Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a malfunction of the motor, sensory and autonomic nerves that connect the spinal cord to muscles, skin and internal organs.  It most commonly affects the hands and feet, causing weakness, numbness, tingling and pain.  The Peripheral neuropathy course is variable; it can come and go, slowly progressing over many years, or it can become severe and debilitating. However through chiropractic  care, it can be controlled or eliminated.

The nervous system is comprised of two main areas:the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system (arms, hands, legs, feet and organs). The brain is protected by the skull. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae of the spine. However, misalignment’s of the vertebrae of the spine can cause interference with the spinal cord. This is where spinal correction through chiropractic adjustments plays an important role.

The peripheral nervous system is not protected by bone, leaving it exposed to mechanical injury or interference through pressure or irritation (neuropathy). Peripheral nerves comprise all of the nerves beyond the spinal cord. All peripheral nerves leave the spinal cord through small openings in individual spinal vertebrae called foramen (nerve windows). These nerve roots are exposed and susceptible to interference or neuropathy from the vertebrae themselves as well as the surrounding muscles, ligaments and tissues.

We’ve all heard the expression “hitting a nerve”. In this area of your body, structures of your own body:bone, muscle, ligaments and tissue can literally hit a nerve causing pressure or irritation (neuropathy) that compromises your health in any number of ways, ranging from numbness or pain to organ dysfunction.

If someone has a Peripheral neuropathy, chiropractic care is always the first line of defense for this. Why? Because if you have pain, numbness, pins and needles or burning in your upper extremity-arms and hands, or lower extremity-feet, legs or calf, this means you have a “pinched-nerve”. Chiropractic care gets excellent results with pinched nerves by removing the nerve pressure with a specific chiropractic adjustment.

If peripheral neuropathy is caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, we can help that also, by adjusting the bones in the wrist and by also adjusting the neck. If the patient has sciatica, or sciatic parasthesias (pins and needles/numbness),  this is usually due to a disc problem in the lower back which responds favorably to chiropractic adjustments.

Dr. Goldberg Discusses the Chiropractic approach to Neuropathy treatment.

Other causes of peripheral neuropathy are:

• Diabetes, which we can treat through diet, weight loss and nutritional supplementation-vanadium (natural insulin) and chromium (glucose tolerance factor). At least half of all people with diabetes develop some type of neuropathy. Hence the need to get the sugar under control through diet, exercise and nutrition. Stay away from artificial sweeteners as this can and does cause diabetic neuropathy.

• Poor nutrition-which leads to metabolic imbalances.

• Decreased immune system- which can be raised through high-tech nutritional supplementation.

• Auto-immune disease- such as lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis in which the immune system attacks your own tissues.

• Cervical or lumbar spine  disc problems.

• Drug side-effects-such as statin drugs, which increases the risk for diabetes-14-16 times!

• Repetitive Stress-Cumulative damage can result from repetitive, forceful. awkward activities that require flexing of any group of muscles for prolonged periods. The resulting irritation may cause ligaments, tendons, and muscles to become inflamed and swollen, constricting the narrow passageways through which some nerves pass.

• B-Vitamin deficiencies, which can affect the nervous system.

• Kidney, liver or thyroid disorders.

Some of the most common symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are:

• Numbness

• Tingling

• Loss of sensation/Numbness

• Weakness

• Pain

• Decreased sensitivity to temperature in hands and feet.

• Irritability

• Lack of coordination

• Muscle weakness or paralysis if motor nerves are affected.

• Bowel or bladder problems if autonomic nerves are affected.

Even someone who has restless legs syndrome, this is now considered a part of small fiber neuropathy.

In our office we do chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, electric muscle stimulation, acupuncture, thermal modalities, vibration therapy, and diet and nutrition and weight loss. We have found these modalities to be very effective for the correction and elimination of a patient’s suffering due to peripheral neuropathy. give Wellness Associates a call at:412-367-3778, to see if you are a candidate for the management and treatment of peripheral neuropathy.

Piriformis Syndrome

A very common reason a person can have pain in the hip, pain in the center of the buttocks, or pain down the back of the leg,  is due to a condition called the Piriformis Syndrome. The piriformis is a muscle which runs from the sacrum (a triangular bone at the base of the spine), to the outer hip bone (greater trochanter). The piriformis runs horizontally, with the sciatic nerve running vertically directly beneath it.

