Manipulation under Anesthesia

Village Family Chiropractic announced the addition of Manipulation Under Anesthesia to its roster of medical treatments.

Dr. James R. Fedich has recently been certified in Manipulation under Anesthesia, which gives patient another treatment option for difficult and chronic conditions, by Southern California University of Health Sciences.

The procedure has been practiced since the 1930s and has been used for many years. Recently the use of the procedure has increased greatly thanks to advances in the technique and anesthesia.

Manipulation Under Anesthesia can be an effective procedure for people with chronic neck pain, back pain, or other spine pain caused by disabilities or accidents, or any injury that has not responded to conventional treatments. 

"This procedure gives our patients another option, for patients who have tried multiple treatments unsuccessfully, this gives them another step before trying invasive surgery," Fedich said.
Fedich has been practicing in Panther Valley for five years, but he recently added the procedure to his practice to help with more difficult cases. His certification was completed through extra study and proctorship for the procedure at Southern California University of Health Sciences.
"I had back pain from a car accident every morning when I woke up, after the second day of MUA, I woke up for the first time without a back ache in over a year," explained one patient, K.H, of Hackettstown, who asked their name not be used.

Manipulation Under Anesthesia achieves results because it allows the caregivers to adjust the bones and muscles without the usual resistance. Light sedation allows patients to be responsive but not apprehensive. Adjustments are completely gentle, Fibrotic adhesions are altered, motion is increased, muscles stretched, collagen remodeled, and the result of decreased pain and discomfort are amazing.
A recent study by Ongly et el, showed a recovery rate of 87 percent of patients with 10 year or longer pain, another by Dr. Paul Kuo showed 83 percent positive response rate. 

Fedich has taken a special interest in caring for patients with chronic pain, but this treatment is not for everyone. Those with questions regarding Manipulation under Anesthesia can call Fedich at (908) 813-8200 or e-mail drfedich@villagefamilychiro.com.

Dr. James Fedich
CHIROPRACTOR
info@villagefamlychiro.com
http://www.villagefamilychiro.com/

Why not go for a walk to loose weight?

While some fitness enthusiasts seek our the latest, trendiest exercise crazes, many others are returning to good, old-fashioned walking to help them feel great and get into shape. Whether enjoying the wonder of nature, or simply the company of a friend, walking can be a healthy, invigorating experience. And thanks to its convenience and simplicity, walking just might be right for you too.

You don’t need to become a member at an expensive gym to go walking. All that you will need to start your walking routine is a good pair of shoes.

• A sedentary lifestyle has a debilitating influence on people’s health as they age. Walking will accomplish all of the following and more:
• Improve cardiovascular endurance
• Tones the muscles of the lower body
• Burns Calories (80 if walking 2 miles per hour)
• Reduces the risk of Cardiovascular Disease

The first item of business when beginning your walking program is to select the right pair of shoes.

• Make sure your shoes fit properly. 
• Avoid high-top shoes that often cover the entire ankle, limiting your foot’s ability to move freely and naturally. Opt instead for shoes that offer your ankle a fuller range of motion. 
• Select shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of your walking.

Get started with your new walking routine slowly. Walking just 12 minutes every other day can offer important health benefits. Walking 20 minutes every other day is even better. But, in order to ensure your health and longevity, try working up to 30 minutes a day, five days a week. 

The following tips should help you get started safely and smoothly:

• Move your arms freely, in conjunction with the opposite leg
• Don’t stoop your head or look down as you walk
• Don’t carry weights or dumbbells while walking
• Expect a little soreness in the thighs and calves for the first week or two. If you experience more than soreness, check with your doctor of chiropractic
• Walk briskly, with purpose; you must push a little to get health benefits
• Make sure to drink extra water when beginning a new exercise program. Ten eight-ounce glasses a day are appropriate for most people
• Walk on a surface with some give. Cushioned and rubberized tracks are ideal, grass is another good surface. Concrete surfaces and mall floors offer no give and are not ideal for walking

If you experience pain beyond the typical muscle soreness, consult your doctor of chiropractic. Injuries sustained during walking are not usually regional, or isolated, but tend to be more systemic. A problem in the foot or ankle can create an imbalance in every step, leading to discomfort or injury that moves to the knees, hips, low back, or elsewhere. Make sure to loosen up, stretch, drink lots of fluids and enjoy the lovely weather and the landscape. Have Fun!

Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well. ~Marcus Valerius Martial





Dr. James Fedich
CHIROPRACTOR
info@villagefamlychiro.com
http://www.villagefamilychiro.com/

This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. This article is not intended to substitute for the advice of a doctor.

Taking good care of your childrens health

This month I have decided to write about children’s health issues. In particular two health issues that have been raised lately by two new studies. The first study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. 

This study investigated high blood pressure in adolescents. Researchers compared average systolic and diastolic blood pressure among children aged 8-17, and evaluated their body mass index. The researches found that since 1999 blood pressure had gone up 1.4 mg Hg for systolic and 3.3 mg HG for diastolic. This means that overall our children have higher blood pressure at the same age than they did five years ago. Also, the researchers noted a strong correlation between being overweight and having high systolic blood pressure. The study remarked that like many health problems that people feel in their fifties, they often start in childhood. So, rather than have your children suffer heart disease in their fifties, why not start them on regular check-up, diet and exercise to prevent these problems from occurring.

The second study of significance was published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine in June. The study looked at sleep patterns and television watching. The first disturbing fact in the study was that 30% of children with an average age of 14, watch 3 hours or more of television per day. The study found that children who watched three or more hours of t.vl per day were at a significantly elevated risk for sleep problems as an early adult and into adulthood. So, this means that by watching too much t.v. as a child, you will decrease your sleep during childhood, but also into early adulthood. The researches concluded by saying, “The American Academy of Pediatrics had recommended that youth not watch more than 1 to 2 hours of television per day.” That sounds like good advice to me. Sit with your children and play board games, read a book together, go outside for a walk. It is very easy to dump the kids in front of the t.v., but you will find after time that you will enjoy spending time with your children and everyone will be happy and healthy.
Don’t let your children fall victim to the same health problems that you have. Get your children checked out early, take care of small problems before they become big problems. Start your children off in a lifetime of good health, exercise, and fitness. Sometimes it is amazing to me that patients will come to office for headaches, yet their child is left at home with headaches as well, not being treated. Overall, be healthy and take care of yourself and your children.

“As to disease, make a habit of two things- to help, or at least do no harm.”
-Hippocrates

Dr. James Fedich
CHIROPRACTOR
info@villagefamlychiro.com
http://www.villagefamilychiro.com/

This article is not intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any disease. This article is not intended to substitute for the advice of a doctor.

Osteoporosis: the brittle bone disease

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 1 in 2 woman over the age of 50, and 1 in 4 men in the same age group will suffer a hip fracture due to osteoporosis. 

There are currently 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, 8 million of which are women. The cost of osteoporosis to the United States Health Care system is $43 million dollars a day. Osteoporosis is becoming an epidemic in this country. Perhaps the most somber statistic is that 1 in 4 women who suffer an osteoporosis hip fracture will die within one year of that fracture. This is not a disease to be taken lightly. As with most healthcare problems in the United States, prevention is the key. When you are already diagnosed with osteoporosis and put on a medication such as Fosamax, it is too late. The key is to prevent the disorder from happening. 

One important point with osteoporosis is that women build all of their bone density by the age of 20. Thus, building bone in childhood and the teenage years becomes very important. So, how do we build bone and prevent osteoporosis. First, weight-bearing exercise is vastly important. As stress is placed on a bone, the bone responds by laying down more bone to strengthen the area. Even walking for fifteen minutes a day can positively affect bone density. However, if the body does not have the building blocks it will not be able to make more bone. 

The building blocks to good bone density include calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D. It is very important to build bone, but it is even more important that we aren't taking calcium and bone out of our body as well. Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol have all been shown to leech calcium out of your bones. So, we must all stop smoking and drinking. It is also important to note that osteoporosis is not just an elderly persons disease. If we do not watch what we do, we can develop osteoporosis at a much younger age. Getting your bone density checked is a great first step on the road to better bone health. A bone density test can give a good starting point and a good reference point for later in life. Most importantly, you should be evaluated by a doctor to determine your risks and treatment options. Osteoporosis is definitely a disease you want to be ahead of. You do not want to be lying in bed with a fractured hip before you decide to think about your bone health. As always, prevention is the key, get out, walk, take your vitamins, and a get a check up, before it is too late.

