ReBuilder | Health Solutions Group | Boston Neuropathy Treatment

Guillain-Barre Syndrome- Rare but Sinsiter

One of the more rare acute types of peripheral neuropathy is Guillain-Barre syndrome, also sometimes called Landry’s paralysis or Guillain-Barre-Stohl syndrome. It’s a kind of autoimmune disorder, meaning that it causes the body to actually attack its own nervous system, which in turn causes the muscles to weaken very fast. Because it’s related to the immune system, Guillain-Barre turns up most frequently in people who have recently gotten over another type of infection, like a lung or gastrointestinal sickness.

The condition only affects about one or two in every 100,000 people, far fewer than most of the more common neuropathy types, and it most commonly targets people between 30 and 50. Guillain-Barre syndrome is detected through nerve-conduction studies and by studying the cerebrospinal fluid. Most sufferers experience ascending paralysis (loss of strength in the feet and hands that migrates towards the core), along with typical polyneuropathy symptoms such as pain and tingling in the extremities. Perhaps most serious of all, Guillain-Barre syndrome often comes with autonomic neuropathy, making it very dangerous to the overall health of a sufferer’s internal organs.

There is still a lot we don’t know about Guillain-Barre syndrome, such as why it attacks some people after an infection and not others, or what actually sets it in motion to attack the nerves. We don’t have a cure for the condition yet, either, but with proper treatment, clinicians like the ones at NeuropathyDR® are able to manage its symptoms and restore quality of life to the people who suffer from it.

drsbookhammerstethascope1 300x200 Guillain Barre Syndrome Rare but Sinsiter

The Neuropathy Treatment System Patients and Clinicians Ask For by Name (TM)

Our patient Louise was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome over 20 years ago. The onset was sudden; Louise just woke up one morning and her foot felt funny; by the end of the day she was having trouble walking unassisted. In only a few days, Louise needed two canes just to get around. For two decades, this was how she lived; in constant discomfort from the neuropathies common with Guillain-Barre, every day worried that the condition would degenerate and that her legs would just stop being able to bear her weight (even with support). Even simple things like crossing her legs or driving were difficult. Fortunately, Louise found NeuropathyDR®!

By the time she came to us, Louise had been living with Guillain-Barre and its complications for more than 20 years. Her mobility had continued to deteriorate, and she was now also experiencing pain in her lower back and difficulty turning her neck.

We treated Louise with our NeuropathyDR® methods of adjustive procedures to restore mobility in the affected joints, as well as ultrasound and the use of electronic stimulation to affected nerves. Over a five-week period, Louise’s painful neuropathy symptoms subsided drastically and mobility began to re-emerge in her legs and back. At a checkup two months later, Louise was starting to regain feeling and continuing to improve!

After experiencing NeuropathyDR® treatments, Louise wrote to us that, in light of her newly-regained mobility, she finds herself afraid to hope that she will get feeling back in her legs after all this time. She has been following-up with a clinician as scheduled, and her condition is continuing to improve. There is hope, no matter how long a person has been living with Guillain-Barre or any other type of neuropathy.

If you’ve been diagnosed with neuropathy, or conditions that contribute to it such as Guillain-Barre syndrome, never wait to contact us. The sooner a NeuropathyDR® clinician is are able to treat you, the more options there will be to help, and the sooner you’ll be—literally—back on your feet. Get in touch with us, and we will connect you with a clinician who has been specially-trained to take care of you.

Guillain Barre Syndrome Rare but Sinsiter

The ReBuilder 2407 Clinical Co Treatment Kit Helps Louise To This Day!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001704/

http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/guillain-barre-syndrome-topic-overview

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/gbs/gbs.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000684.htm

A lot of people hear that there is no cure for neuropathy, and they get discouraged. Not Susan…

A lot of people hear that there is no cure for neuropathy, and they get discouraged. They resign themselves to the idea that they will live with their symptoms forever, and might never find relief. One of our favorite things is being able to dispel this misconception and let someone know that NeuropathyDR® has the means to lessen their pain and improve their life. “No cure” isn’t the same thing as “no help!”

A great example of a patient we have been able to help with the NeuropathyDR® methodology is Susan. Susan is a diabetic in middle age who has suffered for more than twenty years with neuropathy symptoms. Most prominently, Susan has tingling and severe pain in her feet, with the same problem less severely in her hands and arms. Susan’s pain was so bad that she had trouble telling hot from cold, and even experienced trouble walking.

