Avastin and Breast Cancer

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Posted on 21st November 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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We do not diagnose or treat breast cancer or any other type of cancer.

According to recent statistics, about 1 in 8 American women will develop a serious form of breast cancer at some point during their lives. That totals to 12%. According to the American Cancer Societies’ website, “breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too.” In 2010 there were 207,090 reported cases of serious breast cancer among women and 54,010 non-invasive cases.

 

Avastin is a drug that was recently pulled off the market by the FDA for use in breast cancer patients for not living up to its manufacturer’s claims and even causing harm in some cases. This drug was supposed to delay growth of metastatic tumors, however, there is no proof of this. The side effects of this drug are very serious and can even be fatal. Some of the many side effects include massive bleeding, high blood pressure, perforations in parts of the body such as the stomach and intestines, heart attack, and even heart failure. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg says she is not satisfied that there is enough evidence of the benefits of this drug for women to be taking the risk of using the drug. Doctors still use Avastin to treat certain types of kidney, lung, brain, and colon cancers and Avastin is currently the world’s best selling cancer drug. This drug is extremely expensive and some insurance providers are refusing to cover the costs. An estimate claims that a year’s supply of Avastin could cost around $100,000.

 

In our office we offer Estronex (2 hydroxyestrogens: 16 hydroxyestrone) urine tests. This test will help determine your risk level for breast and estrogen sensitive cancers. If you or someone you know is interested in preventative measures, you can obtain a supplement called Cruciferous Complete from our office. All of our supplements are made directly from foods and plant parts. We also recommend that you eat the actual food. We do not diagnose or treat breast cancer. We do however offer patient education, the above mentioned test, supplements for wellness, and referrals to the appropriate medical professionals if necessary. Be sure to practice self-breast exams monthly and follow up with you medical doctor for all of the appropriate screenings.

Headaches and Migraines

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Posted on 9th November 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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Headaches and Migraines (click this link to see the full presentation)

There are several kinds of headaches. Some of the more common types are migraine, tension, and cluster. Many patients have a prodrome to their headache.  A prodrome is a set of symptoms or events that happens leading up to the actual event, in this case the headache. In this case, the chiropractic patient should get to their doctor as soon as possible for an adjustment.

Migraine Symptoms:
Nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, double or blurry vision, pounding or throbbing head, etc.

For migraine patients, a regular sleep schedule is important. Do not over or under sleep. Do not skip meals. Get tested for food allergies. Avoid foods with tyramine or other foods that seem to trigger headaches. Developing stress management techniques is also very helpful.

Tension headaches are more difficult to manage because external factors are not under the patient’s control. Patients with tension headaches should correct postural imbalances with spinal adjustments. Get proper advice on home and work station ergonomics. Myofascial and trigger point therapy helps a great deal.

Cluster headaches are also quite common. Just as the name implies, they occur in clusters. You may have several headaches in a brief period of time then be headache free for a while. Then another cluster of headaches followed by the headache free period, etc. To help prevent cluster headaches, avoid alcohol and smoking. Ask your healthcare provider about oxygen use. Some headaches are cervicogenic . If your headaches are caused by problems in the neck, a chiropractor may be able to help a great deal.

Some conditions that may result from pressure on or interference with the nerves

C1:  Headaches, nervousness, insomnia, head colds, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, mental conditions, nervous breakdowns, amnesia, epilepsy, chronic tiredness, and dizziness. C2:  Sinus trouble, allergies, crossed eyes, deafness, eye troubles, earache, fainting spells,  and certain cases of blindness. C3:  Neuralgia, neuritis, acne or pimples, and eczema. C4:  Hay fever, rose fever, etc., hard of hearing, adenoid infections, and post nasal drip. C5:  Laryngitis, hoarseness, and throat conditions like sore throat.

There are nutritional approaches. Feverfew, 5-HTP, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Calcium Citrate or Calcium Lactate, Magnesium Lactate, and some B vitamins are helpful nutritional support to improve a patient with headaches.  Our office recommends the use of Antronex, Phosfood Liquid, Symplex F or M (Female or male), Calcium Lactate, Boswellia, ChelaCo, and white Peony , and Cataplex B.

Headaches can be serious and even life threatening. There is no substitute for a thorough history and exam from a licensed healthcare provider. In our office, we often refer to medical doctors and other licensed professionals when appropriate to the patients needs. We will also work in conjunction with other healthcare providers to help patients.



Wrist Complaints and Carpal Tunnel

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Posted on 31st October 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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Many patients come into our office with wrist complaints. Some of them have numbness and tingling in the palm or surface of the hand involving the thumb and first two and a half fingers. The symptoms can be more severe at night and the patient can feel clumsy and have diminished grip strength.

