In today’s big data informational era, there are many disorders, diseases, and clinical presentations that demonstrate concomitant associations, coincidences, correlations, causations, overlapping profiles, overlapping risk profiles, co-morbidities, and risks of associated disorders that clinically intermingle in presentations and outcomes.
The clinician is mandated by the depth of our present clinical understandings and our oath to our patients to see the complete clinical picture within these integrated clinical paradigms and to treat accordingly.
Somatic dysfunction is defined as the “impaired or altered function of related components of the somatic (body framework) system: skeletal, arthrodial, and myofascial structures, and related vascular, lymphatic, and neural elements.”
A viscerosomatic reflexis the resultant of the effect of afferent stimuli arising from a visceral disorder on the somatic tissues. The reflex is initiated by afferent impulses from visceral receptors; these impulses are transmitted to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where they synapse with interconnecting neurons. These, in turn, convey the stimulus to sympathetic and peripheral motor efferents, thus resulting in sensory and motor changes in somatic tissues of skeletal muscle, viscera, blood vessels, and skin.
As an example only,visceral afferents play an important part in the maintenance of internal equilibrium and the related mutual adjustments of visceral function. They are also responsible for the conduction of pain impulses that may be caused by distention of a viscus, anoxia (particularly of muscle), irritating metabolites, stretching or crushing of blood vessels, irritation of the peritoneum, contraction of muscular walls, and distention of the capsule of a solid organ.” Because pain-sensitive nerve end- ings are not numerous in viscera, pain sensation or a visceral reflex response may result from the combined input of several different types of receptors rather than as a specific response to a particular receptor. A variety of visceral receptors have been mucosal and epithelial receptors, which respond to mechanical and epithelial stimuli; tension receptors in the visceral muscle layers, which respond to mechanical distention, such as the degree of filling; serosal receptors, which are slow adapting mechanoreceptors in mesentery or
serosa and which monitor visceral fullness; Pacinian corpuscles in mesentery and pain receptors; and free nerve endings in viscera and blood vessels.
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Our information scopeis limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez DC or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Many individuals plan fun outdoor activities when the weather is nice and warm during spring and summer. Hiking, swimming, or road trips are some of the activities many people do enjoy. Each activity provides new memories to enjoy and work with the body by incorporating the muscles, tissues, and ligaments through everyday movement. As fun as these outdoor activities are, the outdoors can be dangerous when you least expect it, as factors can cause damage to the body without even a person realizing it is happening. Today’s article looks at a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, commonly known as Lyme disease, its symptoms, and available treatments for Lyme disease. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in therapies to help those with Lyme Disease. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Lyme Disease?
Have you noticed a rash that randomly appeared out of nowhere? How about feeling the effects of fatigue throughout the entire day? Or how about inflammatory issues affecting your joints? Some of these are signs and symptoms that you might be at risk of developing Lyme disease. The original description of how Lyme disease was manifested dates back to 1883 in Europe by the German physician Alfred Buchwald, who described it as now called ACA (acrodermatitis Chronica atrophicans), and research studies defined Lyme disease as a multi-organ animal-borne disease from ticks that affects the vital organs (skin, nerves, and heart) associated with the musculoskeletal system. Lyme disease is transmittable from either the tick itself or a tick-infested animal like a rodent or a deer. Lyme disease is quite difficult to diagnose since a tick can hide in tall, grassy, and woodsy areas that many individuals walk through and don’t recall ever getting a tick bite.
Symptoms Of Lyme Disease
Suppose an individual lives in a location where ticks are native and thrive. In that case, they may succumb to Lyme disease symptoms which vary depending on the severity and come in different stages: early, disseminated, and late.
Early Stages
When a tick has bitten a person, the skin develops an expanding red area that forms a bull’s eye circle rash known as erythema migrans. Some individuals don’t develop this type of rash, but it can be at more than one place on their bodies. Other symptoms that are potentially involved with erythema migrans in the early stages of Lyme disease include fatigue, headache, neck stiffness, and swollen lymph nodes are accompanied.
Disseminated Stages
Studies have shown that Lyme disease may manifest in the involvement of the musculoskeletal system. If a person hasn’t treated the tick bit within a couple of weeks, this disease goes to a disseminated stage where the vital organs and muscles begin to be affected. During this stage, Lyme disease can mimic other symptoms like joint inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. When people suffer from a tick bite and have not been treated, it can affect the joints by mimicking inflammatory joint swelling, causing individuals to be at risk of developing arthritis. Lyme disease also may trigger fibromyalgia symptoms in the individual’s body, causing them to be in immense pain.
Later Stages
If Lyme disease hasn’t been treated for months, it can affect the surrounding nerve roots and joint structures. Lyme disease may trigger inflammatory markers in the blood-brain barrier that may overlap with neurological disorders like Bell’s palsy (temporary paralysis on one side of the face) and trigger sensory-motor dysfunction in the arms and legs. Studies reveal that the central and peripheral nervous systems affected by Lyme disease may be at risk of developing meningitis. This means that the spine al cord could potentially be involved with Lyme disease if not treated as soon as possible.
