So my patient returned and wow. Just as I predicted, he did extraordinarily well. All his pains have pretty much resolved. The residual pain that he wants me to address is only about 10% remaining. I am quite pleased with that.
www.doctorhoang.com
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Part 1: The Chronically Bad/Weak Ankle is...
a dislocated ankle that has never been reduced. I came to this conclusion when a patient of mine kept complaining of all sorts of pain following a really bad ankle sprain. He was playing basketball and came down from a jump on the outside of his ankle. Xrays were negative. This was one year ago. He wrapped the ankle and rested it. It has not been right since. Then six months later, he fell asleep at the couch. He woke up with a jerk of his head and continues to this day with neck pain and tenderness. While he continues with ankle and feet pain, he starts to develop a groin pain, same side. We find an inguinal (groin) hernia. He goes to a surgeon and is told he needs surgery. He returns several months after surgery and everything still hurts as before. We have had so many visits - i need to look back and count how many - still his pains are unchanged, with occasional temporary relief - I'm trying to figure out if it is his back, pelvis or SI joints. All the while he insists, that he was well prior to the accident, that this accident has led to all of his current problems. So...I take him at his word and go back straight to the ankle. On this visit, I decide that the only way to prove whether the ankle was causing all these problems from above was to get rid of the swelling, get the foot and ankle feeling normal again (which means that all the strains have been reduced) and whammo! everything else should fall into place. With significant force (which I usually do not do) I get his ankle back and with good solid pressures hold the bony placements. Lo and behold - the swelling and point tenderness of one area are almost completely resolved. Then I go to the rest of his body and treat. Lo and behold - everything is easier. I am convinced. Wow. Now I am excited to see what unfolds. I can hardly wait for his next visit.
www.doctorhoang.com
www.doctorhoang.com
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Suzanne Somers is Right!
I cannot believe that I am actually saying this, "Suzanne Somers is right!" How did I reach this conclusion? As in previous posts, in the last several years, 2 local neurologists started sending me patients. Generalizations about patients who come from other specialists are usually true. The patients are complex, complicated chronic pain cases. Some of these patients are so bad that some of them are on disability. In conjunction with our osteopathic work, I started considering their overall health. The really debilitated patients, their systems need all the help they can get. At first I started them on one supplement. I saw and they reported noticeable improvements. Then I started to do the same for my office staff. They reported immediate results. When I started doing this I was in my last trimester of a second baby. I wanted to wait after my delivery to experiment on myself, but towards the end, I started to get desperate. My hair was falling out despite taking my prenatal vitamins as well as the fish oil. So I supplemented myself and lo and behold - my hair stopped falling out. I started to consider, why this worked. Then I started to think about what else could be lacking and what else patients with certain conditions might need. I am currently still developing my supplementation secrets, but I wanted to give an acknowledgement to Suzanne Somers.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Plantar Fasciitis is NOT plantar fasciitis
This is one of my newest peeves. It seems that many of my male patients tell me that they have been diagnosed with 'plantar fasciitis.' ??? This diagnosis is given to those who have pain on the soles of their feet with walking; it is worse in the am and after activity and 'stretching' the ligaments of the feet, the pain gets better throughout the day.
I always, invariably, end up telling my patients, "Plantar-schmantar, blah-blah-blah." I do not wish to demean their pain but this is not what it seems. Instead I tell my patients that "plantar fasciitis is a distal manifestation of a proximal problem." This means that men who are/were active have acquired multiple strains which lock up their body, especially the pelvis, SI joints and lower back. This affects their gait and over time causes additional strains on the legs. I always end up being able to prove to them that I am right (and consequently everyone else wrong); I can say this because I learned all this from a great old Old Time Osteopath. In my treatment sessions the pain changes or even goes away immediately.
So, essentially, what does the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis mean? One, the patient usually has multiple problems. i.e., they are really messed up. Second, they seriously need to be treated globally by an osteopathic physician. What happens if the patient never gets treated? MDs will advise stretching, special shoes. Podiatrists will offer orthotics. Some patients will resort to prolotherapy (injections of a sugar solution). All these options are merely crutches that support the longstanding accumulated strains. Eventually, the patient will pay.
