Pain Relief Newsletter November  2003 [ Send a copy to a friend ]   Heel Pain and Bony Spurs Man people have the mistaken notion that bony spurs are the cause of heel pain, and that removing the spur will remedy the pain, but there probably is no single cause of heel pain.  The "spur" is not actually bone, but calcification at the point where the foot fibers insert on the heel bone.  Partial tears in the foot fibers or inflammation because of repetitive impact may result in pain. (READ ARTICLE) Managing Acute Pain in Children Most people think first of drugs to curb or prevent the perception of pain, but a multi-tiered approach that includes both pain medication and cognitive-behavioral approaches may be more effective in managing acute pediatric pain. Traditionally, health care practitioners have approached pain management in children as an either/or proposition involving drugs or "alternative approaches." (READ ARTICLE)   Bowen Technique for Back & Cervical Pain At age 4 she contracted polio. The disease left her with one leg about five inches shorter than the other. She had 13 operations, suffered from cervical and low back pain and needed up to 36 treatments of physical therapy just to get temporary relief. When she got up in the morning, her pain level often reached an "8" on a scale of 1 - 10 intensity.  Her low back pain got worse by walking, from wet weather, from exercise and from lifting.  Her cervical pain increased when turning her head, leaning forward or bending her head backwards.  She had difficulty falling asleep and suffered from constipation. She also had pain in her left hip.  Her doctors told her her hip was cracked. On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain reached a "7" intensity by standing or walking a long time and she needed to use a cane to walk on uneven surfaces. During the 3 days after her first Bowen treatment, the pain increased.  It took all her courage to go through the pain without any other kind of treatment.  But on the 4th day, her low back and cervical pain were completely gone and she no longer had problems falling asleep after that. After her 2nd treatment, she returned smiling and very relaxed. She had no pain in her neck, back or hips.  She was sleeping very well, didn’t need her cane to walk on uneven surfaces but still experienced constipation from time to time. After her 3rd treatment... she never returned.   Pain, Depression Often Travel Together Often accompanying physical pain is emotional distress that may be manifested as severe depression and anxiety. The physical pain for some becomes entwined with debilitating mental illness, increasing the complexity of management and often requiring providers with special expertise in this area. (READ ARTICLE) Frequent Use of Pain Relievers Linked to Hypertension All of us experience pain, inflammation or fever from time to time, and when we do, most of us reach for relief in the form of acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The most commonly used NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen (brand names such as Motrin and Advil) naproxen (brand names Naprosyn, Aleve) and nabumetone (Relafen). Acetaminophen is sold under many brand names, including Tylenol, Anacin-3 and Panadol. While we tend to see these over-the-counter drugs as fairly harmless, a recent study has cast some doubt on that assumption. The study, reported last year in the Archives of Internal Medicine, concluded that the use of NSAIDs and acetaminophen was significantly associated with an increased risk of hypertension (high blood pressure). The study did not show the same increased risk with the use of aspirin. (READ ARTICLE)   Prescription For Nutritional Healing - BOOK REVIEW     Prescription for Nutritional Healing by nutritionist Phyllis A. Balch and James F. Balch, M.D., has long been considered one of the most trusted, comprehensive sources on the mind-boggling array of vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements now available. Working from the premise that a good diet promotes good health, this third edition of PNH still starts with the basics: consume fresh produce, grains, and lean meats; avoid foods that are processed or high in saturated fat; cook using glass, stainless steel, or iron--never aluminum; and drink filtered water. The authors also stand by their claim that the government-prescribed recommended daily allowances are ridiculously low, and that the book's optimal daily intake for nutrients should be followed instead. So what's new in the third edition? Along with now-accepted remedies, like zinc and echinacea for the common cold, the Balches also explore many of the newer supplements to hit the market: SAMe (recommended for depression and joint pain), phosphatidyl serine (mental acuity), red yeast rice (cholesterol), and 5-HTP (weight loss, insomnia, depression). You'll also find an expanded chapter on alternative therapies that encompasses Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, along with a hefty section on pain control that offers a grab bag of options such as acupuncture, biofeedback, guided imagery, chiropractic care, and massage. Still, the bulk of the book remains the more than 250 health conditions--from everyday problems such as insect bites and bad breath to serious diseases including bulimia, cancer, and AIDS--and the nutritional protocols the Balches recommend for treatment. Since any number of supplements can be taken for the same condition, the Balches make sifting through the glut of information a little easier by separating their nutrient recommendations into four categories: essential, very important, important, and helpful. And they take a lot of the guesswork out of buying supplements by listing the brands they know and trust. Once again, the authors have squeezed in an impressive amount of information, including valuable sidebars on topics such as the dangers of aspartame; how to choose a calcium supplement; common heart problems and procedures; cancer risk factors, diagnosis, and treatments; and sports nutrition. This is not relaxing reading, but it's enormously useful. While the material can be dense, the authors still manage to present it in a straightforward manner that's understandable even for readers without a medical degree. -                                                                      Amazon.com -Norine Dworkin   Yoga For Neck Pain Yoga is a practice of meditation, spiritualism, and physical disciplines that has quickly become a very popular mainstream alternative for stress reduction, increasing core strength, and correcting posture. The following is a series of simple poses and stretching exercises to help strengthen the neck, shoulders, chest, spine and abdomen while focusing on improving and releasing and postural discomfort. (READ ARTICLE Power of the Gentle Touch Renowned for his outspoken comments, broadcaster and former Express editor Derek Jameson waxed lyrical about the Bowen Technique when it was first introduced to Britain in the early Nineties. Having suffered with a frozen shoulder for years, he was "absolutely flabbergasted" when just a few sessions of this gentle, hands-on therapy resolved the problem.  His wife Ellen was so impressed she decided to train as a practitioner. (READ ARTICLE) Newsletter Archives October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002