HEALTH & FITNESS
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The Yin And Yang
A
cupuncture is one of the oldest,
The cornerstones of traditional Chinese
medicine are acupuncture and herbal
most commonly used medical
procedures in the world. It is part medicine. Herbal medicine works in
concert with acupuncture, providing the
of traditional Chinese medicine, a medi-
nourishing support for acupuncture's
cine whose roots date back 2,000 years.
energetic efforts. In addition,
In traditional Chinese medi-
cupping, moxabustion, guasha
cine, health results from a har-
and electro acupuncture are
monious balance between the
adjunctive treatments used.
complementary extremes (yin
• Cupping is a method of
and yang) of the life force known
treating pain and stagnation
as qi (pronounced chee).
throughout the body. Heat is
Qi is present in every living
used to create a vacuum in
creature. Qi circulates throughout
cups that are then applied to
the body via specific pathways
the skin. Creating a "suction
called meridians. When qi flows
cup:' the underlying tissue is
freely, good health is maintained.
J ulie
relaxed and blood and qi are,
If the flow of qi is disrupted and
S ilver
once again, able to circulate
the energy is blocked, pain and
Col urn nist
freely throughout the body.
illness can occur. Acupuncture
Cupping can be used to treat
works to restore normal func-
arthritic pain, abdominal
tions by stimulating acupuncture
pain, stomachaches, indigestion, head-
points along the meridians in order to free
aches and many other ailments.
up the qi energy.
• Moxabustion is a technique that
involves the burning of the herb mugwort
over specific acupuncture points on the
body to promote healing. Moxabustion has
been used throughout Asia for thousands
of years. The translation for the word
acupuncture literally means Moxabustion.
The purpose of Moxabustion is to
strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of
qi and maintain good general health.
• Guasha is a technique used to assist in
releasing toxins from the muscles and fas-
cia throughout the body. Guasha can pro-
vide immediate relief from pain, stiffness,
fever, chill, cough and other symptoms.
Using a round-edged tool, in the shape of
a spoon, the practitioner applies massage
oil and rubs it on the chosen area.
• Electro acupuncture provides stronger
stimulation to the acupuncture treatment
and is often utilized with musculoskeletal
and pain conditions. Electro acupuncture
is used after the needles are in place to
strengthen the nature of the qi sensa-
tion. It was first utilized in China during
the 1930s and is now widely employed
throughout the country.
Acupuncture is very effective for treat-
ing many disorders including: musculo-
skeletal conditions; women's health issues;
auto-immune disorders; gastrointestinal
disorders; respiratory disorders; neuro-
logical disorders; emotional issues; addic-
tions; and side effects of cancer treatment.
Acupuncture is used both as a stand-
alone treatment or often in conjunction
with traditional Western medicine. -1
L
Julie Silver, MSW, Dipl. Ac., is a National
Certification Commission for Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine certified acupuncturist and
owner of Acupuncture Healthcare Associates
of Michigan, a holistic health clinic featuring
acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine and
naturopathic medicine. Her e-mail address is
julie@acupunctureinmichigan.com .
ASK THE DOCTOR
New Options Available To Treat Spinal Fractures From Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, in which bones become fragile and easily broken, causes over 700,000 spinal fractures annually
What happens to you if you have a spinal fracture?
in the U.S.—more fractures than in the hip and wrist combined. Approximately two-thirds of all spinal fractures go
undiagnosed or untreated due to the absence of symptoms or difficulty determining the cause of symptoms, leading some
to call osteoporosis a "silent disease."
After experiencing one fracture, your risk of a second fracture is greatly increased. In addition, just one fracture affects
how weight is distributed through the spine, thus placing higher than normal stress on the front of the spine which
contributes to the risk of future fracture. With additional fractures, it can become progressively difficult to walk, eat,
and sleep due to pain and the unnatural spinal alignment. See a doctor to determine your condition and appropriate
treatment, as there may be different explanations for why you are experiencing back pain.
Since 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men older than 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their
lifetime and bone loss can begin as early as 30, now is the time to take a closer look at osteoporosis and new options
for treating fractures caused by osteoporosis. Through proper diagnosis and treatment, patients with spinal fractures
can significantly improve their ability to perform normal activities of daily living and enjoy an overall improvement in their
quality of life.
Dr. Louis Radden, Reconstructive Spine Surgeon with Spine Specialists of Michigan, offers
some answers.
How common is osteoporosis and to
what might it lead?
The National Osteoporosis Foundation
cites osteoporosis as a major public health
threat affecting 44 million Americans.
While a calcium-rich diet, weight-bearing
exercise and the avoidance of smoking
and excessive alcohol can help prevent
bone mass loss, osteoporosis ranks
second only to cardiovascular disease
as a leading healthcare problem according
to the World Health Organization.
With osteoporosis, bones in our spine, hip and wrist deteriorate and become susceptible to fractures. In the spine,
small fractures lead to compression of the vertebral body (called vertebral compression fractures or VCFs). Left
untreated, these VCFs create a curvature of the spine, sometimes referred to as "dowager's hump." Over time, this
curvature can become more pronounced, painful and debilitating.
How do I know if I have osteoporosis?
Bone loss happens without symptoms—it doesn't hurt or cause much trouble at first, though left unchecked it
might cause a lifetime of disability and even hasten death. Talk to your doctor about bone health and taking a
bone density test.
What options are there if I have a spinal fracture?
Traditional treatments for spinal fractures include extended bed rest, pain medication and back braces, all of which
can relieve pain but do not address the deformity caused by the fracture. Open surgery is also an option, but it is more
invasive than non-surgical management and is typically reserved for patients with neurological complications. Balloon
Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive procedure, is designed to treat the fracture and restore the vertebra to the correct
position. Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to significantly reduce back pain, correct spinal deformity and
improve quality of life.
How is Balloon Kyphoplasty performed?
Balloon Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure performed by a spine specialist. It can be performed using
either a local or general anesthesia. It typically takes about one half hour to treat each fracture and may require an
overnight hospital stay.
Does insurance cover Balloon Kyphoplasty?
In most cases, Medicare provides coverage for kyphoplasty. Other insurance may also provide coverage. Check with
your insurance carrier or doctor to find out about coverage.
What can Balloon Kyphoplasty do for me if I have a spinal fracture?
If you have a spinal fracture, Balloon Kyphoplasty can restore vertebral body height, significantly reduce back pain and
increase mobility, often shortly after the procedure. In addition to pain reduction, patients experience an increased
ability to return to such simple, everyday activities as walking, reaching, bending and lifting. Patients also report
improved mental health, vitality, social function and emotional health.
Are there risks associated with Balloon Kyphoplasty?
Although the complication rate with Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low, as with most surgical
procedures, there are risks associated with Balloon Kyphoplasty, including serious complications. Complications can
include myocardial infarction (heart attack), cerebrovascular accident (stroke), pulmonary embolism (bone cement
leakage migrates to the lungs), cardiac arrest (heart stops beating) or nerve or spinal cord injury that may cause pain,
weakness or paralysis.
6621 W. Maple Rd.
West Bloomfield
14555 Levan Rd. Suite 116
Livonia
30055 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 270
Farmington Hills
248 661 4700
734 464 0400
248-865-4262
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27 0 2008
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SPINE SPECIALISTS OF MICHIGAN P.C.
Dr. Louis N. Radden
RECONSTRUCTIVE SPINE SURGERY