Question
Friday I started experiencing pain in my left biceps like a "Charlie Horse" in the calf.  Thinking it could be medication related or possibly low Potassium from medication I started eating bananas with no relief.  The pain would change in intensity over time but never go completely away. Monday I left off a medication Vytorin, that has muscle pain as a primary side effect.  The pain got worse. Today, Tuesday I also have some numbness in the 3 center fingers on that hand (not thumb or pinkie).  I was going to leave off Cozaar today but found this site and read about similar problems in another person that was diagnosed as likely a pinched nerve or carpal tunnel.   I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel in the 70's.  This is very different.  Sometimes the arm pain is so severe as to be debilitating, even causing dizziness.  I also have been told in the past that I have arthritic changes in my spine at the neck.  (I'm a 50 year old white female)  I've never been to a Chiropractor and would appreciate advice on how to choose one.  I'm in Johnston, SC.  Thanks

Answer
Hello Callie,

pain in left arm, numbness, numb fingertips, neck arthritis, neck pain, osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease, pinched nerve, neuritis, radiculitis, carpal tunnel, dizzyness.

Sorry to hear of your aches and pains.  Sorry to hear of your previously diagnosed carpal tunnel problems.

First of all, LEFT arm; pain, numbness,,,,,,, red lights go off; any heart problems? heart been checked recently? are we content this is NOT cardiac related? Chest pain? Neck, jaw, midback pain? Females can have atypical symptoms during a heart attack or with cardiac problems. I think I would be remiss in not mentioning the potentiality of a cardiac involvement.  It is probably not cardiac related, but satisfy yourself and myself with appropriate evaluation that it is not cardiac.  You must have some kind of cardiac history given the medications you have mentioned.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Vytorin comments:  (From  http:www.mercola.com)

Vytorin Does "Zilch" for Heart Disease  
After finally hearing the full results of a failed trial of the cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin, leading doctors urged a return to older, tried-and-true treatments.

Vytorin failed to improve heart disease, even though it apparently worked as intended to reduce three key risk factors. Vytorin and the related drug Zetia have racked up $5 billion in sales despite limited proof of benefit.

Two Congressional panels launched probes into why it took drugmakers nearly two years after a study's completion to release results. The results, now finally released, show that the drug had "no result -- zilch. In no subgroup, in no segment, was there any added benefit" according to Dr. John Kastelein, the Dutch scientist who led the study.

Sources:
ABC News March 31, 2008

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/post.aspx?App=public_blog&PostID=59019&Subscribed=1
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Zetia, a cholesterol-lowering drug prescribed to about 1 million people each week, has no medical benefits, according to a trial by Merck and Schering-Plough.

While the pill does lower cholesterol by 15 percent to 20 percent, trials have not shown that Zetia reduces heart attacks or strokes, or that it reduces plaques in arteries that can lead to heart problems.

The current trial, which studied whether Zetia could reduce the growth of plaques, found that plaques grew nearly twice as fast in patients taking Zetia along with Zocor than in those taking Zocor alone.

Patients who took both Zetia and Zocor received it in the form of Vytorin, a pill that combines the medications.

Experts have called the results 搒hocking,?saying that Zetia should not be prescribed unless all other cholesterol drugs have failed.

The results also add to the controversy over Merck and Schering-Plough抯 delays in releasing them. The trial was completed in April 2006, with results scheduled to be released in March 2007. However, the companies missed several deadlines, and only agreed to release the results after media outlets focused on their continued delays.

Zetia and Vytorin account for about 20 percent of the cholesterol drugs on the U.S. market.
Sources:
New York Times January 14, 2008
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/01/31/popular-cholestero...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Cozaar comments:  (from  "Worst pills/ best pills - a consumers guide to avoiding drug induced death or illness"  by  Wolfe, MD; Sasich, Pharm.D.; Barbehenn, PhD.; etc  Simon & Schuster 2005)

p. 84  'The angiotensin receptor blocker COZAAR was compared to the ACE inhibitor CAPOTEN to assess their effect on patients survival in patients with heart failure.  CAPOTEN was found superior to COZAAR in improving survival in these elderly heart failure patients'
p 85  'you may feel dizzy'
p 82 recommended for limited use

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That information being publicly available as cited, here is a handout I utilize in my office for Carpal Tunnel:

揅arpal  Tunnel  Syndrome?CTS-

(Also Known As- repetitive stress syndrome) Sometimes  we  wake  up  with  pain and tingling in our hand, fingers  and/ or wrist. Sometimes working can cause the same symptoms,,, especially any REPETITIVE motions/ postures.  .... sometimes a slip, trip, fall, heavy lift, or even a motor vehicle accident can cause CTS (carpal tunnel).  Ultimately-  the true    c a u s e   of  the CTS (  = pain in the fingers, hand, wrist, sometimes even UP the forearm) is a 揇ouble Crush?  CTS is, in part, pressure on the median nerve in the wrist.  BUT,    CTS  usually has pressure somewhere else along the same nerve as well.  If both 慹nds?of the double crush are not properly treated, the CTS will not properly heal.  Besides nerve pressure in the wrist, perhaps there is a  慿ink?in the neck- more properly termed a Vertebral Subluxation.   Do not go just 1/2 way (and only treat the wrist) , treat the whole nerve to beat your CTS.               
              Vertebral   Subluxation   Complex    (a.k.a.  憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is often contributes to CTS and many other healthcare problems.  A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.

This   (subluxation)  is a serious condition identified by its five parts:
         Spinal   Kinesiopathology:
This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.

