An anatomical view of the human face made out of tissues!

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that is still somewhat of a mystery to Doctors today. The cause is not known or understood, and there is no “cure” to alleviate the pain that comes with this condition. As there are some medications that do help in relieving the pain of fibromyalgia, there are also natural remedies that patients will this disorder have found to be successful and beneficial in managing their pain.

Review the options below, and talk to your Doctor (Dr. Bonner!) about what could be beneficial to you!

Acupuncture – Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of pain relief. It has been noted to help relieve the stresses put on the body through chronic pain and relax the muscles. Along with acupuncture, a treatment called electroacupuncture has also proven itself to be a useful tool in relieving fibromyalgia pain. Relieving as acupuncture may be, it is not a long acting pain relief regime.

Capsaicin – Capsaicin is a natural pain reliever derived from pepper plants. When the substance (most commonly formulated into sprays or lotions) is applied on the body, it released a body chemical called Substance P. When this substance is released, it decreases pain sensations. It has been known to relieve pain in diabetes patients, cancer patients, cluster headaches, and temporarily relieve fibromyalgia.

Massage Therapy - At the Physical medicine center along with medication treatment, injections, and physical therapy, we also offer massage therapy. Massage has been a popular approach to managing fibromyalgia pain as it relieves stress in the muscles and relaxes the body. However, it is not proven to provide long term chronic pain help.
Call our office today to see if you’re eligible for massage therapy at our office! (804) 282 – 6953

Melatonin - Melatonin is a horomone that already exists naturally in the body. Though researches have not proven through enough evidence that this is a successful treatment for chronic pain, many people have benefited from taking Melatonin in a pill form. Melatonin is good for chronic pain, chronic fatigue, sleep and depression.

Vitamin D - We all know that we can get Vitamin D from the sunshine and orange juice, and that it is an important part of our regular nutrient intake. But did you know that studies have shown that patients with fibromyalgia have consistently had low levels of Vit D and magnesium? Again, though not proven, having a healthy dose of Vit D can help with nerve and muscle function and chronic pain.

We offer melatonin, vitamin D, and several other vitamin supplements at The Physical Medicine Center, formulated by Dr. Frederick Sutter. If you are interested in learning more about the supplements we offer, and our wellness program, contact our office! (804) 282 – 6953

Give us feedback if any of these methods have helped you in decreasing your fibromyalgia pain!

It is called the 5X5  Weight Loss Program, and it is a 5 steps 5 weeks at a time process to a healthier you. The program was started by Dr. Frederick Sutter in Anappolis Maryland.

This 5×5 program is a personalized, comprehensive wellness experience. It is a stress and weight management program that helps you eat healthy, balance blood sugar, rest, stress and exercise, and measure success all with great, personal coaching.

What is special , and one of the key components of this program is the structure that creative accountability and a supportive environment. This program is not pre-packaged meal replacement regimen, diet pills, or some extreme calorie restriction. It is an experience that will be life-altering and will help you get back in to doing the things that you most enjoy, and with great energy too!

Call our office at (804) 282 – 6953, or visit our website at physicalmedicinecenter.com for more details, and follow the link to the “PMC Wellness” page.

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The PMC Staff

The severity of obesity in children is so extensive that the diseases and complications are likely to strike people at progressivley younger ages. These complications include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney failure, and cancer.

Today, the average life expectancy is roughly 77 years, which is about nine months shorter than it would be without obesity. Obesity shortens life by a greater rate than accidents, homicides and suicides combined!

Due to the rate of obesity and lack of health consciousness today, these children could end up living up to five years less than our past’s average life span. This type of negative effect on life span could be greater than that caused by cancer or coronary heart disease.

“Obesity is such that this generation of children could be the first basically in the history of the United States to live less healthful and shorter lives than their parents,” said Dr. David S. Ludwig, director of the obesity program at Children’s Hospital Boston.

Today, it is important to implement healthy living, healthy eating, and healthy activities to prevent any more damage to the livelihood of the upcoming generation. Getting enough excercise, cutting down on excess snacking, promoting healthy eating habits, and removing oneself from sedentary amusment (such as video games and TV) can greatly increase the success in our fight against childhood obesity.

 DIET: One great things about summer is all of the summer fruits. Not only are they delicious, but they are excellent for your health! Eating a cub of fresh berries everyday, like blackberries, blueberries or strawberries, can load you on important antioxidants! This can aid in the prevention of tissue damage and will reduce your risk of illness at a later age. These berries are also rich in good fibers that can keep your cholesterol low.

DE-STRESS: One way to improve stress levels in your life, is to plant a small garden, flower box, or even a simple flower pot! Our stress can come from a variation of things, including not feeling “grounded”. Being close with the earth, and literally holding something tangible in your hand, will give you a mental feeling of being grounded. This can reduce a lot of stress as well as beautify your home!

EXCERSIZE: Exercise is always an important part of daily life. Summer time is a great time to get out of the gym and spend some time in outdoor exercise. Not only is it good for your weight, but exercising outdoors will give you a chance to soak in the much needed Vitamin-D. Take a hike, a nature walk, play games like “tag” with your kids, go cycling, go roller blading, or go swimming.

SIGHT: We may be concious of putting on sunscreen while we are outdoors (or we may not), but often times we forget about the importance of protecting our eyes. When outdoors, always where sunglasses. Wearing sunglasses can prevent cataracts, and even wrinkling around the eye.

 VACATION: I think we can all agree – everyone is a fan of vacation. Taking a vacation can improve your heart health as it gives you time to unwind and de-stress. They have the ability to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormones such as cortisol.

SLEEP: Instead of staying up late this summer, try to be mindful of good sleep and hygine. Keep a regular night time schedule, and avoid drinking within three hours before sleep. Avoid taking naps during the day unless this is part of your daily routine.

*Dont’ forget the sunscreen!

Why do they feel pain?
All throughout the body’s joints, there are sensory nerves called baro-receptors. These respond to changes in the atmosphere. When there is a low barometric pressure it signifies that the air has become moist, which signals for a chance for rain.
Explain this?
When the atmosphere pressure changes or drops, the amount of fluid (pressure) in the body’s joints varies. Those with arthritis have a greater sensation to this change due to having less cartilage in their joints.

We are all very excited for her delivery in mid-late August and look forward to meeting the little bundle of joy!

Facts about St. Patrick’s Day Holiday

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
   
• In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.
   
• Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19, that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt, dance, theatre and more. In North American, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17. Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade, which began in 1824.

Facts about Saint Patrick

• St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.

Facts about the Irish

• 34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.
• Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.
    
• The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”
   
• The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.
   
• The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

Facts about Clovers

• According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!
   
• One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
       
• Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

Below are a few examples of severe falls that you should hope to avoid!

Fall #1
For Joe, his fall occured while taking out the trash. He was mad because no one would help him, so he was stomping out of the house angrily. Due to his rage he neglected to observe his surroundings, and stepped into a hole, and turned ankle sideways. Ouch!

Fall #2

Suzie, who got laid off from work, went home to get items to return to work. She was angry and stressed out. On her way out of the house, she failed to notice her steps were covered in ice. Consequently, she slipped and fell down five of these steps. OOPS! Moral: Be extra observant and careful when you are frustrated!