When she came to us, Susan was taking prescription-strength Advil several times a week for the pain in her hands and feet. Medication has its place, and can be effective in some cases, but it is too often the first—and last—course of action people with neuropathy are given. NeuropathyDR® takes a different approach. We use newer, non-pharmaceutical methods that have been proven to reduce pain and numbness in cases like Susan’s. We are pleased to report that after applying the NeuropathyDR® protocols, Susan’s symptoms subsided drastically and her quality of life began to improve by leaps and bounds.

footCMT 200x300 A lot of people hear that there is no cure for neuropathy, and they get discouraged. Not Susan...

Welcome relief at the hands of highly trained NeuropathyDR professionals!

Especially in the short term, we want to help reduce the overall level of chronic pain and restore any mobility that might be lost. In a case like Susan’s, the NeuropathyDR® protocols target three specific areas of treatment:

Specifically-directed manual therapies to correct aberrant motion or misalignment in areas of the spine and pelvis, as well as addressing the soft tissue contractures in the neck, legs, feet, arms, and hands.
Our NeuropathyDR® nutrition protocol, consisting of a daily regimen of combined nutrients that have been proven to be supportive of the nervous system in slowing the progression of neuropathy and healing damage.
Finally, the application of ReBuilder neuro-stimulation in the affected areas. We use a waveform treatment in the office and at home that opens up nerve pathways to let them heal.

Susan came back for a round of treatments with us three times a week for five weeks, for a total of fifteen treatments. Following each treatment, Susan reported that the level of pain and tingling had subsided by two-thirds or more!

After applying the NeuropathyDR® protocol, Susan noticed a terrific improvement in her lifestyle. In her own words, her energy level tripled, and the inflammation and pain in her feet had reduced by ninety percent. Our objective tests, going by a round before and after the treatments, showed that Susan’s range of motion without pain had also increased, and her ability to sense heat, cold, and vibration had drastically improved. Perhaps the biggest lifestyle-boost of all, Susan experienced much less pain when walking after applying the NeuropathyDR® methods for five weeks.

We followed up with Susan three months after her treatments with us, and she was continuing to do extremely well. She has been diligent about keeping up her assigned home-care treatments, and she visits her clinician as-needed for checkups. Since Susan has struggled with symptoms of diabetic neuropathy for more than twenty years, this kind of progress makes her a real success story!

If you have neuropathy symptoms, whether they are similar to Susan’s or a completely different kind, we are here to help! Remember; never wait when it comes to neuropathy—the sooner we establish there is a problem, the more a clinician will be able to help you! Contact us, and we can put you in touch with a NeuropathyDR® clinician who is specially trained to treat you.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and NeuropathyDR Treatment Centers

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Common Household Neuropathy

If you experience sharp, shooting pains in your arms and wrists when sitting at your desk, driving, or doing other stationary activities, you probably don’t think of neuropathy. You probably associate neuropathy with extensive nerve damage, like the kind that has to do with diabetes, severe injury, or cancer. One of the most common forms, though, is a relatively minor condition that affects millions of healthy people: carpal tunnel syndrome.

The carpal tunnel is the small space between bones in your wrist that small tendons and the median nerve run through. The median nerve runs from your forearm into your palm and controls movement and feeling in most of your hand, except for your little finger. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) occurs when there is pressure on the median nerve in your wrist from swelling or tension. This is known as mononeuropathy, or neuropathy that affects only a single nerve.

People who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome usually experience symptoms in their arms and hands that are similar to other kinds of neuropathy. Soreness, numbness and tingling, loss of temperature sensation and problems with fine motor control are common. Because the little finger is not controlled with the median nerve, symptoms that affect the other fingers but not the little finger could represent carpal tunnel syndrome. At first, symptoms usually show up at night (people often sleep with flexed wrists) and go away by shaking the affected hand. As time passes, though, symptoms can really stick around throughout the day.

So who is the most susceptible to getting carpal tunnel syndrome? Many sufferers are simply genetically predisposed, usually because they have thinner wrists that constrict the carpal tunnel and the median nerve. Women are three times more likely than men to develop the condition, again, because of thinner wrists.

