Articles published 2007 in Classique News Magazine, Cavite, Philippines, Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Introduction to Chiropractic - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

IMAGINE… what if there were NO DENTISTS in the Philippines? What if no dental clinics ever existed in Cavite? Hard to imagine but not hard to think about the consequences: 1. bad breath and poor oral hygiene; 2. most people losing their teeth (all of them); 3. crooked teeth, and so forth.

The REALITY… As the first chiropractor in permanent practice in Cavite I see a population that has not known about 1. spinal hygiene 2. or about natural options to back and neck pain 3. or how to keep a healthy spine free from disability, advanced arthritis and crippling back pain. This is an incredible responsibility!

The PROFESSION… Chiropractic is a worldwide conservative spinal healthcare profession consisting of 78,000 practitioners in 110 countries. It takes high school + two years Pre-Med in University + 5 years of chiropractic school to become a Doctor of Chiropractic. This is someone you can trust with your health and the health of your children.

What Chiropractic MEANS TO YOU…

A) Do you hate to take pills and wish there was a way to get better, to get well, to get out of pain and to stay healthy without drugs?... You will find chiropractic a smart and safe option to consider.
B) Do you suffer from unresolved health problems, even though you have gone to doctor after doctor to help? It is possible that an unhealthy spine could be the reason your body cannot fully heal... You too will find chiropractic a smart and safe option to consider.
C) Are you in pain? Any kind of pain that you can't seem to get rid of it and that returns after the medication wears out. ... You too will find chiropractic a smart and safe option to consider. Neck pain, Headaches, Migraines, Mid back pain, Lower back pain Sports injuries, Hip Pain, Shoulder pain, Leg pain, Arm pain, Knee pain, Carpal Tunnel, Ankle pain, Wrist pain, Hand/foot numbness, Slipped disc

Chiropractic Explained - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on the health of your spine. Why the spine you ask? Let us take a short lesson in neuroanatomy.

At the beginning of life (each of us) while we were still just an embryo (smaller than a fetus) and only one week new, the first organized structure in our development to take shape is the "Primitive Streak" that becomes the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the bony spinal column.

Why is this important to know? Because nerves had to form first in order to control the normal development of the fetus all the way to the lashes and fingernails are completed… then you are born. So your nervous system that controls every function of your body today did not start operating at birth, but from the beginning of your very existence.

Have people survived heart attacks and gone on to live normal lives? Can someone die from one reason or another and be revived yet still go on able to live a near normal life? Yes, of course! But has anyone with a damages brain ever survived? No. Nerve damage is permanent.

The skull and spinal column protect the central nervous system by encasing nit in solid bone. Now that's protection! If the spine was made like a stick it would do a better job of protecting the branches of nerves that come out from the spinal cord, but we would not be able to bend. So we could not play sports of do housework, turn our heads and enjoy a flexible body.

To give the body flexibility the spine was divided into 24 movable bones that stack on top of each other. That's great but when some of these bones (vertebra) misalign we have nerve problems like pain, numbness, organ malfunctions and a list of some 200 symptoms.

Now you know why chiropractors focus on the health of the spine. Have you had your spine checked? Do you have any pains?

Chiropractic's Top 10 list - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Over the past two weeks you have been introduced to chiropractic as a global profession in the health care system and introduced to the reasons why this profession is dedicated to spinal health and spinal hygiene. This article will discuss some of the principal conditions people all over the world seek out a Doctor of Chiropractic.

Let us begin with the obvious… PAIN in the spine. At some point in life the spinal vertebrae that misalign will become painful. Sometimes the pain only comes while doing a specific activity, like lifting something heavy or sometime by turning to one particular position.

Neck pain can also be accompanied by stiffness in the neck, by some muscles of the neck (sore but not painful). Headaches are commonly associated with neck problems as are pain or numbness in either arm, wrist or hand.

Lower back pain, probably the most common complaint of spinal origin, can be dull, sharp, achy, mild, moderate or severe. Pain can come from tired swollen joints, irritated and inflamed nerves that radiate into the buttock or legs; or severe disabling deep pain caused by a herniated or slipped lumbar disc.

Less often or less severe are mid-back pains, shoulder & knee pains but are usually accompanied by neck and lower back pain.