Toby would have been diagnosed with 'plantar fasciitis' if he had seen a doctor for his feet pain. It is only later on his second visit that he tells me he stopped walking on his treadmill because of it. Hear what he has to say:
previsit video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvQofVtq5mY&feature=channel
postfirstvisit video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKgMi_S-HGI
I always, invariably, end up telling my patients, "Plantar-schmantar, blah-blah-blah." I do not wish to demean their pain but this is not what it seems. Instead I tell my patients that "plantar fasciitis is a distal manifestation of a proximal problem." This means that men who are/were active have acquired multiple strains which lock up their body, especially the pelvis, SI joints and lower back. This affects their gait and over time causes additional strains on the legs. I always end up being able to prove to them that I am right (and consequently everyone else wrong); I can say this because I learned all this from a great old Old Time Osteopath. In my treatment sessions the pain changes or even goes away immediately.
So, essentially, what does the diagnosis of plantar fasciitis mean? One, the patient usually has multiple problems. i.e., they are really messed up. Second, they seriously need to be treated globally by an osteopathic physician. What happens if the patient never gets treated? MDs will advise stretching, special shoes. Podiatrists will offer orthotics. Some patients will resort to prolotherapy (injections of a sugar solution). All these options are merely crutches that support the longstanding accumulated strains. Eventually, the patient will pay.
Toby would have been diagnosed with 'plantar fasciitis' if he had seen a doctor for his feet pain. It is only later on his second visit that he tells me he stopped walking on his treadmill because of it. Hear what he has to say:
previsit video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvQofVtq5mY&feature=channel
postfirstvisit video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKgMi_S-HGI
Monday, April 5, 2010
Just Learn to Live with It
This bothers me. I heard this from a parent this week. She was told that her child would have to "learn to live with it."
They give you a chronic pain or chronic disease diagnosis, a label with all the meds that go with it. It is supposed to treat your disease and alleviate your pain. Maybe you feel some relief. But you don't ever get sustained, long lasting relief. And you tell your doctors. They are doing the best they can with what they know. After all, they are the specialists, but with only one point of view, the biochemical point of view.
This statement is a sure sign that there is not very much left for the patient. The open minded ones do not say this. The caring ones will be honest and blunt and leave the door for you to search other options.
watch and see what i mean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSqZZCUx-Zs
They give you a chronic pain or chronic disease diagnosis, a label with all the meds that go with it. It is supposed to treat your disease and alleviate your pain. Maybe you feel some relief. But you don't ever get sustained, long lasting relief. And you tell your doctors. They are doing the best they can with what they know. After all, they are the specialists, but with only one point of view, the biochemical point of view.
This statement is a sure sign that there is not very much left for the patient. The open minded ones do not say this. The caring ones will be honest and blunt and leave the door for you to search other options.
watch and see what i mean:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSqZZCUx-Zs
Friday, February 5, 2010
Don't Tenderize That Meat!
A new patient comes to me. I take care of her 2 girls for regular pediatrics stuff. She came to me for help with her legs after her husband made the suggestion.
A year ago, her 5 year old daughter stubbed her finger. It was swollen and mildly bruised. They were pretty certain that it was not broken, but she complained so much about the pain that they had to bring her in. I looked at it. It was a simple digital compression along the long axis of the finger. I held her hand and proceeded to reduce the strain. With my back to her dad, I intentionally hid what I was doing. Suddenly, the whining turned to giggles. Her dad was incredulous and could not figure it out. No, its not broken. Its fine. There should be no problems.
Six months later, they come in for another problem. As I was leaving, with my hand on the door, the dad says, "Say...Dr. Hoang, I know I'm not your patient, but could you help me with something?" Sure. What is it? "Six months ago, my daughter hurt her finger and you helped her. I didn't see exactly what you did but I remembered that she got better. Well, several weeks ago, I stubbed my finger and I tried to do what I presumed you did. It still hurts. The knuckle is still swollen and bruised. I can't even make a closed fist. Doggone it! I've been yanking on this finger now for 3 weeks."
I took his hand and looked at the massively swollen knuckle. "Well, here's the problem..." I proceeded to explain to him where he went wrong. At the same time I am treating him. In several minutes, we are done. I tell him to test the finger and hand. He is amazed! The pain is gone. He can make a fist. No problem. The swelling will resolve on its own within the week.
"Wow! That's great!, " he says. As we walk out he is so thankful, he says, "How much do I owe you?" Nothing, it was only 2 minutes of my time. He insists, "No really, I want to pay you."