Many people associate carpal tunnel syndrome with heavy computer use. This is probably unfounded; a 2001 study at the Mayo Clinic found that using a computer for up to 7 hours a day did not increase the likelihood of CTS developing. Carpal Tunnel syndrome is not particularly confined to any specific industry or job over any other, but studies establish that it is more common in workers doing assembly, due to the repetitive nature of the task. Because of the incorrect “conventional wisdom,” conditions such as tendonitis and writer’s cramp are often mistaken for carpal tunnel syndrome.

As with any neuropathy, it is important to identify carpal tunnel syndrome early to avoid permanent damage to the median nerve. A NeuropathyDR® clinician will be able to examine your neck, back, arms, and hands to establish the nature of any symptoms you might be having. The clinician may also recommend blood tests to check for related health conditions and nerve tests to determine any damage.

IMG 0147 300x225 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and NeuropathyDR Treatment Centers

It's Important To Have a CORRECT Diagnosis before treatment!

If you have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, there are several routes for treatment. Mild conditions can be treated at home with ice and rest to reduce swelling. Avoid activities that cause repetitive wrist motions for extensive periods without resting. Practice keeping your wrist in a neutral position, such as the way it rests when holding a glass of water. Additionally, practice using your whole hand, not just your fingers, when you hold objects.

For more serious cases, or when damage to the nerve has already taken place, your NeuropathyDR® clinician may recommend more extensive measures. If your symptoms have continued for more than a few weeks with home treatments, see your ND clinician as soon as possible! Your ND clinician will be able to prescribe our specially designed CTS Protocol which is proving successful in centers around the country!

For the most serious cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, where mobility or nerve function is seriously impaired, surgery can be a solution. But almost never should you do this without trying the non-invasive ND/CTS Protocol First! [In these rare cases, a surgeon can reduce tension on the median nerve by cutting the ligament that constricts the carpal tunnel.]

If you have any questions about carpal tunnel syndrome or other neuropathic conditions, NeuropathyDR® is here to help! Don’t hesitate to contact us—we can give you more information about your symptoms and help you find a NeuropathyDR® clinician in your area.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/carpal-tunnel-syndrome/DS00326

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-topic-overview

When Neuropathy Changes Critical Body Functions

Autonomic Neuropathy: More Dangerous than You Think

If you read our articles often, you know that we usually talk about peripheral neuropathy in terms of pain and inconvenience. We usually write about quality of life, but it’s also important to know about a much more serious element: the dangers of autonomic neuropathy.

Autonomic neuropathy is the term that means damage has been done to the nerves that control the automatic functions of your body. These functions include blood pressure, heart rate, bowel and bladder emptying, and digestion. When the nerves are damaged, these functions can start to behave incorrectly. It can be dangerous and even life-threatening when this happens.

If you have symptoms of nerve damage such as:

Numbness or tingling
Loss of motor control
Sexual dysfunction
Dizziness and sweating
Loss of hot and cold sensation

You may also have more serious damage to the nerves controlling your organs. If you think you might, see a NeuropathyDR® clinician right away! Many cases of autonomic neuropathy accompany cases of peripheral neuropathy that have more easily-noticed symptoms. With autonomic neuropathy, your body can have trouble controlling your blood pressure, might not digest food correctly, or could have problems regulating your body temperature. These conditions are dangerous!

Don’t be confused!

drsbookhammerstethascope1 300x200 When Neuropathy Changes Critical Body Functions

The Neuropathy Treatment System Patients and Clinicians Ask For by Name (TM)

Autonomic neuropathy isn’t a disease of its own, and it’s not caused by any one thing. You can be at risk of developing nerve damage if you suffer from injuries, if you’ve had an amputation, or even if you spend long amounts of time sitting still. Most commonly, autonomic neuropathy goes along with a disease or condition, such as:

Alcoholism
Diabetes
Cancer (specifically, chemotherapy)
HIV or AIDS
Lupus

If you have any of these, you are at risk. Don’t wait until you develop symptoms; see your NeuropathyDR® clinician before symptoms start. You could have damage threatening your organs that you can’t detect yourself, but your doctor can discover. If your NeuropathyDR® doctor catches neuropathy early, it can save your life and even keep you from having troubling and dangerous symptoms.

So how will your doctor know if your organs are in danger?

Well, the first source of information is you. Make sure you answer your doctor’s questions about your lifestyle, exercise, diet, habits, and so on. Be honest! NeuropathyDR® clinicians are here to help, not to judge. Volunteer any information the doctor might not know, like medication you’re taking and any symptoms like the ones above you might have.

