|
Location
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I am having trouble sleeping, are there any non-pharmaceutical ways to remedy this?
Great question. I get this one quite a bit. The short answer is yes. The long answer is that we need to attack this problem with a complete history so that we could see what might be preventing you from blissful rest. So for the sake of this column, I'll go over some common ones.
1. Having trouble getting to sleep at night
There are many factors that could be keeping you from falling asleep. The most common ones that we see are pain, stress, worry, and diet.
The stress and worry can certainly cause you to spend most of your night staring at the ceiling, and these are things that need to be handled during your day. I often ask these people what they are going to do about their bills at 3 in the morning. The answer that I most likely get is "not a thing". So why are you bothered with it at 3 a.m.? Put it aside until the morning, and then you can rest better the next night.
Pain is the number one reason that people aren't getting the rest that they need. If you can't seem to get comfortable enough to fall asleep, then how are you going to get the sleep that you need? My stock answer to these people is do what it takes to stop the pain. Now, since you asked if there was a drugless way in which to do this, I would share the wonderful story of Chiropractic with you. If you are functioning in the way that you were designed, then you should not hurt. Chiropractic can help you function in that manner. Plain and simple.
Diet can be tricky. We need to keep our bodies energized, even when we're sleeping. But most people don't sleep well after eating. The most important things to avoid before bedtime are simple sugars and caffeine. Even complex carbohydrates can give you a boost of energy that might block the path to sleepyville. The best foods to eat late in the evening are rich in protein. This builds muscle and repairs all of the tissue damage that has happened during the day. Turkey is high in protein and also contains tryptophan, a chemical that helps you get to sleep. There are also some natural supplements like milk glutens and melatonin that can help you get to sleep.
2. Having trouble staying asleep
So you don't have trouble drifting off, but can't seem to stay there very long? Typically we see that something is waking you up. Snoring partner? Indigestion? Outside noise? Your own snoring? There is usually something. If you wake yourself frequently, this could be an indication of a condition called sleep apnea. This is a serious condition that needs to be addressed by you and your physician.
The thing to remember is how important sleep is to our daily lives. It is one of only a few processes in our bodies that we can actually go into debt over. The sleep we lose must be made up somewhere. So curl up, take a nap. Doctor's orders.
I have a condition called sciatica. What is it and can you help?
The sciatic nerves are the largest and longest nerves in the body. At its largest, the sciatic nerve is about as big around as your thumb. When these nerves are irritated by the inflammation of nearby soft tissues, doctors refer to this as sciatica.
One of the most common causes of sciatic leg pain is the vertebral subluxation complex. It can be accompanied by the bulging or herniation of the soft pulpy discs which separate each spinal bone. This can irritate or put pressure on the sciatic nerve roots as they leave the spinal cord. The result can be shooting pain down either, or both legs.
In the past, treatment has involved pain medications, muscle relaxers, physical therapy, and even surgery. The chiropractic approach is to use carefully directed and controlled pressure to remove the interference of spinal structures. These chiropractic adjustments can be quite effective in reducing nerve irritation and its associated pain.
Sciatica, like other health problems that can be traced to the spine, often respond dramatically to the restoration of normal spinal function through conservative chiropractic care.
In Health,
Dr. Scott M. Parham
Clark Family Chiropractic
2300 S. 57th St. Suite 1
Fort Smith, AR 72903
(479) 484-0805
I have heard that Chiropractic can't help my back because I have a slipped disc. Is that true?
Because of the way each spinal disc is attached to the vertebra above and below it, a disc cannot "slip" as commonly thought. However, trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to bulge, herniate, or rupture. This can be can quite painful, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots, often interfering with their function.
Since spinal discs have a very poor blood supply, they also depend upon the circulation of joint fluids to bring in nutrients and expel waste. If a spinal joint loses its normal motion and this pumping action is impaired, the health of the disc deteriorates. Just like a wet sponge, a healthy disc is flexible. A dry sponge is hard, stiff, and can crack easily. This is how many disc problems begin. Chiropractic prevents joint mobility loss and keeps the discs like the wet sponge, so that your discs can be healthy for years to come.
In Health,
Dr. Scott M. Parham
What can I do for my family nutritionally that will make the most difference in our lives?
Without sitting down at your dinner table every night, I really can not answer this question for you. However: I can tell you one thing that is getting more difficult to obtain without using some outside supplements. Omega 3 fatty acids. These acids (also known as fish oils) are essential to health and wellness. In your children they:
-provide support for proper early brain and nervous system development
-aid in eye and visual development
-enhance learning and cognitive function
-promote healthy emotional response and mood
-support healthy circulation and a healthy heart
And these are just a few. In adults, they do all this and more. Since they remove free radicals from your body, they allow you to heal faster, age slower, and they are great for the heart and circulation. They even smooth wrinkles!
Here is the "catch" (sorry for the pun, get it? Fish oils...) The only place that you can get omega 3 fatty acids in a regular diet is by eating wild, white fish. All of the fish that we buy in the store are raised in farms. These fish are not fed in the same way that wild fish are fed, and therefore do not contain the right oils. I don't know about you, but I don't typically go out and catch my own fish for dinner once a week, so it's almost impossible to get the proper amount of omega 3s from a regular diet.
So you have to supplement. There are many different brands of omega 3 fatty acids out there, and some are good and absorbable, and some are not. Keep this in mind. Cost does not equal quality. There are some very inexpensive fish oils out there that are excellent, and vice versa. If you want to know if the brand that you have is good, just call me here at the office. I'd be happy to help.
Of course, all this nutrition will go to waste if your family is out of balance. Get your families nervous system checked and the interference removed on a regular basis for the best results. You can call me for that as well.
In Health,
Dr. Scott M. Parham
I think I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. What is it and what can be done?
The first thing that needs to be done is to determine if you have carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). There is a very easy test in which to determine your condition. This involves placing the back of your hands together with your elbows out and your fingers pointing toward the floor. Press your hands together firmly for about one minute. If you experience numbness, tingling, and pain in your fingers, then there is a good chance that you have a carpal tunnel problem.
The major nerve controlling the thumb, index, and parts of the middle and ring fingers is called the median nerve. From the tips of your fingers, it travels through the bones in your wrist, past your elbow, up your arm, through your shoulder and neck, and finally to your spinal cord. If there are problems in any of these areas, then this could show up as carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal "tunnel" is formed by bones in the wrist. The median nerve, tendons to your fingers, and blood vessels pass through this opening. If one or more of the bones forming the tunnel collapse, then symptoms can result.
After a thorough examination, your Chiropractor will perform specific adjustments where needed, to help normalize structure and reduce nerve irritation. After stabilizing the structure of the hand and wrist, your Chiropractor will help you understand the repetitive motion or damaging movements that are causing the tunnel to collapse, and help you to change the ways in which you are doing things to prevent further issues.
In health,
Dr. Scott Parham
Clark Family Chiropractic
2300 S. 57th St. Suite 1
Fort Smith, AR
479.484.0805
|
|
|
|
| More from Dr. Scott Parham
|
|
|
|
|
|
|