Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Why Traditional Treatment (Hormone Replacement) Fails To Help The Majority Of Low Thyroid Symptoms
On this video I give a brief run down of thyroid physiology and explanation why traditional medical management of low thyroid symptoms often fails.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Two Questions
As a provider of alternative healthcare, when I explain to someone what is causing their symptoms and how we can help them they almost always ask "Why doesn't my doctor know this?" and when we go over the limitations of what their insurance will cover towards their care, they will ask "Why doesn't my insurance cover this?". Until recently, I did not have a good answer for them. I usually would say something like "I don't know, they should".
I recently came across a great article by the National Hypothyroid Association that does a great job of answering these two questions.
"Historically they (doctors) have failed to adapt new concepts and treatment based on new knowledge or new-found understanding demonstrated in the medical literature....have a long history of guidelines and recommendations that are not supported by the medical literature and fail to adjust or abandon recommnendations when new understanding and knowledge contradicts their recommendations. A doctor who simply follows guidelines that rely on simple laboratory test and ignores the clinical aspects of a patient is not procticing evidence based medicine. This method of practice is consistently rebuked as improper and poor medicine has become the standard of care for a large percentage of endocrinologist and physicians who feel medicine can be related to simply reading "normal" or "abnormal" in a laboratory column" .
According to William shankle, M.D., Professor, University of California, Irvine "Most doctors are practicing 10-20 years behind the available medical literature."
With regard to insurance, the article states; "The current insurance reimbursement system in the United States fosters this thinking, as the worst physicians are financially rewarded by insurance companies. While it is true that the best physicians are continually fighting to provide cutting edge treatments and superior care that the insurance company deems not "medically necessary"........insurance company restrictions on treatments and diagnostic procedures have made the same poor care afforded those of low socioeconomic status the new standard of care for society at large....... the best physicans will seek out and translate both basic science results and clinical outcomes to decide the safest, most efficacious treatment for their patients. Further, the best physicans will continually assess the current available data to decide which therapies are likely to carry the greatest benefits for patients and involve the lowest risks."
I don't want to totally bash medicine but medicine is for acute care. When it comes to chronic conditions (fibromyalgia, migraines, peripheral neuropathies, diabetes, thyroid problems etc.) you have to look at all the systems of the body. You have to look outside the box.
We have the success we do because of our philosophy - "Fix the person and not their diagnosis" and our never ending comittment to provide cutting edge, evidenced based care to our patients.
If you are suffering from a chronic condition, I invite you to find out whether our comprehensive Neuro-Metabolic approach may be righ for you.
I recently came across a great article by the National Hypothyroid Association that does a great job of answering these two questions.
"Historically they (doctors) have failed to adapt new concepts and treatment based on new knowledge or new-found understanding demonstrated in the medical literature....have a long history of guidelines and recommendations that are not supported by the medical literature and fail to adjust or abandon recommnendations when new understanding and knowledge contradicts their recommendations. A doctor who simply follows guidelines that rely on simple laboratory test and ignores the clinical aspects of a patient is not procticing evidence based medicine. This method of practice is consistently rebuked as improper and poor medicine has become the standard of care for a large percentage of endocrinologist and physicians who feel medicine can be related to simply reading "normal" or "abnormal" in a laboratory column" .
According to William shankle, M.D., Professor, University of California, Irvine "Most doctors are practicing 10-20 years behind the available medical literature."
With regard to insurance, the article states; "The current insurance reimbursement system in the United States fosters this thinking, as the worst physicians are financially rewarded by insurance companies. While it is true that the best physicians are continually fighting to provide cutting edge treatments and superior care that the insurance company deems not "medically necessary"........insurance company restrictions on treatments and diagnostic procedures have made the same poor care afforded those of low socioeconomic status the new standard of care for society at large....... the best physicans will seek out and translate both basic science results and clinical outcomes to decide the safest, most efficacious treatment for their patients. Further, the best physicans will continually assess the current available data to decide which therapies are likely to carry the greatest benefits for patients and involve the lowest risks."
I don't want to totally bash medicine but medicine is for acute care. When it comes to chronic conditions (fibromyalgia, migraines, peripheral neuropathies, diabetes, thyroid problems etc.) you have to look at all the systems of the body. You have to look outside the box.
We have the success we do because of our philosophy - "Fix the person and not their diagnosis" and our never ending comittment to provide cutting edge, evidenced based care to our patients.
If you are suffering from a chronic condition, I invite you to find out whether our comprehensive Neuro-Metabolic approach may be righ for you.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Workshop Thursday November 11th 6:15. Seating is limited. Please call (814)238-0232 to reserve your seat
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Dizziness, Vertigo and Balance Problems
Dizziness, vertigo and balance problems account for up to 10% of all physician visits. Dizziness is the number one reason for physician visits in people over age 65 and will affect 50% of all adults at one time or another. In 2005, the estimated cost for medical treatment of dizziness and balance disorders exceeded 1 billion dollars. These conditions can range from a mild annoyance to a life altering experience.
