Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
What is Healthy Aging? Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Healthy aging is one of those new trendy buzz words that tends to pop up all over social media. Due to this popularity I wanted to do a new series on this topic. But what even …
Super Focus IQ Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND If you have been on the Invite health website, you may have noticed a formula called Super Focus IQ. If the nutrients inside this formula seem to ring a bell that’s because it is the same fantastic …
Back Pain – Introduction
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I wanted to do a series on a topic that on the surface seems simple BUT in reality, is anything but simple. This topic is back pain. Now I know what you are thinking, but Dr. Claire back pain is just back pain! You grab an NSAID and move on. You may not realize that back pain can occur for many reasons. Depending on the cause of your back pain, the recommendations to help reduce the pain and inflammation can vary. So, let us get into it, shall we?
In this series we will be reviewing the causes for back pain that most come up in consultations here at Invite health. These include muscle strain (or pulled muscles). We will also be reviewing the differences between a herniated and bulging disc. On a similar note, we will be covering degenerative joint disease, bone spur induced pinched nerve pain and even sciatica. We will also be reviewing scoliosis and how the spine can affect back pain. Additionally, we will be reviewing how certain chronic conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis can trigger and worsen back pain. Lastly, I will be reviewing back pain that is triggered by other conditions not related to the back such as the type of pain that may be experienced if you have a kidney infection.
However, before we can really talk about the things that can go wrong with our back let us get into some basic anatomy of our back. To start with there are our muscles. In the back there are 3 layers of muscles. These are the superficial (extrinsic) back muscles, intermediate back muscles and intrinsic (deep) back muscles. Please see the attached picture. (1)
What do our back muscles do for us? Well, the muscles in our back support the body and help us move. The muscles in our back help move the body, head, neck, shoulders, arms, and legs. The back muscles work together to let you bend over, twist, turn your head and extend your back. They even help with breathing. The most common symptoms of an injury to the muscles in your back include muscle pain, stiffness, spasms, and tightness/weakness. There may also be swelling or bruising. (1)
In addition to the muscles there is also the spine. The spine is the column of bones that go from the base of your skull and end at your tailbone. The spine is made up of various parts. The vertebrae are the 33 stacked bones that form the spinal canal. These 33 vertebrae ae divided into 5 segments. These are the cervical, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx. Located in the back are facet joints. There are also intervertebral disks that sit between the vertebrae and typically act as spine shock absorbers. There is also the spinal cord and nerves. Lastly the soft tissues in the back include ligaments that help to connect the vertebrae and hold your spine in place. Please see the attached picture. (2)
The spine helps you sit, stand, walk, twist and even bend. The spine also gives your body structure, and it is important for your body posture. It is also important for protecting the spinal cord. Lastly it allows for flexibility. What are some of the most common signs that there is a problem with your spine? The most common signs include muscle spasm, paralysis, and weakness in the limbs and even in some cases loss of bowel or bladder control. (2)
As I get into each topic I will be going more in depth as to the symptoms and tests you can do to help find out what is causing the pain in the first place.
But what can you do right now for back pain? Well, I have some fun recipes for you!
Remember if you have any questions, you can always reach out to an Invite nutritionist! You can even schedule an appointment online for an Invite nutritionist to call you back for a 30-minute consultation. InVite® Health | Personalized Nutrition – InVite Health
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LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE by: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Movement and exercise, or physical activity, is a healthy lifestyle component that we all know about and are often not consistent with in our day-to-day life. We all hear about it, read …
Alcar with ALA Capsules Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One of the most popular products here at Invite Health has always been our Alcar with ALA formula. If you have been using Invite’s Alcar with ALA you may notice some changes to it! Now the …
From a Naturopaths Point of View Part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Third Party Consultations
One of the things we almost always mention is how you can call Invite for a consultation with a qualified nutritionist. You can even go to the website and schedule a consult for a time that’s best for you. However, there is one part of consultations that can be confusing. And that is the concept of third party consultations. To start with what exactly does the term third party consultation mean? Well it’s basically a consultation that is between a nutritionist and an induvial regarding someone else. In simple terms it’s when someone calls and asks questions about someone else’s health. Sometimes this is appropriate. However in many cases’ this is not appropriate and not something that is encouraged. Why exactly is it not appropriate? And just when is it ok? Well these are things that I’ll be addressing in this blog!
To start with when is it appropriate to do a third party consultation? For a minor child it is absolutely appropriate and even expected for a parent or legal guardian to call for them. Legal guardians are those who have both custody of the child and the authority to make decisions about the child’s health. (1) Very often grandparents will call with questions about what their grandchild should take. Unfortunately, since they are often not the legal guardian it is not appropriate for an Invite nutritionist to give medical advice regarding the child in question.
The next situation where a third party consult is appropriate is in the case of power of attorney where an induvial has been given the right to make medical decisions regarding another person. (2) One example would be if you’re the parent of an adult who is special needs. Another common example is a child whose parents are suffering from dementia. I know what you’re thinking, but Dr. Claire what if I need a translator because English isn’t my 1st language? Having a translator is fine as long as the person who needs the consult is involved in the conversation.
But why is it inappropriate and to be blunt dangerous to do third party consultations? To start with there is the concern that any supplements may interact with medications. In some case’s supplements can increase a medications effects. For example fish oil and blood thinners. In other case’s supplements can decrease the effects of certain medications, for example Vitamin K and Coumadin. And in some case’s supplements may have harmful or dangerous interactions with medications. As you can see this can be very dangerous. Remember just because someone is a close friend or even family it doesn’t mean you know all the medications they are on. On a similar note you may not know every single aspect of a friend’s medical history. In some cases depending on someone’s past medical history certain supplements may be inappropriate. For example for anyone with a history of seizures certain brain stimulating supplements would not only be inappropriate but in fact dangerous. Allergies are another concern that can lead to dangerous complications. It can be dangerous to assume you now everything a person is allergic to.
Lastly there is also HIPPA. Everyone is entitled to privacy. (4) Overall as you can see third party consultations, except in certain situations are both inappropriate and possibly dangerous. If you know someone who needs a consult feel to pass along Invite’s contact information!
Now for your pleasure – here’s some fun ways to use supplements!
Let’s talk about Alcar with Ala – the new capsule form!
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