This article is not intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any disease. This article is not intended to substitute for the advice of a doctor.

“It is a noble work to be a nurse, and nurse the sick. It is a great profession of physicians who relieve the suffering, but greater than all is the chiropractor who can adjust the cause of disease and get them well.”
-Dr. B.J. Palmer




Dr. James Fedich
CHIROPRACTOR
info@villagefamlychiro.com
http://www.villagefamilychiro.com/

Soft drinks and pancreatic cancer?

A recent study shows us another reason to stop or curtail our usage of soft drinks. 

Soft drinks have already been shown to increase risk of diabetes and obesity, but a new study in singapore suggests that soft drinks can lead to an increase risk of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a rare but extremely deadly form of cancer. Less than twenty percent of patients live through the disorder, most die within a year. Treatment of pancreatic cancer has been relatively ineffective, and the diagnosis is often a death sentence. Any chance to decrease risk of contracting this deadly cancer, should be thoroughly investigated.

People who down two or more soft drinks a week may have double the risk of developing deadly pancreatic cancer, compared to non-soda drinkers, new research suggests.

"Soft drinks are linked with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer," said Noel Mueller, lead author of a study appearing in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. "We can't speculate too much on the mechanism because this is an observational study, but the increased risk may be working through effects of the hormone insulin."

ASome suggest that regular soda drinkers are generally less healthy individuals, and may also engage in other lifestyle habits, such as smoking, which could contribute to the elevated risk.

"It's an interesting finding but if you look at the people who had the high soft drink intake, they also had other issues that may also predispose you to pancreatic cancer," said Dr. Colin D. Weekes, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Denver. "It's hard to make any true associations from this. "We could argue that smoking could be the issue here and not the soda intake."

The study was a collaboration between the University of Minnesota and National University of Singapore. Mueller, formerly at Minnesota, has since joined Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, as a research associate.

The analysis involved more than 60,000 middle-aged or older Chinese Singaporeans. Researchers calculated how much juice and soda the participants drank on average and followed them for 14 years to see how many developed cancer of the pancreas.

Those who drank two or more sodas a week were 87 percent more likely to develop this kind of tumor than individuals who didn't consume any soda.

Previous research in U.S. and European populations has suggested an association between sweetened sodas and juices and pancreatic cancer. This is the first study to examine the association in an Asian population, although the authors feel the findings can be extrapolated to Western nations.

"We believe that because Singaporean adults have a lot of the same mannerisms as Western countries, which is a tendency to eat fast food and also go shopping, one could say that these findings may be generalizable to other Western countries," said Mueller. "Genetically they are very different from Caucasians, however their lifestyle is similar to Western countries."

"Drinking sugar-sweetened soft drinks has been linked to weight gain, obesity and diabetes. Both obesity and diabetes are associated with higher risk of pancreatic cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer death in the United States," Jacobs said.

The soft drink industry disputed the findings, however.

"The [study] authors are skipping several steps in trying to connect soft drinks with pancreatic cancer, including an allegation regarding an increase in insulin production," Richard Adamson, a consultant to the American Beverage Association and former scientific director of the NCI, said in a statement.

"The fact remains that soft drinks do not cause cancer, nor do any authoritative bodies, such as NCI, name soft drinks as a risk factor for pancreatic cancer," he added. "You can be a healthy person and enjoy soft drinks. The key to a healthy lifestyle is balance -- eating a variety of foods and beverages in moderation along with getting regular physical activity," Adamson added.

Others took a more cautious view.

"The bottom line is that limiting consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks can help in maintaining a healthy weight, which in turn will reduce risk of many types of cancer and other serious diseases," Jacobs said. 

A very interesting study indeed. The research is definately not definitive, but with so many other health related reasons to stop drinking soda, here is one more reason to drop the soda habit. Switch to water, tea, juice, someting with less calories and less risks. An added bonus is that you will lose weight and have more energy as well.

Dr. James Fedich
CHIROPRACTOR
info@villagefamlychiro.com
http://www.villagefamilychiro.com/

What you need to know about Fibromyalgia

What is Fibromyalgia?

