Dr. Tiffany Field, a clinical and developmental psychologist with the University of Miami, Fielding Graduate institute and Nova South Eastern university found in her research that touch in the form of massage reduced cortisol levels, increased dopamine and serotonin levels leading to improved outcomes in the hippocampus region and so increases the capacity for cognition as verified by psychometrics and pet scans. She explains the gate theory, apparently pressure and cold precede receptors for pain so therefore massage has the capacity to close the pain gate. Massage also reduces substance P a known pain receptor. Clinical improvements were noted in all individuals with pain, including, asthmatics autistic, ADHD, aggression and TBI. Often people with cognitive or biological abnormalities slip through the system however a therapy as simple as massage can improve outcomes to increase learning
There are some effective, short easy to learn free massage videos that show how a friend or family member can help out when you are unable to get to a massage therapist
There is considerable press given to the relationship between inflammation, trauma and cancer. This is a concern for trauma survivors who have topped the stress index due to litigation, job loss, relationship tension, drug use, traumatic injury and more. I find there is an almost fatalistic waiting for the blow to come because our stress points have been exceeded. It was with interest that I viewed multiple research articles that shows this link is not as solid statistically or from a science perspective as we were all lead to believe and that trauma only slightly increases cancer risk.
Cancer is actually a multifactorial disease and several areas have to go wrong before a malignancy occurs. People who are susceptible generally have a genetic mutation in the cellular ability to repair itself, or the off signal is defective and the cell grows consistently past its prime. Other areas of the DNA can still catch this by killing off the rogue section but in some people the gate keeper has ceased to work. Even then it takes multiple generations of mutated cells to form a cancer. The cancer cells examined under a high powered microscope look like they have exploded from the inside out. The tendency for mutations to grow out of control multiplies as we age simply because many of them are caused by things in our lifestyle or environment. I had heard erroneously that we all have cancer cells in our body and one day something just goes wrong. This always made me feel that there could be a betrayer with in me whom I could not know until I was already defeated.
The human body is actually much more ordered than this. Three types of genes are involved in cancers, oncogenes which are mutated proto-oncogenes (the signal to stop growing is broken) ,these cell promote cell division and and growth. Then there are tumor -suppressor genes which tell the cell when to stop dividing and finally there are the DNA repair genes which if they are defective let mutation continue unrepaired. So individuals can inherit variants that increase their susceptibility to some cancers but even then it is is not a death sentence.
It is said that at least 30% of cancers are provoked by our lifestyle and that a stable life where we exercise, eat right and avoid smoking and other pollutants can indeed reduce mutations and increase quality of life. Humor and affection also help as they do reduce the stress response and gently lead us away from the bad habits that cause mutations.
So live life to the fullest and be kind to be your personal best. Seven years after severe injuries and multiple stress factors my husband and I found our way back to blood pressure and heart rates that a teen would envy. Indeed some of the degeneration we were consistently assured would put us in wheelchairs has slowly submitted to the power of a life well lived. Before the trauma we never really knew our neighbors, we were too busy globe trotting to form relationships. I recently aarrived home to find homemade cookies in my mailbox, fresh orchids and basil plants left with love and all my school books carefully protected by the mail man until my return. I still never see a day without physical pain but I am glad to be alive. Life is not over it is just different. There is life after trauma!