Good balance and stability are dependent on input from these three systems:
1) Vestibular System- Canals and Otoliths
2) Visual System
3) Proprioceptive System (especially from the cervical spine) – a complex network of nerves in skin, muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments that send important sensory information to your brain regarding your body’s position in space.
Input from all three systems is processed and calibrated in your cerebellum. Located in the back part of your brain, the cerebellum is responsible for all balance and coordinated movement. Deficits in any one of these three areas, often times can be compensated for, if you have good cerebellar function.
Traditional management of dizziness and balance problems focuses almost entirely on the canals. A patient might be prescribed antivert or meclizine. Some patients are diagnosed with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and may have a doctor or physical therapist perform something called Epley’s Maneuver (a canal repositioning technique). Unfortunately, if either of these two things doesn’t work, a person is often told they will have to live with it.
If you are still suffering from dizziness, vertigo or other balance problems and it is not a hard lesion (tumor etc), you either have a peripheral problem which hasn’t been addressed or a bad cerebellum. Any balance recovery program should involve cerebellar rehabilitation as a central component. The cerebellum is like a top and as it slows down we start to wobble a little bit more. There are specific activities or therapies we can use to help activate or stimulate the cerebellum to increase its firing rate.
The cerebellum is also one of the most metabolically sensitive tissues in the body. It is very susceptible to changes in fuel supply (oxygen and glucose) and toxins (ex ethanol). Unfortunately, as we age, our body’s ability to utilize oxygen decreases by about 1%/year after the age of 20. By combining supplemental oxygen with exercise and cerebellar rehabilitation we can help our patients get better faster.
A thorough functional evaluation can determine which area(s) of the brain and nervous system are involved in a person’s problem. Once these areas are identified, they can be addressed to through specific neurologically based therapies. By handling any metabolic factors (blood sugar, anemia’s. inflammation, allergies/food sensitivities etc) that are contributing to your problem or preventing you from getting better, we can greatly improve our outcomes
To determine whether you are a candidate fro Dr. Diehl’s Balance Recovery Program, please call our office at (814)238-0232.
Good balance and stability are dependent on input from these three systems:
1) Vestibular System- Canals and Otoliths
2) Visual System
3) Proprioceptive System (especially from the cervical spine) – a complex network of nerves in skin, muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments that send important sensory information to your brain regarding your body’s position in space.
Input from all three systems is processed and calibrated in your cerebellum. Located in the back part of your brain, the cerebellum is responsible for all balance and coordinated movement. Deficits in any one of these three areas, often times can be compensated for, if you have good cerebellar function.
Traditional management of dizziness and balance problems focuses almost entirely on the canals. A patient might be prescribed antivert or meclizine. Some patients are diagnosed with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and may have a doctor or physical therapist perform something called Epley’s Maneuver (a canal repositioning technique). Unfortunately, if either of these two things doesn’t work, a person is often told they will have to live with it.
If you are still suffering from dizziness, vertigo or other balance problems and it is not a hard lesion (tumor etc), you either have a peripheral problem which hasn’t been addressed or a bad cerebellum. Any balance recovery program should involve cerebellar rehabilitation as a central component. The cerebellum is like a top and as it slows down we start to wobble a little bit more. There are specific activities or therapies we can use to help activate or stimulate the cerebellum to increase its firing rate.
The cerebellum is also one of the most metabolically sensitive tissues in the body. It is very susceptible to changes in fuel supply (oxygen and glucose) and toxins (ex ethanol). Unfortunately, as we age, our body’s ability to utilize oxygen decreases by about 1%/year after the age of 20. By combining supplemental oxygen with exercise and cerebellar rehabilitation we can help our patients get better faster.
A thorough functional evaluation can determine which area(s) of the brain and nervous system are involved in a person’s problem. Once these areas are identified, they can be addressed to through specific neurologically based therapies. By handling any metabolic factors (blood sugar, anemia’s. inflammation, allergies/food sensitivities etc) that are contributing to your problem or preventing you from getting better, we can greatly improve our outcomes
To determine whether you are a candidate fro Dr. Diehl’s Balance Recovery Program, please call our office at (814)238-0232.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Peripheral Neuropathy - Find the CAUSE
Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is a condition in which the nerves of the peripheral nervous system (most commonly hands or feet) have been damaged. PN can be caused by structural problems, disease processes that directly affect the nerve or be due to the effect of a systemic illness. It is estimated that as many as 20 million Americans suffer from this condition.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:
• Pins and needles feeling
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• Tingling or burning sensations
• Weakness in the arms or legs
• Sharp shooting or burning pains
Traditional medical management involves prescribing drugs like Neurontin, Gabapentin, Klonopin, Topamax or Lyrica to help dampen these symptoms. This may be a little bit helpful for a little while but I haven’t seen anyone who this gave complete or permanent relief. None of these drugs actually address the cause of the peripheral neuropathy. Often times PN is labeled “idiopathic neuropathy” which means “we don’t know what the cause is”. The reason for this is usually it hasn’t been looked for.
