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Needle Notes - as seen in the Kelowna Capital News You've read our articles in the Capital News but what happens when you miss one? Now all of our articles will be posted online for you to view 24 hours a day. The most recent article will always be posted on this page in it's entirety. All past articles can be found in the Archive.
Needle Notes 251 Fractures
Fractures or broken bones belong to the more serious injuries a person can get. There are, of course, fractures in different forms, shapes and more or less serious. Fractures always have an impact on the way we behave, because they affect our very foundation. Even a hairline fracture in one of the small bones of the foot can greatly slow us down and be profoundly painful, although it often is hardly visible on an X-ray and does not need casting. Fractures are categorized as follows: 1. Complete fractures: the bone snaps into two or more parts 2. Incomplete fractures: the bone cracks, but does not break all the way through 3. Compound fractures: the bone breaks through the skin, also called an open fracture 4. Simple fractures: a closed fracture, the bone breaks but does not create an open wound in the skin These simple fractures can be divided in:
Fractures are not always the result of falling or any kind of forceful impact. Some diseases can weaken the bones, like osteoporosis and then even a simple misstep can cause a fracture. Sometimes bones are just cracked and show hardly any change on the X-ray. These are called hairline fractures. It is very important whether or not the anatomical structure of the bone is still intact. If that is the case, healing will be relatively easy and the patient will most likely recover fully. If there anatomical changes in the bone, the function of that bone with the corresponding joints are affected and recovery can take a long time. When a fracture occurs within the joint capsule there is an increased chance of early development of osteoarthritis in that joint, especially if it is weight bearing. As we can understand, fractures have an impact on a lot of surrounding tissue and affect muscle function, blood circulation, nerve activity, ligament strain etc. Even after the bone has healed, (usually 6 weeks later) general function of the corresponding body parts can still be far from good. The main and most important factors for bone healing are rest and immobilization. If the body part can be immobilized without having a negative effect on the rest of the body, some kind of support will be used, like casts, splints, slings, braces or tape. This is not always possible, for example with pelvis fractures or rib fractures. Casting would have too many consequences for the rest of the body and so rest alone will have to do it. In serious cases with compound and/or comminuted fractures, surgery is necessary to support the bone with metal implants, like plates and screws, to speed up recovery. Because so much of the total function of the body is at stake after more complicated fractures, acupuncture can be a very valuable addition in the treatment. With acupuncture we can stimulate the blood circulation around the affected area, stimulate bone growth, help restore normal muscle-, tendon-, ligament- and nerve function. At the same time, acupuncture will strengthen the body’s immune system and help with the release of painkillers, muscle relaxants and anti inflammatories. In a situation where the whole body is affected we need a therapy that addresses the whole body. This will make recovery shorter and return to normal function faster.
Needle Notes 250 Acupuncture Anesthesia
Acupuncture anesthesia is a technique used mainly in China to assist the anesthetist in reducing pain during surgeries. It is a popular form of applying local and regional anesthetics in China and is used in almost 50% of operative procedures. The advantages of this kind of pain control are: a safe and less dangerous procedure especially for weak and older patients and there are hardly side effects. Recovery is faster and costs are minimal. The main functions of the patient’s body continue during the procedure without change. This interesting procedure is becoming more and more popular also in Western medical procedures and it can easily be used outside hospital walls for general pain control. The principle is simple. Points are being selected around the affected area, on a distance in corresponding meridians and on the ears. Point choice is based on the same principle as normal acupuncture treatments. After the needles are inserted they are connected to electricity: low frequency (5-300 Hertz) on ear-and distal points and high frequency (3000 – 10000 Hertz) on local points. The electricity should be as strong as possible and kept on during the procedure. Two theories support the efficacy of acupuncture anesthesia. First the pain theory of Melzack and Wall, called the Gate Control theory. This theory comes from the sixties, but is still valid. It says that pain stimuli are prevented from reaching the brain by non-pain stimuli that run over other nerves. Acupuncture is supposed to stimulate certain nerves that help “close the gate” so that pain cannot reach the brain. The other theory is the endorphin theory. These natural painkillers are found in different body parts and are low in people with chronic pain. Acupuncture helps to increase these levels. Acupuncture also has a sedative effect, an anti-shock effect and helps the immune system. These principles are used to explain the pain reducing effect of acupuncture. There are already several treatment protocols for patients with chronic pain and also for people with chronic addictions. The last protocol is called the NADA-protocol (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association Treatment Protocol) and uses only 5 points in the ear (Liver, kidney, Lung, Shen Men and Sympathetic) to suppress cravings, detoxify the body and fight insomnia, stress and anxiety. Western doctors and patients have different ideas about pain and this can sometimes be a problem in the introduction of acupuncture anesthesia in our operation rooms, but the principle works very well for general pain reduction, has longer lasting effects and is one hundred percent natural.
Needle Notes 249 Mononucleosis
Mononucleosis is also known under many different other names like Infectious Mononucleosis, Glandular Fever, Kissing Disease and Pfeiffer’s Disease. The disease was first described by a German doctor named Emil Pfeiffer (1846-1921). This disease can affect people of any age, but is most common among younger people, teenagers and young adults. It is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and can be contagious. It can be passed on by close contact, like kissing or using a patient’s towel, cutlery etc. The most important symptoms of mononucleosis are: · Tiredness · Fever · Sore throat · Swollen lymph glands · Enlarged spleen · Loss of appetite · Rash · General feeling of unwell being The disease usually has a chance to develop when the resistance is down. That can be one of the reasons why it is more common in teenagers and young people. They tend to an irregular lifestyle, like eating on different times, staying up late and draining themselves with studying and sports. The virus gets a chance when the resistance is low. The doctor can do a simple blood test to confirm the disease. Generally most of the symptoms disappear after 3 to 4 weeks, if the patient is otherwise a healthy person. For some people, though, the tiredness can last much longer, sometimes even years. Usually it gets worse when the seasons are changing, like during fall and spring. This behavior is something we can see in more virus infections, like shingles and cold sores: although the initial symptoms disappear relatively quickly, there can be a long aftermath that in many cases is even more debilitating than the acute stage. The disease is most contagious in the beginning, but it can last longer, even when the symptoms are gone. Because the body builds up resistance to the disease once infected, it is rare to get it a second time in life. Treatment of mononucleosis in Western medicine is mainly a change of lifestyle and paying close attention to oneself. There is no medication. Patients will have to be careful with what they are doing and eat well, on a regular basis, and don’t tire themselves too much. The acupuncture approach of Pfeiffers’ Disease is concentrated on regaining energy. According to Traditional insights many underlying conditions can be responsible, like deficiency of energy, blood, yin and often Liver and Kidney are involved. Especially to avoid long term fatigue after the initial symptoms, acupuncture can be helpful, because it is ideal in building a stronger immune system and providing more energy. It is also important to start treatment as soon as the first symptoms appear. The sooner the start, the less treatments needed. Normally five to ten treatments are needed about 2 times per week. Treatment is also effective, because young people normally react much faster. |
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