Conditions Archives - Alternative Family Medicine

Concussions are a form of traumatic injury to the head accompanied by temporary impairment of brain function. This kind of damage is often referred to as mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) or mild head injury (MHI) and is one of the most common kinds of external damage in the head and neck region.

In 2013, about 2.8 million traumatic brain injury-related visits to the emergency department took place in the United States. Modern studies reveal that the most common mechanisms of TBI are:

Road traffic accidents
Falls
A hit by or against a certain object

Roughly speaking, all concussions can be divided into two major groups: sports-related and not related to sports. Although the treatment in both cases is roughly universal, patients who had received a sport-related concussion often worry about how quickly they would be able to return to their training sessions, games and tournaments. A major part of the functional treatment of TBI is in explaining the importance of complete recovery before going back to physical activities: this is crucial not only for the patient’s health but also for his or her optimal physical performance. read more

Among all health complaints, head pain is one of the most common. Recent studies indicate that as much as 48.9% of the population may be suffering from recurrent headaches, and this number is most likely to raise even higher throughout the following years.

Head pain tends to be a multifactorial problem. This basically means that it needs to be approached with multiple different approaches. The structural component of head pain can easily be corrected by interventions like chiropractic care. The muscular component can easily be addressed with muscle techniques including graston (scar tissue removal technique), dry needling, and focused muscle work addressing the cranials and TMJ. An underlying biochemical component can be causing or contributing to head pain, including possible hormonal imbalances. Such biochemical imbalances may stem from food allergies or sensitivities, unregulated blood sugar, or thyroid problems. Many other factors can contribute to head pain and it is important to get at the root of the problem rather than papering it over with ibuprofen — your body is letting you know that something is not right and needs to be addressed. read more

Close to 700,000 Americans have their gallbladder removed each year in the US. The goal of this surgery is to alleviate digestive distress, chronic abdominal and referred pain patterns, and prevent dangerous lodging of gallstones in the common bile duct. In many instances, this surgery is an absolute and cannot be avoided.

Postcholecystectomy syndrome (Post-gallbladder removal syndrome) is defined as a complex of diverse symptoms consisting of:

Gallbladder or non-gallbladder-like abdominal pains
Indigestion
Vomiting
Gastrointestinal disorders and jaundice
Bloating, gas, and diarrhea
And Cholangitis (infection of the bile ducts of the liver)

The most common cause of this syndrome is bile stones that were likely present at the time of surgery, or developed after the surgery as a result of bile stagnation. Stagnant bile is usually the reason stones form in the gallbladder in the first place. As bile is made in the liver, it is important to address why you are producing sluggish, thick bile in the first place. This can be addressed both nutritionally with herbal remedies as well as changes in diet. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3473449/ (1) read more

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most commonly diagnosed disabling condition of the upper extremities (your arms). CTS can very dramatically decrease your quality of life, interfering with sleep, productivity at work, focus, and takes the enjoyment out of leisure activities. This condition has such a chronic nature it can have a negative impact on your mood as well. People with CTS suffer from chronic numbness and/or tingling in the hands, loss of grip strength and dexterity, discomfort in the forearms, difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position due to numbness and tingling, and they often have head and neck complaints. read more

Plantar fasciitis (PF) affects approximately two-million people in the US, of both athletic and non-athletic populations. This condition can be debilitating and significantly affect one’s quality of life in a very negative way. There are few high quality studies on this condition and the most successful treatments. Treatments range from chiropractic care, physical therapy, injections and surgeries. Fortunately this condition can typically be resolved with conservative treatment and lifestyle modifications that can prevent going under the knife. (1) read more

In our practice, we see a lot of patients that are struggling with chronic digestive symptoms. They complain of symptoms ranging from indigestion to bloating and constipation.

Recently, a condition called SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) has been popping up more and more. SIBO is a condition in which not just one type of bacteria has overgrown, like a candida infection, but a widespread overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine.

The types of symptoms you will notice with SIBO are as follows: read more

Collagen hydrolysate is one of the most overlooked quality sources of protein and one of the keys to anti-aging; we’re not just talking aesthetically. Collagen Hydrolysate not only plays a role in preventing wrinkles and diminishing cellulite, it is also essential for maintaining healthy joints, athletic recovery, detoxification, preventing atherosclerosis, and organ function.

WHAT IS COLLAGEN?

Collagen is the single most abundant protein in our bodies. It helps maintain structure and elasticity of our tissues. This includes skin, blood and blood vessels, cartilage, fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments and even the synovial fluid in our joints. read more

Neck pain is a common complaint in our office. Often times presenting not only as pain but also limited range of motion, headaches, and face and jaw pain. Neck pain can be caused by many different factors. There are the obvious causes like sleeping on the wrong pillow or in an unnatural position, poor computer posture, trauma, whiplash, etc. One common, but uncommonly thought of reason for neck pain, however, can be your shoulder.

This can be better explained by examining how the shoulder is put together. Your shoulder anchors itself to your rib cage and neck via muscles, tendons and fascia. When your shoulder is working properly, it recruits from these anchors in a very balanced manner. When your shoulder is injured or imbalanced, however, the shoulder starts recruiting from the the neck and the rib cage in an unbalanced way. read more

Dry needling is a very safe and effective treatment that we offer in our clinic. It is used to restore proper muscle balance, relieve restrictions in the fascia and nervous system, treat inflammation, and alleviate pain. But this procedure tends to strike fear in the hearts of the bravest, strongest women we know (sorry fellas, when it comes to pain tolerance you don’t hold a candle to your female counterparts).

So we have taken time to write this post to address some concerns about dry needling you may have. read more

Have you ever had an injury you didn’t consider to be “that bad” come back to bite you years later? Remember that time you rolled your ankle playing tennis? Or that embarrassing “yard sale” you had on the mountain? What about that fender bender 20 years ago?

Chronic pain and old injuries all have one thing in common: scar tissue.

When you initially get injured your body lays down collagen fibers in every which way to stabilize the area, i.e. scar tissue. Your body is bracing for the next traumatic event. The stabilizing mechanism of your body is incredible but later on does not serve you. Muscle fiber should lay down parallel to allow the muscle to stretch. If the muscle fibers are perpendicular, this does not allow the muscle to stretch and contract properly without feeling tight or painful. read more

Blog

Concussions

Head Pain

An Alternative Way to Alleviate Chronic Pain Post Gallbladder Surgery

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Plantar Fasciitis

Chronic Bloating and Gas; A Case for SIBO

A Key to Anti-Aging: Collagen

Is Your Shoulder Creating Your Neck Problem?

Is Dry Needling Right for You?

When Injuries Just Won’t Go Away: Scar Tissue

Chronic pain and old injuries all have one thing in common: scar tissue.

How to Balance Neurotransmitters Naturally With Dr. Ann-Marie Barter

4 Alignment Corrections That'll Help With Laptop-Induced Aches & Pains

Basic Tips to Boost Your Immune System

Not Another Wellness Podcast: #50 Functional Medicine & Environmental Toxicity

Fit + Vibrant You: Taking Care of your Gut Health with Dr. Ann-Marie Barter