an especially potent variety of curcumin.

Curcumin is a bright-orange herb that comes from the rhizome of the turmeric plant. Research confirms that curcumin has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and even tumor suppression properties. It offers protection at the lipid-rich cell membrane, as it is a fat soluble molecule. So when you take curcumin, make sure to eat it with a meal that contains fat.

A study referenced in the Alternative Medicine Review found that the curcumin in Meriva is 45 times more bioavailable than ordinary curcumin; which means more of it gets into your cells, not to your urine.

In two clinical studies, Meriva decreased joint discomfort and stiffness by over 50% and significantly decreased inflammatory markers, especially the notorious C-reactive protein (CRP). Take that, Ibuprofen!

Pain relief from an ancient tree

The other potent, pain-relieving ingredient in Joint Advantage Gold 5x is a concentrated form of Boswellia Serrata called AprèsFlex.

Boswellia comes from the sap of the Boswellia serrata tree, native to the Indian sub-continent. The herb is often referred to as the Indian version of frankincense, which comes from the sap of the Boswellia saca tree species found in Africa.

Boswellia works by inhibiting lipoxygenase enzymes (LOX), which are powerful contributors to inflammation and disease. By inhibiting LOX enzymes, Boswellia effectively blocks leukotriene synthesis.

Leukotrienes play a major role in promoting numerous age-associated, inflammatory diseases including arthritis, inflammatory bowel disorder, cancer, and pulmonary (lung) disease. It is especially known for reducing cerebral inflammation.

In addition, Boswellia has been found to improve blood supply to joints and restore the integrity of weakened blood vessels, with no side effects.

Regular Boswellia extract contains glycoproteins which act as a barrier to digestion, but the AprèsFlex formula combines other natural components of the tree that dilute and weaken these glycoproteins, improving absorption into the blood stream.

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 59 subjects with stiff and achy joints took 100 mg of AprèsFlex or a placebo daily for 30 days. Three tests were used to measure discomfort, stiffness, and physical function—and in all 3, AprèsFlex soundly beat the placebo (fake supplement).

In a measure of pain intensity, AprèsFlex showed a 14.8% better reduction than the placebo starting in just 5 days.
In a measure of daily functions hindered by discomfort, AprèsFlex showed a 16.3% better reduction starting in just 5 days.
After 30 days, those taking AprèsFlex reported a 40.1% improvement in joint comfort–a 41.3% improvement in stiffness–and a 38.8% improvement in functional ability.

So if you have sub-acute or chronic pain in any joint of your body—hands, low back, hips, knees—give JAG5x a try. It contains the research dose of 1,000 mg. Make sure you take it with a healthy meal that contains good fats, for better absorption.

Check out Joint Advantage Gold 5x Here.

Capsaicin Home Made Compound

Here’s a simple home remedy you can try for pain. Get some cayenne pepper at your grocery store, located in the spice section. Pour about 1-2 ounces in a small bowl, then pour about 3 ounces of light olive oil in it and mix. Using your fingers, rub it into your painful joint.

Capsaicin is the substance in peppers that is responsible for generating the sensation of heat. It can relieve pain temporarily by uptaking into the neural synapses—the space between connecting nerve cells where neurotransmitter molecules act to polarize the cells; thus interfering with pain signal transmission.

To enhance this therapy’s effect, apply an infrared heat lamp over the painful area for 10 minutes. This opens the skin pores and increases capillary circulation, which enables more of the capsaicin to reach those nerves.

Well, that’s it!

If you have joint or muscle pain, give these natural alternatives a try. The first two nutrients work primarily by blocking the inflammatory process; the last by interfering with the pain signal to the brain. Best of all, they won’t hurt you like the big pharma drugs can.

Is it Possible to Cure Chronic Pain By Yourself?

by Pain Doc | Feb 10, 2017 | Chronic Pain

Last week, I wrote an article about the Three Paradigms of Health Care. Just to clarify, paradigm in this sense means “a typical example or pattern of perceiving or doing something,” such as society’s paradigm of the “ideal” family.

A paradigm doesn’t carry implications of right or wrong; it simply describes how things are currently done or viewed by society. Paradigms materialize from a combination of historical events, new scientific findings and social trends.

So, the paradigm of health care refers to what typical individuals think and expect of health care.

My proposal is that there are three paradigms of health care:

1. Passive healthcare where you receive it from a provider (doctor, therapist), which includes drug prescriptions, surgery, and physical therapy and chiropractic treatment.

2. Doctor-prescribed lifestyle modification directives; i.e. diet restrictions, exercises, work limitations, etc.

3. “Do It Yourself” health care, where the individual researches health information without the help of a doctor and does things to improve his or her health.

My conclusion is that all three are needed to cover all bases.