There are 5 to 6 million known cases of Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in the United Stares, and many more that have yet to be diagnosed. Fibromyalgia is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions in this country. False diagnosis for FMS is commonly diagnosed as chronic fatigue syndrome, lymes disease, chronic myofascial pain syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and many others. There is no definitive diagnostic test for fibromyalgia that can determine for certain that FMS is the cause of the symptoms. Fibromyalgia is a complex disorder involving several symptoms and is basically a rule-out diagnosis. A rule out diagnosis means that you cannot definitively diagnosis fibromyalgia based on any one test, symptom, or examination. No doctors can definitively diagnosis fibromyalgia without ruling out other causes of the symptoms first. There are many conditions which can mimic and present similar to fibro, and should be ruled out before the diagnosis is definitive. Some of these disorders include autoimmune disorders, tick-borne illness, genetic deficiencies and others. Some common disorders to rule out include lymes disease, lupus, irritable bowl diseases, arthritis, and others. Diagnosis will be discussed in further detail separately in the book.

Many doctors, studies, and institutions have tried to determine the root cause of FMS. FMS affects mostly women and typically the symptoms begin in young adulthood. Several hypotheses have been put forward to try to explain fibromyalgia and include immunologic abnormalities, chemical insensitivity, Epstein Barr Virus infection, Candidia Ablicans infection, chronic mercury poisoning from dental fillings, anemia, parasites, phyopglycmia, and hypothyroidism. However, as with most medical issues, I think that we overcomplicate things. In this book, I will try to describe complex medical terms, hypothesis and treatments in easy to understand language and recommendations.


There are lots of fancy medical words and large concepts that we could use to tell you about fibromyalgia. It would make me sounds smart and like I knew what I was talking about, however, it wouldn’t help you all that much. Plus, most of those big words are just Latin that us doctors use to make ourselves sound smart. I would like to explain fibromyalgia to you in simple terms. I think anyone who has been diagnosed with fibro, thinks they may have fibro, or has a friend with fibro, knows that if you got 10 doctors in a room to discuss fibro, four wouldn’t believe that fibro exists, and then you would get 10 opinions from the other six doctors. Unfortunately, the etiology (cause) of fibromyalgia is not completely known. However, I believe that it is easily explainable; we just try to over-complicate the issue.


Fibromyalgia is a disorder, which consists of an overly active, overly sensitive nervous system. That is it! I couldn’t make it much simpler. Fibromyalgia consists of a body’s own nervous system over-reacting. The nervous system is the master controller of the body. The human body can survive approximately 6 weeks with no food, about 6 days without water, about 6 minutes without a heart, and about 6 milliseconds without a nervous system. The nervous system is the master controller of everything your body does. The brain monitors and controls every cell, tissue and organ through the central nervous system, or spinal cord, down to the spinal nerves and then out to the cell, tissues, and organs. The brain sends messages through this control system, and the tissues send messages back, this forms the two-way communication, which is the essence of health and life. This messages lets the brain monitor and record everything that every little cell is doing, and it makes changes, or adjusts, based on the information it receives.


This system lets our brain monitor, adjust, and optimize our environment and health. One way I tell my patients to think of it is to imagine a garden hose coming out of the front of your house. The hose is supplying water to a sprinkler watering the grass. The sprinkler is like the smaller nerves that supply the smaller cells. Now, it is important for the grass to get the right amount of water. Lots of patients in my practice come to see me with a pinched nerve. Now, pinched nerves are like someone standing on the hose. The water doesn’t come out as much as it should, and the water doesn’t give the grass its nourishment, it wilts, and dies. Pinched nerves are very similar. Now, fibro is the complete opposite of that, Imagine hooking up a fire hose to the sprinkler? Probably would like right huh? Water flying up in the air, all over the place, putting lots of stress on sprinkler head, and probably giving way too much water to the grass. And what will happen if you keep over watering the grass that way? It will also get brown and die. The firehouse to a sprinkler is the best analogy I can give to fibromyalgia. The nervous system is hyper active.

