Seven Super Supplements For Nerve Health

Today's post from drperlmutter.com (see link below) is one for those of us with neuropathy and a fairly healthy wallet! I often think that supplement recommendations are a bit of a luxury for a select few because they're not cheap and many people's budgets just can't stretch to extras that may or may not work. That said, if it's possible financially, you may want to take a look at some of these seven recommendations here. They are all widely reported as having benefits for a health nervous system (apart from other beneficial health areas which you could see as a bonus) and the list and explanations could be very useful as a base from which to start, especially if your normal diet isn't the healthiest on the block. Unfortunately, supplement takers are often the people who are most conscious about their overall health and as such may not need them as much as others. If you do your research on the web, you'll see that each of these seven is claimed to be helpful for neuropathy patients but if you're at all concerned, talk to your doctor. Please watch out for supplements that claim to solve everything in one pill though - they are exorbitantly expensive and their claims are often wildly exaggerated - shopping for individual elements will work out cheaper in the end and then you know what you're putting in your mouth.

Grain Brain and the 7 Super Supplements 
Dr. Perlmutter

 
A brain-healthy, Alzheimer’s-fighting diet has properties that extend far beyond just decreasing your daily carb load. To truly provide your body with brain-boosting nutrients and vitamins that help stave off brain disease and other illnesses, you should consider a regular regimen of supplements. These seven supplements will go a long way towards helping you with prevention:

DHA: An omega-3 fatty acid that represents more than 50% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the brain. Numerous studies link high levels of DHA with a decreased risk for dementia, Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases (view some of these studies here on my site). Look to take in about 1,000mg/day. 

Resveratrol: If you like that red wine is permissible in the Grain Brain lifestyle, then you can thank this natural compound which slows down the aging process, boosts blood flow to the brain, and promotes heart health. In addition to the role it plays in stimulating brain function, resveratrol is also a key ally of our body’s immune system. Target 100mg twice daily.

Turmeric: If you follow me on social media (Facebook, Twitter), then you’ve heard me talk about turmeric before. Turmeric is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We can thank turmeric for protecting our mitochondria (thanks to its role in stimulating antioxidant properties), and it also improves glucose metabolism — both of which are essential for reducing one’s risk for brain disease. Try to get 350 mg twice daily.

Probiotics: Research conducted in just the last few years has started to conclude that eating food rich in probiotics can influence brain behavior, and may modulate the effects of stress, anxiety, and depression. In Grain Brain, I dive deeper into the relationship between probiotics and brain health, and today’s researchers are further exploring the role gut bacteria may play in maladies ranging from chronic pain to autism. Ideally, get your probiotics through a supplement that contains at least 10 billion active cultures from at least ten different strains, including lactobaccilus acidophilus and bifidobacterium.

Coconut Oil: If you follow this blog, you know I am a big fan of coconut oil and probably know why it’s an important part of our diet. It’s even a part of my anti-Alzheimer’s trio! Go for at least 1-2 tablespoons of an organic variety daily.

Alpha-lipoic Acid: Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that works to protect brain and nerve tissue. Look to get 600 mg/day. 

Vitamin D: I can’t say enough about the importance of Vitamin D, and that’s why I devote five pages to it in Grain Brain. To learn more, watch my video on the subject. It’s ideal to start with 5,000 units of Vitamin D3 daily, get tested after three months, and adjust accordingly.

As with any dietary/health changes, these are suggested guidelines only, and you should consult with your physician before making any changes to, or beginning, a supplement plan.

For more information, order your copy of Grain Brain today and join Dr. Perlmutter’s email list.

http://www.drperlmutter.com/grain-brain-seven-super-supplements/?hvid=2vNL2

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR ORAL CANCER

Oral cancer can form in any part of the mouth or throat . Most oral cancers begin in the tongue and in the floor of the mouth. Anyone can get oral cancer, but the risk is higher if you are male, over age 40, use tobacco or alcohol or have a history of  head or neck cancer. Frequent sun exposure is also a risk for lip cancer.