In our office we look for and address several causes including:
1)Blood Sugar- Most people are aware that diabetics can develop neuropathies but many aren’t aware that you don’t have to be diabetic to have a problem with blood sugar. You could be insulin resistant or have a condition called Metabolic Syndrome or simply be dysglycemic. Blood sugar issues need to be recognized and addressed.
2)Autoimmune secondary to food sensitivities – An autoimmune condition is a where your immune system attacks your own body. One tissue that can be attacked is myelin, the fatty sheath that surrounds nerves. Foods sensitivities can be a common trigger for this attack. These need to be identified and removed.
3)Statin Drugs- Cholesterol lowering drugs also lower Coq10 levels which is required for ATP(energy) production. ATP is needed by every cell in the body. Statins can suppress ATP levels to the point that nerves cannot maintain their electrochemical gradient. The result is a neuropathy.
4)Toxicity- Chemotherapy is a big cause of neuropathy in our age advancing population. Heavy metals can be another. Toxic exposure can be mitigated.
5)Parietal Lobe Problems The parietal lobe of the brain is an area responsible for receiving proprioceptive information from skin, muscle, tendons, ligaments and joints. If you have a problem with your parietal lobe these messages can become distorted and you will have symptoms like numbness, tingling and burning. These deficits can be addressed through specific therapies.
A useful tool in the treatment of neuropathy is the Rebuilder. This device uses 7.83 dual pulsed electrotherapy to stimulate the nerves and the muscles. It is currently being used by Cancer Treatment Centers of America specifically to address peripheral neuropathy symptoms. While it is effective, unless the underlying causes are managed, the relief will be incomplete or short lived.
By doing the necessary testing and examinations, the causes of peripheral neuropathy can be determined and addressed through diet, supplementation and therapies. To find out if we can help you please call our office to schedule a Case Review and Neuropathy Screening (814)238-0232.
Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:
• Pins and needles feeling
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• Tingling or burning sensations
• Weakness in the arms or legs
• Sharp shooting or burning pains
Traditional medical management involves prescribing drugs like Neurontin, Gabapentin, Klonopin, Topamax or Lyrica to help dampen these symptoms. This may be a little bit helpful for a little while but I haven’t seen anyone who this gave complete or permanent relief. None of these drugs actually address the cause of the peripheral neuropathy. Often times PN is labeled “idiopathic neuropathy” which means “we don’t know what the cause is”. The reason for this is usually it hasn’t been looked for.
In our office we look for and address several causes including:
1)Blood Sugar- Most people are aware that diabetics can develop neuropathies but many aren’t aware that you don’t have to be diabetic to have a problem with blood sugar. You could be insulin resistant or have a condition called Metabolic Syndrome or simply be dysglycemic. Blood sugar issues need to be recognized and addressed.
2)Autoimmune secondary to food sensitivities – An autoimmune condition is a where your immune system attacks your own body. One tissue that can be attacked is myelin, the fatty sheath that surrounds nerves. Foods sensitivities can be a common trigger for this attack. These need to be identified and removed.
3)Statin Drugs- Cholesterol lowering drugs also lower Coq10 levels which is required for ATP(energy) production. ATP is needed by every cell in the body. Statins can suppress ATP levels to the point that nerves cannot maintain their electrochemical gradient. The result is a neuropathy.
4)Toxicity- Chemotherapy is a big cause of neuropathy in our age advancing population. Heavy metals can be another. Toxic exposure can be mitigated.
5)Parietal Lobe Problems The parietal lobe of the brain is an area responsible for receiving proprioceptive information from skin, muscle, tendons, ligaments and joints. If you have a problem with your parietal lobe these messages can become distorted and you will have symptoms like numbness, tingling and burning. These deficits can be addressed through specific therapies.
A useful tool in the treatment of neuropathy is the Rebuilder. This device uses 7.83 dual pulsed electrotherapy to stimulate the nerves and the muscles. It is currently being used by Cancer Treatment Centers of America specifically to address peripheral neuropathy symptoms. While it is effective, unless the underlying causes are managed, the relief will be incomplete or short lived.
By doing the necessary testing and examinations, the causes of peripheral neuropathy can be determined and addressed through diet, supplementation and therapies. To find out if we can help you please call our office to schedule a Case Review and Neuropathy Screening (814)238-0232.
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