LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

MSM

Stainless Steel Cervical Disc Beneficial For Patients W/ DJD – (10-26-00)

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Stainless Steel Cervical Disc Beneficial For Patients W/ DJD

While it’s very nice to have a new surgical option for patients with severe neck pain, I personally would race try less severe methods first, such as chiropractic, glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate, MSM…all of which have shown efficacy with neck pain. But, they researchers did use this disc in place of surgical fusion, which can have devastating consequences years after the procedure.

(article) Surgical insertion of a stainless steel disc may alleviate the symptoms of cervical spine degeneration, researchers from the Frenchay Hospital, in Bristol, England, reported today at the 50th annual meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons in San Antonio. Dr. Wigfield and colleagues compared the responses of 12 patients who received the artificial disc to those of 13 patients who underwent traditional discectomy and fusion. All 12 patients who received the artificial disc were able to maintain total range of movement in the treated area. They also showed a reduction in stress on adjacent unaffected discs. Dr. Wigfield credits the design of the artificial disc for its preliminary success. The disc consists of two parts that sit on each other, like a cup and saucer. The design permits the vertebrae to rotate, tilt and move backward and forward, similar to normal spinal movement. “We are encouraged by these early studies,” Dr. Wigfield said.

Alternative Therapies for Traditional Disease States: Osteoarthritis – (01-27-03)

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Alternative Therapies for Traditional Disease States: Osteoarthritis

This is a nice review article for some of the natural approaches to OA. However, they don’t mention MSM, which is an important sulfur donor (sulfur is needed to form cartilage).

Alternative Therapies for Traditional Disease States: Osteoarthritis – January 15, 2003 – American Family Physician

Read entire article here

RISK REDUCTION IN COLORECTAL CANCER WITH MSM – (03-08-10)

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Associations of Herbal and Specialty Supplements with Lung and Colorectal Cancer Risk

Wow…I didn’t see this one coming!! Look at the risk reduction from what would be found in better joint support formulas 54% reduction in colorectal cancer risk w/ MSM? It all makes sense when you look at it, but even with my background, I have always looked at a joint support formula as just that. MSM, as a sulfur donor, does result in a short lived detox with some points when they initially begin, and this could play a large role in cancer reduction. As for the increase in cancer rates with garlic supplementation, this is one of those supplements (like cinnamon) that I tell patients to avoid and just obtain from your diet in it’s whole form.

Read entire article here

MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THIS TO PROTECT YOUR JOINTS

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There has been much controversy over the use of joint support supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin and methysulfonylmethane (MSM) and their effectiveness for osteoarthritis.  Some studies find a protective effect, some do not.  This is yet another article supporting the use of chondroitin sulfate in osteoarthritis, demonstrating a protective effect on bone cartilage loss and bone erosions within 6 months of use for the knee.

The bottom line is that these supplements are very safe to try on a trial basis.  There is a wide variation in price, however, and, as the adage goes, you get what you pay for.  I always recommend to patients that they start with the more expensive brands, and one that contains a combination of all three compounds mentioned above.  After at least 3 months, if you find that it is effective for you, then you can try to substitute for a less expensive brand.  This way, you have established that it works for you and it was not a matter of quality.

And of course, couple this supplementation with an evaluation by a chiropractor that has a strong soft tissue focus–many times “arthritis” pain is NOT coming from the joint, but rather the soft tissues surrounding the joint itself.  Address this aspect of the problem and the pain goes away or gets significantly better.

http://ard.bmj.com/content/70/6/982.abstract