Nutritional Support to Soothe Back Pain

A year ago I had a back injury and followed a good nutrition program to help speed up my recovery. I focused on exercise and staying healthy in order to get back out on the ice.

—Sasha Cohen

Now I’m going to let you “listen in” on a conversation I had one day with a friend who has a master’s degree in nutrition.

I asked about her thoughts on the two most common nutritional supplements on the market for joint support—1) chondroitin sulfate and 2) glucosamine.

“Research studies have proven that a lot of people can get relief from these two supplements,” she said. “They usually see results in about six to eight weeks.”

“So you recommend them to your patients?” I asked. I have been recommending them to my patients for years now, and they do help my patients quite a bit.”

“If they’re already taking them, I don’t tell them to stop. That would be like pulling a crutch away from a crippled person. What I do is ask my patients five questions. If they answer yes to at least two questions, then I can just about bet that they have a mineral deficiency without running a lab test.”

“What five questions do you ask?” I was quite curious.

“The first is this: Do they have pain? The second question is: Do they notice they are pulling muscles and tendons more than usual? Maybe they notice sore muscles and tendons after a short hike, or after working out in the gym, or some part of their body hurts more than before, as examples,” she said. “One of my patients in her fifties said her knees hurt after kneeling in the garden after five minutes while working with her flowers. This isn’t normal.”

“OK, that makes sense so far,” I said.

“The third question is this: How bad are their joints feeling on a scale of 1 to 10? A score of 5 or more is a bad answer and is too much pain and inflammation. The fourth question is this: Do they have scoliosis? And the last question is this: Does it feel as if their condition is worsening? If I get two ‘yes’ answers, chances are good that it’s a manganese deficiency,” she said.

“And this is something that you can almost bet on?” I asked.

“I’ve never been wrong yet. I’ve seen people getting ready for hip-replacement surgeries that didn’t need the surgery when we replaced the manganese in their diet. There have been countless patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, all deficient in manganese. I confirm it with a hair analysis.

“One woman in her 40s,” my friend continued, “was in tears because her knee pain was so great and she couldn’t walk anywhere for weeks. After three days on manganese replacement and laser therapy, she was able to do her normal routine again. Another woman in her 50s was able to jump up and down in aerobics class because her body ‘told her’ through intuition that her knees were more stable after taking manganese for three days.”

“Yes, our body gives us signals all the time about whether or not we’re ergonomically correct or if we are strong enough to do certain movements,” I agreed. “So what about the chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine?”

“If they’re already taking them,” she told me, “the supplements may be doing some good, so they can continue. But what I’m looking for is the decrease in pain and inflammation that results from restoring the proper levels of manganese. It should occur in as little as three days and as long as two weeks. When it comes to muscles, joints, bones, tendons, and ligaments, manganese is key to their health! I start them on a level of 20 mg manganese two times daily for six months, depending on how low their hair analysis test results are. If we don’t have a hair analysis test, then I recommend 10 mg manganese daily for a week. If there’s no improvement in one week, then it’s probably not just manganese the person needs. That person is probably very, very low in many minerals and needs a whole protocol of supplements to build up their body.”

“Do you think manganese can replace chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine? I knew it was important for joints, tendons, muscles, and ligaments, but I had never learned it was that important,” I said.

“The reason I don’t recommend chondroitin sulfate or glucosamine is that the active ingredient in them is manganese. You see, there’s so little manganese in the product that it takes two to three months to get relief using that chondroitin sulfate,” she said. “I want my patients to experience the quickest healing possible, so I’ll use the real substance they are missing—manganese. My patients who have been on manganese for a while sometimes stop taking it, but when they notice their joints start hurting again, it means their manganese levels are falling again. They get back on track, and the joint pain disappears.”

“Manganese can be a simple solution for a lot of people. How many years have you been using the manganese as a way to help your patients heal?”

“About 15 years now,” she said.

“What else do you add to make sure your patients’ joints are getting all the nutritional support they need?” I asked.