An Overview Lyme Disease-Video
Have you been experiencing swelling around your joints? How about feeling a tingling sensation running down your arms and legs? Have you been waking up with neck stiffness? Some of these are signs that you could be at risk of developing Lyme disease. The video above gives an introduction to what Lyme disease is and how it affects the body. Lyme disease is a multi-systemic disease transmitted by an insect known as a tick. This insect thrives in tall, grassy, woodsy areas and can be mistaken for a poppy seed due to its small size. Many individuals don’t realize that they have Lyme disease from a tick until the symptoms have begun to affect the body. Luckily there are ways to treat Lyme disease and prevent it from creating havoc on the body.
Treatments Available For Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is treatable as many physicians prescribe antibiotics to individuals that have Lyme disease. The antibiotics will attach themselves to the bacteria from Lyme disease and eliminate it from the body in the early stages. Other treatments like chiropractic care may also help alleviate the associated symptoms of Lyme disease. How does chiropractic care correlate with Lyme disease? Well, chiropractic care is not just for the back; it can help improve the function of the central nervous system. As mentioned earlier, Lyme disease can mimic other symptoms like joint inflammation. When a person gets their spine adjusted, it can help relieve the stiffness from the surrounding muscles and reduce aches and pain in the body. Some of the ways to prevent Lyme disease include:
Wearing light, breathable clothing (long pants, long shirt, hat, gloves, etc.)
Use insect repellent
Avoid walking through long grass
Check clothing (They like to attach to anything)
Remove them with a tweezer (Grasp them gently near their head or mouth)
Conclusion
Enjoying the warmer weather is great for many individuals that want to do fun outdoor activities. However, it can be fatal when factors begin to damage the body without even the person realizing it. Lyme disease is a multi-organ disease transmitted by an insect known as a tick. This tiny insect can attach to any exposed skin and cause many symptoms that can affect the body. Many individuals who a tick has bitten are at risk of developing inflammatory symptoms that mimic other chronic issues. These untreated issues can overlap with chronic diseases but can be treatable if caught early. Available treatments like antibiotics and chiropractic care may help manage the symptoms. At the same time, the necessary precautions can prevent the tick from infecting the body so that you can enjoy the outdoors.
Dabiri, Iman, et al. “Atypical Presentation of Lyme Neuroborreliosis Related Meningitis and Radiculitis.” Neurology International, PAGEPress Publications, Pavia, Italy, 2 Dec. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6908959/.
Skar, Gwenn L, and Kari A Simonsen. “Lyme Disease – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 6 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431066/.
Steere, A C. “Musculoskeletal Manifestations of Lyme Disease.” The American Journal of Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 24 Apr. 1995, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7726191/.
Everyone knows that the brain is the command center of the body. This organ is part of the central nervous system that works with the spinal cord and the vital organ systems to send signals that provide motor-sensory functions to make the body do everyday movements. The signals from the brain have a casual relationship with the immune system. When environmental factors enter the body, the brain signals the immune system to send inflammatory cytokines to the area where it was affected and begin the body’s healing process. The immune system helps clean up the body’s cellular structure by replacing old, damaged cells with new, healthy cells. However, when the immune system starts to attack specific parts of the body mistakenly, it can damage the healthy cells causing autoimmune diseases to develop in the body. Today’s article looks at one of the rare autoimmune diseases known as multiple sclerosis, how it impacts the body, and how to manage multiple sclerosis. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in autoimmune therapies to help those with multiple sclerosis. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
How Would You Describe Multiple Sclerosis?
Have you been dealing with constant, shifting mood swings? Do certain muscle areas begin to feel stiff or spasm out? Or are you experiencing gut issues throughout the entire day? Some of these symptoms are associated with MS or multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a rare autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. When the body’s immune system starts to see the brain or spinal cord as a foreign invader, it will begin to attack the protective layer known as myelin and cause damage to the nerve fibers. An example is when an electrical wire doesn’t have a protective coating, and all the cables are exposed. So when multiple sclerosis affects the brain or spinal cord, the communication signal will deteriorate, causing chronic pain and inflammation. Multiple sclerosis goes through a manifestation of relapses and remission that affects the sensory(feel), motor(move), and cognitive(think) functions of different parts of the body.
How Does It Impact The Body?