Symptoms of oral cancer include---White or red patches in your mouth, A mouth sore that won't heal, Bleeding in your mouth, Loose teeth, Problems or pain with swallowing, A lump in your neck, An earache

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

CARCINOSIM 1M- Start treatment with this remedy

ARSENIC IODIDE 3X- Epithelioma of the lips which is painful

CONDURANGO 3X- Tumors  on lips

CONIUM MACULATUM 30- Hard tumors on lips

OXALIS ACETOSELLA JUICE- Fresh juice of the plant applied locally on the cancerous growths of the lips destroy the cancer

PHYTOLACCA DEC. 30- Blisters on the sides of the  mouth with a fissure or a yellow patch in the middle of the lip. Pain in the lips during rains or exposure to cold and damp weather

SEPIA 6X- In epithelial cancer upon the lip which bleeds often and has a broad  base with burning pains, pricking as from a needle

STAHYSAGRIA 30- Soft tumors on lips

STRYCHNINE SULPHURICUM 30- This remedy should be given three times a day with a gap of three hours between two doses in cases of oral cancer

Compression Neuropathy I think A Personal Story

Today's post from ehlersdanloscontemplations.wordpress.com (see link below), is another personal story of life with one of the many forms of neuropathy. Experience has shown that readers like reading about other people's stories in this regard, so long as it's not too often and not a continuous pity-party. This article highlights the fear many people experience when they start to feel 'mysterious' neuropathic symptoms that can't easily be diagnosed. It goes on to reinforce the importance of having doctors that can not only diagnose and treat their patients but support them too. The old 'bedside manner' makes such a difference when the situation seems a little overwhelming.

Numbness, Compression Neuropathy, and Storytime
November 22, 2015 by Stephanie McManus

So, I want to tell you about the onset of a new problem I was dealing with this year. It was eventually diagnosed as compression neuropathy (in my hips). Basically, my ligaments in their looseness cause some sort of problem in my hips and impinge nerves from the base of the spine. I now lose feeling in my upper legs and up into the… bum, when I walk ‘long distances’ and then sit in a normal upright position.

The only relief I’ve found to prevent it from happening is to minimally, sit ‘normally,’ and to spend more time slightly reclined or standing or laying down. Not cool. Whenever I think, “no, I’m sure it’s fine and I’m going to vacuum and then cook and then walk the dog…” it comes back, and despite knowing what it is, I’ll admit, it disturbs me.

My neurologist at UW explained the compression, diagnosed a little vaguely as compression neuropathy, is caused by the hypermobility in my hips and repeated stretching of the ligaments followed possibly by responding muscle spasms. She did research on case studies with EDS patients with these symptoms prior to even seeing me, and she was able to narrow down the diagnosis. What?! It’s what we all hope for in a doctor, that they’ll do their ‘due diligence.’ I almost cried when she came in and knew what Ehlers-Danlos was and familiarized herself with the secondary complications we can develop. You’ll understand the tears of hope?… joy?…if you’ve been diagnosed. 

Anyway, I don’t notice a lot of this going on in my hips, because it’s normal for me and muscle spasms elsewhere feel more troublesome day-to-day. Plus, as I’m sure you’ll understand I start to tune-out sensations that interfere with ‘living life.’ You learn to survive this, and more than surviving, you eventually learn to live more often than survive. Or, always strive for it… every situation is different.

This troublesome, embarrassing, and potentially serious problem started in May of this year. I ignored it! (Don’t do that… ). In June, very ironically after a visit to the first doctor I could find after we needed to move to Washington for my husband’s job, I ended up in the ER. :sigh: My doctor was a whopping 2 hour situation to get to. I drove to Bremerton from our rental in Gig Harbor, rode on a ferry for 45 minutes, sat upright in a chair for an hour waiting for said appointment at a coffee shop, then walked a mile to the doctor’s office to then repeat this going back home.

On the ferry, of all places!, that’s when my legs up the inner thighs all the way into my lower back, and in-between, went completely numb. No feeling at all.

I called my doctor who told me to go straight to the ER. My husband was riding back on the ferry with me from his work in Seattle watching as I laid there unable to 1. panic, because there was nowhere to go or 2. talk, because I was shocked thinking it was the onset of something called cauda equina, an emergency that requires spinal surgery and can happen in EDS.

After many hours at the ER and imaging and a slightly freaked out looking doctor (that’s never a good sign), I was told they didn’t see evidence of cauda equina at this time, and I’m immensely grateful. That’s that, and you know the rest.

So, the point of my story is to illustrate you’re not alone in dealing with ‘mysterious symptoms,’ that eventually, hopefully, are figured out. Some things I deal with remain a mystery, and I’m okay with that right now, because I will keep pushing for a good team on my side when I can in-between living. We fight too hard for good care. But, it’s also important to keep fighting for good care. I got unbelievably lucky being pushed into an appointment with the top neurology clinic in the country. Lucky isn’t my normal, but look, it does happen!