“Here’s my usual protocol….” And this is what she shared with me:

• A good multiple vitamin/mineral. I have one I depend on exclusively because it contains 450 mg calcium, 200 mg magnesium and 350 mg phosphorus. These three have to be in the proper ratio for joint health. A joint without calcium is a weakened joint. Without the phosphorus, you can’t absorb calcium, and calcium and magnesium have to be present together.

• 10 mg manganese, up to 50 mg manganese (50 mg is too much to guess on without a hair test; the mineral can be toxic in high amounts unless there is a deficiency).

• 200 mcg selenium (another mineral most are deficient in).

• 150–300 mg germanium (reduces pain, oxygenates the area thereby decreasing

    Inflammation)

• 400 to 800 IU vitamin E

• 3000 to 6000 mg vitamin C

• 100 mg CoQ 10 (this can be wonderful for decreasing pain and inflammation)

• 3000 to 5000 mg omega-3 oils

“These are what I use generally speaking,” my nutritionist friend explained, “but every case is a little different. Sometimes my patients modify their protocol a little bit, like take more germanium or more CoQ 10. Oh, one more thing…they still have to get the chiropractic care, too.”

You can see from my discussion with my colleague how much of a difference something as simple as eating right and taking your nutritional supplements can make in people’s lives. Using nutritional supplements can speed your progress and even prevent further injury and surgery. Don’t be afraid of them. The best news is that approaching your health from a natural standpoint can only improve any health issue right now.

Take Action!

You now have increased knowledge and many tools to begin taking control of your healthy back. I don’t want to wish you luck because it’s not about luck—to feel better, you need to take action and implement what you now know.

P.S. Don’t Fall into This Trap

The “no more pain/no more problem syndrome” is what I call discontinuing treatment or self-treatments too early. Depending on the severity of your problem, the cause of the pain might be completely gone. But after thousands and thousands of treatments, the patients with the best and most lasting results continue treatment recommendations, self-stretching, prescribed exercises, and lifestyle modifications, or undergo maintenance treatments. It is easy to fall victim to and out-of-sight/out-of-mind approach or, more appropriate, no-pain/no-problem. Lack of symptoms is not necessarily a predictor of health. Many back pain suffers fail to realize that just because they begin to feel better or pain stops, the problem is not necessarily permanently gone.

No magic pill, potion, or lotion, but very successful treatments allow people to get their lives back. Even after knowing all this information, 90 percent of people fail to incorporate any advice from this book or take action to improve their situation. Many believe their pain is not all that bad and don’t take it seriously, all the more reason to start now to do something about it. The patients in my clinic who truly get it are very good at listening to their bodies and seeking treatment before a full-blown back attack occurs. They prefer to be proactive, to stay ahead of the pain, rather than reactive. Regular maintenance is much easier for the patient and doctor to handle. It takes less treatment and time out of your busy schedule.

If you need more information or additional help, please don’t hesitate to contact me or my team at 325-695-9355, email me at www.abileneadvancedchiro@gmail.com or visit www.abileneadvacncechiro.com.

Jake Morgan DC

What You Put in Your Mouth Can Affect Your Pain

If we can get people to focus on fruits and vegetables and more healthy foods, we’ll be better in terms of our healthcare situation.

—Tom Vilsack

Did you know that diet and inflammation can be directly related? A diet that reduces inflammation is high in antioxidants from fruits, vegetables, and foods in that category that are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Incorporate these foods into your diet to see your pain and inflammation decrease:

Fruits: apple, acerola berry, fresh pineapple, guava, grapefruit, rhubarb, kiwifruit, lemon, lime, orange, kumquat, black currant, blueberry, raspberry, mulberry, strawberry, papaya, cherry, tomato

Vegetables: spinach, sweet potato, bell pepper, cabbage, bok choy, onion, leek, garlic, green onion, broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli sprout, Brussels sprout, collard green

Herbs and Spices: basil, oregano, mint, clove, turmeric, cayenne pepper, chili pepper, parsley, rosemary

Fish and Meats: cod, halibut, salmon, snapper, bass, whitefish, herring, trout, sardine, grass-fed beef, pork, naturally raised (not on grain) chicken and turkey

Whole Grains: brown rice, whole wheat, buckwheat, barley, rye, millet, spelt

Fats: extra-virgin olive oil, avocado, hazelnut, almond, walnut

You Should Know about the Red-Meat/Inflammation Connection

Researchers have found a connection with red meats and inflammation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t eat red meat. They found the reason for this correlation is that most cattle are fed grains that fatten them up and change the fat composition of their meat. A cow that’s fed grains can’t even digest them properly in the first place! The grain is high in omega-6 fats, which increase inflammation.