When an individual begins to suffer from MS (multiple sclerosis), like all autoimmune diseases, the causes are unknown. Still, genetic and environmental factors are linked to MS while associated with neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain is due to damage or injury of the nerves in the central nervous system. It is a common symptom of MS. Both neuropathic pain and MS are associated with similar symptoms that correlate with different chronic issues that affect the body; however, the times and severity of these two are different. Some of the similar symptoms that MS and neuropathic pain share include:
Burning
Sharp, stabbing sensations
Muscle stiffness or spasms
Pain
Twitching
Numbness
When MS impacts the body, it could potentially involve other body parts while mimicking different chronic symptoms. Studies reveal that even though neuropathic pain and other pain syndromes occur in most people with MS, the manifestation of pain in different body parts is involved. When dealing with pain, it is associated with the central nervous system while overlapping various chronic issues in other areas of the body. This is known as somatovisceral pain, where the affected muscles and tissues are causing problems to the organs and vice versa. Some of the somatovisceral symptoms that are common in MS that are potentially involved with other issues include:
Instability
Electic sensations in the neck or back
Bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunctions
Forgetfulness or mood swings
Slurred speech
An Overview Of Multiple Sclerosis-Video
Are you experiencing issues of fatigue? How about numbness or tingling sensations that are down your arms and legs? Do problems like constipation seem to be affecting your bladder function? Many of these issues are associated with MS or multiple sclerosis. The video above gives an overview of what MS is, its symptoms, and how to manage it. How multiple sclerosis affects the body depends on the various signs and symptoms damaging the nerves in different body areas. Some signs and symptoms are similar to chronic issues ranging from mild to severe. Multiple sclerosis in individuals goes through a relapse-remitted phase where a person will experience different symptoms over days or weeks and sometimes have a recovery period. Like all autoimmune diseases, the causes of MS are unknown, but the factors developed over time remain the same. Fortunately, there are ways to manage multiple sclerosis.
Ways To Manage Multiple Sclerosis
Like all autoimmune diseases, inflammation is one of the common symptoms that are associated with autoimmunity. For multiple sclerosis, inflammatory effects trigger the neuron signals causing communication issues to be delivered to the rest of the body. When this happens, it can become a wide range of symptoms associated with different chronic problems. All is not lost as autoimmune diseases are treatable, and there are ways to manage the symptoms associated with autoimmunity. Eating anti-inflammatory foods like fish, drinking green tea, and broccoli can dampen the inflammatory effects that are in the body. Exercising improves strength, flexibility, and mobility for individuals with MS. Incorporating an exercise regime for several weeks and a certain amount of time is beneficial in managing the associated symptoms and preventing complications and comorbidities. It may protect neuro-actions, as research shows. Even treatments like chiropractic care utilize spinal manipulation to increase the body’s natural healing factor while optimizing nerve circulation that can adequately communicate with the body without sending damaged signals to initiate pain.
Conclusion
The brain is the command center that has a casual relationship with the immune system to regulate a functioning body. The immune system’s primary function is to eliminate old, damaged cells, make way for new, healthy cells, and protect the body from foreign invaders. When factors affect the body over time, the immune system mistakenly attacks different body parts as a foreign invader. This is known as autoimmune disease and can range from mild to severe. MS or multiple sclerosis is a rare autoimmune disease associated with similar symptoms from different chronic issues. MS affects the neurons in the central nervous system and has identical signs to chronic problems during a relapse-remitted phase. Fortunately, MS is treatable by incorporating an exercise regime to strengthen the affected muscles, consuming anti-inflammatory food to lower inflammatory markers, and utilizing chiropractic care to optimize nerve circulation through spinal manipulation. These are some ways to manage MS and improve a person’s quality of life.
References
Ghasemi, Nazem, et al. “Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Symptoms, Diagnoses and Cell-Based Therapy.” Cell Journal, Royan Institute, 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241505/.
Giesser, Barbara S. “Exercise in the Management of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis.” Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders, SAGE Publications, May 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4409551/.
Racke, Michael K, et al. “Pain in Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management through Clinical Vignettes.” Frontiers in Neurology, Frontiers Media S.A., 13 Jan. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8794582/.
The hips in the lower extremities of the body help stabilize the weight of the upper half while providing movement to the lower half. The hips also allow the body to twist, turn, and bend back and forth. The hip joints connect to the inside of the pelvic bone, while the pelvic bone is connected to the sacroiliac joint, which connects to the spine. When natural wear and tear affects the joints as the body ages, issues like hip pain and osteoarthritis associated with low back pain occur, causing various symptoms to arise in the body. Today’s article looks at osteoarthritis, how it impacts the hips, and how to manage hip osteoarthritis. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal therapies to help those with hip pain and osteoarthritis. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Osteoarthritis?
Have you been experiencing pain in your hips or lower back? How about muscle stiffness near the groin? Do symptoms associated with sciatica seem to flare up near your hips and the back of your leg? Many of these symptoms are signs that you could be at risk of developing osteoarthritis near your hips. While arthritis refers to inflammation of the body’s joints, osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that causes degeneration of the joint cartilage, triggering joint pain and functionality loss. Even though there are several hundred types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is one of the most common types that many people, especially older adults, are affected by. As the body becomes older naturally through age, the repairs from an injury begin to slow down, and the cartilage (the connective tissue that protects the bones from each other) will start to thin out, triggering bone rubbing together, causing inflammation to occur, bone spurs, and inevitable pain. Osteoarthritis is often associated with old age and is multifactorial as factors that can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis include:
Sex
Age
Obesity
Joint injuries
Genetics
Bone deformities
How Does It Impact The Hips?