"Don't worry about it," I told him. He persists. OK, give Melva $20 bucks so she can have a nice lunch. He gave her the money and was still so pleased with the results, smiling as he walked out the door. I thought to myself, "Hmmm...I should have said 40, so I could have a nice lunch too."
Six months after that, the wife comes in. She is a mess. She is one of those power women who take control and work through the pain trying everything and anything. I figure out where her problem is and proceed to work on her. Her tissues are so damaged that I get very little change in them on this visit. What did she do? She been to chiropractors and for years have had her back cracked, she done heat and cold, deep tissue massages, ultrasound, physical therapy.
What do chefs and cooks do to tough, grisly cuts of meat? They tenderize them - pounding the fibers to smithereens. What do these "therapies" do but help to break down your own muscle tissue. Sure you get temporary 'relaxation' of the muscles because you've beaten them down into submission. But don't you notice over the long run, the same problems keep coming back?
Think about it.
A year ago, her 5 year old daughter stubbed her finger. It was swollen and mildly bruised. They were pretty certain that it was not broken, but she complained so much about the pain that they had to bring her in. I looked at it. It was a simple digital compression along the long axis of the finger. I held her hand and proceeded to reduce the strain. With my back to her dad, I intentionally hid what I was doing. Suddenly, the whining turned to giggles. Her dad was incredulous and could not figure it out. No, its not broken. Its fine. There should be no problems.
Six months later, they come in for another problem. As I was leaving, with my hand on the door, the dad says, "Say...Dr. Hoang, I know I'm not your patient, but could you help me with something?" Sure. What is it? "Six months ago, my daughter hurt her finger and you helped her. I didn't see exactly what you did but I remembered that she got better. Well, several weeks ago, I stubbed my finger and I tried to do what I presumed you did. It still hurts. The knuckle is still swollen and bruised. I can't even make a closed fist. Doggone it! I've been yanking on this finger now for 3 weeks."
I took his hand and looked at the massively swollen knuckle. "Well, here's the problem..." I proceeded to explain to him where he went wrong. At the same time I am treating him. In several minutes, we are done. I tell him to test the finger and hand. He is amazed! The pain is gone. He can make a fist. No problem. The swelling will resolve on its own within the week.
"Wow! That's great!, " he says. As we walk out he is so thankful, he says, "How much do I owe you?" Nothing, it was only 2 minutes of my time. He insists, "No really, I want to pay you."
"Don't worry about it," I told him. He persists. OK, give Melva $20 bucks so she can have a nice lunch. He gave her the money and was still so pleased with the results, smiling as he walked out the door. I thought to myself, "Hmmm...I should have said 40, so I could have a nice lunch too."
Six months after that, the wife comes in. She is a mess. She is one of those power women who take control and work through the pain trying everything and anything. I figure out where her problem is and proceed to work on her. Her tissues are so damaged that I get very little change in them on this visit. What did she do? She been to chiropractors and for years have had her back cracked, she done heat and cold, deep tissue massages, ultrasound, physical therapy.
What do chefs and cooks do to tough, grisly cuts of meat? They tenderize them - pounding the fibers to smithereens. What do these "therapies" do but help to break down your own muscle tissue. Sure you get temporary 'relaxation' of the muscles because you've beaten them down into submission. But don't you notice over the long run, the same problems keep coming back?
Think about it.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Personal Injury 101
Wow. I just had a conversation with a personal injury attorney. He helped one of my patients and also confirmed for me the big, ugly, giant flaws in the medical system, the things I rant about, the stuff that drives me nuts.
Naomi had migraines for 20 years. One day last year, she passed out in a gym. She is in her 60's and the DMV threatened to take her driver's license away. She had to go to the doctors to figure out why she passed out. The neurologist said it was not seizures and left it at that. The cardiologist said her heart was perfectly fine. No one explained why she passed out. I can.
She found me quite accidentally. Found my brochure in the lobby while waiting for her cardiology appointment (I sublease space to them). She was willing to give O.M.T a try. Needless to say, it took 11 visits and her years of migraines, fibromyalgia, back pain were much improved, without needing meds. Then, one day after a good, productive visit, she was waiting at a stop sign and another car hit her from behind. This accident set us back so far, it took another 11 visits just to get her back to where she was with me as she was getting better.