Your doctor will take your blood pressure and inspect your extremities (especially your feet) for signs of sores, infections, or sensation problems. It is possible he will conduct an ultrasound to inspect your organs in greater detail, or run tests on specific organs, such as your bladder. These are all perfectly routine, and do not necessarily mean there is a serious problem. Don’t forget: we want to catch any problems as soon as we can!

If there is a problem threatening your organs, your NeuropathyDR® Treatment Center can help!

Your doctor will make sure you’re taken care of the best way possible. For autonomic neuropathy, this can mean a couple of different treatments used together to keep you healthy. Several kinds of medications are available which will help slow the effects of nerve damage and reduce the symptoms.

Your doctor will also instruct you on ways to make your everyday routine more conducive for living with neuropathy. You may have to adjust your diet, and certain kinds of exercise may be more dangerous to people with neuropathy. Don’t worry, though! There are still lots of great foods you’ll be encouraged to eat, and you’ll be able to keep in shape the right way with the plan you and your NeuropathyDR® clinician develop together.

There’s no absolute cure for neuropathy, but NeuropathyDR® doctors and physical therapists are trained experts when it comes to the best ways to treat its different forms and keep you safe. If you have symptoms of neuropathy, or if you suffer from one of the conditions that contribute to it, don’t wait! The earlier we catch neuropathy, the safer and happier you will be. If you aren’t already in touch with a NeuropathyDR® clinician in your area, contact us and we will be happy to help you find one.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/autonomic-neuropathy/DS00544

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000776.htm

http://www.ccjm.org/content/68/11/928.full.pdf+html

More About Diabetic Neuropathy

If you are living with diabetes, chances are you are no stranger to neuropathy. While some (even those who do have nerve damage) might experience no symptoms at all, about 60 to 70 percent of diabetics experience pain, soreness, loss of sensation, tingling in the extremities, and even digestive problems—or other conditions related to organ complications—all symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Diabetes is, in turn, one of the most common causes of neuropathy overall.

Risk of developing diabetes-related neuropathy actually increases with age and extenuating health considerations (such as being overweight), partially because people who have problems with glucose control for extended periods of time—25 years or more—are more susceptible.

So what causes people who have diabetes to develop neuropathic symptoms? Research is occasionally unclear on the subject, but it is generally agreed that exposure to high blood glucose (high blood sugar) has a negative effect on nerve condition. Of course, this is in addition to other conditions or lifestyle factors commonly associated with causing or exacerbating neuropathy, such as injury, metabolic inconsistencies, inherited traits, or substance abuse.

diabetesicons 300x116 More About Diabetic Neuropathy

Sometimes Called Pre-Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome is rampant in our society...

There are a few kinds of neuropathy associated with diabetes, the most common being peripheral neuropathy (this is the type usually referred to when people simply say “neuropathy;” but we’ll get to the other types in a moment). Peripheral neuropathy is characterized by pain, numbness, tingling, and loss of motor function, among other sensation-related symptoms. This type is written about extensively, and can greatly impact quality of life for its sufferers. The good news is, most treatment and therapy for neuropathy addresses this kind, and many are very effective!

Focal and proximal neuropathy result in muscle weakness and pain, and typically target a specific nerve grouping. These types of neuropathy are commonly characterized by weakness in the legs, causing difficulty standing and walking.

Autonomic neuropathy, as the name implies, causes changes in autonomic bodily functions. These include bowel and bladder functions, sexual responses, and digestion. Autonomic neuropathy can be life-threatening in extreme cases, as it also affects nerves that serve the heart, lungs, and eyes. Especially troubling to diabetics is the resulting condition of hypoglycemia unawareness, which can obliviate the symptoms most diabetics associate with low glucose.

A comprehensive foot exam is recommended at least once a year for diabetics, to check for peripheral neuropathy. Once diagnosed, the need for more frequent exams becomes important. Additional to diabetic amputation concerns, your doctor will want to test your protective sensation by pricking your foot with a pin, or running monofilament across your skin. If you have lost protective sensation, you could be at risk to develop sores that might not heal properly, leading to infection.

For other types of neuropathy, a NeuropathyDR® clinician will perform a check of heart rate variability to detect how your heart rate changes in response to changes in blood pressure and posture, or even an ultrasound, which can detect whether other internal organs such as the kidneys and bladder are functioning properly.