Since osteoarthritis affects the joints, how does it cause an impact on the hips? When health issues affect the body, it can cause painful symptoms to gradually worsen and become a risk of developing hip pain. Studies reveal that hip pain is common in all adults and activity levels in the anterior, lateral, or posterior regions near the hips.
Anterior hip pain: Causes referred pain (pain felt in one part of the body but is actually in a different location) associated with internal organ systems.
Lateral hip pain: Causes wear-and-tear pain on the soft muscle tissues on the sides of the hips.
Posterior hip pain: Causes referred pain associated with the lumbar spinal pathology like sciatic nerve entrapment correlating with a deep gluteal syndrome.
All these issues affecting the hips overlap with various issues associated with osteoarthritis. When hip pain originates from osteoarthritis, factors like minimal physical activity or slight movements while resting in bed can worsen due to the hip joints having limited or restricted movement. Studies reveal that hip pain is associated with simple movement impairments that make it difficult to diagnose due to referred pain from the spine, knees, or even the groin area.
How does hip osteoarthritis correlate with groin pain? Studies reveal that when a person is dealing with hip osteoarthritis, groin and buttock pain are slightly more common. The hip joint is behind the groin muscle, which is why groin pain overlaps with hip pain as the root. Hip and groin pain could also be involved with radiating pain down toward the knees in the body.
Exercises For Hip Osteoarthritis- Video
Are you experiencing bladder issues? How about stiffness near or around your hips and groin area? Do issues like low back and sciatica pain? Experiencing these issues could be signs of hip osteoarthritis affecting your lower body. Studies reveal that hip osteoarthritis is a significant source of morbidity, pain, gait abnormalities, and functional impairments potentially involved with other issues. Fortunately, there are ways to manage hip osteoarthritis, as the video above shows eight great exercises for hip osteoarthritis. Certain exercise moves for individuals with hip osteoarthritis can help strengthen the surrounding muscles around the joints while increasing joint mobility to reduce pain and stiffness. Exercising can also be beneficial to the individual as it can provide:
Increase blood circulation
Maintain weight
Provides energy boost
Improves sleep
Promotes muscle endurance
Other available therapies help manage hip osteoarthritis while alleviating associated symptoms affecting the body.
Managing Hip Osteoarthritis Pain
Many individuals suffering from hip osteoarthritis try to find ways to relieve the pain. While they can’t do anything to prevent wear and tear on the joints completely, there are ways to slow down the process and manage hip osteoarthritis in the body. Small changes like incorporating food can dampen inflammatory effects on the joints while providing nutrients to the body. An exercise regime can help strengthen the weak muscles supporting the joints while increasing mobility and range of motion. Treatments like spinal traction and chiropractic care relieve pain and stiffness from joint disorders like osteoarthritis. Chiropractic care provides spinal manipulation on the back and joints to be adjusted. While spinal traction helps the compressed discs lay off the pressure on the surrounding nerves associated with hip pain. Incorporating any of these can help slow the progression of hip osteoarthritis and bring back mobility to the hips.
Conclusion
The hips provide stability to the upper and lower parts of the body. While supporting the weight of the upper half and movement to the lower half, the hips can succumb to wear and tear in the body. When the hip joints begin to wear and tear slowly, it can lead to the progression of hip osteoarthritis, where the cartilage of the joints begins to cause the bones to rub against each other, triggering inflammation. Hip osteoarthritis makes diagnosing difficult because the referred pain from the spine, knees, or groin area overlaps the symptoms. All is not lost, as there are available treatments to manage hip osteoarthritis that can help slow the progress of this disorder and bring back the mobility of the lower half of the body.
References
Ahuja, Vanita, et al. “Chronic Hip Pain in Adults: Current Knowledge and Future Prospective.” Journal of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8022067/.
Khan, A M, et al. “Hip Osteoarthritis: Where Is the Pain?” Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2004, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15005931/.
Kim, Chan, et al. “Association of Hip Pain with Radiographic Evidence of Hip Osteoarthritis: Diagnostic Test Study.” BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), BMJ Publishing Group Ltd., 2 Dec. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4667842/.
Sen, Rouhin, and John A Hurley. “Osteoarthritis – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 1 May 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482326/.
The body’s immune system is vital in protecting the body from foreign invaders that can wreak havoc. The immune system has a casual relationship with different body systems like the gut, endocrine, and central nervous systems that work together to keep the body functional. When environmental or genetic factors affect the body over time, the immune system will begin to attack normal, healthy cells causing issues and becoming a risk of developing autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases are when the body starts to attack itself, and if it is not managed over time, it can lead to the development of chronic disorders. Today’s article looks at one of the most common autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus or lupus, its symptoms and factors, and how to manage lupus with available treatments. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in autoimmune therapies to help those with systemic lupus and its associated symptoms. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?