The 'wow' that I learned from my quick tutorial on injury from this lawyer was the built in flaws of the medical system. I mentioned my other new patient had numbness in one hand and went to her PCP. Generally numbness and tingling are neurologic signs and should be evaluated/worked up. Instead she was sent straight to P.T. (physical therapy) After traction, she developed numbness and tingling in BOTH arms and hands. Clearly the physical therapy caused her new symptom on the other side. When she went back to her PCP, then she got an x-ray - which turned out hideous.
Apparently from the legal side, doctors are allowed "best guesses." Man, that is a lot of leeway. Is that what other non-medical people think we are doing? No wonder there is increasing disrespect for doctors. What if that 'best guess' sucked? and you were hurt by a lousy guess. Too bad. That does not constitute a problem. It is simply a bad guess.
Here, we have two medical professionals who did not take heed of neurologic signs and proceed with caution. Now, it is my job to clean this up.
I complained to the lawyer that I see this all the time! I see so many people hurt by what is considered an acceptable treatment modality. I told him that if my patients had not been touched previously (another rant and blog), what I call, pure, unadulterated physical/mechanical strains, they would be so much easier for me to treat - they would think that I'm a miracle worker. Do you know what he said to me?
He said of course! After 25 years of working in personal injury and dealing with different types of doctors; clearly this guy is one of the good guys and a real decent lawyer. He stated that this is "built into the system." that this is how it is done and there is no way to change it.
WOW. All you people out there better be careful. Take caution. Do your research. Do not put yourself, or your body into the hands of fakes, frauds or wannabes (another blog for another time). Even with physicians, listen to their words and explanations. All of it better make sense and listen to your instincts. Anyone who is going to help you better get you lasting, sustainable results.
Good luck and always proceed with caution.
Naomi had migraines for 20 years. One day last year, she passed out in a gym. She is in her 60's and the DMV threatened to take her driver's license away. She had to go to the doctors to figure out why she passed out. The neurologist said it was not seizures and left it at that. The cardiologist said her heart was perfectly fine. No one explained why she passed out. I can.
She found me quite accidentally. Found my brochure in the lobby while waiting for her cardiology appointment (I sublease space to them). She was willing to give O.M.T a try. Needless to say, it took 11 visits and her years of migraines, fibromyalgia, back pain were much improved, without needing meds. Then, one day after a good, productive visit, she was waiting at a stop sign and another car hit her from behind. This accident set us back so far, it took another 11 visits just to get her back to where she was with me as she was getting better.
The 'wow' that I learned from my quick tutorial on injury from this lawyer was the built in flaws of the medical system. I mentioned my other new patient had numbness in one hand and went to her PCP. Generally numbness and tingling are neurologic signs and should be evaluated/worked up. Instead she was sent straight to P.T. (physical therapy) After traction, she developed numbness and tingling in BOTH arms and hands. Clearly the physical therapy caused her new symptom on the other side. When she went back to her PCP, then she got an x-ray - which turned out hideous.
Apparently from the legal side, doctors are allowed "best guesses." Man, that is a lot of leeway. Is that what other non-medical people think we are doing? No wonder there is increasing disrespect for doctors. What if that 'best guess' sucked? and you were hurt by a lousy guess. Too bad. That does not constitute a problem. It is simply a bad guess.
Here, we have two medical professionals who did not take heed of neurologic signs and proceed with caution. Now, it is my job to clean this up.
I complained to the lawyer that I see this all the time! I see so many people hurt by what is considered an acceptable treatment modality. I told him that if my patients had not been touched previously (another rant and blog), what I call, pure, unadulterated physical/mechanical strains, they would be so much easier for me to treat - they would think that I'm a miracle worker. Do you know what he said to me?
He said of course! After 25 years of working in personal injury and dealing with different types of doctors; clearly this guy is one of the good guys and a real decent lawyer. He stated that this is "built into the system." that this is how it is done and there is no way to change it.
WOW. All you people out there better be careful. Take caution. Do your research. Do not put yourself, or your body into the hands of fakes, frauds or wannabes (another blog for another time). Even with physicians, listen to their words and explanations. All of it better make sense and listen to your instincts. Anyone who is going to help you better get you lasting, sustainable results.
Good luck and always proceed with caution.
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