Treating Chronic Pain and RSD

Written by Jim O'Keefe


The goal of treatment is pain control and as much mobilization ofrepparttar affected limb as possible. An individualized treatment plan is designed during your doctor visit, which often combines physical therapy, medications, nerve blocks, and psychosocial support.

Medication Medications are prescribed to control pain. The type of pain experienced byrepparttar 115279 patient determinesrepparttar 115280 type of medication prescribed. For information on obtaining low cost or free medicines please click here.

Constant pain caused by inflammation is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, indomethacin). Constant pain not caused by inflammation is treated with central acting agents such as tramadol (Ultram®). Stabbing pain and pain that disrupts sleep are treated with antidepressants such as amytriptyline, doxepin, nortriptyline, and trazodone. Oral lidocaine, a somewhat experimental treatment for RSD/CRPS, also may be prescribed. Sudden sharp pain may be treated with anticonvulsants (e.g., carbamazapine, gabapentin). Generalized, severe pain that does not respond to other medications may be treated with opioids (e.g., oxycontin, hydrocodnone, propoxyphine, codeine, morphine). Muscle cramps (spasms and dystonia) can be treated with clonazepam and baclofen. Localized pain related to nerve injury may be treated with Capsaicin® cream, but its effectiveness has not been proven. Medications that block selected actions ofrepparttar 115281 sympathetic nervous system, such as clonidine (Catapres®, available in oral and patch formulations), can be useful in some cases. One ofrepparttar 115282 main drugs used, Neurontin, wasrepparttar 115283 focus of a recent 20/20 epose' article. For details look here

Muscles stiffness may be treated with muscle relaxants such as

Chiropractic Care: A Personal Review

Written by C. Bailey Lloyd/Lady Camelot


Chiropractic Care: A Personal Review by C. Bailey-Lloyd

After years of constant pain and traditional medicine, I went for my first Chiropractic visit at Palmetto Chiropractic Center in SC. (Due to lesion at C1/2, bulging disc at C3, scapula winging and scoliosis) When I walked intorepparttar door, I was a bit astounded byrepparttar 115278 pleasant and spacious environment. Additionally,repparttar 115279 younger lady atrepparttar 115280 front counter doubled both asrepparttar 115281 receptionist andrepparttar 115282 technician. She smiled, greeted me and introduced herself as "Dana." I relayedrepparttar 115283 multiple health issues I was having; e.g., spinal lesions, bulging disk, winging scapula, scoliosis, parasthesia, ear ringing, vision loss, and tremendous pain. Dana listened attentively, and explained that these problems could definitely be addressed. After filling out a few standard forms, and my health history, Dana told me, "...Prepare to be amazed."

I was then escorted back to a small room where I was told that I would have diagnostic tests by technologically-advanced SEMG (Surface Electromyography) Scan and X-rays. Inrepparttar 115284 past, I had already had CT Myelograms, MRIs, Cat Scans, Ultrasound, Sonogram and traditional X-rays, so I assumed this was nothing new or out ofrepparttar 115285 ordinary.

The Chiropractor knocked onrepparttar 115286 door and introduced himself to me as Dr. Jud Heldreth. Cordially, he explained that his practice actively engaged in "teaching" patients and encouraged me to ask as many questions as possible so that I would fully understand, and inevitably learnrepparttar 115287 process of Chiropractics. As he leftrepparttar 115288 room, I was asked to remove my top articles of clothing and was draped with a clinical over shirt that opened inrepparttar 115289 backside. In front of me, was a computerized screen with an image of a human musculoskeletal system, includingrepparttar 115290 spinal column. Alongside each vertebra, were several graph bars. Each bar representative of functional degrees ofrepparttar 115291 motor nerves, muscle balance, and autonomic nerves.

