Neck pain usually comes from:

• Soft tissue damage
• Nerve compression
• Ruptured disc
• Herniated disc
• Spinal misalignments
• Nerve entrapment

Usually three of these problems (nerve compression, nerve entrapment, and soft tissue restrictions) have a soft tissue imbalance as either the source or a component of the issue.  For long term success, the imbalances in the soft tissue must be addressed with manual therapy of some kind.  The manual therapy must focus on correcting the imbalance, creating space and softness in the tissue, and bringing the body back to neutral position.

Randomized trial of therapeutic massage for chronic neck pain.

The dream is that health professionals will get to know each other, work more efficiently, hold events to raise money for medical research, and promote the advancement of integrative medicine. We want to make sure patients are being given all their options when they work with their medical team.

We imagine a patient interaction would change from “Take these pills and/or have this surgery” to “You could try acupuncture, massage, etc. before taking pills and here are some suggestions for providers who specialize in this….”

We want to create a “climate of helpfulness” in the integrated medicine community by encouraging collaboration instead of competition. There are plenty of people who need help and we need to find the way to help them best more efficiently.

If you are a health provider of any kind, please join us FREE – HCPRN.org

If you are a patient, you can help Health Care Professionals Referral Networking succeed by asking your health care team if they are a member of HCPRN. If they aren’t, please invite them to visit our website at HCPRN.org and to join HCPRN so you can know you’re being told all your options as a patient.

The largest tendon in the body, the achilles tendon attaches to the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles of the lower leg. Many running injuries (about 11%) are associated with this area.  Commonly, people acquire achilles tendonitis which is a painful inflammation of the achilles tendon. This usually happens if the gastrocnemius or soleus are overstressed or overused.

Some signs of achilles tendonitis are:

• Pain during exercise, walking up hill, or stairs
• Inflammation and/or redness
• Pain or stiffness in the morning

When someone comes to our clinic, we recommend to start with a doctor’s exam and also refer to this article which discusses the R.I.C.E.R. routine for applying cold therapy to recent injuries to minimize inflammation.  We suggest seeing your chiropractor or podiatrist to assess if orthotics are needed as they can often be very helpful in the healing process.  After a series of massage therapy treatments to remove scar tissue and treat trigger points, acupuncture may be used to help break the pain cycle. Our most successful patients attend physical therapy after this regime to work on strengthening the calf muscle to help reduce the stress on the achilles tendon.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a common repetitive stress disorder now more than ever because of the amount of time people spend doing repetitive activities. This painful condition is common for people who spend a lot of time at a keyboard and for many other professions that require constant use of the hands and wrist.

Other such Carpal Tunnel Syndrome prone professions or tasks may include:

• Massage Therapists
• Construction
• Sewing
• Hairdressers
• Painters
• Writers
• Musicians
• Assembly line work

The pain, numbness, weakness, and tingling from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by pressure on the median nerve which runs through central part of the wrist called the “carpal tunnel”. This nerve supplies feeling and movement to the part of the palm, thumb, index finger, middle finger, and part of the ring finger.

Other than massage therapy and acupuncture, there are many types of treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome including anti-inflammatory drugs, wrist splints, physical therapy, chiropractic, and surgery.  Surgery should be considered an absolute last resort especially since the risks are loss of strength, infection, nerve damage, stiffness, or pain from the scar.

It is possible to prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome by getting massage therapy, performing stretching exercises. Click here to see suggestions from page 34 in the book Getting in Shape or click here to see suggestions from page 25 of Stretching in the Office.

The results of this particular study show that massage therapy is effective in reducing or eliminating the symptoms associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as well as a marked improvement with the nerve conduction test.  This study proves there is a strong possibility for success by using massage therapy to reduce pressure on the median nerve.

As described in the article, “Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by generalized pain, joint rigidity, intense fatigue, sleep alterations, headache, spastic colon, craniomandibular dysfunction, anxiety, and depression.”