The muscles in and around the gluteal region help with three areas:

1.Rotation of the hip and leg;

2. Balance while one foot is off the ground; and

3. Stability for the pelvic region.

This muscle is a prime candidate for repetitive motion injury (RMI). RMI occurs when a muscle is asked to perform beyond it’s level of capability, not given enough time to recover, and asked to perform again.  The typical response from a muscle in this situation is to tighten, which is a defensive response of the muscle.

One of the symptoms of piriformis syndrome would be pain in and around the outer hip bone. The tightness of the muscle produces increased tension between the tendon and the bone which produces either direct discomfort and pain or an increased tension in the joint producing bursitis. The bursitis is caused by an elevation of stress and tension within that joint. Another symptom suggesting piriformis syndrome would be pain directly in the center of the buttocks. Another symptom of piriformis syndrome would be sciatic neuralgia, or pain from the buttocks down the back of the leg and sometimes into different portions of the lower leg. The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the body. It runs through the belly of the piriformis muscle and if the piriformis muscle contracts from being overused, the sciatic nerve now becomes strangled, producing pain, tingling and numbness.

Some of the causes of piriformis syndrome:

*Hyperlordosis (increased lumbar curve) which jams the lumbar facets putting pressure on the nerves.

*Fibrosis (due to trauma).

*Prolonged sitting.

*Vigorous physical activity, such as long-distance running.

*Stiffness, or hypo-mobility, of the sacroiliac joints.

*Over pronation of the foot, which causes the knee to turn inward, causing the piriformis to activate to prevent over-rotating of the knee. This causes the piriformis to become overused and tight, eventually leading to piriformis syndrome.

*Weak abductors combined with tight adductors.

The diagnosis is based on clinical findings, as there exists no confirmatory findings. In the Unite States approximately 90% of adults have had at least 1 episode of disabling low back pain (LBP) in their lifetime. Some reports suggest a 6:1 female-to-male ratio for piriformis syndrome.

Dr. Goldberg Discusses Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis Syndrome Treatment

In our office we can do a piriformis stretch, which takes pressure off the sciatic nerve, which relieves pain and also helps the piriformis to relax and recover. This muscle needs to relax and have increased blood flow to the area, encouraging it to heal more rapidly. To encourage fresh, oxygen-rich blood to the muscle is the most powerful means of getting the muscle to relax and function normally. In our office we do massage which is highly effective to accomplish this and also physical therapy, such as electrical  muscle stimulation. Also the patient can lay on SOT blocks which is a tremendous aid in relaxing all the muscles in the hips, low back and pelvis area. A lot of times patients think they have sciatica, but the pain is really coming from the piriformis. This is because piriformis syndrome can “mimic” sciatic pain, which can be severe.  So by treating the piriformis syndrome, we are able to get to the root cause of why they have sciatic pain. Also since usually inflammation in the area is involved we can recommend ice therapy, ten minutes on and ten minutes off, several times during the day.

Once the patient is out of the acute pain, we can then begin stretching of the hip muscles/piriformis. Some of these can be done at home. We start with gentle stretching, such as the cross-legged stretch while pulling up on the knees. As far as reducing the inflammation, the patient can be put on proteolytic enzymes, such as bromelain, which is natural and extremely beneficial with no side effects. Also black cherry juice can act as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Call Wellness Associates at:412-367-3778 for the diagnosis and treatment of Piriformis Syndrome. Health and Wellness without a prescription. Piriformis syndrome relief is only a phone call away.

Restless Leg Syndrome

One of the most troublesome causes of poor quality sleep is Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). If you have the urge to move your legs at night, which may include seldom painful, but always very annoying sensation in one or both legs such as tingling or pins and needles, you may be suffering from RLS.

Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome

Some of the other more common symptoms are unpleasant sensations in their calves, thighs, feet or arms, often expressed as:

• Crawling
• Tingling
• Cramping
• Pulling
• Tense
• Burning
• Aching
• Gnawing
• Uncomfortable
• Itchy
• Electric
• Painful

These sensations involved with Restless Leg Syndrome can occur anywhere from the thigh to the ankle. On or both legs may be affected. The symptoms usually occur when the person lies down or sits for prolonged periods of time, such as at a desk, riding in a car, or watching a movie.

In an article by Dr. Donald Free in “The American Chiropractor,” Free states, “The most effective treatment we have found to relieve the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is proper spinal manipulation.”