Are you experiencing fatigue? How about sharp pain located in your chest? Have you been experiencing headaches that seem to pop up for no reason? Some of these symptoms are signs that you could be at risk of developing lupus. Lupus or systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic autoimmune disease with a multisystem involvement that occurs when an individual’s immune system starts to attack their tissue and organs. Systemic refers to multiple affected organs, lupus refers to various skin diseases, and erythematosus refers to inflamed, reddened skin. Studies reveal that lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting multiple organ systems and potentially associated with different factors. Lupus is tricky to diagnose because it often mimics other ailments like fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases; it can cause inflammation in the different body systems.
The Symptoms and Factors
Even though lupus is difficult to diagnose, the signs and symptoms vary for individuals who might be at risk of developing lupus. Some signs may suddenly appear or evolve, ranging from mild to severe depending on the factors. Some of the factors that are associated with lupus include:
Many of these factors contribute to the development of lupus and are closely associated with other autoimmune diseases like diabetes, RA (rheumatoid arthritis), and fibromyalgia. So how do these autoimmune diseases correlate with lupus? Since lupus can mimic other autoimmune disorders, some symptoms overlap, affecting the different body systems like the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. For example, many autoimmune diseases are closely associated with inflammation, which could potentially be involved with the gut. Some of the symptoms that are associated with lupus include:
Fatigue
Joint and muscle pain
Headaches
Butterfly rash
Headaches
Skin legions
Stomach issues
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Overview-Video
Have you been experiencing issues with your gut? How about joint stiffness and swelling? Or are you constantly feeling the effects of fatigue? Many of these symptoms are associated with lupus, and the video above explains what systemic lupus erythematosus is and how it affects the body. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that is difficult for physicians to diagnose since it mimics other issues that a person may be experiencing. An example would be fibromyalgia associated with lupus. Studies reveal that the presence of fibromyalgia could be a separate diagnosis or potentially be involved with lupus as a confounder. In fibromyalgia and lupus, somatic symptoms like fatigue, aching, and pain may overlap and affect the surrounding muscles and organs. This is known as somato-visceral pain. Fortunately, there are ways to manage autoimmune diseases like lupus.
Treatments To Manage Lupus
When a person is dealing with an autoimmune disease like lupus, it may feel like it is the end of the world to them. While there is no cure for lupus, there are ways to manage this autoimmune disease from progressing further to causing more damage to the body. Making small changes in food intake, adding more supplements to boost the immune system like vitamin D, exercising, and chiropractic care work together to manage autoimmunity in the body. So how do all these things work together? Well eating anti-inflammatory foods filled with antioxidants to dampen inflammatory effects. Supplements like vitamin D can help improve and maintain a healthy immune system. Chiropractic care not only focuses on the musculoskeletal system but can help the immune system to its total capacity by correcting any subluxations or spinal misalignments in the body.
Conclusion
The immune system helps the body by attacking foreign invaders that wreak havoc inside while having a casual relationship with different body systems. When environmental or genetic factors affect the body over time, the immune system mistakenly attacks normal, healthy cells thinking they are foreign invaders. This is known as autoimmune disease and, if not managed over time, can lead to the development of chronic disorders. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can mimic other chronic conditions, making it tricky to diagnose. Some of the overlapping symptoms associated with lupus can vary in severity. While there is no cure for lupus, available treatments can help manage the symptoms and associated conditions. Combining healthy eating habits, exercise, vitamin intake, and chiropractic care can help improve a person’s health and wellness.
References
Justiz Vaillant, Angel A, et al. “Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 15 Mar. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535405/.
Maidhof, William, and Olga Hilas. “Lupus: An Overview of the Disease and Management Options.” P & T : a Peer-Reviewed Journal for Formulary Management, MediMedia USA, Inc., Apr. 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3351863/.
Wolfe, Frederick, et al. “Fibromyalgia, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Evaluation of SLE Activity.” The Journal of Rheumatology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2944223/.
Many individuals have dealt with issues affecting their lives in some way or form. People with autoimmune diseases must learn to manage their immune system from constantly attacking their bodies to function normally. The immune system’s primary function in the body is to attack environmental factors that harm the cells, muscles, and organs. When a person has an autoimmune disease, either from their family history or environmental factors, their immune system will begin to attack the body’s normal cells because it thinks it is a foreign invader to the body. Some common autoimmune disorders that most people have include lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Most of these common autoimmune disorders correlate to common symptoms that add to other issues that affect the body. Today’s article looks at rheumatoid arthritis, its symptoms, how it relates to fatigue, and how there are available treatments to manage rheumatoid arthritis as well as fatigue. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal therapies to help those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and fatigue. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Have you been feeling stiffness and inflammation around your joints? have you experienced gut issues affecting your life? Or do problems of insomnia or fatigue seem to affect your quality of life? Many of these symptoms are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and swelling in the joints. The video above explains how to manage rheumatoid arthritis and its associated symptoms. Fatigue is one of the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis as the inflammatory cytokines could be a co-morbidity in altering brain function that can lead to an overlap of pain and fatigue in the body, as studies reveal. While there hasn’t been a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, various treatment approaches can help people manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
The Symptoms
Some of the most commonly rheumatoid arthritis symptoms do to the body include pain, swelling and inflammation of the joints, joint deformity, and stiffness. Unlike wear and tear damage from different types of common inflammatory issues, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may come and go that can range from mild, moderate, or even severe. When this happens, rheumatoid arthritis may be the result of making it difficult to perform simple tasks and cause joint alterations. Research shows that rheumatoid arthritis associated with inflammation can damage different body parts like the gut. Gastrointestinal problems like leaky gut, IBS, or SIBO could trigger flare-ups in individuals who have rheumatoid arthritis. This is known as somato-visceral pain, where the muscles affect the vital organs, causing problems for the body.