Myofascial Release Therapy involved a skilled therapist applying gentle and sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissues. This technique is used to eliminate pain and restore normal range of motion.

This study was designed to determine whether this particular massage therapy technique was effective in decreasing symptoms related to Fibromyalgia. They found that at one month into treatment that there was a positive change in overall quality of life including changes in sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and pain level.

What the Research Says: Massage and Acupuncture can help in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression

• Touch may help alleviate symptoms of depression according to theAmerican Journal of Psychiatry.  Researchers suggested the release of oxytocin and relaxing aspects of massage help improve this condition. (March 2010)
• A study in the Journal of Clinical Nursing indicates weekly hand and foot massage is helpful to the bereaved in resolving grief. (April 2010)
• According to the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, acupuncture can help anxious insomniacs sleep better. It was found that acupuncture facilitates an increase in melatonin secretion. This means that you can fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. (February 2004)
• According to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of Stanford University, acupuncture holds promise for treating pregnant women with major depressive disorders. (March 2010)
• A study published in Acupuncture in Medicine, found that laser acupuncture had a significant effect on those with mild to moderate depression with lasting effects up to a month following termination of treatment. (2002)

Refer 1 get 1 FREE!!
When you refer someone new to our office, you get a free session!   Refer someone to acupuncture with Misty and get one free acupuncture session, or refer someone to massage with Dene and get a free 60 minute massage session.

Have Misty or Dene made a positive impact on your life?  Please take a moment to write a review for us on these review sites.

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Partner of the Month:
David “Dahveed” Gross, PT is a physical therapist with a specialization in Structural Medicine.  The mission of Structural Medicine is to restore the natural balance of the body using the teachings of Ida Rolf and Donna Bajelis.  Structural Medicine uses hands-on work to release fascia and free up movement.  Learn more about Dahveed by calling 206-527-8628 or go to biznik.com/members/david-davheed-gross-pt/about.

For many years, massage therapists have maintained that massage therapy increases circulation. Now new research is helping prove it. Using dynamic infrared thermography, the research shows that massage significantly increased the temperature of the area massaged and areas adjacent. In addition, these areas remained elevated in temperature after an hour later. These results suggest that peripheral blood flow was changed by the massage.

The benefits of increased circulation are that the faster that blood can get to your muscles, the faster your muscles can recover and get more energy. Muscle cells need oxygenated blood to work properly. This can relieve soreness, speed recovery from a workout or injury, or even rejuvenate the body and mind.

If you have someone in your life who suffers from chronic pain, then you probably know first hand how painful their day to day lives can become – the simplest tasks take on a new challenge.

Arthritis pain can be oppressive, and can cause us to become sedentary or withdrawn. You can help your loved ones escape the cycle of arthritis pain by telling them about acupuncture.

A study funded by the National Institute of Health, has found that acupuncture may provide relief and improve function for people with knee osteoarthritis, published in the December 21, 2004 issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Massage therapy is also a safe and effective way to reduce pain and improve function in adults with osteoarthritis of the knee, reports a 2006 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.  By loosening the muscles surrounding the knee, tension can be relieved on the joint.

Massage gift certificates are available now.  If you buy someone else a gift certificate for a 60 minute massage, get a 30 minute massage gift certificate for yourself free!  This offer expires February 28th.

Even better – When you refer someone new to our office, you get a free session!   Refer someone to acupuncture with Misty and get one free acupuncture session, or refer someone to massage with Dene and get a free 60 minute massage session.

Have Misty or Dene made a positive impact on your life?  Please take a moment to write a review for us on these review sites.

Misty’s Yelp Page

Dene’s Yelp Page

Yours in Health,

Dene and Misty at NW Pain Relief

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Partner of the Month

Need an extra boost for your energy, health, and weight loss?  Tired of old eating habits? Join nutritionist Mary Purdy on a 30 day detox.  If you don’t feel better after you’re through, Mary will completely refund your money.  Click here to go to Mary Purdy’s Website to learn more.