My Medical Journey-part 3

I haven’t written for the blog since last July. Last summer I began focusing totally on my health which included getting the doctors that are a fit for me.

That focus included watching my diet to see what my body can handle, getting various alternative treatments for my arthritis, and developing a plan that I can live with that incorporates alternative treatments to reduce my blood pressure, cholesterol, meds, and inflammation.

is taken from my health journal part 2. “At the age of 83, I currently have glaucoma, environmental allergies, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, arthritis over my entire body, Rotator cuff issues in both shoulders (one worse than the other), diverticulitis, GERD, and lymphedema. I have been prescribed pills for everything but lymphedema. I get injections for the knees, upper and lower back, and both shoulders as needed. “

I want to bring you up to date in this article.

I’ve reduced my blood pressure meds by 1/2, and my pain meds by 1/4.

I no longer experience GERD/REFLUX.

I’ve not had a bout of allergies for over a year (I used to have an allergy attack every year that lasted for several months).

And I haven’t gotten any injections in my knees or neck/spine and lower back in a year. So I’m on the right track so far.

I have to wait until around March before I know how my cholesterol and thyroid are doing.

The main thing that I’ve done these past months was to change my diet based on what’s right for my system. Not on what the latest health claims are today.

We are inundated these days with being told what to eat. Eat mainly greens, nuts, fruits, etc. Stop dairy, carbs, meats, sugar, etc. But what’s right for you is not necessarily right for me. Our bodies differ and although there are healthy and unhealthy, we have to use our common sense regarding what our body can and cannot handle.

For example, My body can’t handle the amount of fiber that I see being advocated. There are certain veggies and fruits that my body does not handle well.

Everyone (almost) is talking about becoming gluten-free. My body is more sensitive to yeast and wheat than gluten. I discovered this after spending a lot of money on gluten-free food only to discover that gluten-free does not mean yeast-free. However, I am on a gluten-free, yeast-free diet to a large degree. What do I mean by “degree”? This means that now and then I’ll have something that’s not wheat or yeast-free.

I also reduced my dairy intake and am on low carbs. Maybe one day I’ll be able to say I’m totally diary and carb and gluten and wheat free. That day has not come yet and truth be told, if my goal of drugs and inflammation reduction is met, that day may never come :).

The one thing that I’m still working on is sugar. I’ve reduced it some but not nearly enough or as much as I can.

The other area I’ve been working on in addition to my diet is my arthritis/pain.

The last injection I got for my spine, the doctor hit a nerve and that certainly didn’t help the pain :). The doctor sent me to get an updated MRI that showed severe tightness in the nerve area. Then I began to experience dizziness (something like vertigo). When I went for my monthly message, I told the masseuse about the tightness and pain in the neck area. She paid more attention to that area and when she had finished and I was about to get up, everything started going round and round in the room. I was so dizzy that I had to wait around 20 minutes before driving home. Even then I was somewhat dizzy.

So, I’m thinking in addition to the pain, the dizziness also must have something to do with the nerves in my neck.

Time for research!

While doing my research, I came across a treatment called Atlas Orthogonal. This deals with the Atlas Vertebrae.

According to Dr. Liebell, The occipital bone rests upon the top of the spinal column on the atlas (C1, or first cervical vertebra). The average atlas vertebra weighs 2 ounces. The human skull weighs between 9 and 17 pounds. This is the equivalent of a dixie cup holding up a bowling ball. It is no wonder the ancient Greek anatomists cleverly named it after Atlas, the god from Greek mythology, who held the world on his shoulders.  … Dr. Liebell continues,

Why is this important?

Many people with neck problems are given drugs, injections, stretches, exercises, hot, cold, electrical stimulation, and sometimes surgery. Medical attention is typically given to the area of symptoms. The CAUSE is often a distance away. For many of these cases, it is the structural correction of the JOINTS of the upper neck that is needed to solve the problem. 

The upper cervical region is one of the most important and neurologically complex areas of the entire body. No other area of the spine moves more than the atlas and axis. No other region bears more responsibility and functions relevant to the entire body. It is the passageway for the central nervous system and blood vessels—connecting the brain to the body. The brainstem passes through the foramen magnum opening. It is arguably the most significant nervous system structure because it is the connection center for the brain, cranial nerves, and the spinal cord. The brainstem is involved with movement, sensation, heart and lung function, and general consciousness.

The 2-ounce atlas vertebra supports the 9-17-pound human skull like Atlas holding up the world

The nerve interference associated with upper neck and other spinal joint problems is certain. 

According to Chang Ha Suh, PhD, an expert in spinal biomechanics (past Chairman, Engineering Design Department of the University of Colorado) imbalances of the head and neck cause complex changes to the health of the entire body. Spinal imbalances cause nerve malfunction. Dr. Suh’s research beginning in the 1970s proved that it only takes the pressure of the weight of a dime or quarter resting on your hand (10mm HG) to affect nerve function. That tiny bit of pressure on the nerves of the spine can cut its function in half by cutting into its electrical transmission. 

That is not a small thing! 

This fact of physiology was insisted to exist by chiropractors, for decades. Dr. Suh proved through sophisticated computer analysis of pre and post-treatment x-rays that the Atlas Orthogonal Procedure reduces these imbalances. Chiropractors had long claimed that minimal pressure on nerves could have a significant physiological impact. This study gave credence to such claims.  Dr. Donald Liebell, DC, BCAO The Liebell Clinic.

During my research, I came across another alternative treatment. That treatment also deals with reducing nerve pressure. It is called “Electric Cell Signaling” and is provided by the National Neuropathy Center.

Cell Signaling is a safe, effective, non-invasive, advanced pain option treatment for Neuropathy, Pain, Inflammation, Circulation, and Neuromuscular Rehabilitation.

Here is how this works: A patented resonate AM/FM energy wave is used which mimics various pathologies in the body. They look like suction cups that produce the AM/FM frequencies which signal cells to heal by encouraging blood flow to the capillaries and regenerating your nerve endings which in turn relieves the pain. National Neuropathy Center.

Both treatments are drug-free and both are related to my arthritic issues. I tried them.

This is what I’ll say about them. Before the treatments, I was experiencing Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, and Sciatic Nerve pain. I was getting injections a couple of times a year. Since trying the above, I still have some neck pain but the dizziness has gone and the thoracic, lumbar, and sciatic nerve pain has lessened.

I haven’t had any need for injections and where I was taking a pain pill every day, I take only as needed which is approximately once every 2-3 weeks. This folk, for me, is progress.

Also, during this period of making medical changes, I have fired some doctors including the Functional Physician that I mentioned in the last article, and am currently in the process of hiring new ones.

I’ll discuss this more in the next article part 4.

Stay tuned for my continued medical journeys and HAVE A GOOD HEALTH DAY.