Have you ever thought of Restless Leg Syndrome as a “chiropractic deficiency”? In my opinion, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) should be considered a chiropractic specialty, since patients who experience its frustrating symptoms invariably have chronic sacroiliac subluxations that can be caused by many mechanical or structural problems:fallen arches, Morton’s Syndrome (long second toe), knee cartilage damage, and a structural short leg, just to mention a few.

Of course we now know that if you have pain, pins and needles, numbness or burning, that means you have a “pinched nerve.” So one of the best first line of defense treatments for Restless Leg Syndrome would be to administer a chiropractic adjustment. This takes pressure off the spinal cord and relieves the spinal cord pressure, which could be contributing to the Restless Leg Syndrome.

What is the treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)?

The patient must avoid caffeine during times when their Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) potential is worse. This means avoiding coffee, tea, certain sodas and chocolate. Caffeine can increase the jitters and worsen RLS symptoms. On a positive note certain nutritional supplements can be of tremendous help. Some studies advocate the use of magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin B12, calcium, Zinc and folic acid or folate. It’s imperative to take only whole food concentrate supplements, such as Standard Process, which we carry in our office. This makes them much more capable of getting into the body and providing what your body needs. This is in contrast to the supplements you get in a discount store which are cheaper, however inferior. Meaning they are not considered food, as they are coal-tar derivative, synthetic, petro-chemicals,  and not natural.

Many chiropractors now know that a part of Restless Legs Syndrome includes having pelvic instability, often with lower back (lumbar) subluxations, which are misaligned vertebrae. We refer to this as either a Category two pelvis or in more severe cases, a Category three pelvis, which affects the disc. We can very effectively treat this in our office by using S.O. T. blocks/wedges. This is not only effective, but it is very safe, as the patient’s own body weight laying on the blocks makes the correction.  Exercise is very important to strengthen the pelvis, lumbosacral area and take pressure off the discs. A regular program of walking can be successful. Additionally, leg stretches at the beginning and end of each day which address the hamstring muscles can provide relief.

Dr. Goldberg Discusses Restless Leg Syndrome

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In our office we also get excellent results for Restless Leg Syndrome using acupuncture which helps the nerves, circulation and meridians (channels of energy flow) in the body. We also use physical therapy modalities, such as: muscle stimulation, which re-educates the the nerves and the muscles. These are both done in the office.

Give Wellness Associates a call at:412-367-3778 to see if you are a candidate for the diagnosis and treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome. Health and Wellness without a prescription. Schedule your Restless Leg Syndrome Evaluation TODAY!

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a natural form of healing that looks at the structure of the body in order to improve the function of the body.  Meaning structure effects function.  What makes chiropractic unique is the “chiropractic adjustment.” What we do is to remove interference to the nervous system. We correct subluxations (misalignment’s) along the 24 movable vertebrae in your neck, your back and your spine.  And we do this with a very specific chiropractic adjustment, which is a painless procedure that you can do on a 2-week old baby or a 95 year old woman with osteoporosis. It’s perfectly safe and effective. The good news is there are no side-effects, as we don’t use drugs or surgery. The only side-effect  really is  side-benefits.

We are nervous system (brain and spinal cord) doctors. We are more than just back doctors. Of course we look at your back in order to get to the nervous system. It just so happens that your nervous system is in your back. You live your life through your nervous system. If you have a pain, pins and needles, numbness or burning it’s usually due to a pinched nerve. This means you need a chiropractic adjustment to take pressure off the nerve, hence relief of the symptom.

The nervous system is the master system in the body. Meaning every cell, organ, muscle, and tissue is controlled by the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). The good news is chiropractic isn’t just good for only  your pain,  as chiropractic helps your overall health. It also helps your functioning and performance. Most pro-athletes receive chiropractic care to keep them performing at 100% capacity. Your immune system is a circulating nervous system. Meaning they’re wired together. So therefore when you get a chiropractic adjustment, you raise your immune system anywhere from 200-400%. That’s why the chiropractic kids are the healthiest kids around. We know that your body can produce it’s own drugs, by giving the body the raw materials (nutrition) in order to do this.

We know that the body heals itself. How? By first removing the interference in the nervous system. Also diet, exercise, habits and nutrition is important for health and wellness also. Life heals! We believe the body has an Innate Intelligence, which helps regulate the body and maintain health and homeostasis. We believe that it is better to have a spine free from interference versus a spine with interference.

