How To Get Rid Of Pain And Get Healthier!

It’s amazing how many people FAIL to follow through with a treatment recommendation.  Let me explain. I had a young woman consult with me about her back pain just last week. She had been suffering with her back for approximately six months. The MD’s gave her prescriptions for the pain and muscle spasms but the pain would come back. They gave her an injection but the pain came back. They were now recommending surgery.

A co-worker referred her to me. The first thing I asked her was if the other doctors had taken x-rays. She said “no”. I explained that x-rays are the first tool and that they would allow us to take a look at her spine. I also explained that the spine is where the spinal cord is housed and all the nerves come off the spinal cord and go to every muscle, organ and gland. In short this “Master System” of nerves, spinal cord and brain Control and Direct all functions of the human body.

So we get some x-rays of her spine and what do we find? Her spine is crooked or subluxated. It is also called misaligned. The spinal bones are out of their normal position and this causes nerve interference which in turn causes muscle spasms and back pain. I also explained to her that she might also have a disc problem which is what is usually what causes the pain shooting down the leg. The bulging or herniated disc pinches on the sciatic nerve. This is the nerve that is located in the low back and goes all the way down the leg. There are nerves on both the right and left side of the spine. This condition is called “Sciatica”.

She got her first treatment and said how much better she felt afterwards. I recommended two times a week for a couple of weeks to see how she did. I also recommended some exercises and for her to get an Inversion machine to use daily at home. She said she was going to talk to her husband.

I never heard back from her. Did her husband decide against the treatment? He never even bothered to call me and ask any questions. Did she decide to have the spinal surgery instead? I made her fully aware of all the risks involved…complications, infection, blood clot, embolism and the worst being death.Yes people die in or from surgery every day. We just don’t hear about it. I have personally known two people that died from knee surgeries and several others that died from various other types of surgeries.

I’m not saying people should never have surgery but it should be the LAST option. Too many people think it’s a quick fix. There is also no guarantee that surgery is going to fix the problem. This is why you have to sign all those disclaimers when you agree to any surgery. You will not hold the surgeons, hospital, anesthesiologist or anyone else liable should something go wrong.

If you are going to get in shape do yo0u go to the gym one time? If you are going to get your teeth straightened and get braces… do you just wear the braces one time? No….it requires follow through.

If I tell a patient to start taking a high quality Glucosamine, which is available here www.drcarlos.usana.com then that patients needs to follow through. I also mention that this product has a 100% money back guarantee. Some people will follow through and some won’t. I guess it’s just human nature.

When I have any type of pain be it from a sport injury (which I have had plenty), careless lifting or whatever I don’t only treat the pain one time. I may ice the area 5 or more times in one day. I also look for as many possible natural solutions that I can use to help my body heal.  That actually led me to write “Hanging Out Pain Free- 105 Natural Pain Relief Solutions”. I will be posting 21 of the 105 on this site in the near future.

The same is true if you are looking to get healthier. You have to FOLLOW THROUGH”. Being healthy and pain free requires ongoing attention and care for your body. it really is worth it. You feel good about yourself, your body feels good. You don’t hurt when you get out of bed. You don’t suffer with headaches, stomach problems, heartburn, allergies, high blood pressure and on and on. You don’t have to take prescription drugs. you don’t have to be visiting doctors and having them try to figure out why you have this pain or health problem. Actually most run a few tests and prescribe. Because that’s how they have been trained in medical schools.

If you have an MD that says, “you have high blood pressure but before I prescribe anything I want you to start an exercise program let’s change your diet some and in the process you’ll drop some weight. I also want you to start seeing a Chiropractor. I read a study where they found it can also lower your blood pressure. These things might be enough to lower your blood pressure back to normal. If that doesn’t work then we can prescribe something”, YOU ARE VERY FORTUNATE.  You are very fortunate if you have a medical doctor that would make those recommendations.

So how to get rid of pain and get healthier….ice, stretch, massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, magnets, inversion are just a few of the techniques I have written or will be writing about in more detail. Read more articles on this site. Learn to take care of your body and your body will take care of you.

How I Got Rid Of Kidney Stones, Kidney Infections and Back Pain

This is Miguel’s story as he shared it with me now ten years later. He has given me permission to post it on my website.