When cattle are fed a diet that is high in omega-6 fats, their meat ends up low in omega-3 fats and high in omega-6. So when you eat meat with an improper balance of fats in it, you now have an imbalance in your own body and are more susceptible to inflammation.

What’s the answer? It’s this: Eat only grass-fed beef and other meats. That way, the meat still has its correct balance of omega-3 to omega 6-fats. By the way, grass-fed beef is a lot tastier than the regular beef you purchase at the grocery store. Fancy restaurant chefs use grass-fed beef because it tastes best!

Dehydration Increases Inflammation

Your body needs water to constantly flush its toxic wastes out to the lymphatic system, where they are eventually taken to the kidneys and liver to process. If you’re taking prescription medication, you need water to flush out the drug residues from your body. Not drinking enough water leaves the toxins the body creates naturally right there in the tissues. Decrease inflammation by attacking it nutritionally:

1. Take antioxidants. The best way to start is by taking 25,000 IU vitamin A, 2000 mg vitamin C, and 400 IU vitamin E, in addition to your multivitamin/mineral tablets. At these levels, do not worry about overdoses! You can take this level infinitely without concern. Expect decreases in your pain level.
2. Dietary supplements can include omega-3 capsules, two caps twice daily. Most capsules are 500 mg DHA and EPA each. Increasing omega-3 decreases omega-6 fats in your body, creating a switch of biochemical pathways so prostaglandins are not produced.

It’s easy to break into the habit of drinking enough water. As soon as you get up in the morning, commit to drinking 24 ounces of water in five minutes. You’ll see how much better your day goes when you drink more water!

Natural Remedies That Help Decrease Inflammation

Ginger

Ginger contains over 500 different compounds, many with anti-inflammatory properties. Try a 500-mg capsule or about one-third of a teaspoon, when you feel pain or inflammation—but don’t take it with prescription medications. Leave at least an hour between prescription meds and any herbs. Cook with ginger regularly. One simple recipe is to braise beef or chicken strips with broccoli and one-half cup diced or sliced ginger. Use pineapple juice as a sweetener in this dish. Serve with brown rice and a spinach salad.

Omega-3 Fats

Americans have eaten too many omega-6 fats in their diets over the last 20 years, which has resulted in a widespread omega-3 fat deficiency. Omega-3 fats prevent inflammation in the body and are correlated with keeping allergies, asthmas, skin disorders, and many other diseases in check. Make sure you have omega-3 fats in your diet by adding three to 10 daily capsules of 500 mg EPA with DHA (these are fish oils).

Antioxidant Vitamins

Did you know that increasing your vitamin C intake could reduce inflammation in the body by 45 percent? That’s what researchers reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in March 2006. Taking about 2000 mg vitamin C is a good way to start decreasing inflammation in the body. You can always increase the amount of vitamin C as needed. Also, make sure you get at least 400 IU vitamin E in your supplements daily. Vitamin E is responsible for reducing inflammation of the muscles, which might be extremely helpful for your present health situation.

Germanium

Germanium oxygenates your body cells, organs, and tissues, providing pain relief in many people. Take germanium on an empty stomach, never at the same time with any prescription medications; 200 mg to 300 mg germanium or more could prove extremely helpful.

Let us help you get control of your pain! Call our office today to receive our New Patient Special!  325-695-9355

If you haven’t met our newest team member Dr. Kendra Chowning, stop by and say hi! Her schedule is filling up fast so call today!

Jake Morgan DC

325-695-9355

Download your free copy of my latest book here!

Stress Reduction to Relax Your Pain Away

If you’re happy, if you’re feeling good, then nothing else matters.