How Does Fatigue Correlate To RA?
Individuals that have rheumatoid arthritis do suffer from various symptoms that are associated with inflammatory issues. When inflammation begins to affect the body, it can overlap the profiles of fatigue and poorer quality of life in the individual. So how does fatigue correlate to rheumatoid arthritis? Studies reveal that fatigue is considered one of the acute symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis that imposes a burden on individuals, thus being associated with reducing their health and wellness. Fatigue has many dimensions that do impact many individuals. Some people will explain to their primary physicians that they are constantly tired, overworked, and repeatedly stressed from everyday life or disorders affecting their bodies. For rheumatoid arthritis individuals, studies reveal that high inflammatory factors associated with fatigue may cause them to feel exhausted. This is related to individuals who have insomnia from other conditions.
Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis-Video
Have you been feeling stiffness and inflammation around your joints? have you experienced gut issues affecting your life? Or do problems of insomnia or fatigue seem to affect your quality of life? Many of these symptoms are associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and swelling in the joints. The video above explains how to manage rheumatoid arthritis and its associated symptoms. Fatigue is one of the symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis as the inflammatory cytokines could be a co-morbidity in altering brain function that can lead to an overlap of pain and fatigue in the body, as studies reveal. While there hasn’t been a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, various treatment approaches can help people manage the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatments For RA & Fatigue
Even though there hasn’t been a cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are ways to manage the associated symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Eating anti-inflammatory riched foods could potentially dampen the effect of inflammation on the joints. One way while exercising can help loosen up stiff joints and bring back muscle strength, thus restoring joint motion. Treatments like chiropractic care can also provide pain relief and management for individuals dealing with rheumatoid arthritis. Chiropractic care comprises passive and active treatment modalities for rheumatoid arthritis and fatigue. Chiropractors utilize spinal adjustments and manual manipulation to reduce misalignment or subluxation of the spine. Chiropractic care may also help with many symptoms like fatigue associated with rheumatoid arthritis without invasive treatments or medication. Chiropractic care could potentially improve the function of the bones, joints, and even the nervous system in the body.
Conclusion
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes joint stiffness and swelling. The causes of this autoimmune disease are unknown. Still, factors like stress, gut issues, and obesity are associated with symptoms like fatigue, leaky gut, muscle stiffness, and poorer quality of life could potentially be involved with rheumatoid arthritis. Treatments like eating anti-inflammatory foods, exercising, and chiropractic care could help manage inflammatory issues triggering rheumatoid arthritis and potentially reduce the effects of fatigue from the body, thus slowing down the progression and bringing back a person’s quality of life.
Korte, S Mechiel, and Rainer H Straub. “Fatigue in Inflammatory Rheumatic Disorders: Pathophysiological Mechanisms.” Rheumatology (Oxford, England), Oxford University Press, 1 Nov. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6827268/.
Santos, Eduardo J F, et al. “The Impact of Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Challenges of Its Assessment.” Rheumatology (Oxford, England), Oxford University Press, 1 Nov. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6827262/.
Everyone is trying to find what exercise works for them as they start looking for ways to improve their health and wellness. Many individuals who begin to work out would go with finding a personal trainer or a gym that helps incorporate muscle strength training and cardio training to improve their heart and lung capacity to make the body feel good while strengthening their muscles. One of the unique forms of exercise that involve both the heart and muscles is dancing. Dancing is a great way to not only improve musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health but can help reduce overlapping conditions that a person is dealing with in their bodies. Today’s article looks at how dancing helps with musculoskeletal health, affects the heart and brain, and how chiropractic care goes hand in hand with dancing. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal and cardiovascular therapies to help those with heart and muscle issues. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Dancing For Musculoskeletal Health
Have you ever noticed people take a cardio class with music playing in the background and see them happy afterward? How do athletes incorporate cardio into their exercise regime to improve their mobility and flexibility? Or how do particular video games make you get up and move around? All these scenarios imply that cardio exercises like dancing may help improve musculoskeletal function. Dancing is one of the many aerobic exercises that can help improve a person’s social skills and is something that can be taken up early while providing many beneficial qualities like:
Increase strength
Improve gait and balance
Reduce functional loss
Reducing the risk of falls
Rehabilitating musculoskeletal injuries
Stabilize core muscles
For the musculoskeletal system, dance would be considered an isometric exercise involving different muscle groups like the hips, shoulders, back, and abdominals without using the joints. When a person is dancing, each of the various movements is related to strengthening the core muscles by working thoroughly with the abdominals. Dance can even help improve posture by maintaining strength and enhancing stability in the body. Studies reveal that dance’s impact on individuals with chronic issues like Parkinson’s disease associated with motor and non-motor symptoms can increase their quality of life. So what does that mean? It means that dancing, even for just one song, can help with movement and foster balance, flexibility, and muscle endurance through repeated tasks while associating with accessible, social, and attractive aspects of a person’s physical abilities.