Ligament injuries can be more painful and take longer to heal than a broken bone. They are common in traumatic injuries like a car crash, fall or sports injury. A ligament is a tough band of white, fibrous, slightly elastic tissue. They are an essential part of the skeletal joints; binding the bone ends together to prevent dislocation and excessive movement that might cause breakage. Some people like to compare ligaments to duct tape; they hold bones together. Another way of seeing this is to compare ligaments with elastic. Have you ever had favorite clothes where the elastic goes and loses its ability to follow and cling to your body? This is how lax ligaments work in your body. Torn ligaments could be compared to a fan belt in your care or a belt in your clothes dryer or vacuum cleaner, once it tears there is no real way to fix the problem because each time the appliance is used it puts pressure on the belt. Ligaments contain signaling features which tell the bones how much to move. Ligaments also protect the joints and nerves. When these structures are injured, the body works to rebuild them but this is a slow process. A severe ligament tear can take 18 months to heal whereas a broken bone heals in weeks. When the tear is bad and the ligament can’t heal the surrounding muscles work overtime and the nerves do not have the same degree of protection which can lead to chronic pain and atrophy of the surrounding muscles. Severe ligament injuries that can’t heal produce instability in the surrounding structures. When this happens, deep supporting muscles get weak, nerves get irritated (causing more muscle weakness), and joints get inflamed and painful. Ligament injuries may be accompanied by popping and cracking. Tight muscles and bad posture that come from the strain of chronic pain and injury can also cause cracking and popping however in this case the popping and cracking relieves pain and pressure. When popping and cracking makes you feel worse and produces more pain, numbness, or burning; it may be due to instability. Special x-ray techniques called flexion-extension views could be done to rule-out any type of instability. Ligament injury can be treated with prolotherapy and adult stem cell treatment. Ligament repair can treat the injured areas as well but surgery is invasive, there is extensive rehabilitation and considerable down time. Targeted physiotherapy can be used to strengthen the area around the ligament to give it the opportunity to heal. Sometimes bracing is used to rest the area to give it time to recover however this is a temporary solution to reduce pain and used long term can make the situation worse because the surrounding support areas weaken with lack of use. There are some antibiotics such as ciproflaxin which can make hinder ligament repair. Anti-inflammatories can also slow the healing process for ligament injury. Supplements that promote cell health such as vitamin C, Glucosamine, Fish oil supplements and anti-oxidants can help. It is important to have high quality protein in your diet to promote a healthy balance of amino acids which help your cells increase the building blocks needed to heal. Getting enough sleep and regular exercise is important. Stress slows your body’s ability to heal. Learning stress busting techniques or avoiding stressors promotes health.
Prolotherapy prompts the body to naturally heal damaged and degenerated tissues. This is not a steroid which can block healing by inhibiting the natural inflammation cycle whereby new cells can regenerate and repair tissue, but a natural substance that promotes healing. In Roman times, soldiers with joint injuries would have those wounds cauterized to promote healing and reduce infection. While modern techniques are much more sophisticated, the concept is the same.
Prolotherapy works by prompting your body's natural repair mechanisms to heal damaged or degenerated tissues. It's done when ligaments have been stretched/damaged or torn. This technique can be used in most joints that are unstable. It's most commonly used for SI joint dysfunction with instability or chronic low back pain. This technique can help repair some of the ligaments and provide normal support to the joint. While most of our daily injuries heal completely, severe ligament tears, degenerated and worn out tissues, and those with a poor blood supply (such as in the knee) don't usually mend themselves. This is because low grade inflammation is taking place and causing pain but it is not strong enough to signal initiation of the repair process.
Prolotherapy practitioners start by injecting a growth factor stimulant which is not a growth hormone or steroid, but contains a mild irritant such as glucose mixed with local anesthetic to trigger healing response in the damaged area. This otherwise harmless, natural substance, causes a brief period of inflammation 3-5 days after the injection which triggers inflammation that causes the body to release it's own natural growth factors in the injured tissue.
Most practitioners do these injections in a series, with 3-6 times being considered the norm. This technique can be used in most joints that are unstable. It's most commonly used for SI joint dysfunction with instability or chronic low back pain.
These go to work immediately, directing your body's natural healing mechanisms to repair damaged and degenerated tissue. The first stage of healing usually takes about a week, but the tissue continues to restore itself for 4-6 weeks after the injection.
It is very important that this treatment is done with fluoroscopy guidance. Fluoroscopy is like an xray movie. Some doctors inject with out xray guidance. For this treatment to be effective it needs to be precisely targeted and done by a practitioner who is getting consistently good results for treatment. It may be good to ask the doctor for the name of a couple of satisfied recipients. They will be able to tell you about the procedure and what to expect as well.
Why Does Music Therapy Matter?
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Specially engineered music therapy can change the brain and restore
degraded pathways. The Listening Program is used in unusual ways to
facilitate recovery...
I am a psychologist. I was a missionary before I sustained a serious auto crash. I work with Thinking Pays as the director of research and development. My message is:
Refuse to let other people define your boundaries and enforce your limitations. The seeds of greatness are on the inside of you and they are waiting to be birthed. Hold onto your flexibility and sense of humor…you will need it on the ride of life! It is seldom a smooth ride but you can be the driver. There will be falls along the way but the difference between a success and a failure is choosing to get up one more time in what ever way you can!
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