But, I also insist that the vast majority of people in the world have a sort of mental attachment; almost an addiction to the first paradigm.

There is this ingrained belief that one must have something done to them by a doctor to get healthy. I think it’s mostly due to the barrage of drug advertisements, medical validation by society’s major institutions, and influence from parents.

Not enough emphasis is placed on the idea of nurturing the body and optimizing its natural recuperative abilities through lifestyle modification. As a result, we live in a society that has a reactive stance to health that actually embraces “sick” care, not health care.

We are not as discerning as we should be in what we eat and fail to make time in our schedules to exercise or engage in physical activities like going on a long hike. This makes us vulnerable to disease, illness and pain as it weakens our bodies’ ability to handle its environment. It cracks the door open for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and chronic joint pain to creep into our lives.

Here’s my advice:

If you think you might be giving too much credit or deference to the first paradigm, shift gears in your thinking and investigate the third paradigm, “Do It Yourself” health.

Here are the advantages:

1. When you invest in your own health, i.e. take more responsibility and play an active role in it, you will be healthier. It’s like a person diligently studying for an exam vs. one who doesn’t and tries to wing it on exam day: the guy who is passive will do worse every time. Like the guy who didn’t study, having a passive attitude towards your health leaves you vulnerable and unprepared.

2. For many types of cases, it’s cheaper than going to the doctor or therapist. You can find home treatment solutions to many common ailments online such as back pain, skin rashes, tension headaches and so on. The key is to read only reputable sites (do research on the individual providing the information first to confirm he/she is qualified).

I’m not saying to never visit your doctor; just pointing out that in this day and age, information on anything is highly accessible and should be utilized properly. Now I know there is a lot of crap online as well; the key is to develop an eye for what is legitimate and what is not, and do your due diligence.

So the question I present is, “Is it possible to cure pain by yourself?”

The answer is YES. Now, that is just an answer to the question from a logic standpoint. I’m not saying that it is possible for you specifically; just that it is possible.

The pain I am talking about is chronic musculoskeletal pain, or pain affecting the bones, joints, muscles and related connective tissue (ligaments, tendons, cartilage).

Obviously there is a “point of no return” where these structures are so degenerated or damaged that pain will always be present. This applies to conditions like knee, hip and low back pain involving severe, irreversible degeneration of structures. What’s critical, then, is that you take action BEFORE you reach that point of no return; and there are LOTS of things you can do to arrest or even reverse the progression of degeneration.

The biggest one is dietary changes. If you have some kind of chronic pain, have you considered using dietary intervention to stop the pain?

Dietary intervention is a popular means to achieve weight loss, but you rarely hear about it being used specifically to fight pain.

Eliminating certain food categories can go a long way in reducing pain. This includes processed sugar, grains, preservatives, additives, alcohol and caffeine. Try doing this for just one week, and see how you feel. I think you’ll be amazed.

Conversely, adding certain food categories or increasing their intake can reduce pain. This includes deep green, leafy vegetables; restricting fat intake to healthy fats like egg yolks, olives, coconut, avocados, seeds and nuts; and drinking only water. Do this for just one week, and see how feel. I think you’ll be amazed.

Secondly, there are home therapies you can do to reduce pain. Massage, joint mobilization and certain safe, therapeutic tools and equipment are available. One of my favorites that I use myself (for prevention) and have prescribed to patients suffering from low back pain is the PosturePump.

Lastly, making some tweaks to your routine can go a long way in reducing and reversing pain. This includes restful sleep, grounding, standing more and sitting less, and doing mind-body techniques such as meditation and EFT.

Bottom line, the Third Paradigm of health care, Do It Yourself health care is on the rise. There is still a cautious attitude towards it within the medical field, but probably because the idea of “people doing what doctors are trained to do” doesn’t sit well with many doctors. But don’t let this discourage you. Remember, you have the biggest stake in your health, so it is prudent to be invested in your health. Don’t simply delegate it to doctors; get yourself involved; know what’s going on, what’s available for treatment, and the risks.

How Do You “Do” Health Care?

by Pain Doc | Feb 6, 2017 | Telemedicine

The Evolving Paradigm of Health Care

Health care. It’s one of those things that’s talked about regularly that carries sub-conscious assumptions.

I’d like to ask you today, “What does health care mean to YOU?”

You might say:

“Health care is being able to see a doctor whenever I need to, for a health-related complaint.”

Ok, fine. Let’s say you do. Now what?

You may then further elaborate, “Being able to ask the doctor what is causing the problem and what I need to do to get it fixed.”

Ok, you’re talking about getting a diagnosis and prescription. You ask the doctor about that nagging symptom, and he or she explains that it is being caused by a virus. Your doctor then writes a prescription and prints out a pre-written information sheet about your condition, which includes things you should do, and hands it to you and you are discharged.