TOP 10: Neck pain, Headaches, Shoulder pain, Mid back pain, Migraines, Knee pain, Lower back pain, Slipped disc, Leg & arm pain, Carpal Tunnel syndrome.

2 ˝ Million people everyday wake up in this world and go see their chiropractor for a spinal check up and correction. Until you personally undergo a spinal evaluation you will never know if chiropractic can help you.

How Chiropractic Works - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Chiropractic views healthcare as two complementary tasks, like a two-sided coin:
1. Fixing the pain (the underlying causes of pain)
2. Preventing disease, disability and avert surgeries

This dual focus is based on one single concept of healthcare in meeting the public's expectations but at two very different points of interest in their life. One requires treatment while the other emphasizes prevention over intervention.

If you are a health conscious person or, on the other hand if are the kind of person who always waits until the pain is disabling, in either case you will be attracted to the effective solutions offered by chiropractic's unique philosophy of healthcare; one that helps to treat the underling cause(s) of the problems commonly afflicting people (see last week's issue) without the use of drugs or surgery.

So the question remains… "How does chiropractic work?"

First, we know that the focus is on the nerves and the spine so a spinal evaluation, usually with x-rays, will determine where the spinal misalignments are located.
Second, the treatment consists of gentle specific manual manipulation of the spine to correct the misalignments.
Third, some home care is advised such as the use of a brace, or of applying ice (or heat on occasion) exercises, stretches, for example.
Fourth, those people that are health conscious will return periodically to recheck their spines and apply the chiropractor's advise on healthy lifestyle changes in diet and nutrition, physical activity, rest, home, sports and work habits, stress management, etc.
Closing thoughts… If you have teeth it would be wise to get them checked once and then every now and then. Likewise, everyone that has a spine should at least have it checked once. That's just common sense! After all you can live without teeth but you can't live without a spine.

Slipped Discs - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Everyone suffers from back pain at sometime at some time in life but not when the spinal cushions called "spinal discs" are the source of the pain, the experience becomes severe and disabling.

The last two discs (L4 and L5) located in the lower back area are the most common discs to cause so much pain. There are two discs in the cervical spine (C5 and C6) that are the most frequent levels affected in the neck but those in the neck are less dramatic and disabling than those disc bulges or herniation in the lower lumbar spine.

Discs are attached to the bone above and the bone below with thousands of fibers that form a crisscrossing mesh that contain the central disc material that is made of a thick jelly/mucous like substance. These disc materials give strength on the outside and sponginess inside to produce a shock absorbing effect throughout the spine.

The term "slipped disc" is commonly used to identify these cases but in actuality, the disc can never slip like we think; instead the fiber mesh gets stretched and weak areas tear thus allowing the center material to bulge outward. This causes severe pain.

If the bulge (herniation) is severe enough, the nearby nerve roots that supply the legs or the arms will also become irritated; so a disc problem can also cause radiating pain into the upper or lower extremities. In the case of a lumbar disc herniation the radiating pain could affect the buttock all the way down to the foot, and on the same side as the bulge.

An MRI (magnetic resonance image) can accurately demonstrate these conditions but medically the trend is to treat with pain medication and perhaps some spinal traction therapy. Spinal surgery is the next step if these conservative approaches fail; however, 30 years of well documented research in chiropractic approaches to treating these conditions have accumulated an 80% success rate in the non-surgical management of contained (non-ruptured) disc cases.

Since the risks of general surgery are compounded by a 50% failure rate for lumbar spinal disc surgeries it certainly makes sense to bring in the chiropractor for a consultation to examine the prospects for a non-surgical intervention. Even if surgery is ultimately necessary, chiropractic care improves the odds for more rapid healing and greater success in overall recovery.

Remember, only a chiropractor can evaluate a spine with a disc problem and determine if and when chiropractic methods can help in any particular case. Many studies have shown that most disc surgeries can be avoided with timely chiropractic care and that's good news!

Scoliosis - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

What a dreaded word to hear from the doctor that your child has scoliosis!

What is the cause and what is the cure? There are visions of the Hunch back of Notre Dame from in the movies and yet there doesn't seem to be much of an explanation of why and what can be done. The typical are general stretches or exercises if mild and wearing a back brace in more advanced cases; then there is that word "surgery" that might be mentioned.

