Strokes and Stroke RehabilitationWritten by Dr. Michael L. Johnson
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After a stroke, gait is often disturbed, speech is slurred, one side of face appears droopy, and one leg is stiff, all of which are related to deficiency in brain function. Usually, one side of brain has been affected. To gain back function of areas damaged by stroke, activities must be performed that influence those specific areas of brain. Strokes have traditionally been with treated with pharmaceuticals, but November 1998 issue of “The Journal of Neuroscience” documents that pharmaceutical-based treatment does not work unless coupled with behaviorally based physical change. There are many non-pharmaceutical treatment modalities that are effective. Examples of these are visual stimulation on one side of visual field, auditory stimulation in one ear, olfactory stimulation through one nostril, eye exercises through one visual plane, specific rehabilitative exercises firing to efficient side, different word games, and different communication exercises. These modalities target specific areas within brain and brainstem to achieve exact amount of stimulation needed. All of these treatment protocols are referenced and scientifically based.
Dr. Michael L. Johnson is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist with over twenty years of experience in private practice, over 850 hours of neurological studies, and 3800 hours of postgraduate education. His best-selling book What Do You Do When the Medications Don't Work? - A Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions is available at http://www.askdrjohnson.com. © 2005 M. L. Johnson
| | Shoulder, Arm, and Hand PainWritten by Dr. Michael L. Johnson
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plexus damage is to nerves that make up brachial plexus as they exit spinal column through foramina plexus. In foramina, nerves are surrounded by a ring of bone and meninges (tough coverings), and if ring becomes smaller, nerves may become compressed or “pinched.” What causes nerves to get “pinched?" Many things: long-standing spinal stress; old injuries such as falls from childhood; new injuries such as sports mishaps or car accidents (especially whiplash - a situation where head and neck are suddenly “snapped” forward and backward); arthritis; being twisted, pulled or shaken; or even sleeping in an awkward position as well as many other stresses and strains of daily living. The right brain controls left side of body, and left brain controls right side of body. If patient is experiencing pain on one side of body (right or left), opposite brain may be firing at an abnormally high rate. In order for a patient to perceive pain, an area of brain must fire at a higher frequency of firing. If pain is bilateral, or on both sides, there may be different central structures involved such as brainstem or cerebellum.
Dr. Michael L. Johnson is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist with over twenty years of experience in private practice, over 850 hours of neurological studies, and 3800 hours of postgraduate education. His best-selling book What Do You Do When the Medications Don't Work? - A Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions is available at http://www.askdrjohnson.com. © 2005 M. L. Johnson
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