My name is Miguel. In 1990, after suffering with excruciating back pain I was diagnosed with kidney stones and kidney infections. The different doctors that I saw prescribed pain killers, antibiotics and muscle relaxants. For the next ten years I would continue to see doctors for my kidney pains, kidney stones and back pain. They all continued to give me prescription drugs.

In May of 2000 I started working for Dr. Gonzalez. I did not know anything about Chiropractic. For me it was a job I badly needed. Dr. Gonzalez would teach all his new employees about the science and art of Chiropractic. He explained how all the nerves in the spine carry the electrical life force energy to control all the organs and glands in the body.

All employees received free chiropractic care as a benefit of working for him. Within about five or six months my recurring kidney pain and back problems disappeared. Dr. Gonzalez explained that I had nerve interference in the part of the spine that controls the kidneys.  It was amazing how Chiropractic and spinal adjustments were able to fix this problem while all the other doctors only kept giving me pills while I continued to suffer with kidney problems for ten years.

I have recommended Chiropractic and Dr. Gonzalez to all my family and friends. If you have any health problems you should have a Chiropractor check your spine and nerves to make sure your electrical system is working properly. And if you are reading this and live in El Paso you need to contact Dr. Gonzalez. I highly recommend him to anyone who has any type of health problem. Find out if your problem is originating in the spine like mine was and end years of needless suffering, doctor visits and taking dangerous prescription pills.

Nikken Magnetic Therapy Products

There are many magnetic product manufacturers but most have poor quality products. I will be rating many magnetic products I have used. Some are poor and some are excellent. In fact,  I was able to prevent a knee surgery for a torn meniscus on my left knee using Nikken magnets. I will be discussing which ones in particular are good for what  and will have a link directing you to my Nikken Website shortly.

In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding these magnets email me at drcmgonzalez50@yahoo.com or leave me a comment at the end of this post.

Read my personal testimonial using magnets on my other post – Do Magnets Really Work For Pain Relief? www.hangingoutforthehealthofit.com/2010/02/do-magnets-really-work/

Here is a testimonial from a longtime patient of mine.

Dr G,

I’d like to share this story with your readers.

A few years back I slipped and fell hurting one of my knees to the point where I was unable to get up by myself.  I limped around for about three weeks until finally the pain subsided.  Then one day about five years later, I was playing soccer with one of my daughters when all of a sudden that same knee started hurting again. I thought about what I had done that day trying to remember if maybe I had stepped wrong in some way but no. It was that prior injury that I never took care of.  I was really disappointed knowing that slip would haunt me sooner or later.

I was referred to Dr. G by a friend. Dr Gonzalez introduced me to magnetic therapy.  All I did was place the small magnet just under my knee cap with medical tape every night for about four days straight and the pain went away completely.  I haven’t had any problems with that knee since.  I’m definitely hooked. Magnets really do work!!!

Thank you Dr. G!!!

Always,

Veronica

MAGNETS IN THE NEWS

Hot News! The use of magnets for health goes back centuries. Now more and more doctors, other health professionals, athletes, and millions of people around the world are enjoying the benefits of magnets. Scientific studies in the US have validated their benefits. It is the Next Big Thing in Wellness and still only about 1% of the population has any magnetic products. Discover them for yourself.

Watch these 4 short videos for some interesting testimonials……

Magnets in the News – part 1 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ByyylJ9D_U

Magnets in the News – part 2 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKRtkUMElQc

Magnets in the News – part 3 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCoARw_CO04

Magnets in the News – part 4 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFVB2WQdEv4

You can cut and paste this link to your browser and it will take you to my Nikken Web Page http://www.iact1.com/enikken/ShoppingCart/Shop.cfm?pid=98755882787667374

8 Tips for Treating Your Low Back Pain and Disc Herniations

1. Do not sit for too long…. 20-30 minutes at a time is OK. Lie down, stand up, walk around, sit down. You may have already figured out if you sit too long you hurt more especially when getting up and that you have to keep varying your positions. Also, when you do sit avoid the sofa. Most sofas are too soft. Sit in a hard chair with a good back rest. You can roll up a towel into a roll and use for supporting your low back. You can also use this roll when you’re lying on your back. The key is to not make it too big or too small.

2. Use an ice pack for the pain and inflammation. 20 minutes on and then remove. Reapply after 30 minutes if needed. You can also alternate heat and ice. Heat for 10-15 minutes then ice for 15-20 minutes. You can use the roll with the ice pack on top. This gives your low back excellent support while icing it.