Did you ever hear of the expression- ”Oh he’s just a bundle of nerves.” Well it’s true, because if you took all the nerves in your body and you layed them end-to-end, they would go around the globe 2 1/2 times! When God created the human body, He did it with chiropractic in mind. Why?  Because He gave you 24 movable vertebrae in your back, and you can’t adjust yourself. We believe anyone can heal at any age, because where there’s life, there’s hope.

Chiropractic promotes health versus suppress symptoms with drugs. We get to the the underlying root cause of why you have the symptom, and we correct it and fix it through, chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, diet, life-style change, exercise, and nutrition. These modalities are what heals the patient.

What makes Chiropractic Different?

What makes chiropractic different and unique is that we take a holistic approach to health.  Meaning we treat the whole person. We believe that disease means-dis-ease, or not at ease. We find out why you’re not at ease and we correct it, we fix it. We can actually adjust any joint in your body, including:wrist, ankle, elbow, jaw, knees, and shoulders. I see this as “one-stop shopping.”  People don’t realize that you don’t lose energy because you get old, because you get old by first loosing your energy. So, how do you lose it and how do you get it back? Your diet, life-style, nutrition and structure. Which means chiropractic fruits and vegetables, exercise, and whole food supplements.

Think of chiropractors as dentists for the spine. We’re D.C. meaning Doctor of cause, Doctor of cure, Drug-less care, Drug-less cure.  Also Doctor of connection and Doctor of communication. You brush your teeth so you teeth don’t fall out, so you adjust your spine so your spine doesn’t fall out.

We work with you brain and spinal cord. Your spinal cord is just an extension of your brain. Think of your brain as the computer chip and your spine is the soft-ware. So when you receive a chiropractic adjustment, we just upgraded you to Windows 7!

The chiropractic adjustment is like a “tune-up” for the body. We also can adjust your hips, which is like a front-end alignment for your car. The knees are like the tires of a car, so when you get the hips and pelvis adjusted this automatically helps the knees (tires). We can even give you an oil change (Omega 3-EFA).

Think of your spine like the circuit breaker in your house. If all the lights on one side of your house went out you wouldn’t change the bulbs, you would check the fuse-box.  We check your fuse-box, we check your circuit breaker (the spine). Your body is very electrical. The wires are your nervous system. That’s how you are able to get an EKG (heart),  or an EEG(brain).

We say in chiropractic:”As above, so below.”  Meaning you’re connected by muscles, ligaments and tendons from your top cervical vertebrae (Atlas) to your Achilles tendon. There’s a symmetry and a geometry to the body. You’re a single, synchronized functioning unit. The left affects the right and visa versa, and the front affects the back and visa versa.

To prove that chiropractic isn’t just for pain, the first chiropractic adjustment was given to Mr. Harvey Lillard a deaf janitor in Davenport, Iowa. After getting his first adjustment, Mr. Lillard  exclaimed-”I can hear Dr. Palmer,  I can hear.” That’s how chiropractic was discovered in 1895. Chiropractic was discovered in 1895 and X-Ray was discovered in 1895. The two both go together. Chiropractic, to me is the natural way to maximize your health and vitality. How do I know. Because I’ve been under chiropractic care for 39 years and still going strong. I don’t take any drugs at all, either over-the-counter or prescription. That’s my definition of a science. If it works, it’s a science. What we do works! As Dr. Francis Peabody said a century ago, “The secret of patient care, is caring for the patient.” I would agree with that 100%.

Dr. Goldberg discusses Chiropractic Care:

Give Wellness Associates a call at:412-367-3778, to see if you are a candidate for a Holistic approach to health. Health and Wellness, without a prescription. Let us sow you the power of Chiropractic Care.

Healthy Weight Loss

The cause of obesity and weight gain has finally been discovered. The truth is fat does NOT make you fat. It’s the body’s inability to burn fat that makes you fat. You don’t lose wight in order to get healthy. You first get healthy, then you automatically experience healthy weight loss. There are two kinds of fat-good fats and bad fats. It’s ironic, but good fat helps you burn fat. Examples of good and healthy fats are: Olive oil, fish oils, flax, nuts, avocados, butter, yogurt, salmon, sardines , seeds, and coconut.

Don’t continue to blame your weight loss issues on genetics.The good news is that your diet overcomes genetics. This is based on the latest weight loss research called Epigenetics. Meaning you can change your genes. Your genetics is the loaded gun, your life-style pulls the trigger. We now know there are major metabolic factors that influences a persons ability for weight loss. For instance: your PH(acid or alkaline), minerals, co-factors, synergistic, active transporters, EFA (Essential Fatty Acids), and digestion (digestive enzymes), which most people need after the age of 40, especially if you eat cooked food.