How Does Dancing Affect The Heart and Brain?
Dancing not only helps with musculoskeletal issues, but it can help improve brain and heart function in the body. Studies reveal that moderate-intensity dancing was inversely associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease mortality. What dancing does to the heart is that it makes the body intake more oxygen to the lungs, which relates to the heart beating faster and circulating the blood to be transported throughout the entire body. But how does dancing correlate to brain health? Let’s look at dance fitness classes, like Zumba, and use it as an example. Studies show that dance fitness classes provide several health benefits that could reduce mood disorders like depression and anxiety while improving cognitive skills. This means that dance fitness classes like Zumba do repetitive movements to the beat of the music that engages the individual to repeat the steps while having fun. When the muscles begin to do repetitive movements, this motor function sends the signal to the brain, making the person remember the movements later, known as muscle memory. When an individual suffers from neurological disorders like dementia or Alzheimers, dancing could potentially be involved with music therapy, allowing the individual to reduce the risk of developing neurological disorders from progressing further.
How Does The Body React To Dancing?-Video
Have you felt terrific after listening to a good song? How about feeling like you just had a workout? Or have you noticed certain areas in your body like your abdominals, legs, and back looked more toned? All these are beneficial signs that you should add dancing to your regime. The video explains what happens to the body when people are dancing. Dancing could potentially be a mediator for many athletes that play sports.
An example would be football and ballet. How do football and ballet relate to each other? Football utilizes efficient and precise movements that benefit every position on the field, while ballet requires speed to make them flawless on stage. Combining the two, many football players will increase their speed and agility associated with ballet to avoid tackles, jump higher, catch passes and avoid injuries on the field. Dancing is an excellent way to get some cardio exercises in, and combined with other treatments can make a difference in a person.
Chiropractic Care & Dancing
Like all athletic individuals, professional dancers utilize various treatments to recover and improve their performance. Treatments like chiropractic care are safe, effective, and widely used by young and professional athletes that want to prevent injuries from progressing. Chiropractic care for professional athletes and the general population can help prevent and treat injuries like back and neck pain or aggravating conditions like sciatica through spinal manipulation. Chiropractic care also helps restore an individual’s original well-being while increasing their strength, flexibility, and mobility. By working with an experienced chiropractor, an individual can regain their stamina by adopting new ways to prevent injuries caused by spinal complications from reoccurring in the body.
Conclusion
Dancing for 30 minutes to an hour can be used as part of an exercise regime and could potentially reduce chronic issues that affect the body’s brain, heart, and muscles. Dancing could also enhance a sports athlete’s performance by increasing their agility, endurance, and performance. Combined with chiropractic care, individuals will begin to see improvements in their range of motion, flexibility, and even an increase in their brain function to dance longer and improve their health and wellness. So whether you are a professional or not, dancing is for everyone.
Reference
Barranco-Ruiz, Yaira, et al. “Dance Fitness Classes Improve the Health-Related Quality of Life in Sedentary Women.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, MDPI, 26 May 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7312518/.
Gyrling, Therese, et al. “The Impact of Dance Activities on the Health of Persons with Parkinson’s Disease in Sweden.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, Taylor & Francis, Dec. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8547839/.
Merom, Dafna, et al. “Dancing Participation and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A Pooled Analysis of 11 Population-Based British Cohorts.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2016, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26944521/.
Maintaining healthy joints is crucial to preventing injuries from affecting the body. Incorporating physical activities, eating healthy foods, staying hydrated, and getting a routine check-up are ways to ensure that the body is functional, including the joints. The joints in the body act like shock absorbers that soften the impact of any injuries that the body has sustained. However, as the body ages, so do the joints, causing them to become hardened and cause problems in the body. In today’s article, we will look at sacroiliac dysfunction, what issues it affects besides back pain, and how chiropractic care manages sacroiliac dysfunction. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in musculoskeletal therapies to help those with sacroiliac dysfunction. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
What Is Sacroiliac Dysfunction?
Are you experiencing pain in the pelvis? Do your hips seem tighter than usual? Do you feel muscle stiffness when you twist from side to side? Some of these issues are signs that you might be experiencing sacroiliac dysfunction. Around the pelvic region lies the sacroiliac joint, a weight-bearing solid joint connecting the pelvis to the sacrum. It is surrounded by tough ligaments that support the body as it distributes the weight from the upper body to the lower body. However, like all the other joints in the body, any injury or condition can cause this joint to be unstable and succumb to the pain, causing sacroiliac dysfunction. Sacroiliac dysfunction or sacroiliac joint pain is defined as one of the potential causes of axial low back pain. When there are issues affecting the sacroiliac joints, it’s associated with about a quarter of most low back pain cases. This is due to the problems that overlap with pain associated with the low back. Studies reveal that dysfunction in the sacroiliac joint can relate to leg or back pain, making diagnosing the problem difficult. Back pain associated with sacroiliac dysfunction causes the pelvis to be hypermobile, causing the risk of developing radiating groin pain. Leg pain associated with sacroiliac dysfunction causes muscle tension and stiffness to the low back, legs, or buttock region, mimicking sciatica-like symptoms.