Chiropractic does not view scoliosis as a medical disease or a condition that needs to be attacked with a remedy or a brace or a set of exercises or even surgery. As non-surgical spinal experts, chiropractors look at the spine as a dynamic structure that adapts to less than ideal architectural conditions.

Yes, we think most people have a straight spine… right? But this is not true. About 51% of the female population and 7% of the boys/men have scoliosis; but many more have lesser curves that only affect one particular area of the spine and do not exhibit the classic "S" or "Double S" shape.

A small (very small) percentage of scoliosis cases do require surgery to avoid secondary complications to one's health as vital organs are at risk of being compressed by the bending, almost contortion like twists of the spine. Most everyone else will benefit from an expert opinion by a conservative spinal specialist (the Chiropractor) as the causes of scoliosis is a physical one, not a chemical one, so there is really no drug therapy that applies.

Intra-uterine pressures, traumatic birth experiences, early life minor or more severe falls or injuries and even the more remote congenital or inborn factors produce joint surfaces in the lower lumbo-pelvic spine that are uneven (asymmetrical) and form the basis for spinal curvatures. Some scoliosis cases can be improved and others to a lesser degree.

In either case the object of chiropractic care when scoliosis is present is the same for non-scoliotic conditions… restoring optimal spinal function and improve the architectural influences that favor a life with less negative neurological outcomes. Scoliosis merely increases spinal stress so a chiropractic evaluation is wise.

In other words, although scoliosis may complicate spinal care and some correction is hoped for, but eliminating spinal misalignments from a child's life (adults too) will favor greater health, less disease, less pain or disability, better posture and where practical healthy lifestyles are encouraged. Scoliosis is a concern and may be a factor complicating spinal health care but it is certainly not a disease to be dreaded.

Shoulder Pain - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Masakit ang Balikat! Shoulder pain is a common complaint expressed to the Doctor of Chiropractic during a spinal evaluation. Actually there are three categories of shoulder pains: 1. Joint problems 2. Peripheral soft tissue injuries 3. General discomfort or tension

The most common of these is the third group: general tension. We complain of general shoulder pain by describing a tightness or tension across the upper back extending to one or both shoulders. These are in fact spinal and posture problems and not a true shoulder condition.

Stress (mental) and poor posture (physical) create tension in the large Trapezius muscles that start at the base of the skull down to the middle of the spine between the shoulder blades and then attach into the back part of the shoulder joint. Exercise and improved posture can resolve these complaints.

Often, underlying spinal misalignments can cause increase tension or spasms of these muscles so exercise and better posture will only produce partial or temporary improvements. Only a spinal evaluation by a Chiropractic Specialist will give insight into these types of problems.

The next shoulder pain category involves the muscles, tendons and bursa located around the shoulder. Rotator Cuff tendonitis, tears or strain are caused by injuries to the shoulder mechanism. A proper evaluation of the shoulder reveals that either a bursitis or a tendonitis is the cause for shoulder pain and restricted range of motion. Physical therapy and rehabilitation can provide much help but occasionally surgery is required.

Arthritis of the shoulder, frozen shoulder syndrome and capsulitis of the shoulder are conditions that directly involve the shoulder joint (ball & socket). Many times this is the result of failure to treat the shoulder when it was externally involved but lack of normal shoulder usage over extended periods of time produces degenerative changes. Not much can be done to cure things at this stage, but some restoration of function and mobility can be achieved.

Headaches - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Masakit ang ulo! Probably the most common complaint presented to the Doctor of Chiropractic following lower back or neck pain, is the headache. To effectively treat or manage headache problems an accurate assessment is needed to properly identify what type of headache is being experienced. Less than 1% of headaches result from a brain tumor requiring brain surgery.

Often, when people suffer from chronic headaches, there are in fact several different headaches that come at different times under different circumstances. We call these "mixed headaches." While on the other hand there are some headaches that are very specific in location and frequency.

Finding the underlying cause of headaches is more effective than just covering up the pain with pills; when the medication wears off the headache returns. Some headaches are purely temporary; such as from a fever, dehydration (too much alcohol), forgetting to eat (low blood sugar), etc; so allowing the body the return to normal will see these headache disappear.

In the cases when the headaches keeps coming back a proper chiropractic evaluation will most likely identify the nature and type of headache; what tissues are involved and what are the underlying, contributing causes. Tissues involved are: muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, sinus cavities, etc.

