Question
Hi:
I have head this problem for the last 20 years. I have severe neck and back head pain which subsides when i take Ibuprofen or other pain killers. The pain is usually unbearable early mornings after a good night sleep. I most certainly get this pain in the morning after having sex during the night. The pain sometimes subsides in hours, sometimes gets longer times. I don't have other problems with it like temperature or dizziness or feel vomiting. I do have gout pain in my left foot toe for the last 20 or so years, a dull pain which has not totally gone; i feel discomfort walking in slippers for longer distances. I am 56 and slightly overweight; an engineer by profession; spend time in office most of the time. job is not tension free. but the pain is not tension related. Use glasses +3 for reading +1 for distance vision. No sugar. Please advise. Hidayatullah Khan

Answer
Dear Hidayatullah,

I obviously recommend that you see a chiropractor for this.  Chiropractors are highly effective in eliminating neck pain especially when it is chronic.  I would additionally recommend that you check out this website:  www.idealspine.com

Why, because I often see patients with symptoms just as you have described, whose spinal biomechanics (proper motion) have been altered due to their spinal position in relation to gravity.  This is usually due to a loss of the cervical curve, and as an engineer, you should understand these structural abberations quite well when they are explained.  This is because the spine qualifies as a rigid body and therefore is subject to the properties of mechanical engineering.

Pay special attention to these pages on the website:

http://www.idealspine.com/pages/cbp_technique.htm
http://www.idealspine.com/pages/new_cbp_protocol_of_care_reprint.htm
http://www.idealspine.com/pages/research.htm

Now in relation to the gout in your toe, this is actually pretty easy to control.  Gout is caused by either an overproduction of uric acid or the diminished ability to eliminate it (a deficiency in purine metabolism), or even a combination of both.  When uric acid levels become too high, gout occurs as uric acid crystallizes and accumulates in the joints.  This is usually associated with rich, heavy diets and overindulgence in alcohol.  Recent studies have also linked gout with insulin resistance.  To control this situation, limit the intakes of red meat, red wine, and cheese...  But most importantly, eliminate drinks that are diuretic in nature such as (coffee, tea, soda's) because loss of fluid will make it worse. You need to keep as hydrated as possible.

Medical management of gout is often the prescriptive use of allopurinol or colchicine, but these are only mildly effective.  The best management of gout is found in your local health food store or supermarket. Drink PURE BLACK CHERRY JUICE and it will eliminate pain in 2-3 days.  You can purchase black cherry juice in concentrated form as well, so that you can just mix with water.  Do not buy a sweetened form.  Drink 16 ounces a day for a few days and the pain should be gone.

Hope this helps your understanding and options Hidayatullah.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net