         Neuropathophysiology:
Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve system dysfunction can cause symptoms elsewhere in the body.

         Myopathology:
Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The resulting scar tissue changes muscle tone, requiring repeated spinal adjustments.

         Histopathology:
A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation. Discs can bulge, herniate, tear, or degenerate. Other soft tissues may suffer permanent damage.

         Pathophysiology:
The VSC contributes to OsteoArthritic degeneration. Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term nerve dysfunction can cause other systems of the body to malfunction.

The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.
         Automobile accidents, improper lifting, improper posture, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
          Vertebral  Subluxation   cannot   be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone.  Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular- mechanical- problem requires a mechanical correction-  -  -    a manipulation,     best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.  For good health- Treat the   Cause,  not just the Symptoms.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A similar handout explains neck joint degeneration:

Degenerative    Disk     Disease
DDD = Degenerative Disc Disease; DJD = Degenerative Joint Disease; = similar/ same OsteoArthritis.
Degenerative Disc Disease  (old term =  DJD) is  actually  a  quite  common  condition.   However,  the course of the condition is highly variable.   Some patients with DJD literally cannot walk, yet other patients with similar X-ray/ MRI findings may be able to run marathons or lift heavy weights.   Some people suffer for only a few days with pain and symptoms, some people suffer for months. Although the course is highly variable, there are certain steps that are always helpful to follow:  Ice the area when painful-  10/ 15minutes on, 30/ 45 minutes off;  avoid certain postures and movements;  bend the knees when coughing or sneezing;  bend the knees when lifting anything;  do not extend legs straight out when sitting, laying down, lifting, or driving.   Avoiding certain movements and postures will prevent aggravation of the condition.   Practicing good postures and movement patterns will help the condition heal and be less painful.  DDD, DJD,  OsteoArthritis, -  deteriorating discs (disk)   is/ are  often caused by,  or often  concurrent with the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.  VSC is a misalignment which hastens deterioration of the joints involved.

         Vertebral   Subluxation   Complex    (a.k.a.  憇ubluxation?
The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of joints, and can cause osteo-arthritic degeneration, Degenerative Disk Disease, degenerative joint disease, etc.
A subluxation interferes with the proper functioning of the nervous system (the master system which controls and coordinates all function within the body) and may cause various other conditions, symptoms and problems.
Subluxation  is  a  serious  condition  identified  by  its  five  parts:
    Spinal Kinesiopathology:
         This is fancy way of saying the bones of the spine have lost their normal motion and position. It restricts your ability to turn and bend. It sets in motion the other four components.
    Neuropathophysiology:
         Improper spinal function can choke, stretch, or irritate delicate nerve tissue. The resulting nerve  system  dysfunction  can  cause  symptoms  elsewhere  in  the  body.
    Myopathology:
          Muscles supporting the spine can weaken, atrophy, or become tight and go into spasm. The  resulting  scar  tissue  changes  muscle  tone,  requiring  repeated  spinal  adjustments.
    Histopathology:
         A rise in temperature from an increase in blood and lymph supplies result in swelling and inflammation.   Inflammed  Discs can easily bulge,  herniate,  tear,  or  degenerate.   Other  soft tissues  may  also  suffer  permanent  damage.
    Pathophysiology:
         The VSC contributes to  OsteoArthritic  degeneration.  Bone spurs and other abnormal bony growths attempt to fuse malfunctioning spinal joints. This spinal decay, scar tissue, and long-term  nerve  dysfunction  can  cause  other  systems  of  the  body  to  malfunction.

The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal movement patterns and position.  When subluxated, joints are in a stressed, vulnerable, compromised condition.  Subluxation may cause Arthritis, Disk Herniation, Disk Degeneration,  or aggravate such conditions.   
          Vertebral  Subluxation  cannot be corrected through chemicals (medicine), stretching, yoga, vitamins or physical therapy alone.     Subluxation- a neuro/skeletal/muscular-   mechanical-   problem  requires  a   mechanical correction-  -  -    a manipulation,     best performed with the chiropractic adjustment.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Just as an automobiles front end parts wear out faster when not in proper  alignment, so do our joints wear out faster when not properly aligned. Putting  premium expensive gas will not change the alignment. A mechanical correction is  needed for the mechanical problem.

People can misalign their joints many ways- traumatic sudden injury (ie sports,  car crash, slip, trip, fall), bad posture habits, poor movement patterns- these  cause misalignment, and cause pain. IF the patient takes chemicals to cover the  pain, the problem can progress (while feeling 'good' with the pain masked) with  further joint deterioration.

My recommendation would be to see the spinal specialist- the family Doctor of  Chiropractic that sees and treats spinal problems all day, every day. Have a  chiropractic evaluation, and if necessary, the chiropractic treatments for the  chiropractic spinal problem.

I would look for a Doctor of Chiropractic by asking my friends for recommendations, nothing is better than word of mouth, reputation, actual experience.  I would look for a Doctor with proof of additional training- such as diplomat status.  A website I might check out is http://www.lifechangingcare.com .

I hope this helps.

As always, this article is for informational purposes only. Education,
information and conversation only. For specific evaluation, DX, TX, RX, PX a  treating health professional should be consulted in person.

This is your Staten Island Chiropractor signing off and wishing you good luck  and good health naturally.

Thanks,

Victor Dolan, DC
http://www.DocDolan.net
http://www.GoodHealthNaturally.info
http://drvictordolan.chiroweb.com (email newsletter)