HEADACHE TYPES: Tension headache, Cervical-origin headache, Vascular headache, Inflammation headache, Pressure-type headache, Migraine headache, Neurological headache, Allergic headache, Brain tumors

Over 80% of headaches that are re-occurring result from spinal misalignments in the upper half of the spine, affecting nerves that track into the structures and tissues of the head. There is no other more effective way to address headache problems than to undergo a spinal evaluation by a Chiropractic Specialist. Have you had your spine checked yet?

Migraine - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Last week we discussed headaches in general. This week the focus is on the Migraine Headache that afflicts 8% of the population and women suffer this type of headache much more than men.

A Migraine is not just a bad headache! It is a series of events that occur in the body that includes a severe headache. Migraines follow a specific pattern of symptoms because of the way it affects the body. At the very beginning is a stimulus or triggering agent that causes a section of an artery of the brain to close down, to constrict. This prevents oxygenated blood from passing through that area of the brain. The lack of oxygen causes the brain to malfunction resulting in the "prodramata", the prodromal symptoms of nausea, visual disturbances, speech disorders, sweating, numbness, tingling of the face, weakness in an arm or leg, or other signs. Although these symptoms are alarming to some people, they are transient and there is no headache during this phase.

The body is programmed to not tolerate a constricted artery and responds by cutting off the nerve supply to the artery muscles that are locked into the constriction. This allows the artery to open up again and resume circulation with the needed oxygen to the affected area of the brain. Unfortunately the body over-reacts, allowing the artery to over-dilate. Now the artery is ballooning out and stretching the muscles, the inner and outer walls of the artery beyond their normal elastic shape. These are pain sensitive tissues. The pain is severe when the artery over dilates. As the heart pumps more blood through the artery the pulsating pain just throbs, and throbs. Only once the nerve supply to the arterial muscles has been re-established, will the artery resume its normal shape and diameter. The pain subsides as the artery begins to heal from the traumatic episode.

People of all ages can suffer from migraine headaches. The chiropractic approach to the evaluation and care of these types of problems has a time proven history with outstanding results. Chiropractic can fix the underlying reasons the Migraine happens and so prevents them from re-occurring. Often, a Migraine can be stopped almost immediately with a specific correction of the misaligned spine.

Have you had your spine checked yet?

Sinus Headaches - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

80% of headaches respond to chiropractic care because of the relationship between the spine and the nerves. In fact the upper part of the neck, the area that attaches the head to the neck, is referred to as the "Headache Zone."

The reason is that many nerves that supply the blood vessels and sinus cavities come from the neck and enter up in to the head. An irritated nerve increases its firing rate thus over stimulating the glands it innervates. In the case of sinus membranes this results in an increase in sinus fluids with an increase in pressure causing pain in the face and forehead - very familiar to those who suffer from sinus headaches.

Natural options for relief can include taking the vitamin B3, natural Niacin or the synthetic version called Niacinamide, a food supplement available where vitamins are sold. This supplement is known to cause a flushing effect by producing a generalized capillary distention. This makes the skin red and hot but it also heats up the sinus cavities and dries out the congestion, relieving pressure and pain.

Let us take this discussion one steep deeper by asking the question: "Why do the nerves over stimulate things in the first place?" Fix or prevent that step from happening and there is no sinus pressure to deal with in the first place. The answer: spinal misalignments in the neck are responsible for over stimulating related nerves.

Chiropractic is a drugless healthcare profession that knows to look to the neck to find underlying causes of headaches. Those misaligned vertebrae, when located in the "headache zone" may be responsible for many sinus problems and other headache types.

So do we treat the symptom (only to see the pressure and pain return) or do we treat the problem; in this case the neck / cervical misalignments? Try the natural option recommended above but if the problem persists you may want to have your neck checked out.

Have you had your spine checked yet?

Neck Pain - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

We learned in previous articles how the upper part of the neck is known as the "headache zone" and today we will discuss the other common problems related to misalignments of the 7 bones in the neck. Pain in the neck comes from actual damage being reported to the brain in any of the tissues or structures of the neck.

