The Web is Changing the Doctor-Patient Relationship

A new Harris Poll finds that more adults than ever before are searching the Internet for health information and using this information when they visit their doctors.

Over the last 2 years the number of people using the Internet to find health information has increased from 53% to 71%, and the majority of these people state that they have searched for health information within the last month. 160 million people have searched the Internet for health information. The majority of people who have searched for health information online feel that were able to find what they were looking for and that the information was reliable. Additionally the majority of them state that they used this information to assist them in their conversations with their doctors. 55% state that they have searched for health information based on discussions with their doctor.

The researchers concluded that the internet "had a big impact on the knowledge of patients, the questions they ask their doctors and is therefore changing the doctor-patient relationship and the practice of medicine. There is every reason to believe the impact of the Internet on medical practice will continue to grow."

Source: Harris Interactive

"Spinal Decompression", Good or Bad?

You may have seen the ads in the papers or even on TV. Just what is "spinal decompression therapy" and is it worth considering? Let's take a look at the facts.
(Note: Spinal Decompression therapy is often referred to as SD therapy or IDD therapy)

SD therapy is typically described as a "safe, painless, comfortable, non-surgical, non-invasive" alternative to spine surgery. It involves traction of the lumbar vertebrae. Costs typically range from $3000 to $7000 for a full treatment regimen. Most insurance plans pay little if any of the bill. The majority of this cost is typically paid by the patient.

Recently published research stated that at this point "Only one small randomized controlled trial and several lower level efficacy studies have been performed on spinal decompression therapy. In general the quality of these studies is questionable." The researchers concluded that "Only limited evidence is available to warrant the routine use of non-surgical spinal decompression, particularly when many other well investigated, less expensive alternatives are available."

So, can "Spinal Decompression" help? I am certain that it can. Health practitioners have been using various forms of traction therapy for literally thousands of years, and with good results. However, traction therapies generally cost around $25 per treatment and are covered by insurance while SD therapy often costs as much as $250 or more per treatment and is not generally covered by insurance.

Is SD therapy just a fancy traction table with computer screen and a high price tag? The jury is still out on this one, but so far the corporations who brought it to market are still placing their bets on high dollar advertising and not on real research. At least one major manufacturer of SD therapy equipment has been in serious trouble over their unsubstantiated claims. For now, I believe the wise old saying should apply: Buyer Beware.

Source: Chiropractic & Osteopathy

Green Tea May Prevent Cancer Research Shows

Green tea boosts production of detox enzymes, rendering cancerous chemicals harmless, according to new research.

Green tea has long been of interest to researchers given studies that have shown populations in which it is often consumed, such as the Chinese and Japanese, generally have lower rates of cancer.

The researchers discovered that green tea boosts the bodies natural production of crucial cancer fighting enzymes as much as 80%. "[The enzymes] actually convert known carcinogens to non-toxic chemicals, and studies have shown a correlation between deficient expression of these enzymes and increased risk of developing some cancers,” according to the study’s lead investigator, H.-H. Sherry Chow, Ph.D., a research associate professor at the University of Arizona.

“This is the first clinical study to show proof that chemicals in green tea can increase detoxification enzymes in humans,” Chow said. “There may be other mechanism in play by which green tea may protect against cancer development, but this is a good place to start.”

These findings are published in the August issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Source: Eurekalert

Dr. Richards Elected to Serve as President in 2008

On August 2nd, Dr. Richards was elected President of the North Carolina Chiropractic Association's Western District by the chiropractors of Western North Carolina.

The NCCA is the organization that represents the interests of chiropractic patients and chiropractors in the state of North Carolina. Dr. Richards has served the association as treasurer for 2 consecutive terms and will begin his term as president this fall.

Dr. Richards said "I am excited about the opportunity to make North Carolina a healthier state and a better place for chiropractic patients. Also, I sincerely appreciate all of the doctors who practice in WNC for their vote of confidence in me."

Soldiers Report Less Back Pain After 9-11 Attacks

Our soldiers have impressed the pain researchers! It is generally accepted that stress tends to increase reports of back pain. Despite this, our soldiers reports of back pain decreased significantly after 9-11 as they moved from peace-time to war-time status.

Before the attacks of September 11th, 2001, the percentage of soldiers reporting "no back problems and full fitness to deployment" was between 28-31%. By October, 2001, one month following the attacks, this figure rose to 48%. By November it increased further to 57% and finally, by December the figure rose to 71% reporting "no back problems and full fitness to deployment".

Researchers concluded: "While most previous data would suggest an increase in low back pain complaints with increased psychosocial stressors, this study found that most soldiers transitioning to war-time duties minimized back pain complaints, which ensured fitness for overseas duty. Only a small number of soldiers, not previously reporting disabling back pain began to do so as the time to deployment neared."

Source: Spine Meeting Abstracts

Surgeons Under-Report Complications

Researchers found that after back surgery, patients report their own complication rates from surgery as much as 10 times higher than their surgeons do.

In the past, surgical outcomes have been assessed by the surgeon only, with success being judged from a predominantly surgical or technical perspective. Nowadays, it is generally accepted that the patient should be the main judge of outcome. Unfortunately, the assessment of complications after surgery has not enjoyed this same enlightened approach.

Researchers gave questionnaires to both patients and surgeons one year after back surgery. In the patient questionnaire, the patient was asked “did any complications arise as a consequence of your operation 1 year ago (e.g. problems with wound healing, paralysis, sensory disturbances, etc.)?” Patients answered "yes" at a rate of 29% while their surgeons reported complications in as few as 3-10% of cases.

This gap in reporting illustrates the need to more adequately consider the perceptions of the patients in defining the complication rate related to back surgery.

Source: Spine Meeting Abstracts

Disrupted Sleep Makes Pain Worse

A new study indicates that frequently interrupted sleep can make one more susceptible to pain by altering the body’s natural systems that regulate and control pain and can even lead to spontaneous painful symptoms.

The study included 32 healthy women who were studied for seven nights. The women were assigned to one of three groups: a control group that slept undisturbed; a group that was woken up eight times during the night;and a third group that went to bed later than usual. On the sixth night, the women in the latter two groups underwent 36 hours of total sleep deprivation, followed by an 11-hour recovery sleep.

During the study, researchers tested the women’s pain thresholds and pain inhibition. The women in the group that had been woken up eight times during the night showed an increase in spontaneous pain, while those in the other two groups did not, showing that disrupted sleep impairs natural pain control mechanisms that are thought to play a key role in the development, maintenance, and exacerbation of chronic pain.

Conclusion: For those with chronic pain, getting continuous, undisturbed sleep is key to controlling the pain.

Sources: American Academy of Sleep Medicine
Reprinted from Spine-Health.com

Dr. Richards Comment:

Back pain and sleep quality is a two way street. It is hard to sleep when you hurt and hard to heal when you can not sleep. Patients under chiropractic care often note improved sleep soon after beginning treatment.

Click here to read stories from patients about improved sleep after chiropractic treatment.