That’s great. It’s reassuring to have access to a doctor whenever you are ill.

But, given all the tools that are available these days, was a doctor really necessary? Could a lower-cost nurse sufficed? Some RNs and Nurse Practitioners are very knowledgeable in disease signs, symptoms and treatment.

And did you know that there are some pretty accurate apps and websites (WebMD, ShareCare) that could have provided the same information to you in minutes, for FREE?

And, how much a month are you paying in health insurance to have this access? For my family, it’s $1,500/month and we’re all pretty healthy. Is it worth it?

My point here is that the old model of out patient service is getting a lot of challenges in this age of technology and big data access. It is time for people to start questioning how they wish to utilize, or “do” health care.

Another valid question is “Should this be called “sick care” instead?

After all, in this scenario the person seeks out the doctor AFTER the condition is already there; after he is ill or stricken with the malady.

So yes, a better description of this service is “sick care.” But although it’s a more accurate term, sick care sounds negative (which it is) compared to the term health care. When you hear the word health it evokes positive images like strength, energy, vitality and longevity. So don’t expect to see hospitals, doctors and insurance companies extolling their sick care services.

The Three Paradigms of Health Care Today

Returning to the questions “What is health care?” and “How should I use or do it?”, here’s another thing to consider:

Do you really need to take medicine, get a shot, see a physical therapist or get surgery?

Ok, in some cases you do; usually emergency cases like heart attacks and stroke.

The first paradigm of health care, which we’re all familiar with is having some procedure done to you by a medical professional. This is passive health care, where you receive it passively and includes taking medicine, getting surgery, and having therapy done on you.

The second paradigm of health care is the doctor or professional instructing you what to do to get well or for prevention; i.e. prescribing home care or lifestyle modification routines.

This is a big improvement from the first paradigm in the following ways:

(1) it gets you involved in your health, which trains you to be more responsible for your health and not reliant on a doctor;

(2) it is less expensive because you are in the doctor’s office less; and

(3) it is likely to be more effective and safer than visiting a hospital or taking medications.

Diet, exercise, home care strategies and other lifestyle modification interventions have a bigger, direct and longer-lasting impact on your health than medicine or passively receiving ongoing therapy (for a pain condition) such as physical therapy and chiropractic.

Medicines typically work by altering or “jury-rigging” your physiology to counter the symptoms you are experiencing, which gives the “illusion” of health. This is not natural, and there is almost always blow back by your body; i.e. side effects, some which create more problems (such as how taking Aspirin for pain can give you ulcers; or how taking too much Ibuprofen can cause renal failure).

Ongoing chiropractic or physical therapy is almost as bad, because anything passive risks your body becoming dependent or addicted to it, which again leads to blow back in the form of weakness and reduced coordination of muscle and joint systems.

Finally, the third paradigm of health care is when YOU get involved in researching your condition thoroughly, and then getting instruction on how to resolve your health condition from legitimate sources.

Now, this paradigm gives you the most freedom, but it also has some drawbacks. You need to learn how to differentiate between legitimate websites and the extreme ones. Health is an art as well as a science, so there are gray areas and some people are known to take excessive liberties in their writings about health.

Traditional medical websites obviously have an “allopathic medicine” bias. This is good in that the information is usually backed by research (evidence-based medicine), especially when on reputable, authoritative sites like Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins.

(However, in recent years I have seen WebMD warm up to natural medicine; i.e. herbs and traditional natural remedies; although they are careful to use non-committal words and phrases such as “…may be helpful” and “…some anecdotal cases show that herb x reduced pain..”)

But the traditional allopathic websites are not as in-depth into alternative health favorites such as nutrition, herbs and things like electromagnetic therapy and grounding.

Then there are the alternative health websites. These sites are usually written by bloggers; some of whom have credentials (unfortunately, you will have to verify it yourself by doing internet research) and some who do not– just health enthusiasts who read other sites and report on them. Be more cautious about the information you get from these sites. That’s not to say that you can’t find useful information on some of them; some are really good despite being written by non-doctors.

Alternative health websites fit in better with this third paradigm of health care by virtue of the nature of alternative health, which essentially IS about implementing lifestyle modifications to achieve health from within. Things like diet, nutrition, herbs, exercise, breathing, meditation, massage, stretches, and using safe, energy emitting devices to enhance your body’s healing.

Fix chronic pain at home using nutrition, lifestyle modification and techniques used by physical medicine professionals.

ShareCare

Online medical consultation with real doctors.

Cleveland Clinic Online

Online medical consultations and prescriptions by real doctors.

WebMD Symptom Checker

Interactive symptoms checker and medical report and recommendations.

Mercola.com

The world’s largest natural health care website featuring articles on wellness, prevention and the dangers of common medical interventions.