A sad fact, I started experiencing this problem over a year and a half ago off and on. I’d previously been admitted to an ER in Oregon with the same symptoms. This is how I knew about the possibility of cauda equina. But, then, I had been summarily dismissed after the physician couldn’t see the problem on imaging, as if that doctor’s job was confined to diagnosis by MRI lacking any clinical insight. Well.

I’m happy I have such an intelligent and discerning doctor now. I know it will still be difficult because of the lack of awareness about EDS. I’ve continued to experience weakness in my legs and numbness, but I was told to expect it. The difference is I now have a plan and have been told when this could be a more serious problem, and how it will be handled.

Knowing you are cared for and looked over makes all the difference in the world. Right?

https://ehlersdanloscontemplations.wordpress.com/2015/11/22/numbness-compression-neuropathy-and-storytime/

New Drug Development May End Up Replacing Morphine

Today's post from sciencedaily.com (see link below) is an interesting new development in finding effective ways to block pain signals for people like neuropathy and cancer sufferers. New research has discovered new compounds which bind to specific molecules (opioid receptors) on nerve cells. Opioids do this already but we all know the dangers of opioids and addiction and the need for ever increasing dosages. These new compounds attach themselves to a different part of the nerve cell but work in the same way without the normal opioid side effects. That's the theory anyway and as with many of these promising developments, sometimes you wish they wouldn't tell us about them until they're almost in production. Getting patients' hopes up but then letting them wait for years can be demoralising in itself. However, it does sound very promising and this is an easy to read article even though it's looking at the science at a molecular level.

A Path to Lower-Risk Painkillers: Newly-Discovered Drug Target Paves Way for Alternatives to Morphine
This story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Michigan Health System June 10, 2013

 For patients managing cancer and other chronic health issues, painkillers such as morphine and Vicodin are often essential for pain relief. The body's natural tendency to develop tolerance to these medications, however, often requires patients to take higher doses -- increasing risks of harmful side effects and dependency.

Now, new research from the University of Michigan Health System and a major pharmaceutical company has identified a novel approach to moderate and severe pain therapy that paves the way for lower dosage painkillers. The findings appear in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Drugs such as hydrocodone (the main ingredient of Vicodin) and oxycodone (Oxycontin) are often the best options for the treatment of moderate to severe pain for patients facing medical conditions ranging from a wisdom tooth extraction to cancer. The drugs bind to specific molecules (opioid receptors) on nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to prevent the feeling of pain.

"We have for the first time discovered compounds that bind to an alternative site on the nerve opioid receptors and that have significant potential to enhance the drug's positive impact without increasing negative side effects," says co-author John Traynor, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology at the U-M Medical School.

"We are still in the very early stages of this research with a long way to go, but we believe identifying these compounds is a key step in revolutionizing the treatment of pain. This opens the door to developing pain relief medications that require lower doses to be effective, helping address the serious issues of tolerance and dependence that we see with conventional pain therapy."

Conventional drug treatments for pain work by targeting the so-called orthosteric site of the opioid receptor that provides pain relief. Targeting this site, however, is a double-edged sword because it is also responsible for all of the drug's unwanted side effects, such as constipation and respiratory depression. Tolerance also limits chronic use of the drugs because higher doses are required to maintain the same effect.

Using cell systems and mouse brain membranes, researchers have identified compounds that bind to a physically distinct and previously unknown "allosteric" site on the opioid receptor- a site that fine-tunes the activity of the receptor. Not only do these compounds act at a location that hasn't been studied as a drug target before but they bind to the receptor in a new way to enhance the actions of morphine -- which means lower doses can have the same impact.

"The newly-discovered compounds bind to the same receptor as morphine but appear to act at a separate novel site on the receptor and therefore can produce different effects. What's particularly exciting is that these compounds could potentially work with the body's own natural painkillers to manage pain," Traynor says.

"We know that conventional strong pain medications ultimately increase the risk of withdrawal symptoms and addiction, which is an especially serious issue with the current prescription drug abuse epidemic in our country. The implications of this work, if it translates to animal studies and then to humans, are highly significant to this area of study."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130610192553.htm

Chief Causes of Neuropathy

Today's post is the second of three articles this week, from footpaincenter.com (see link below) the blog of Dr. Marc Spitz, who has been featured on this blog before and has extensive experience of neuropathic foot problems. He has his own Foot Pain Center in California and although advertising is strongly discouraged on this blog (in the interests of objectivity), there is no arguing with Dr Spitz's information which can be very helpful for many neuropathy sufferers. If you wish to follow up on his site or any of the products he mentions, please copy and paste the link below.
In this clearly explained article, he lists the most common causes of neuropathy (there are more than a hundred in total). It's important to realise that although you may be HIV positive, your neuropathy may come from another source. Doctors often find it very difficult to establish the true cause, although problems like diabetes, or post-chemotherapy side-effects can be strong indicators.