Just as an under active nervous system can make you numb, and over-active nervous system makes you over sensitive to stimuli. We will be talking about diagnosis soon; however, one of the definitive diagnostic tests for fibro is the trigger point assessment. Basically the test discovers if certain points in the body are over-sensitive. This is testing the nervous systems response. If you touch a certain part of your body, in a certain way, your nerves should respond a certain way. In fibro patients, those certain points with a certain pressure, elicit an over reactive and over sensitive response. This demonstrates the body’s hyperactive state. The over-active nervous system model can be applies to all signs and symptoms of fibro. Scientifically, this idea has been proven by several studies, which have demonstrated an increased level of substance P, a neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord that causes pain. (1,2,3)

This over active nervous system is more responsive to pain than a normal nervous system. Also the increased levels of substance P, tell us that the brain and spinal cord are inducing more pain. My neurology instructor in graduate school told our class that if our brain acknowledged all the pain our nerves felt all day, we would go insane. In fact, it has been shown in studies that 99 percent of all pain signals recorded by the nerves are ignored at the brain. The brain is normally trying to protect us from al the pain that we feel. The nerves do a great job at monitoring all that goes on in the body, especially pain signals. However, it’s the brains and spinal cords job, to edit these signals. To decide which are important and which are not. Unfortunately, with FMS these edits don’t seem to be working, and the patient feels much more than is normally tolerable. This excess reaction is a root cause for all FMS symptoms. 

Of course there are other hypothesis for the cause of fibromyalgia. Some doctors have suggested that fibro is due to chronic of pervious infection, some claim sleep disturbances can cause it, and some even believe that there is a genetic component. More studies will be done, however most are in the general agreement that the nervous system is key, and that it is overreacting. The final details will come, but that makes the most sense to me, and I see FMS every day. Several studies have come to similar conclusions as this to the root of FMS. However, this is my opinion based on years of clinical experience and the research that has been performed. Unfortunately like many aspects of FMS, there is no definitive widely believed root cause of FMS, however, most opinions and research studies have shown an over-active nervous system as the cause of fibro. 




Dr. James Fedich
CHIROPRACTOR
info@villagefamlychiro.com
http://www.villagefamilychiro.com/

Chronic Back Pain By Dr. James R. Fedich, Chiropractic Physician

New research has show that the pain in your back can also be a pain in your brain.  Research conducted at Northwestern University has discovered that chronic lower back pain can deteriorate brain function.  The study was performed on 42 individuals, half with chronic back pain and half without.  The study found that in patients with six months or longer of low back pain they had lost about 1.3 cubic centimeters of brain matter. 

This much loss of brain matter is equal to the amount lost in ten to twenty years of aging.  The study also found that every year a person has chronic low back pain, they lose the same 1.3 cubic centimeters of brain matter.  This essentially means that for every one year that you have chronic back pain, your brain ages 10 – 20 years.  So, if you have lower back pain for 3 years, which many people have, your brain may have aged 60 years in that time.  This is some very significant research.

 Essentially, that achy low back you have been putting off for years has been slowly destroying your brain.  Dr. A. Vania Apkararian who headed the study states that six months or longer of lower back pain is accompanied by abnormal brain chemistry, indicated by chemical changes in the brain that can affect emotional assessments, decision making, and control social behavior.  Dr. Apkararian further states, “Chronic pain is a state of continuous persistent perception with associated negative affect and stress.”  

 This research supports what chiropractors have been saying for years.  Your body is a highly tuned machine, and when a part of that machinery is not working properly, it disrupts the rest of your system.  If you have nerve compression in your low back, and the impulses from your brain are not allowed to travel freely down the nerves, then of course this will affect your brain.

 Your brain is always monitoring the body, and if it cannot send and receive messages to a part of the body, this interferes with its system.  The nervous system is a highly tuned machine, and just like your car it needs a tune up.  Research has now confirmed that the achy low back that you have not worried about for years is slowly destroying your brain.  Now is as good a time as any to get a check up and make sure that everything is working well.  Nobody ever looks back on life and wishes they had taken worse care of their body.  Take care of yourself now before you regret it later!

This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.  This article is not intended to substitute for the advice of a doctor.

“Illnesses hover constantly above us, their seeds blown by the wind, but they do not set in the terrain unless the terrain is ready to receive them.”

-Claude Bernard