Common Causes

  • Repeated minor injuries
  • Overuse
  • Repetitive motions
  • Using vibrating tools
  • Computer keyboard
  • Poorly designed work stations

Factors that can contribute to wrist pain:

  • Fluid retention
  • Pregnancy
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Diabetes
  • Vitamin B Deficiency

The Chiropractic Approach

  • Thorough patient history and exam
  • Nutritional support
  • Protecting the wrist
  • Ice
  • Rest
  • Chiropractic adjustment
  • Ergonomic advice

Often, patients report improvement after having their neck adjusted. Neck subluxations can often cause problems and nerve irritation. The brachial plexus is fed by nerves that pass through the lower neck.

Wrist Adjustments

There are a couple of bones in the wrist that can be misaligned causing pressure and or pain in the median nerve.

Chiropractic Analysis

Through muscle tests we determine if and what needs to be adjusted. The lunate can cause pressure on the median nerve. The scaphiod can be misaligned and is the most often fractured bone in the wrist.

Try the conservative approach of chiropractic care before submitting yourself to surgery. Remember, once your body has been surgically altered you cannot put it back.

Foot Pain and Plantar Fasciitis

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Posted on 31st October 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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Some of the many causes of foot pain:

There are many foot problems. They can involve the toes, such as a rigid big toe, toes that deviate, gout, metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuroma, stress fractures, metatarsal fractures, osteoarthritis, fat pad syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, and planter fasciitis.

There are 26 bones in the foot. Several are movable.

Plantar Fasciitis

Sharp heal pain that radiates along the bottom of the foot that is often worse in the morning when getting out of bed are classic signs of plantar fasciitis. If you notice the heal of your shoe wearing out quickly on the outside (lateral) side or the inside (medial) side, this could be the cause. Other causes can be flat feet, shin splints, high-arched feet, or heal spurs.

The Chiropractic Approach:

  • x-rays are not usually necessary
  • adjustments of the feet
  • taping the arch
  • myofascial release
  • ultrasound
  • stretching
  • orthotics

95% of people with plantar fasciitis respond to this type of approach. A tremendus addition to chiropractic care is nutritional support.

Footwear

Foot problems are made worse because of poorly designed shoes that have no support. Making sure that your shoes fit right and are designed with the right support is essential. There are shoes designed especially for people with foot, ankle, knee, hip, and low back problems.

Custom Made Orthotics

We do not recommend generic or pre-fabricated orthotics.  We also do not recommend orthotics until corrections are made in the feet. You do not want to reinforce a misaligned foot. We mold each individual’s feet and orthotics are then custom made that are very specific to each person’s needs. The foot is three dimensional and it is important to take this approach.

Common Sense

Protect your feet. Use proper footwear, rest, and ice sore feet. Before submitting to surgery, try conservative and chiropractic approaches. Once the body has been surgically altered, it cannot be reversed.

Dr. George

Dr. George has had extensive training in extremities. This includes foot, gait, and orthotics. He also offers nutritional support, rehab, and physiological therapeutics.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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Posted on 26th October 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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According to recent statistics, about 1 in 8 American women will develop a serious form of breast cancer at some point during their lives. That totals to 12%. According to the American Cancer Societies’ website, “breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too.” In 2010 there were 207,090 reported cases of serious breast cancer among women and 54,010 non-invasive cases.

In our office we offer Estronex (2 hydroxyestrogens: 16 hydroxyestrone) urine tests. This test will help determine your risk level for breast and estrogen sensitive cancers. We do not diagnose or treat breast cancer. We do however offer patient education, the above mentioned test, supplements for wellness, and referrals to the appropriate medical professionals if necessary. Be sure to practice self-breast exams monthly and follow up with you medical doctor for all of the appropriate screenings. Also, come by our office to see what we can do for you or your loved ones.

Choosing a Supplement

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Posted on 28th September 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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Research shows that people often choose supplements solely on how the package looks. I have seen expensive supplements that were worthless and cheap supplements that were very good. The reverse is also true and we all are influenced by visual aspects in everything we do. Unfortunately in the United States supplements are not regulated to any degree. The European Union and some other countries require herbs and supplements to be of medicinal quality if sold for health reasons.

If you make a rhubarb pie from the stems you have a delicious dessert, however, the leaves are poisonous and dangerous to consume. In the same regard, when buying a supplement, the plant parts used are very important. Often the parts used are missing from  the product labels. For echinacea to be beneficial you must use the root. Different supplements and natural medicines use different parts. Whether the fruit, leaves, stalks, or roots are used makes a big difference.

