Received. lab results and the sedimentation rate was 6. The range given was 1-15. This test indicates the presents of inflammation. Would have liked to be able to compare this recent lab to a previous but learned that the rheumetologist never ran this test. I guess that confirming the presence of a disease is not all that important after all. I find that very odd considering my blood was drawn every month to check for liver problems and was asked repeatedly if I had a persistent cough (tuberculosis) or mouth sores. The rheumetologist never mentioned the possibility of painful sores in the nose or flu symptoms on a daily basis. All these are the results of the drugs completely disabling the immune system to turn of the symptoms which are the body trying to tell the doctor to treat the cause. It doesn't appear that medicine has progressed beyond "blood letting" or drilling holes in skulls to release the problem. We just have a less messy and much more profitable system in this century. In 1998 Dr. Brown stated in "The Road Back" that Americans were spending 6 billion dollars annually for Arthritis treatment. How much more now?
I daydream about every individual who is looking at a lifetime of trying to enjoy life with Arthritis and imagine each of them discovering that there is a life without it. The impact on that person is profound. I did not see myself getting past 65 before I read this book and started treating my Arthritis the right way. Probably would have been a flu victim, or tuberculosis, MRSA or dead by any number of infections. Never again will I let someone state "autoimmune disorder" without talking about it. It makes absolutely no sense that a persons body would throw the immune system into overdrive unless there is an infection present to activate it.
My dentist referred me to a Physical Therapist who specializes in head and neck rehabilitation. The dentist always notes my jaw issues and stated that jaw and neck problems are related. I didn't get excited about it but made the appointment. Three of my healthcare professionals including this new PT are in their second career. They have each taken the knowledge and experience from their first career and applied it to healthcare. The best care I have received has been from these providers. I believe there is something to this trend.
Amazingly, I have results from one appointment. We had an anatomy lesson about all the small reflex muscles closest to the spine, the reasons for spinal curvature, posture, whiplash injuries etc. He put the disc on the left side of my jaw back in place, performed some manual therapy on my neck, gave me some great tips on working at a computer and just a few take home items. Wednesday evening I could feel that "workout pain" in my neck but slept better than I have in years. Funny thing, this former mechanical engineer has been in the same building as the neurologist I have been seeing for six years. MRI's, pain meds, anti-sezuire meds etc. were the treatment while I walked right past the help to spend a lot of money and time that I cannot get back. Living in pain changes a person and not always in the sense of making you stronger. Yeah, to tolerate pain! The other changes are not good except that you have unlimited empathy for others in pain.
I highly recommend a new documentary titled "Food Matters". Watched it just the other night on Netflix. All the statistics about health, disease and especially deaths related to the proper use of prescription drugs has me looking toward a raw food diet. Maybe not forever but to get a fresh start at life while cleaning the arthritis out of my body. Taking my 40% off coupon to Borders today for a David Wolfe book.