3. DO NOT bend over for anything. When tying your shoes cross your leg or put them up on a chair to tie. DO NOT bend over. If you drop something, get on one knee or squat to pick it up. Avoid heavy lifting.

4. Depending on your Inversion machine, if you have the one where you hang from the thighs, you can do back extension exercises. You may only be able to come up a little at first and after a few days you may be able to come up much higher to where you are horizontal.

5. If you don’t have an Inversion machine, you can also do what I call arch the back exercises while lying on your stomach. With your arms to your sides you lift your chest and legs at the same time…creating an arch. You can also do a half push-up by lying on your stomach and putting your hands on the floor as if you are going to lift your chest off the floor. These exercises will help reduce the disc herniation and provide pain relief. Do 3, 4, 5 up to 8,9,10. Start with what’s comfortable for you. You will feel some pain as you are doing them but should feel much better afterwards. Don’t overdo it, but don’t be afraid of the pain or let it stop you from working out your back. You know your body better than any doctor. Ice afterwards.

6. I’m not a fan of OTC or prescription drugs but if you really need to take any pills, try to take them only at night to help you sleep. Make sure you take them with large glass of water and preferably with a piece of fruit etc. The reason you want to avoid taking pills is that you want to be able to monitor your pain and not be numbed out because then you don’t really know how your back is doing. If you can’t feel the pain, you will sit longer and do stuff you would not normally do if you feel the pain.
Also people on pain pills tend to heal slower…. they interfere with the body’s natural healing.
7. Have you seen a Chiropractor? Inversion and some good Chiropractic adjustments work very well together. The key is finding the right Chiropractor. You may want to read my article… How To Find The Right Chiropractor For You.

8. Use your inversion machine as often as every hour if you can. You might want to start with one or two minutes at a 45 degree angle (if you have the type where you hang from the ankles). As you feel more comfortable you can gradually increase the angle to where you are completely upside down. Start slow and get comfortable with Inversion. You will LOVE it!

Do Magnets Really Work For Pain Relief?

Back in 1994, I was involved in a pretty bad car crash. I was driving south down a busy street and the light turned yellow as I approached the intersection. I had the right of way and proceeded to cross the intersection. Another vehicle which was traveling in the opposite direction (north) decided to take the turn in front of my vehicle.

All I remember is hearing a very loud crash, metal crushing and glass breaking. The next thing I  remember was I heard a siren in the distance. I had been unconscious for approximately 5 minutes. When I opened my eyes I could see a crowd of people gathered at the corner of the intersection and some people were pointing towards my car. There was quite a bit of commotion as me having been unconscious for that length of time might have had people thinking I was dead.

The seat belt kept me from hitting the steering wheel but the impact was so hard it knocked me unconscious. I had an abrasion on the side of my neck and a swollen bruise on my chest from the seat belt. My knees hit the dashboard and I suffered a severe whiplash injury to my neck. After months of therapy my left knee still bothered and in fact got worse. As a Chiropractor the last thing I wanted was to undergo a surgery. I went ahead and scheduled arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus (cartilage) with a local orthopedic surgeon I knew from playing tennis.

The day before my surgery I received a G-mail and was instructed to go to the tennis club and look for my friend Juan, a tennis instructor. Ross Walker, who was the club director there at the time, saw me limping through the club and asked me to look at something. He pulled out a notebook and showed me some testimonials from different doctors and therapists on the use of magnets.

I asked Ross how he found out about this. I told him I had heard magnets were being researched while in Chiropractic School but that there was not much information available yet. Ross told me there had been an anesthesiologist who flew into El Paso to play in a Tennis Tournament a few weeks ago. In between one of his matches he was sitting on a bench rubbing his elbow with a small apparatus. It turned out to be a magnetic massaging device called a Magboy.

I explained to Ross I was scheduled for surgery the next day but that I would be more than willing to cancel my surgery and try out the magnets.

To make a long story short…. after only one week of usiong the magnets I was able to walk without limping or pain. I could put pressure at the point where I had the pain and still feel some pain but not like before. Three more weeks of using the magnets and I was completely out of pain.  I never had the surgery.

I will be posting a link to a company I buy my magnets from. There are many imitators of magnetic products. Just like everything I recommend, I try the products first on myself and then I try them on my patients to see how they respond. Buyer beware.