What Other Issues Does It Affect?
Many individuals may not realize that when they are experiencing sacroiliac dysfunction, symptoms show that they overlap with lumbar spine pathologies. However, sacroiliac dysfunction can also affect the pelvic region of the body. Studies reveal that when the muscles around the body’s pelvic area become inflamed or irritated, it can cause stiffness in the sacroiliac joints, thus developing the risk of pelvic pain. Pelvic pain is usually defined as non-menstrual pain that causes functional disability to the lower extremities. Around the pelvic region, the lower sacral nerves provide extensive neurologic connections to the structures throughout the pelvic area that maintain normal pelvic organ function. When issues like sacroiliac dysfunction become the risk of pelvic pain, it may potentially involve pelvic symptoms like constipation. Studies reveal that constipation is significantly associated with a high prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse and low urinary tract symptoms. Other issues that sacroiliac dysfunction correlates with are:
Ankylosing spondylitis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammatory issues
Hip pain
Pelvic pain
Low back pain
Piriformis syndrome
An Overview Of Sacroiliac Joint Pain- Video
Are you experiencing radiating from your lower back down to your leg? How about stiffness in your hips? Are you feeling constipated or have a sense of fullness in your bladder? You may suffer from sacroiliac dysfunction in your pelvic region if you notice these symptoms. The video above explains how to understand sacroiliac joint pain. The sacroiliac joint connects the pelvis and sacrum, surrounded by tough ligaments and muscles that help support the body by distributing weight from the upper body to the lower body. When issues affect the sacroiliac joints can overlap other risk profiles like low back pain, leg pain, and pelvic pain. This can make diagnosing sacroiliac dysfunction difficult because the symptoms are similar to other issues. For example, hip pain is associated with piriformis syndrome while potentially being involved with sciatica. How would hip pain be correlated with piriformis syndrome? The piriformis muscle can become overused and injured and can entrap the sciatic nerve (which runs from the lumbar spine, through the hips, and down to the leg), causing radiating, throbbing pain. Other times referred pain in the low back can affect different areas in the body due to sacroiliac dysfunction. Luckily, there are treatments available to manage sacroiliac dysfunction.
How Chiropractic Care Manages Sacroiliac Dysfunction
When issues of sacroiliac dysfunction become associated with leg or back pain, physicians often misdiagnose it as a soft tissue issue rather than a joint issue. Many doctors might rule out various medical conditions before including sacroiliac dysfunction as part of the diagnosis. Some treatments like massage therapy can help loosen up the tight muscles surrounding the joints relieving the pain and discomfort. At the same time, chiropractic care utilizes spinal manipulation and mobilization to the affected spinal area. Since the sacroiliac joint is an essential part of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors specialize in this area. Through practical, non-invasive methods, chiropractic care has proven to not only relieve pain in the spine but can also help rehabilitate the spine. Chiropractors are specially trained to guide the individual through several phases of care that help loosen the stiff muscles and strengthen the joints. Chiropractic care will help decrease the pain from returning to the body and let the individual return to their health and wellness journey.
Conclusion
Maintaining healthy joints is crucial to prevent injuries from affecting the body. The sacroiliac joints are part of the musculoskeletal system that connects the pelvic bone to the sacrum. This joint is surrounded by tough ligaments and muscles that support the upper and lower half of the body through weight distribution. When the sacroiliac joint becomes unstable, it can succumb to pain, thus becoming sacroiliac dysfunction. Sacroiliac dysfunction sometimes mimics low back and leg pain, making it difficult to diagnose. Co-morbidities like pelvic pain correlate to sacroiliac dysfunction, causing somato-visceral pain in different body areas. Treatments like chiropractic care can help strengthen the stiff muscles and joints in the body through spinal manipulation and mobilization in practical, non-invasive treatment. Chiropractic care can help rehabilitate the spine while decreasing the pain from returning to the body.
References
Jonely, Holly, et al. “Chronic Sacroiliac Joint and Pelvic Girdle Dysfunction in a 35-Year-Old Nulliparous Woman Successfully Managed with Multimodal and Multidisciplinary Approach.” The Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, Maney Publishing, Feb. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4459139/.
Raj, Marc A, et al. “Sacroiliac Joint Pain.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 12 Feb. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470299/.
Singh, Prashant, et al. “Pelvic Floor Symptom Related Distress in Chronic Constipation Correlates with a Diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation and Constipation Severity but Not Pelvic Floor Dyssynergia.” Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, 31 Jan. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6326213/.
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