Causes of Neuropathy-Let Me Count the Ways

Posted on May 6, 2012 by admin

Peripheral neuropathy is due to damage to the nerve cells and nerve fibers. Nerve can be damaged in two ways: The cover of the nerve, the myelin sheath, can be stripped away or the “tail” of the nerve, the axon, can be destroyed. Peripheral neuropathy is usually an acquired condition but in some cases it may be inherited.

Diabetic Neuropathies
Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. It is estimated that approximately 70 percent of all persons with diabetes develop some form of peripheral neuropathy.

Neuropathies Caused by Chemotherapy
The development of peripheral neuropathy following chemotherapy treatment is a fairly common occurrence. Chemotherapy agents that aggressively “attack” cancer cells often have a neurotoxic effect, damaging the nerve cells as well. The extent of nerve damage depends on the cumulative dose and the type of drugs used.

Neuropathy Caused by Spinal Problems
The nerves of the lower spinal column innervate the feet. Damage of the spinal column, causing spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine) or protruding vertebral discs can “pinch” the nerves of the spinal cord causing pain, burning, numbness and tingling sensations in the feet

Neuropathy Caused by Excessive Alcohol Intake
Prolonged and excessive use of alcohol will invariably have a toxic effect on the nerve tissue. Studies have shown that the incidence of alcoholics who develop peripheral neuropathy ranges from 25 to 50 percent. Nutritional deficiencies often associated with alcohol abuse can exacerbate neuropathy symptoms.

Neuropathies Caused by Toxins and Drugs
As noted previously, exposure to certain toxins such as arsenic, lead, mercury, thallium, chemical solvents and nitrous oxide, can cause nerve damage. Some insecticides may also cause peripheral neuropathies symptoms. Certain anticonvulsant, antiviral and antibiotic drugs man result in pain, burning, tingling and numbness.

Neuropathies Caused by Nutritional Imbalance
Deficiencies of vitamins B12 (cobalamin), B1(thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine) or vitamin E can cause peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Vitamin B12 plays an important role in neurologic function. It should also be noted that overuse of some vitamins may actually cause peripheral. This includes taking mega-doses of B6 and B12. Caution should also be used when taking higher doses of vitamin E as well, since this is a fat-soluble vitamin and can accumulate in the body’s tissue.

Neuropathies Caused by Infection
It is estimated that nearly one-third of people with HIV/AIDS experience peripheral neuropathy. Nerve damage can be caused by the medication, the actual virus or a combination of both.

Neuropathies Caused by Autoimmune Diseases
An autoimmune disease is a condition in which the immune system destroys or attacks its own bodily tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erthematosus and Guillian-Barre syndrome are autoimmune disease that is linked to peripheral neuropathy. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy(CIDP) is thought to be another form of this syndrome.

Neuropathies Caused by Cancer
Different types of cancers can have varying effects on nerves. Multiple myeolma is type of cancer that affects the plasma cells in the bone marrow. It can cause destruction to the axon part of the nerve cell. Certain blood cancers—chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma—can also cause peripheral nerve damage.

Neuropathy Caused by Hereditary Conditions:
Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the most commonly inherited neurological disorder. Damage to the nerves is caused by gene mutation.

Neuropathy Caused by Injury
Injury or excessive pressure on a particular nerve can result in nerve damage causing peripheral neuropathy symptoms. Carpal Tunnel and tarsal tunnel are common neuropathies as a result of injury or repetitive motion.

Idiopathic Neuropathies
Neuropathies in which no specific cause can be identified are called idiopathic neuropathies.

http://www.footpaincenter.com/blog/?m=201205

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR DIABETIC FOOT

If you have diabetes, your blood glucose, or blood sugar , levels are too high. Over time, this can damage your nerves or blood vessels. Nerve damage from diabetes can cause you to lose feeling in your feet. You may not feel a cut, a blister or a sore. Foot injuries such as these can cause ulcers and infections. Serious cases may even lead to amputation. Damage to the blood vessels can also mean that your feet do not get enough blood and oxygen. It is harder for your foot to heal, if you do get a sore or infection.

