HEALTH & FITNESS alternatives 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 - B12 March - 27 0 2008 - .114 - SPINE SPECIALISTS OF MICHIGAN P.C. Dr. Louis N. Radden RECONSTRUCTIVE SPINE SURGERY