1. Muscles that are tight or in spasm (matigas) cause dull pain in the neck
2. Ligaments that are over stretched or inflamed cause sharper pains
3. Joints that are swollen are sore and painful with movement
4. Spinal discs that are herniated (slipped) cause severe neck pain
5. Nerves that are pinched or irritated cause radiating pain and/or numbness in the head, shoulders and/or arms

Poor posture and minor or more severe injuries to the neck can damage the parts of the neck. The acute phase can be self-limiting if the symptoms are of short duration. Sometimes there is moderate damage and incomplete healing that causes chronic neck problems from incomplete healing.

Chiropractors can evaluate what did not completely heal and offer solutions. Commonly, we find that a misalignment of one or more bones in the neck is the reason why there continues to be pain, tightness, restricted range of motion, pain in certain positions, numbness, etc.

A series of spinal realignments, called spinal adjustments, can restore the healing process and help rehabilitate the neck and eliminate the causes behind the pain. Skillful and gentle manual procedures are used and are a very effective approach to managing neck pain.

Untreated, there will be worsening of the pain and damages, degenerative arthritis, disc degeneration and eventually pinched nerves; so time is not your friend and perhaps the 5 most dangerous words you could say are: "Maybe it will go away."

A pain in the neck can make you a pain in the neck… Have you had your spine checked yet?

Save The Hilot - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated how often struggling families are just one healthcare crisis away from extreme poverty. Poor Health and Poverty are inseparable as employability and productivity are negatively affected and complicated by limited access to local healthcare services. The role played by the Hilot in delivering affordable, yet limited healthcare services remains a critical cog in this delivery system. What is alarming to future planners is the notable lack of young Hilots in our communities today.

Yes, in just one generation the Hilot may become a dying breed. Young people are more attracted to nursing, physio and other emerging work opportunities fueled by Telecom industries than to accept the lowly and unpopular Hilot role. As existing Hilots die away there is no one to replace them in their Barangay, leaving the poorest at greater risk.

The Chiropractic Diplomatic Corps (CDC) is a Canadian NGO that is partnering with local Chiropractors, TESDA and the DOH traditional and alternative medicine branch called PITAHC, to create and develop an advanced Community Health Worker educational program into a national mainstream community healthcare service. Unlike the Reflexologist with only 60 hours of training or the Massage Therapist with only 100 to 300 hours of training, the Spinal Health Therapist with 500 hours of training will be schooled in manual therapies and local traditional herbal remedies, coupled with basic anatomy and physiology concepts and public health training.

Chiropractic is a new profession to the Philippines yet has well served Western countries with its conservative and alternative approach to healthcare for over 110 years. The special attention placed on physical methods of alleviating pain and restoring health have centered around manipulation of the spine and nervous system and therefore is in a position to offer unique and special guidance in the training of a new breed of manual therapy Community Health Workers - the New Hilots!

"This is a respectable therapeutic trade, trained under a thoughtfully developed program that meets real needs for both the intended communities and for the practitioner," says Michel Tetrault, DC, the CDC's Executive Director who now resides in Cavite.

Armed with a 500 hour formal education, a certificate that qualifies for licensing as a Spinal Health Therapist under TESDA, and a new-found respect for a traditional service of critical importance in each and every Barangay in the country, the impending crisis can be avoided.

A PressCon (press conference) is scheduled on October 2nd in Makati to announce the plans for this program along with other Public Health programs to be initiated by the Chiropractic profession for the benefit of the entire country. The agenda highlights speakers from Canada, the United States and local chiropractor representation announcing the Spinal Health Therapist training, plans for a National Posture Campaign called "Tindig Diretso! Pinoy! and announcing a plea for a major donor or benefactor for the startup of the Philippine College of Chiropractic.

Media representatives are invited to attend the PressCon on Tuesday, October 2nd at 11am on the Dasmarinas Room of the Intercontinental Hotel, Makati City, next door to Glorietta 4. These developments need the broadest exposure to attract government and private sectors as well as prospective students and donors. RSVP at info@chiropractic.com.ph

Knee Pain - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Of the body's joints the knees are probably the most prone to problems; almost everyone has some type of knee pain or another. The knee is specially designed to allow for the extension of our legs and the flexibility to bring spring to our steps, especially when running; but the knee is a very common location for joint pain.