What I discovered was thatrepparttar 115292 SEMG Scan could detectrepparttar 115293 slightest subluxations (or misalignments) that disturb nerve functioning. (Subluxations cause abnormal amounts of electrical current to flow into one's muscles.) SEMG Scan, as a valuable diagnostic tool, is capable of discovering and pinpointing these nervous system disturbances. The slightest amount of pressure - even pressure exerted fromrepparttar 115294 weight of a dime - can cause disturbances inrepparttar 115295 Nervous System's communications - this is why SEMG Scan is so important. From what I was understand, White bars depict Normal Function. Abnormalities resulted in Green, Blue or Red Bars. Green bars were indicative of mild abnormal function; blue bars indicated moderate abnormal function; and red bars meant thatrepparttar 115296 abnormal function was severe.

After about five minutes, Dana came insiderepparttar 115297 room and took what appeared to be a blow-dryer gun to my backside. Slowly and gently, she ranrepparttar 115298 SEMG gun along my spinal column. Stopping at certain points, I could hearrepparttar 115299 computer audibly announcing specific areas of my spine - "...C1....C2....C3....C4...C5...." etc. Painless and virtually noninvasive, I was more astounded thatrepparttar 115300 computer spoke than anything. Judging by my own SEMG Scan and my natural worry tendencies, my spine was in big trouble. I had never seen so many red bars in my life - and they were all pretty long as well.

Next, camerepparttar 115301 X-rays. Unlike traditional methods of X-ray, I was asked to stand in different positions than what I was accustomed. A matter of fact,repparttar 115302 whole process lasted less than 40 minutes. Afterrepparttar 115303 scan and X-rays were complete, I was scheduled for a follow-up appointment to discussrepparttar 115304 results of my tests.

The following Monday, I went torepparttar 115305 Chiropractic clinic to learn about my test results - and for my initial "adjustment." When I arrived, I was escorted back torepparttar 115306 original room where I had my "thermal Scan," (SEMG Scan). Dr. Heldreth walked intorepparttar 115307 room with me and first began to explain what allrepparttar 115308 red, green and blue bars meant on my SEMG scan. He relayed how this (SEMG Scan) was a diagnostic tool that informed him, along with X-rays, onrepparttar 115309 condition of my spinal column. By merely looking atrepparttar 115310 elongated bars onrepparttar 115311 computerized screen, I was astonished. He pointed out several areas along my spine, beginning atrepparttar 115312 nape of my skull torepparttar 115313 base of my nervous system, which had "subluxations," or nervous system disturbances. He further explained how these subluxations could have a dramatic impact on my overall health and well-being. He gave a detailed explanation as to how each of these subluxations could have a negative effect on various muscle, organ and glandular systems in my body. However, Dr. Heldreth accentuated his positive attitude and further went on to say that I, myself, had to have a positive attitude about my health so that we could tackle some of these issues.

Next, he placed my X-rays on a lit screen and with a black, felt-tip marker, and highlighted areas onrepparttar 115314 film itself. He showed merepparttar 115315 two top vertebras and marked two dots from one groove torepparttar 115316 next. He clarified how these were not only displaced about an inch from one another, but how they were diagonally displaced as well. Followingrepparttar 115317 first bit of information, he went on to exhibit points below that were not in straight alignment at all. Furthermore,repparttar 115318 base of my spine (tail bone) was not only completely out of alignment but even curved torepparttar 115319 right and then back inward. Judging by appearance alone,repparttar 115320 X-rays were quite scary.

At that point, I went into a rant about how I had been diagnosed with scoliosis as a young girl, along with several injuries alongrepparttar 115321 span of my life. Looking back at me,repparttar 115322 chiropractor smiled, simply acknowledged my opinion about all of this and then said, "... Let's focus on your good health and what we can do to make your nervous system function optimally." He also elaborated on how all of these subluxations could possibly be causing interferences in some of my systems. Some disturbances could impair gall bladder & kidney function, while other disturbances could even cause vision and concentration impairment. All ofrepparttar 115323 pain and parasthesia in my back, shoulders and neck were likely an effect byrepparttar 115324 multiple subluxations in my spinal column.

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