Hormone imbalance can cause obesity and toxins from a poor diet are stored as fat as a protective mechanism. Also heavy metals (mercury, lead), are stored in the fat. A strawberry milk-shake at a fast food restaurant, contains no milk and no strawberries!  There is the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean 15″. The dirty dozen are the foods that must be eaten organic-without herbicides and pesticide. Food such as:apples, celery, strawberry, peaches, spinach, lettuce, etc. The entire list can be viewed at:www.foodnews.org. This is important, as pesticides become toxic fat in the body and are stored in the fat, which the body holds on to. There are 6 burning fat hormones, and 3 storing fat hormones.

There are 4 major metabolic types that respond to weight loss and gain differently.

1.The Thyroid Type-Crave carbohydrates, cold feet, puffy eyes, depression, feel better with fruit, and they tend to gain weight all over.

2. The Liver/Digestion Type-”Beer Belly”, gall bladder attacks, bad mood in the morning, can’t digest high fats, pain at the tip of the shoulder blade, the “angry man’s organ”,,eczema, night people, and the tongue has a deep groove plus candida/white on the tongue.

3. The Adrenal Type- crave salt, chocolate, coffee, swelling of the feet/ankles,” charlie horses”, inflammation, postural hypo-tension (blood pressure drops on standing), electrolyte imbalance, facial hair in women, and eye-lid twitching. If you do not get 5 straight hours of sleep in a row, the adrenals will only function at 10-30%.

4.The Ovary Type-crave dairy, constipation, hot flashes, brain fog, low sex drive, hip/low back pain, and a pair-shaped body-small on top and bigger on the bottom.

Dr. Goldberg discusses Healthy Weight Loss

The good news is we now carry in our office: 5 Superior Weight Loss Products.

These weight loss products include:(1)  Lean Body Whey,(2)  Adaptogen, which is a unique synergistic blend of grade 10 Adaptogenic herbs and natural phytonutrients which helps increase muscle mass, improve energy and regulate mood and appetite. (3) Galactan, which is a “prebiotic”, which promotes the growth of probiotic  (good) bacteria which aids in digesting and assimilating food. (4) Glutamine which is the #1 choice for killing cravings! This raises Human Growth Hormone, which is an incredibly powerful fat burning hormone. (5) Fat Stat/CLA, which is a thermogenic fat burning formula that burns fat and promotes the “lean body effect”, lean muscle mass and energy

Healthy Weight Loss Consultation

Call Wellness Associates at:412-367-3778 for this new and revolutionary weight loss program, which is now easy, fun and great tasting. The higher the nutritional content, the better tasting it is. You don’t lose weight to get healthy, but when you get healthy, your healthy weight loss kicks in. Get healthy today! Healthy weight loss is a phone call away.

Detox for Better Health

A Detox or Detoxification Program, sometimes called a Cleanse or a Cleansing program, is the process of extracting, neutralizing and then eliminating build-up waste, dirt, mucous, sludge, pus, fluids, toxic chemicals, poisons or any harmful residues from your body.  This waste can be in your fat, muscles, organs, cells, and even in the various spaces between organs within your body.

A Detox Program is the antidote for modern living, especially in modern society.  A Detox Program is the ultimate program for Prevention, Preventative Healing and even the treating and healing of disease.  A Detox Program is designed to draw out and extract, and even neutralize, the accumulated toxic waste and poisons that are in your body. Research has shown that the average person has thousands of chemicals in their body at any given time. Hence the need for Detox.

A Detox not only extracts this harmful waste from inside your body, but it also assists your body in the removal, flushing out and elimination of this waste.The bottom line is that, just by living your life, we naturally manufacture internal waste, and additionally we are exposed to and assimilate harmful toxic chemicals in our environment. One of the greatest ways to prevent, and even heal disease, is to keep ahead of the game by periodically assisting our body in eliminating this built-up toxic waste.

