Newsletter From Dr. Lamb
July 6,2000
July 6, 2000
Hi from DrLamb.com
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In this issue:
*Fibro California - Dr. Lamb in California
*Vitamins & Supplements
*Whiplash
*Iasis
*Drugs & Docs
*Ask Dr. Lamb
*Women's Health & Menopause
*Stretching videos for fibromyalgia and more
*Pharmacy
*Broadcast Docs for on-line health seminars
Fibro California
Dr. Lamb recently gave a four-hour course lecture to the California Chiropractic Association on Fibromyalgia in San Diego. It was a great success.
For more information visit
http://www.drlamb.com/California.htm
Vitamins
As you know, vitamins and supplements are tools in a larger strategy to stay healthy and to battle painful conditions.
I have chosen Vitamin and supplements specially selected for specific pain conditions. I have assembled these into
Health Paks for Fibromyalgia, Rhematoid Arthritis, Osteo-arthritis, Mind & Energy & Osteoporosis.
For your convenience you can also buy on-line.
www.drlamb.com/vitaminsonline1.htm
Whiplash
Waddya think about Whiplash Associated Disorders?
Many of our readers have asked for my opinion about WAD or whiplash-associated disorders and chronic pain.
WAD or whiplash associated disorders is the term now being used for spinal pain and the associated syndromes that arise from injuries to occupants of automobiles involved in accidents.
From a recent Quebec study, We know that 50% of individuals return to activity by 31 days, and that 26% of patients are absent from work between two and six months. The Quebec report also states 12.5% of patients remained absent from work six months after
injury but only 1.9 %
of WAD sufferers remained absent from work after one year. Finally 15.3 % of patients who suffered multiple injuries are off work after six months.
The Quebec Classification now follows as
Grade 1: Neck complaints of pain, stiffness and tenderness only. No physical signs.
Grade 2: Neck complaints and musculoskeletal signs.
Grade 3: Neck complaints with neurological signs.
The musculoskeletal signs include a decrease in ROM of the neck or spine, and neurological
signs could include signs such as decreased nerve conduction in an arm or leg. The Quebec group admit that they are not clear of the exact mechanism in
whiplash and report many associated symptoms including neck pain, headache, shoulder pain, parasthesias (or numbness and tingling), weakness, dysphagia, visual and hearing abnormalities. Also sleep disturbances, irritability, forgetfulness, neck
clicking and the feeling of instability within the neck are also common. Fatigue, depression secondary to the whiplash, jaw pain and mood fluctuations are also common complaints.
From Family Practice Magazine, March 15, 2000, CME reporter Elizabeth Godley
There has been significant criticism of the Quebec study on WAD. Some of the points by other experts in the whiplash field are that there is no such condition as grade 1. Research done by an Dr.
Arthur Croft et al, of California actually whiplashed individual volunteers at very low speed and measured range of motion of the neck, among many other parameters. The range of motion (a physical sign) was reduced in virtually all cases suggesting that even very low speed accidents translate a significant acceleration to cause tissue injury resulting in shortened muscle. This would suggest injury even at very low speeds.
It has always been my opinion that whiplash is a very real and important form of spinal injury. It has been my experience that many physicians have doubted the seriousness of impact at very low speeds. Many of these physicians have changed their mind when they themselves suffered a whiplash in a low speed accident. The presence or absence of injury to the automobile is a
bad predictor of whiplash as there are many other factors involved, such as the size of the vehicle, stiffness of the vehicle, the change in speed and acceleration on impact translated to the
occupant and position changes of the occupants that occur during impact.
Again Dr. Croft has demonstrated that many occupant's spines initially compress during a rear end hit. This compression allows for laxity of paraspinal muscles which then allows for more forward or backward movement of the
spine, a movement known as "shearing forces". These shearing forces may then apply injuries to the vertebrae, muscles, disks and
nerves. Many of the pain symptoms may be delayed for even years after the injury.
Other points of note regarding car accidents, is that the safest position to put
your hands on a steering wheel have changed. It is unsafe to apply your hands to the “ten and two position”
as we have been taught. The introduction of airbags has changed all that. Airbags can be released at very high speeds of up to two hundred miles an hour. That means your hands can get in the way of the airbag release causing many forms of injury.
These could include, loss of fingers, thumbs, or tissues around the digits, arm and hand
fractures and chest injuries, depending on the closeness of the driver to the airbag.
Sometimes but rarely , foreign objects like a pipe may be propelled into the occupants body causing facial and eye injuries.
Other severe injuries will occur from the lack of wearing a
seatbelt or sometimes even worse, the improper fitting of a seatbelt. Improper or incomplete seatbelt application (some belts
have a two-stage application) can transfer a seatbelt from a lifesaving device
into a weapon. It is important to apply the belt snugly and completely.
If you have been in an accident and have suffered a whiplash, you may wish to gain more information by contacting other sites such as
www.whiplash101.com.
Remember, keep long and strong.
Iasis Corporation
You will see the Iasis Corporation mentioned on our websites - this is the corporation that integrates
DrLamb.com as well as other products and services. So when you see
"Iasis Corporation" or "Iasis Shoppe" etc. - that's us.
Trivia - "iasis" is the ancient Greek word for "cure or heal"
ASK DR. LAMB
Thanks to all who have sent in questions. I read every question and we try to pick ones that would be of general interest to cover in the
newsletters. We expect to move from a monthly to bi-weekly format so more questions can be covered in a general way.
We are also developing new ways to communicate and interact with you. My commitment is to make the
Iasis Corporation websites the most useful resource on the web.
If you have other questions - please write me at
pain@drlamb.com.
Drugs & Docs
As part of our commitment to your health - we have started a new website Drugs
& Docs that will provide products and consultation options.
We will update you on it as it develops. Currently, we have the Health Paks for vitamins/supplements and the
Pain Reliever video series.
www.drugsanddocs.com
Women's Health & Menopause
I recommend this website any of you who are interested in learning more about Women's Health, menopause, self-esteem and much more.
Dr. Larry Komer, M.D. and his wife, Joan Komer do seminars
called Be
Menopositive.
Visit their website www.drkomer.com or email them with questions
askdrkomer@drkomer.com or askjoankomer@drkomer.com.
www.drkomer.com
Pain Reliever (TM) Video Series
Stretching is a key to muscle health. Now available for purchase on-line Dr. Lamb's stretching instructional videos.
www.stretch-doctor.com
Halton Pharmacy
Our products are assembled and shipped from Halton Pharmacy in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Their website is
www.haltonpharmacy.com
Broadcast Docs
This new website will feature pay-per view and public seminars and other video/audio resources using Real Player
on fibromyalgia, migraines and many other health topics. These will feature Dr. Lamb
and other physicians and experts for your enrichment. The site will have seminars beginning in August.
www.broadcastdocs.com
The information contained in this newsletter is the opinion of Dr. G.
Blair Lamb M.D. C.C.F.P. and should not be used as personal medical advice.
Everyone is encouraged to see their own healthcare professional to review what is best for them. For further details, please visit
http://www.drlamb.com/legal.htm
Thanks for reading! Visit the website for additional information.
www.drlamb.com
© Copyright 2000 Iasis Corporation
e&oe
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