You can help avoid foot problems. First, control your blood sugar levels. Good foot hygiene is also crucial:-Check your feet every day,Wash your feet every day, Keep the skin soft and smooth, Smooth corns and calluses gently,If you can see, reach, and feel your feet, trim your toenails regularly. If you cannot, ask a foot doctor (podiatrist) to trim them for you.,Wear shoes and socks at all times,Protect your feet from hot and cold, Keep the blood flowing to your feet

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

SECALE COR 30- An excellent remedy for diabetic gangrene . Dry gangrene of toe. Dusky blue tinge. Skin feels cold to touch yet covering not tolerated. Warmth aggravation

ARSENICUM ALBUM 30- Diabetic gangrene. Burning and soreness , relieved by warmth. Fetid smell from the wound.  Restlessness.

APIS MELLIFICA 30-Spreading cellulitis with burning stinging pain. Sensitive. Blebs are seen

ANTIMONIUM CRUDUM 30- Callosities are seen. Dry gangrene

CARBO VEGETABIS 30- Carbuncles and boils  becomes gangrenous. Wet , purple and icy cold gangrene.Moist gangrene. There is great prostration

HEPAR SULPH 30- Blebs are seen. Very sensitive to touch

LACHESIS 200-Bluish purple surroundings around gangrene. Traumatic

RHUS TOX 30- Spreading cellulitis

SULPHURIC ACID-30- Blue and purple surroundings of the gangrene. Bleeding under the skin

THIOSINAMINUM 30-Specific for callosities. Dry gangrene

TARENTULA CUB 30- Painful and inflamed abscess with a tendency to gangrene

ECHINACEA Q- Emitting a foul smell from gangrene . 5 drops in a little of water every 2 hours . Externally wash with a Echinacea lotion. It  act as a cleaning and antiseptic agent.

Compression Neuropathies Vid

For those of you who are not so squeamish and like seeing parts of the body from the inside, today's Vimeo video (see link below), looks at the pathology of compression neuropathies. Compression neuropathy is basically nerve damage caused by trapped nerves due to injury, or diseases like arthritis, herniated discs etc. Once again, the results can feel like most neuropathies, with tingling,burning, movement impairment and pain but the difference is that if caught early enough, a compression neuropathy may be able to be reversed through surgical procedure.


2014 CRN – Compression Neuropathies
from Nerve Surgery Plus

Authors: Susan E. Mackinnon MD, Andrew Yee BS
Date: 3/12/2014

This presentation is part of the 2014 Comprehensive Review of Neurosurgery video lectures. Specifically, this presentation discusses compression neuropathies and includes topics of patient evaluation, thoracic outlet syndrome, ulnar nerve compression at the cubital tunnel and wrist, and median nerve compression in the forearm and wrist.





2014 CRN – Compression Neuropathies from Nerve Surgery on Vimeo.


Table of Contents
00:00:14 COMPRESSION NEUROPATHY
00:00:20 Types of Presentation
00:01:05 Histopathology
00:04:14 Progression of Compression Neuropathy
00:06:40 Double Crush Syndrome
00:07:24 PATIENT EVALUATION
00:07:47 Pain Evaluation
00:08:33 Peripheral Nerve Worksheet
00:09:47 Provocative Tests
00:11:47 Scratch Collapse Test
00:19:24 Sensory Examination
00:22:07 Rate of Recovery
00:24:27 THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME
00:24:44 Conservative Management
00:30:33 Surgical Management
00:35:15 CUBTIAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
00:35:27 Controversy of Cubital Tunnel Surgery
00:37:49 Patient Evaluation
00:43:58 Surgical Management
00:49:32 Post-operative Management
00:50:28 Transmuscular Transposition of Ulnar Nerve
00:54:55 Revision Transposition of Ulnar Nerve
00:59:36 Supercharge End-to-side Nerve Transfer
01:05:18 FDP Tenodesis
01:06:01 GUYON’S CANAL COMPRESSION
01:06:03 Guyon’s Canal Release
01:07:45 CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
01:08:38 Carpal Tunnel Release
01:12:28 Revision Carpal Tunnel Release
01:20:25 MEDIAN NERVE FOREARM COMPRESSION
01:21:00 Median Nerve Release in the Forearm

https://vimeo.com/89133743