Three types of knee situations:
1. Temporary and self healing
a. Bruises and mild swelling from bumps and falls
b. Mild strain of muscles and ligaments attaching to the knee

2. Functional problems that can be managed by conservative methods
a. Patella bursitis with swelling in front of knee joint; pain when stepping down the stairs; knee clicks after sitting cramped too long.
b. Strain of lateral knee ligaments
c. Tight ligaments from postural weakness: too much sitting, not enough stretching
d. Moderate ligament strains and sprains

3. Pathological problems that require Orthopedic care including surgery. The key findings in these situations are severe disabling pain and massive knee swelling.
a. Torn cartilage or slipped meniscus
b. Torn supportive ligaments both external to and internal to the knee
c. Fractures

Three simple first aid ideas to alleviate the underlying causes of knee pain (swelling and damaged cells) that fall into the first two categories listed above:
× Ice for swelling: An ice bag is best applied for 20 to 30 minutes (not less or more) over the area of swelling and repeated after a 40 to 60 minute rest period without ice such as 20-ON and 40-OFF or 30-ON and 60-OFF up to eight times per day.
× Bracing with elastic support or sports bandage: This keeps the swelling down and offers strength support for the weakened knee. Use when awake. Especially when standing and only under professional advice while you are sleeping.
× Stretching of the ligaments that attach to the knees: Tight hamstring tendons that are located in the back of the thigh and the calf muscle tendons from the back of the lower leg can shrink or shorten. This will place abnormal stress on the knee joint so a part of preventing knee problems is to regularly stretch these tendons; therefore, when this rule is neglected the stretching must become a part of the solution to reduce pain from tight fibers and to restore flexibility to the knee to better adapt to the forces subjected within and around the knee.

Knee problems can occur from direct trauma as in falls or sports injuries but most degenerative knee problems start with postural defects and nerve supply to the legs from the lower back; therefore, a chiropractic spinal evaluation is an important to properly evaluate any knee problem.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Carpal Tunnel is an abnormal condition of the hand and wrist that is caused by entrapment (naipit) of the nerve as it passes between the carpal bones that form the wrist. Symptoms include wrist pain, numbness, tingling or burning of the median nerve in the hand and forearm pain, in the thumb and index finger in particular. There is also a loss of grip strength and loss of sleep due to discomfort.

The most frequent cause of Carpal Tunnel is repetitive use of the hand and wrist; activities such as typing, keypunching, playing piano, drums or guitar, the use of a knife or hammer. The industries most affected involve computer operators, food packing, construction workers, cashiers and assembly line workers.

What can be done for Carpal Tunnel?

a) Chiropractic is proven to be one of the most effective methods of treatment. The treatments are non-drug and are specific to the cause of the pain. Frequently this includes gentle manipulation of both the wrist and the neck where the median nerve originates.
b) Medication is the first line of care provided by the medical profession to relieve the symptoms of pain and to help reduce the inflammation of the nerve.
c) Surgery is a last resort option that may only help for a limited period of time. Here the wrist is cut open and the transverse ligament cut to decompress the tension on the nerve.
d) Self-help regarding the necessary life-style changes are ALWAYS required to see any lasting results, regardless of the other care received.

Preventing Carpal Tunnel

People who have injured their neck are particularly at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome when they are subjected to repetitive motion activities. It is important that you see a chiropractor to correct any existing neck problems, in particular if your work is stressful to your wrists.

At work you must pay attention to the effects of cumulative stress on the wrists; especially if you work in the previously mentioned industries. For example: key-stroking activities require that you use a soft pad to cushion and elevate your wrist while on the computer.

Truth is that not all hand numbness and not all wrist pain can be labeled CTS - but that is unfortunately what happens many times. That will be the subject of next week's topic.

Wrist Tendonitis - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Not all hand numbness and not all wrist pain can be labeled Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - but that is unfortunately what happens many times either by non-specialized health personnel or by people who self-diagnose their own symptoms.

Actually, the most common wrist pain, with or without numbness, is a tendonitis of the wrist and forearm. The "-itis" means inflammation so the pain is due to an inflamed tendon in the wrist and forearm; swelling on the back side of the wrist is also a common finding, as are tight and very tender muscle fibers just below the elbow on the side of the forearm of the affected wrist.