Many vitamins are simply chemicals and are synthetic replicas of naturally occurring substances. Vitamins C and E have eight parts. Most often only one eighth of a molecule of these vitamins are present in commonly sold supplements.

Whole food substances made from plants, not chemicals , heal the body. The way a plant is grown and harvested, the type of soil used and many other things influence the quality of nutritional products. Think of how a tomato tastes that is vine ripened in your back yard in the summer. Then think of how one from the supermarket tastes in February. It is not hard to imagine that plants can have differences in quality that affect how the supplement works. The manufacturing process is important too. Heat destroys proteins, and all enzymes are proteins. Just think of the differences between a raw egg, a boiled egg, a fried egg, and a scrambled egg. How a plant is produced can have many variations as well and have an effect on the usefulness of the product. Some supplements have special coating that prevent them from being dissolved in the stomach and dissolve instead into the intestine. These and many other things are important to consider when choosing a supplement. We are always here to help. For a free systems survey that identifies nutritional needs, contact our office.

Chiropractic Wellness Newsletter

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Posted on 12th September 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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This month’s newsletter is packed with lots of great information!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-Chiropractic-Wellness-By-Dr–George–LLC.html?soid=1102789102800&aid=VwPJ0u5M8V0.

Carpal Tunnel and Wrist Pain

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Posted on 9th September 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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Wrist complaints can have many causes such as trauma, falls, arthritis, and overuse. With trauma there is often fractures, sprains, and instability due to ruptured ligaments. Athletes, computer operators, and musicians often suffer from overuse. Assembly line repetitive motions and vibrating tools can also be a factor. Carpal tunnel is a common problem in the United States. In the ’80s and ’90s more than 200,000 carpal tunnel release procedures were preformed each year. The associated costs are estimated at $1 billion per year. With proper evaluation and chiropractic care the costs may be reduced and the patient may have a shorter recovery time. There are many carpal bones in the hand. The scaphiod is in the wrist area below the thumb and is the most often fractured carpal bone. The lunate is the bone that is most often subluxated, or out of place, in the wrist. Many of my patients have reported vast improvement from manipulation of the carpal bones after we have preformed a thorough history and an evaluation so that we can properly prescribe care.

It is sometimes necessary to refer patients for orthopaedic care or consult in the case of fractures, dislocations, and more severe cases.

Headaches

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Posted on 31st August 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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Headaches have a significant impact on individuals, the health care system, and employers. Lost productivity from migraines cost approximately $13 billion annually. This is not considering the impact migraines have on an individual’s quality of life. Migraines have a more severe effect on quality of life than does osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
Fifty seven percent of men and 76 percent of women report at least one major headache per month. As many as 23.6 million Americans have suffered from migraine headaches.
There are many types of headaches and many causes of headaches. People generally know if a headache is associated with the flu, excessive drinking, skipped meals, or other factors that are quit obvious to the patient.
In our Dallas chiropractic office one of the most common types of headaches are ones that are associated with whiplash. It is often reported after a motor vehicle accident. Some headaches are cervicogenic. They start because of a neck problem. Many patients report immediate relief from severe headaches after a chiropractic adjustment.
Most headaches are not life threatening, but a chiropractor who does a thorough exam and history should be able to determine if there is a secondary or more serious cause for the headaches.

An Overview of Chiropractic Care

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Posted on 29th August 2011 by dr george in Uncategorized

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In our Dallas chiropractic clinic we see people that fit into two broad categories. One is acute and the other is chronic. An acute care patient has a sprain/strain. It can be neck pain, low back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, hip pain, or many other scenarios. Since it is acute, adjustments and rehab when done properly help the patient to improve rather quickly. We can usually completely resolve the problem in six to twelve visits.

Unfortunately, when the pain is gone people generally feel that they need no further treatment. This is rarely the case. In addition to chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, and rehab, a person who has had one or more acute pain episodes involving joints, muscles, and other soft tissue needs the following:

  • Therapeutic exercises:  it generally takes 3-5 visits to teach and review the patient’s exercise program. After the patient learns the exercises they must continue to do them at home on a regular basis. Ergonomics also play a big role in the home and workplace. The height of your computer screen, desk, chair, and many other things can affect your health. We offer all inclusive programs that save you money and get the follow-up care done after the pain is gone.

Chronic care is entirely different. I have seen people with sports injuries, workplace injuries, degenerative joint disease/degenerative disk disease, osteoarthritis, and many other conditions where the damage could not be reversed. The people in these situations still have lives to live, children to feed, and bills to pay. They often seek chiropractic care to temporarily improve pain and restore function. Ergonomics and therapeutic exercise are extremely important to these patients. Often the exercises will reduce stiffness and increase range of motion and in some cases relieve pain and reduce the need for chiropractic adjustments.

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