Detox: Facts and Studies

According to V.E. Irons: “There is only one disease, and that disease is auto-intoxication, the body poisoning itself.”  There is an intelligence of the body, and this intelligence is the laws of nature that govern good health. Your body may be a toxic waste dump, the result of accumulating contaminants and impurities from the air you breathe, the food you eat and the liquids you drink.  Eventually, this “stuff” reaches a level high enough to interfere with normal functioning.  And unless you properly cleanse your body of the toxins, they will continue to build up and increasingly erode your health and vitality.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has acknowledged that the proliferation of drugs and chemicals used in food, agriculture and industry is so widespread that it is contributing to an alarmingly increasing number of people “who are allergic to everything.” According to Joseph D. Beasley, M.D., “Most emerging research and physicians’ reports are linking a wide variety of syndromes and symptoms-allergies, rashes, G.I. disorders, fatigue, migraines, ‘vague’ but persistent complaints, and a number of mental and behavioral disorders-to a range of environmental triggers, with increasing evidence that the responses of susceptible patients are neither neat or predictable.”

Dr. Goldberg discusses his Detox Program

In our office we use juicing, dietary changes and nutritional high-tech supplementation in order to get the Detox job done. For instance we recommend and use: Cleanse Blend Powder,  XenoStat (which gets rid of Xeno-estrogens), Hyssop Cleanse, LaxaGen, and   Medi-Clay. We also recommend eating more fresh and organic fruits and vegetables and taking Nano-Greens which is 10 fruits and vegetables nano sized ( 1,000 times smaller than normal), which  immediately goes right into the cells to nourish and cleanse.

Give Wellness Associates a call at:412-367-3778, for information on these products and procedures for a thorough cleaning and detoxification of the body. the ideal time to do this is when the seasons change, four times a year. Schedule your detox appointment today!

Sprains and Strains

Chiropractic care is a very effective treatment and management for sprains and strains in the body. We refer to this as a “soft tissue injury.” A sprain involves the ligaments and a strain involves the tendons and muscles. Some of the signs and symptoms for a strain are: muscle stiffness, tenderness, or soreness and swelling. Some of the signs and symptoms of a sprain are: pain at the time of injury, swelling and bruising.

Sprains generally happen when a twisting force is applied to a joint while it is bearing weight, which causes the ligament to stretch beyond its usual limit.  Sprains tend to happen with a sudden, unexpected movement ( a fall or a twist).  Muscle strains happen when the weight on a muscle is greater than the weakest part of the muscle can bear. Strains tend to happen during activities that require your muscles to stretch and bear weight at the same time.  some evidence suggests that being injured before or having limited flexibility contributes to sprains.

You are at risk for a sprain or strain if you do the following:

• Exercise without warming up properly.

• Use athletic equipment that does not fit properly.

• Participate in sports and activities that you are not conditioned for.

• Exercise when bones and muscles are fatigued.

It’s ironic, but soft-tissue injuries sprains/strains actually take longer to heal on average 6 months, versus a bone fracture which usually heals in 6 weeks. A general guideline  for treating sprains/strains are:

• Protection-make sure if it is a new injury that it is protected from movement and further injury.

• Rest-if an area of the body is injured it must be rested, so it can heal properly.

• Ice-Ice is a crucial part of healing any new injury.  Study after study has shown ice to be the most beneficial thing the patient can do to reduce damage, healing time and swelling.

• Compression-this is a very important part in the initial stages of the  injury to keep the swelling out of an area. Otherwise it may take quite some time to get the swelling out of the injured area.

In our office in addition to the chiropractic adjustment, which takes pressure off the pinched nerves and gives pain relief, we also do electrical stimulation (muscle stim.), which basically puts a low electrical current into the muscle and which aligns molecules in the body thus allowing it to heal faster. We also do massage therapy, which helps healing by breaking up adhesions in sprains and strains by re-aligning muscle fibers.  We also recommend stretching and strengthening exercises to aid recovery.

Dr. Goldberg discusses the Treatment of Sprains and Strains.

Sprains and Strains: Treatment Studies

In one recent study of people with ankle sprains, researchers compared chiropractic joint manipulation with an anti-inflammatory medication.  They found that joint manipulation was as effective as the anti-inflammatory medication in improving pain and flexibility. It was more effective than the medication in improving range of motion. This is because chiropractic adjustments  sets the joints in motion, aligns it up, and increases joint mobility, which helps it heal faster. This breaks up the stiff, locked-up, and fixated joints, and accelerates healing.

Give Wellness Associates a call at:412-367-3778 for the conservative treatment and management of sprains/strains and  soft-tissue injuries.  Health and wellness without a prescription. Call us today for effective treatment of sprains and strains.