Wrist tendonitis is caused by repetitive and overuse of the hands while performing manual activities at home or at work. Home treatment can include the use of ice and massage and using wrist supports or forearm band-type bracing as in Tennis elbow.

Here is a 2-3 week daily home care:

a) ICE: place ice over the swollen part of the wrist (that pad or thickness on the back side of the wrist that looks like a fat pad) and keep the ice there for 15 minutes.
b) MASSAGE: while the ice is on the wrist, put a little lotion on the upper side of the forearm, just below the elbow and feel for a tight, lumpy and very sore muscle bundle. Generously and slowly massage this muscle spasm up and down and across the length of this small but hard muscle and also massage against the grain (cross-fiber) as well for 5-10 minutes.
c) ICE: after the 15 minutes, move the ice from the wrist to the muscle that was just massaged and leave there for another 15 minutes.

Using heat or any herbal patches that make the skin feel warm or hot will not be helpful, if not harmful. The inflammation needs to calm down and these may add to the "-itis" and end up slowing down recovery. Only use ice and not heat for a tendonitis.

If there are any questions, you can ask a physical therapist or a chiropractor for what might apply in your particular situation.

Pro-Chiropractic Association - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

Every year thousands of Pinoy inquire within the few chiropractic clinics in the country about this new and slowly growing profession: "What is chiropractic and what can chiropractic do for me and my family?" This very basic but important question has a most impressive answer.

As it is unreasonable to expect the less than a dozen chiropractors in separate private practices to accomplish this enormous health education effort, it will most likely take the formation of a chiropractic patient advocate group to effectively promote the benefits and value of chiropractic care to the masses; after all it is the public that stands to reap the benefits of a drugless and naturalistic profession.

If you have been reading these weekly columns you are probably the most informed group of people in the Philippines. In Western countries chiropractic is a household word and that would be the goal of the Pro-Chiropractic Association here in the Philippines.

There was a founding meeting held in Makati on Saturday, October 27th, 2007 with a small initial representation of pro-chiropractic friends and patients. Sponsored by the Mabuhay Chiropractic Clinics and organized by the Chiropractic Diplomatic Corps, a star up agenda was discussed on how the public, the patients, the media and other interested parties can support a more rapid development of chiropractic services in the Philippines.

Four main topics surfaced that provide for a short, medium and long range plan:

1. Formation of the Pro-Chiropractic Asian Association - Philippines.
2. Media announcements and interviews on a National Posture Awareness program affectionately called: "Tindig Diretso! Pinoy" to teach posture exercises via TV, News, etc.
3. Attract major donors to fund the Philippine College of Chiropractic in affiliation with a local university of high regard and reputation. (about P100M is needed)
4. Promote the benefits of chiropractic thru Schools (parents), Business and Industry.

If you are interested in joining the membership simply go online at www.chiropractic.con.ph/patients or text your name and interest to 0918-979-2576

Posture Awareness - Philippines, Asia - Author: Michel Tetrault, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic 1979)

What you ignore… you lose!

Take you teeth for example. If you don't take care of your teeth… you will lose them, right. So, what happens when you don't take care of your posture? That is correct, you end up with bad posture; but who cares? "So what if I don't have a great posture?" you ask. Well it is certainly worse than losing your teeth because, after all, there are always dentures to wear to keep your smile and your bite.

Bad posture is a reflection of an unhealthy spine. If you lose the battle with oral hygiene, worst case scenario you have to put up with loose dentures (or no teeth at all). If you lose the battle with spinal hygiene you live a life in pain, disability, limited mobility, arthritis, degenerative disc disease and many spinal misalignments.

But it gets worse! Spinal misalignments that don't go can away cause much more than just back or neck pain because they have a negative effect on the nerves that leave your spine; so depending on the affected levels, the misaligned spine will make different parts of the body malfunction.

Starting to see the picture? Since a picture is worth a 1000 words look at the picture on the left. Which one looks like he is healthier and which one looks sicker; just by looking at the posture? Now look at the picture on the right and it is easy to connect the dots, to see the connection between the spine, nerves and the body parts; the lesson is an easy one to learn… keep a healthy spine and let your posture tell you if you have spinal trouble now.

Want answers on how to keep a healthy spine? See your Chiropractor, a spinal specialist with over 7 years university training. Check the posture section of this website: www.Chiropractic.com.ph/posture.html