Tight blood sugar control and a healthy diet is the best way to control diabetic neuropathy, as well as other diabetic conditions. Even if you don’t have symptoms of neuropathy, checkups with a NeuropathyDR®-trained clinician can help spot warning signs of factors that could endanger your nerve function or even be life-threatening. In addition to dietary considerations, your clinician can also help any symptoms by prescribing appropriate medication for pain you might experience.

If you have diabetes, you are at risk! If you have symptoms, or think you might, don’t let it go unchecked. Remember, the sooner neuropathy is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat and to slow the progression of this degenerative condition. Your NeuropathyDR® clinician is trained to identify the various types of neuropathy and recommend the treatments that will help you retain your quality of life. If you are not already in-touch with a NeuropathyDR® doctor, contact us to find one in your area!

http://www.medicinenet.com/diabetic_neuropathy/article.htm

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/

http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/neuropathy/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/diabetic-neuropathy/DS01045

5 Myths about Neuropathy

Since Peripheral neuropathy affects people of so many ages, physical conditions, and other variables, it can often be confusing to find consistent information. Changes in medical research resulting in outdated data, “best guesses” on the parts of sufferers and medical practitioners being reproduced as facts, and just plain likely-sounding rumors all contribute to a host of very basic misinformation about neuropathy. This week, we at NeuropathyDR® will be taking a look at some of the most common rumors we’ve found, and will do our best to set the record straight!

Isn’t neuropathy only found in people with diabetes?

No. While neuropathy is common in diabetic patients and is popularly associated with diabetes, neuropathy affects chemotherapy recipients, those suffering from injuries or illness, people who have lost limbs, even sufferers of common minor ailments such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). If you feel pain, even if you’re not diabetic, neuropathy could be the cause.

Neuropathy is a natural result of aging, right? As people get older, they just start to hurt!

Not necessarily. Neuropathy is more common among seniors, but it affects people of all ages. Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean neuropathy is a fact of life, either. Because neuropathy can be caused by injuries, complications with medication, or metabolic issues (among dozens of other causes), taking the right steps early can keep you from suffering many neuropathic symptoms as you get older.

I have friends with peripheral neuropathy, and my pain isn’t anything like theirs. I must have something else!

Neuropathy can present itself as tingling, sharp pains, numbness, loss of motor control, and even very dangerous complications in organ function. The term describes many different sensations of pain in various areas on the body, so cases can vary wildly from person to person. Remember: if you believe you have symptoms, they are most easily treated early! See your NeuropathyDR® clinician right away.

IMG 0147 300x225 5 Myths about Neuropathy

It's Important To Have a CORRECT Diagnosis First!

There’s no cure, so if I have neuropathy, I just have to learn to live with it.

Well, yes and no. Although most who suffer from nerve damage and neuropathic pain will have to live with some adjustments to their lifestyle and maybe some discomfort (there is, to date, no overall cure), many neuropathy patients can keep their symptoms from getting worse and, in most cases, even reverse the symptoms. A combination proper ReBuilder® Neurostimulation both at home and in the clinic along with the other factors your clinician sees fit can help ensure that you’ll live a much better life. Whatever you do, don’t let neuropathy go untreated!

The ReBuilder 2407 Clinical Co Treatment Kit

This website I found says they can “cure” my neuropathy!

Be careful! Even though there are some well-meaning, informed, and helpful websites for people with neuropathy, there are also scammers who will try to exploit your pain and cash in on your desire to be neuropathy-free. Be especially wary of any claims of a cure—no actual cure for peripheral neuropathy is known to exist, so any claims to that effect are insincere. Where treatments are concerned, remember that it is almost impossible for a proper treatment plan to be developed without examining you, the patient. Any products or treatments claiming to help without even knowing your specific symptoms are most likely ineffective at best, and could be dangerous. Consult a NeuropathyDR® clinician before beginning any treatment program.

Avoiding some of these myths might seem like common sense, but it can be tricky to sort out the good advice from the fiction and hearsay. Above all, be sure your information is coming from a good source; don’t believe everything you hear or read! Your NeuropathyDR® clinicians are the only ones fully trained and educated in the facts about neuropathy, the complete usages of the ReBuilder® and how to treat many forms of neuropathy. Contact us and we can answer your questions and put you in touch with a doctor who can help you.

http://www.webmd.com/brain/understanding-peripheral-neuropathy-basics

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheral-neuropathy/DS00131

http://www.medicinenet.com/neuropathic_pain/article.htm

http://www.footpaincenter.com/blog/?p=26