Degenerative Disc Disease

Degenerative Disc Disease is a very common condition we see in our chiropractic office. The good news is that conservative treatments are always tried first for Degenerative Disc Disease, and surgical treatment options are considered the last resort. DDD is the gradual deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae. This can occur in the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) or lumbar (lower) parts of the spine.

As people age, the composition of the cartilage of the body changes, resulting in thinner and more fragile cartilage.  The changes cause the discs and joints that stack the vertebrae (also known as facet joints) to wear and tear over time.  Degeneration of the disc in Degenerative Disc Disease is also known as spondylosis.  Spondylosis can be seen on X-rays or MRI scanning of the spine as   a narrowing of the normal disc space between adjacent vertebrae. DDD affecting the lumbar spine is referred to as lumbago.

In our office, we use specific manipulations (chiropractic adjustments) in conjunction with ultrasound, diathermy, electrical muscle stimulation, and  inter-segmental traction, which is rollers up and down the spine which feel like a massage. We also use massage therapy and my0fascial release and trigger point therapy. A lot of the therapy is designed with the purpose of reducing inflammation, curtailing muscle spasms and relieving back or neck pain. With ultrasound we are micro-massaging the soft tissues and joints, which can reduce back pain, stiffness and spasms. This can also increase blood flow and accelerate the healing process.

Degenerative Disc Disease: Chiropractic Approach

The chiropractic adjustment improves joint motion and soft tissue health. We can return motion to a joint with a gentle thrusting technique.  This gentle thrusting rapidly stretches soft tissue and stimulates the nervous system to return to normal motion to the spine.  In some cases we can and do use an instrument-assisted manipulation.  This is a non-thrusting technique.  Using a hand-held instrument (Activator or Impulse), we can apply force without thrusting into the spine.  This is especially appropriate in older patients with degenerative joint syndrome. This is based on the concept of Force equals Mass times Speed. It’s low mass with high velocity/speed. This produces a certain kind of force into the spine, but it is more tolerable for some patients (elderly).

Think of your spine like your teeth. Meaning,  just like a cavity can become a root canal, which can become a bridge, which can become dentures. Your spine can go through changes very similar to this. However we can slow this progression tremendously through regular chiropractic care/adjustments.

We are “whole person” doctors who view neck and back pain as unique to each patient.  Therefore, we don’t focus on just your spinal pain.  We also use nutrition, stress management, and lifestyle goals, because all of these can add to neck and back pain, so you need to address them if you really want to relieve your pain and get well.

Degenerative Disc Disease Discussion with Dr. Goldberg

In our office we will help you return to your normal activities quickly, so that you can enjoy your daily life without pain.  We will work to address the underlying mechanical (how th spine works) or neurological (nerve related) cause of your Degenerative Disc Disease.

Give Wellness Associates a call at:412-367-3778, to see if you are a candidate  for the conservative treatment and management of Degenerative Disc Disease.

Contact Reflex Analysis

What is Contact Reflex Analysis?  Contact Reflex Analysis, also known as CRA, is a simple, safe, natural method of analyzing the energy flow through specific reflexes located on the body.  Too much or too little energy may indicate an imbalance in the body’s structure, nutritional chemistry, or emotional status. The body is 100% energy and chemistry. Instead of using drugs, CRA uses nutritional supplementation to clear out the involved reflexes. An imbalance or deficiency in any of these areas could cause or contribute to various acute or chronic health problems.

Contact Reflex Analysis is also a marvelous preventative technique.  It is used to discover problems before they become a  full-blown health issue.  Find it early and correct it. With CRA you are giving the patient a 3-minute physical.  The master points are: under the eyes (allergy), metabolic-which checks all the organs,- yeast, virus, adrenal, thyroid, heart and blood. According to the developer of the technique, Dr. Richard Versendaal, the heart, adrenal and thyroid are the 3 most important organs in the body. Each reflex point on the body represents a specific tissue, gland , or organ and its function.  It is believed that when the body becomes ill, there is an interruption or imbalance of energy to these reflexes.

Many times the symptoms of a health problem are treated while the actual source of the problem continues to go undetected.  Foe example, headaches are treated with pain relievers and coughs are treated with cough medicine.  If these symptoms persist, expensive tests are run and stronger medications are prescribed.  the question, however, still remains.  What is causing the headache?  What is causing the cough?

Contact Reflex Analysis and its uses

There is hope.  Contact Reflex Analysis is different.  It is not a method of diagnosis.  It is a means of analysis that can quickly and accurately uncover the root cause of your health problem.  CRA can also determine the most effective management program necessary for correcting it.