—Robin Wright

I’m sure you have many avenues of reducing stress, but take this little quiz to see if any of these very stressful situations have cropped up in your life. In the questions that ask about three or four items, answer “true” for each item that applies to you.

True or False?

___      1. Sometimes at night or during the day, I catch myself gritting my teeth.

___      2. Lately, I’ve noticed I overreact to other people’s mistakes or bad choices, maybe even flying into a rage.

___      3. After an argument or heated discussion with someone, it takes me a long time to get over it.

___      4. At night, it’s difficult for me to fall asleep quickly.

___      5. The old methods I’ve used for reducing stress don’t really work well anymore.

___      6. While working on a project, I feel like the clock is ticking and I am rushed to finish it in time.

___      7. I am feeling some social anxiety about a few upcoming events in my life.

___      8. In the last year, I’ve had a jail term or minor violation of the law.

___      9. In the last year, I’ve moved, experienced a marriage or divorce, lost a loved one, experienced a foreclosure, or had to take out a loan. (Give yourself a check for each stress mentioned.)

___      10. In the last year, I’ve experienced a son or daughter leaving home, trouble with in-laws, retirement, or a pregnancy. (Give yourself a check for each stress.)

___      11. In the past year, my income has not improved.

___      12. In the past year, I was fired, changed to a different line of work, experienced trouble with the boss or coworkers, or had more responsibilities piled onto my regular workload. (Give yourself a check for each stress.)

___      13. I recently started or ended school.

___      14. I recently experienced a personal injury or illness, or have a family member who has been ill or needs caretaking. (Give yourself a checkmark for each stress.)

___      15. I recently experienced an incident of prejudice, social injustice, or a crime committed on me. (Give yourself a check for each stress.)

___      16. I have diabetes, cancer, blood-sugar issues, high blood pressure, or memory problems. (Give yourself a check for each stress.)

___      17. I am overweight or seriously underweight.

Stress Quiz Score: _______ True ______ False

How did you do? The higher your number of “true” statements or “true” checkmarks, the higher your level of stress.

What Can You Change in Your Life to Decrease Stress?

The big question is how to arm yourself against the stress that occurs in life. I have my own story of stress and its health effect on my body. Recently I had been under some increased stress, which anyone who runs a business can relate. We were having problems with Medicare and other Insurance companies. Basically Medicare was making several new compliance rules that mandated health-care providers to implement in a certain period of time or incur penalties. This happened at the same time I had switched to a new electronic health-record system, was building a new clinic, skipping lunch to talk to contractors, not getting enough rest, working 60-plus hours a week for the past four years, and missing time with my family—we had not taken an official vacation in about five years. My family obviously and rightfully wanted me to cut back, but I always respond with, “Now is not the time.”

Now don’t get me wrong—I love what I do, but things in my life were out of balance. It finally came to a head when one day the right side of my tongue and face began to get numb. It was subtle at first but, within about two days, I could not move the right side of my face or close my eyelid. I had to tape my eye shut to sleep at night—many of you might remember this, when you asked me what was wrong with my eye. The first thought in my head was, Did I have a stroke? But as I examine myself, I soon realized I had Bell’s Palsy. This condition causes paralysis of the facial nerve and is brought on by—you guessed it—stress and a compromised immune system. This was a real eye-opener for me, pun not intended. This health scare forced me to change some things. I had to slow down, take an occasional weekend off for fishing and hunting (what I enjoy), play baseball with my boys, limit the number of patients I see—and not feel guilty for letting any patients down. The best thing I can do for my patients and my family is to take care of myself first. I had to let go of some responsibilities I thought, in my mind, only I could do. To this day, I have to make a conscious effort to know my limits and balance my life in order to maintain my health…because without my health I can’t do anything.

The reason doctors like myself are so concerned about your stress levels and the skills you have to decrease your stress is because stress makes the body kick out hormones, such as cortisol, that destroys your body’s ability to rejuvenate. High levels of stress hormones make it easy for you to put on weight around your waist, decrease your lifespan, and accelerate the progression of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and dementia.

So now, let’s look at ways you can relax. Check off the methods below you use to relax. At the end of the list, there are blank lines for you to write in any other relaxation methods you use.