Magnets work! You just need to get good quality magnets and wear them the right way and for long enough time. Some people may require longer times to heal than others. People who smoke generally take longer time to heal. If you are in poor health you may also take a longer time to heal. You may have to do a few other things if you are slow to heal with only the magnets.

Be patient and persistent.

UPDATE- MAGNETS IN THE NEWS!

Magnets in the News – part 1 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ByyylJ9D_U
Magnets in the News – part 2 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKRtkUMElQc
Magnets in the News – part 3 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCoARw_CO04
Magnets in the News – part 4 of 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFVB2WQdEv4

Too many people think that once they get out of pain they can go back to their old habits that got them into trouble in the first place. I was having a conversation with a couple of patients this morning and teaching them part of The Seven Healthy Habits. Posture is so important and many adults and children have NEVER been taught correct postures.

For example, when you read, instead of dropping your head down you should hold up whatever you are reading. You can prop it up on your lap, on the desk, or use a book stand. I can’t tell you how many times I have been at a Sunday Service and see so many people dropping their heads to read and follow along in their Bibles. Improper head posture causes neck and upper back tension, headaches, shoulder pain, arm tingling and a few other symptoms. I just want to run up and grab the microphone and teach a class on proper head posture. I did send our pastor an e-mail about this subject. I also love going to schools to teach proper posture to students too. You can also practice looking down with your eyes instead of bending your head forward. It takes a little practice and pretty soon you will have formed a new good habit.

Doing house chores is another area where Proper Posture Rules are violated daily. When you are picking things up from the floor, ALWAYS BEND YOUR KNEES AND SQUAT, DON’T bend at the waist. When mopping and sweeping, keep your back straight and slightly bend your knees. I always remind my patients with low back problems, especially those with disc herniations, they need to AVOID sitting a lot. Sit no more than 20-30 minutes. Stand up walk around and stretch a little. When you finish doing chores most people go and sit on the sofa to rest. While your legs do rest by sitting down, gravity is still compressing your spine and discs. When you do sit, make sure you are sitting up. You can use a cushion or pillow behind your back for support. Make sure you place it in the low back area for proper support.

I see way too many people that don’t sit up straight. This is a one of the most neglected postures. This “slouching” causes your spine to literally “deform” and when you do try to straighten up it is uncomfortable, so you go back to “slouching”.

This bad habit cycle needs to be broken and form a good new habit. It takes some conscious effort. It also requires reshaping the spine through Chiropractic adjustments and some specific exercises. Hanging upside down (Inversion) is excellent for spinal problems. So remember, when you’re finished with your chores, it is best to lie down. Lie down on the sofa with a pillow between your knees and use an ice pack for 15-20 minutes if you have pain. Ice is much safer than taking pain pills.

I recommend to only resort taking pills if the pain is so severe that using an ice pack does not work. Some people will want to take the ice pack off because of the burning sensation they feel after a minute or two, but you need to wait a few more minutes and it will NUMB the pain. Using an ice pack will also reduce the inflammation. You may need to repeat using an ice pack every hour.

Remember ICE is NICE! It is natural and will not cause the side effects that pain pills cause, especially with prolonged use. You may also need to use the ice pack for several days. Be patient. Read my blog on How to Find the Right Chiropractor For You. A good Chiropractor will help you to a speedy recovery.

I hope this information has helped you. I will be posting some instructional videos soon. I know I’ve been talking about doing this for some time now, but it will happen. Be patient. In the meantime, practice your new postures. Teach your children well. Share this information with others and together we can live healthier, happier and longer lives!

Ok..here we go.. This is the first of many blogs that will teach you how to get rid of pain, how to prevent it from happening in the first place and much much more. I am going to be sharing with you what I have learned through many years of college, seminars, conferences, reading books, manuals and researching on the internet. I can SAVE you a LOT of TIME and MONEY. I can save you many trips to the doctors office and hours wasted waiting just to see the doctor only to get more pills that have many serious side effects. Are you with me? I hope so. Email your friends and family members and let them know what I am doing. I am going to teach you things that orthopedic surgeons wished I would not. I am going to save hundreds, thousands and hopefully millions of people from needless surgeries. Shoulder (Rotator cuff), arthroscopic knee surgeries for torn meniscus (cartilage), carpal tunnel, gallbladder and even unnecessary C-section surgeries. Have I got your attention??? Some people are not willing to break from old patterns and beliefs but if you are ready to live a HEALTHIER, HAPPIER and LONGER LIFE, then you are at the right place. Stay tuned!!!