For healing and wellness to occur and be maintained, structures need to be aligned and balanced.  Structural problems in any part of the body can cause a health issue because the necessary flow of energy to specific organs, muscles, glands has been blocked.

Body nutrition and chemistry are also important factors in healing and wellness.  Improper diet along with environmental agents, chemicals and parasites and electromagnetic frequencies from cell phones, computers, etc., all attack the cells of the body, weaken the immune system, and open the door to sickness and disease.

Natural health professionals continue to prove that most health disorders share the same root problem: diet, life-style, nutritional deficiencies, and structural imbalances (chiropractic). Every event and life-style choice, along with the resulting thoughts and emotions, will lead one towards healing and wellness or away from healing and wellness.

This procedure is done through reflexes on the body which relate to certain acupuncture points on the body. This is combined with muscle testing (Applied Kinesiology), hence the name Contact Reflex Analysis.

Dr. Goldberg Discusses Contact Reflex Analysis

Give Wellness Associates a call at:412-367-3778, to see if you are a candidate for Contact Reflex Analysis testing. Chiropractic, Diet, Detoxification,  Nutrition,Massage. and Acupuncture comes first in the hierarchy of health care. When those fail, then you turn to drugs and surgery. Not the other way around. “Don’t put the cart before the horse.” Schedule your Contact Reflex Analysis today.

Adrenal Insufficiency or Fatigue

Adrenal Insufficiency or functional hypoadrenia is one of the most under diagnosed conditions in all of medicine.  However, what we’re seeing is an epidemic of people (mostly women), with this condition in our office. People who go to bed tired, and wake up tired.  This is not normal.  The adrenal glands sit right on top of the kidneys and helps you to deal with stress. Remember hearing how the “fight-or-flight” response was what helped save our species from things likes saber-tooth  tigers chasing after us or volcanic eruptions?  Well wouldn’t it be something to see our ancestors trying to handle the carpooling, full-time jobs, traffic jams, and trips to the grocery store that trigger our “fight-or-flight” response several times a day? Throw in some hormone imbalance, depression, anxiety and adrenal fatigue into the mix, and no wonder people are exhausted.  Why? Because it’s coming from exhausted adrenal glands. This means that your adrenal glands aren’t functioning right.  Your adrenal glands are going down-hill and you’re going down right with it!

Adrenal Insufficiency Symptoms

Symptoms of Adrenal Insufficiency, which can vary from mild to extreme are:

• fatigue
• decreased tolerance to cold
• poor circulation
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia which is the precursor to sugar diabetes)
• allergies
• low stamina
• low blood pressure (postural hypotension). This is where you stand up and your blood pressure drops suddenly.
• muscle weakness
• lowered resistance to infection
• need for excessive amounts of sleep
• apathy or depression
• subnormal body temperature
• fears, due to low energy and secondary copper toxicity
• tendency to constipation
• low levels of hydrochloric acid
• joint aches and pains

Some of the causes of adrenal insufficiency may include: genetics, congenital (present at birth) weakness, nutritional imbalances, emotional or psychological stress, the use of stimulants, infections, energetic and structural imbalances, toxic substances, and an imbalanced mental attitude-worry, fear and anger.

Dr. Goldberg Discusses Adrenal Insufficiency

The good news is this can be effectively detected, diagnosed and treated in our office through reflex muscle testing (CRA) and clinical findings. The chiropractic connection is we don’t cure your stress for you, but we help you deal with it better, by taking pressure off your central nervous system. That way you don’t feel like you’re “a bundle of nerves.” Also the nerves in the lower thoracic spine, innervate, regulate and control the functioning and performance of the adrenal glands. We work with your sympathetic nervous system, which is the “fight-or-flight” part of the nervous system.  The reason they call it the sympathetic nervous system is because you get under sympathy. Also we recommend drinking plenty of filtered water daily, and using air-dried pink sea  salt that can be ordered through our office. Also we use nutritional supplementation (glandulars) for the adrenal gland, which also can be ordered through our office. If you’re a vegan we can also order you plant source only nutrition.

Think of adrenal insufficiency as: “Mama said there would be days like this, but I didn’t think they’d all be so close together.” Give Wellness Associates a call at:412-367-3778, to see if you are a candidate for the conservative management and treatment of adrenal insufficiency/functional hypoadrenia. Health and wellness without drugs, and surgery. Contact us today for a Adrenal Insufficiency evaluation.