___      Fishing                             ___              Scheduling and taking a long vacation

___      Listening to music           ___              Playing a musical instrument

___      Reading                           ___              Watching sports games or attending sporting events

___      Singing                             ___              Watching entertaining movies

___      Driving                             ___              Attending concerts, plays, or going to art museums

___      Praying                            ___              Spending time outside in the fresh air

___      Socializing                        ___              Laughing, cheering up friends, comedy shows

___      Hiking                              ___              Spending time with pets

___      Exercising                        ___              ___________________________________

I’ll bet you already have ways to relax, but I will ask you this: When was the last time you took the time to do some of these things that de-stress you? Don’t declare that you have no time!

Commit to it, and stick to your word. You will feel better—I guarantee it!

If you haven’t downloaded my latest book, stop by the office and ask for your free copy! or download it here!

Jake Morgan,DC

325-695-9355

4549 Catclaw Dr.

Abilene,TX 79606

Sleep Instructions to Ease Back and Neck Pain

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

—Benjamin Franklin

We spend about 33 percent of our lives in bed! That’s a lot of time, and if we “do it right,” the sleep restores and rejuvenates us like clockwork. I’ve created a little quiz for you on your sleep habits. To take the quiz, simply check off your answers and, when finished, count the number of true and false answers.

True or False?

___      1. My mattress has lumps and bumps in it; it’s not firm.

___      2. My mattress sags.

___      3. I sleep on my stomach—it’s one of the most comfortable ways to sleep.

___      4. I like to sleep with no pillow at all.

___      5. I like to pile up the pillows and sometimes (or often) sleep with more than one pillow underneath my head.

___      6. When I sleep, my head is dropped forward with my chin toward my chest.

___      7. I don’t use a supportive pillow.

___      8. I love to read in bed and can prop myself up on my elbows to do so.

___      9. I use a regular foam pillow.

___      10. Sometimes I rest on the couch with my head propped up on the armrest.

___      11. Sometimes I rest on the couch with a pillow and have to look up at the television set to do so.

Sleeping Quiz Score: ______ True _____ False

OK, now total up the number of “true” statements you have. The lower your number of “true” statements, the better your sleeping score. How did you do? Here’s a breakdown:

Let me explain how to sleep, because there’s more to it than just plopping yourself into the bed and covering up with blankets. There are good sleep habits and bad sleep habits. It’s possible to have bad sleep habits for years without bad consequences. The problem with bad sleep habits is that you could be wearing down the joints in your neck. The constant wearing down of the joints is risky because once there’s a trauma to the neck, those joints “give out.” This is degenerative joint disease.

Why Take Risks When Bad Habits Are Easily Changed?

The good news is that simply by changing some bad habits, you can stop any future joint damage in its tracks. Sleeping on your stomach is a bad habit because it forces your neck in one position—to the side—for long periods of time. While your neck is turned to the right or left, several of the muscles and joints in your neck are working hard to keep your head in that position. Other muscles then have to work hard to balance the positioning muscles. Neck muscles that are tight for several hours can cause pain, inflammation, and headaches. It’s certainly no fun to wake up with a headache.

Here’s another way to think about it: When you work out at the health club, how would your legs feel if you did leg presses for over an hour? Would you be able to walk home or to your car? It would be very difficult after stressing them so much. It’s the same with your neck. You’re doing something similar when you sleep on your stomach and turn your neck to the side, holding it in that position for such a long period of time. Now, that doesn’t mean you should sleep on your stomach and put your head straight down into the pillow—you’d suffocate! So what’s the alternative?

Dr. Morgan’s Sleep Instructions

Sleep on your back or side instead of the stomach. When sleeping on your back, lie flat with a pillow under your head and neck, and a pillow under your knees. Do not ever sleep with more than one pillow under your head. Your neck should not be pushed up so that your chin moves down toward your chest. A pillow should support your neck according to its natural S-shaped curve, allowing your head to rest in a neutral position.

When you sleep on your side, support your head and neck with pillows in such a waythat your spine remains in a straight line. Your legs should be at a 35- to 45-degree angle and not drawn up in a knot or in the fetal position. You might feel more comfortable with a pillow between your knees to keep your pelvis from tilting to one side.

