Blogs by Dr. Means
How to Curb Neck Pain Even In Your Sleep
Getting enough sleep every night is important for everyone. It's also vital if you have problems with your neck or back. That is because the pain and discomfort will likely worsen if you don't get enough rest during the night. In addition, the way you sleep and what supplies you use when you do can also affect your overall posture during the day and aggravate your symptoms. In this article, we'll tackle ways to lessen your neck pain even as you sleep. Additionally, we will let you in on a secret way to maintain optimal upper cervical spine health so [...]
Essential Oils for Fibromyalgia Relief: Do They Work?
Fibromyalgia is a truly painful condition that causes worrying symptoms like fatigue, sleep problems, and headaches. Many people who have it cope with the help of medications, upper cervical care, or physical therapy. Others also tap into additional sources of relief, such as essential oils. But the question is, do they work? Studies certainly agree! Certain scents of essential oils for fibromyalgia are effective at relieving pain levels, helping ease anxiety, and promoting better sleep patterns. Let's help you learn more about these. Best Essential Oils for Fibromyalgia Although simple to the ears, the use of essential oils for [...]
5 Anti-Vertigo Techniques for University Students
It's hard to be a university student. You're probably dealing with more stress than ever before in your life, and it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the new responsibilities. You're also probably in a position where you're working several part-time jobs, plus taking classes and studying for exams… and yet, somehow, you still have to find time to look after yourself and stay healthy. It can be challenging enough just getting through all of this without having anything else thrown into the mix—but that is not always the case. Because of all these demands and pressures in life and [...]
Video Games Can Cause Neck Pain
If you’ve been wondering what’s causing your upper neck pain, it’s best to take a step back and look at your daily habits to check if any of them might be the culprit. There are many possible reasons you get neck pain, and one of them might be your favorite pastime - video games. Screentime has been a part of many people’s daily lives. Along with the progress and advancement in technology, gaming consoles and video games are still highly popular and are becoming more accessible. Sporting activities such as basketball, football, or tennis can bring pains and soreness to [...]
How to Ensure Quality Sleep Despite Fibromyalgia
For someone suffering from fibromyalgia and neck pain, having a quality sleep might sound like just a dream, but it isn’t really. With a sprinkle of preparation, a healthy lifestyle, and regular therapy or self-care, it is possible! A Little Background About Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a lingering disorder that causes widespread pain, as well as fatigue, sleep, and mood issues. Pain occurs in approximately 18 tender points on the body. These tender points are specific areas that hurt when you apply pressure on them. The exact and actual cause of fibromyalgia is still unknown, but a combination of factors [...]
Why Do Athletes’ Hands Fall Asleep?
Have you ever experienced sleeping hands or lost sensation on your arms, hands, and fingers? Many pro athletes like marathon runners, rowers, archers, rock climbers and swimmers report the same problem. Notably, most of these individuals seek the help of a therapist, neurologist, or cervical chiropractor. That’s because their numbing sensation often comes hand in hand with tingling in the arms, muscle weakness, and burning feeling on the fingers. So, what exactly do these symptoms indicate? How can patients cope better? Sleeping Hands: A Sign of Nerve Pinching in the Hand Many patients who seek a cervical chiropractor or [...]
Why Vertigo and Inner Ear Problems Go Hand in Hand
Finding vertigo relief through conventional or allopathic means can be a frustrating journey, mostly because vertigo isn’t a condition but a symptom. Thankfully, medical breakthroughs reveal a lot of interesting findings, such as the fact that vertigo episodes often stem from an inner ear problem. As you may remember from your basic anatomy classes, the ears do not only perceive sounds. Instead, it also plays a crucial role in detecting motion and orientation changes in your body. Let’s help you jog your memory on inner ear anatomy and physiology and understand the inner ear’s relationship with your spinning sensations. [...]
Fibromyalgia or Rheumatoid Arthritis: What Do You Have?
Waking up with unbearable pain all over the body is a horrible way to start a day. Unfortunately, if you have either rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia, there is a fifty-fifty chance that you will experience this every single day. To cope, you definitely need to know which of the two conditions you have (or if you have both). This will help you seek the right professionals for help, like a fibromyalgia chiropractic practitioner, physical therapist, or rheumatologist. Can you distinguish which is which? What are the hallmark signs of rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia? And how can they impact your day-to-day [...]
The Story of a Delayed Spacewalk Due to a Pinched Nerve
Mark Vande Hei, a flight engineer for several ISS explorations, recently made the news after his scheduled spacewalk with another colleague got delayed for a medical condition. It turns out they had to move the task to a later date because of a pinched nerve, a widespread problem that affects millions worldwide. But what exactly is it? Why did Mark have to delay his 6.5-hour spacewalk because of a seemingly minor problem? Can a pinched nerve in the neck cause dizziness? How can it affect the body? Read our discussion below to learn more about pinched nerves and how they [...]
When Migraines Get in the Way of Your Routine
You’re supposed to go out and have fun today. But, unexpectedly, a terrible migraine episode starts, and you know what happens next. You have migraine and neck pain that leaves you wincing for hours. The light from your screen and the windows make you feel uncomfortable. And to make things worse, you feel like throwing up. If it’s any consolation to you, about 39 million Americans have the same plight. Millions of patients seek care and management techniques like upper cervical chiropractic and aromatherapy to help them enjoy some semblance of a normal and pain-free life. But are these methods [...]