Let’s Check Out Your Pillow

The type of pillow you use Sunday night can make a big difference in how good you will feel on Monday. Do not use a regular foam pillow. A shaped cervical pillow or a water-based pillow with a pillow-top is best, because the curve of the pillow supports your neck. With the water-based pillow, you can customize the firmness with the amount of water used and the cool water decrease low-grade inflammation in the neck. When your neck is supported, all its muscles, tendons, and joints can relax. As they’re relaxing, the blood sends in healing, rejuvenating, and restorative nutrients. You wake up refreshed.

It’s a bad habit to lie down on the couch, especially with your head propped up on the armrest. Propping up your head results in a cervical-curve angle that stresses out the joints and the muscles of your neck. Every time you engage in this type of activity, you willingly create stress in your neck. Decide that your body wants to be loved and cared for, and never engage in this activity again.

If you prop yourself up to read in bed on your elbows or lying flat to read, this movement stresses out your shoulder joints and puts undue stress on neck muscles and joints. Don’t do it!

The best way to sleep is on your back. When it’s time to rest or sleep, lie on your back or on your side on a firm bed and don’t settle for anything else. Make these changes to get your sleep score down to 0. One month of sleeping with a score of 0 will dramatically improve your health.

Stop in today and check out our selection of ChiroFlow Pillows!

Jake Morgan

325-695-9355

4549 Catclaw Dr.

Abilene,TX 79606

If you’re over the age of 30 and have rotator cuff problems, frozen shoulder, or arthritis, there is hope. A new treatment is helping patients increase shoulder strength, improve motion, and eliminate shoulder pain once and for all. Finally, you can be pain free again – even if you’ve got the most excruciating shoulder pain you have ever felt. Does your shoulder pain build up when you move it wrong or is it a sudden sharp pain shooting from your neck into your arm?

Do you have difficulty just washing your hair or even scratching your back? Have you had to give up golf because of your shoulder pain?

Nothing’s worse than feeling great mentally, but physically feeling held back from life because your shoulder hurts and the pain just won’t go away!

My name is Jake Morgan, owner of Advanced Chiropractic & Spinal Rehab. Since we opened 9 years ago, I’ve seen hundreds of people with shoulder pain, frozen shoulder and rotator cuff problems leave the office pain free.

Do You Have Any of the Following Conditions?

• Frozen shoulder – one of the worst maladies known to man (and women!)
• Adhesive capsulitis
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Arthritis
• Bursitis and tendonitis
• Muscle weakness
• Sharp or shooting arm pains

If you are suffering from any of these problems, a new breakthrough in medical technology may completely eliminate your pain.

Finally, You Have A Proven Option Other Than Drugs And Surgery

New research in a treatment called low level laser therapy, or cold laser, is having a profound affect on patients suffering with shoulder pain. Unlike the cutting type of laser seen in movies and used in medical procedures, the cold laser penetrates the surface of the skin with no heating effect or damage.

Cold laser therapy has been tested for 40 years, had over 2000 papers published on it and been shown to aid in damaged tissue regeneration, decrease inflammation, relieve pain and boost the immune system. This means that there is a good chance cold laser therapy could be your shoulder pain solution, allowing you to live a more active lifestyle

Professional athletes like Lance Armstrong and team members of the New England Patriots rely upon cold laser therapy to treat their sports-related injuries. These guys use the cold laser for one reason only…

It Promotes Rapid Healing  Of The Injured Tissues.

Two landmark studies have proven the effectiveness of cold lasers.

The first study showed that patients who had cold laser therapy had 53% better improvement than those who just had a placebo. The second study showed patients who used the laser therapy had less pain and more range of motion days after treatment. If the cold laser can help these patients, it can help you too.

Call Today 325-695-9355 and schedule your next appointment. If you are a new patient remember to tell the receptionist that you would like to take advantage of our huge savings with the NEW PATIENT SPECIAL.

Jake Morgan DC

325-695-9355

If you haven’t gotten a copy of my latest book don’t forget to download your free copy today!