Medical Treatments For Your Good Health

Are you willing to pay extra for treatments that your insurance does not cover? Whether it is conventional medical therapy or alternative treatment, it can be hard to know what to do. Two free, nonprescription treatments, prayer and meditation, are tops in alternative treatments patients use. Why? Because it works. So why aren't more doctors recommending it along with all the other treatments? Why does conventional treatment get first choice?

Massage, acupuncture and other alternative modalities can be just as effective with better results, less side effects. Treatments and medicines used over 2000 years ago on Eastern medicine are often dismissed and discouraged as fist line treatments. Evidence based studies is the buzzword for medical treatments that works best today. Drug trials done over a few months to years take precedence over tried and true alternative treatments from thousands of years ago.

One size does not fit all. Treatments must be customized to each patient. This takes careful history taking, physical exam, in conjunction with other tests - conventional and alternative. All aspects of medical treatment must be respected and offered to patients so they can make a fully informed medical decision.

Even more discouraging is that health insurance covers any alternative treatments. For a person with a chronic conditions like arthritis, insurance will cover addictive potent pain medications when routine massages and/or acupuncture and/or routine physical therapy offer better pain control, and ongoing daily function.


If drug dependence to the point of drug addiction occurs, treatment is covered by insurance over non addicting complimentary treatment even though rehabilitation for addiction will incur extra cost and suffering for the patient.  What began as arthritis pain can turn into drug dependence and adverse reactions with other side effects that may require rehabilitation or more drugs.  This can add at least two or more new diagnoses for the patient which may require some self pay in addition to insurance coverage.


Seek out other therapies for your diagnosis.  Many chronic conditions can be helped with proper diet, exercise, prayer, etc.  The healing activity must be continuous and maintained routinely to get good results.  Good lifestyle changes should be incorporated into daily life.  As one learns to take pills daily so can one learn healthy routines that improve their quality of life.  Best health!

Money and Your Medication

The 2015 United States median income was $56,516.  This is $4719  a month.  After taxes this is approximately $3140 for basic living expense including rent/ mortgage, utilities, food, clothing, healthcare, insurances (home. car, health, etc.), transportation, taxes, and miscellaneous.  Ten percent, $314, could be the price of one medicine you need.  If one of your medication cost this much it is one-tenth of your income.  If you are one other medication , you could be paying as much as 20% just for medication. 
Are you having concerns that your $314-a-month medicine your doctor just prescribed is unaffordable? Is it worth it to overextend your budget?  Can you really afford it?  Do you really need it?  What else must you think about cutting back on?  These are just a few of the thoughts that run through a patient's mind when faced with the dilemma of high prescription prices.  A bigger concern is if the medicine will work and make them better.  If it does not they are possibly sicker plus out of money to pay for the medicine and treatments that do work.


Long gone are the days when patients take everything the doctor gives them or says to them as the final say.  Patients have become more empowered in all ways, but especially with health information.  Once diagnosed you can look up almost everything on your diagnosis including medicine side effects, new treatment options, and even an actual surgical procedures. Multiple treatment options are available that may work better than just prescription or non-prescription medication at much less cost.


When you get that expensive over-your-budget medication, discuss it with your doctor before you get price shell shock at the pharmacy counter.  Many doctors have access to medication prices, and may be able to prescribe something affordable within your budget that will help you.  If you have access to Internet while at your appointment, you can look it up via your local pharmacies website, and/or drug price check websites.  Discuss this and other alternative integrative treatment options with your doctor to find what works best for you and your pocketbook.  Best health!

Nootropic Neurological Nonsense - Limitless?

Are you looking for mind bending treatment that will make you smarter as well as more mentally and physically efficient?  The neurochemical nootropics, the so-called "smart drugs", are finally getting the recognition they deserve. Though medical evidence is inconclusive, these drugs supposedly improve every aspect of mental cognition including memory, concentration, acuity allowing for smarter, quicker human function.  It sounds like a sure bet for anyone with Alzheimer's disease, ADD, and just pure laziness. They are commonly taken to keep one alert, increase energy, improve memory, and to decrease mental decline in aging.

So why is your doctor failing to offer you such a great "pick-me-up" medication?  Considered both a natruceutical dietary herbal supplement and recreational drug may make it difficult for your doctor to prescribe it for you.  But who needs a prescription? Premium prices for bulk amounts are available for the consumer patient to buy on line, and in specialty stores.  For instance $25 will buy you 120 of Piracetam's mega 800 mg capsules, or 60 tablets of BrainAlert with it's 24 "natural" ingredients (far too many for one pill, some toxic). Designer versions of nootropics are available also.  These are usually more recreationally formulated with less exact ingredients.

Side effects and adverse reactions including drug addiction may occur especially if the drug is withdrawn after long term use.  For this reason alone, doctors may be hesitant to prescribe it; however, it is easily available elsewhere.   The off-label recreational use of nootropics can be especially dangerous if addiction occurs.  You may be and feel "superpowered" until the drug wears off and withdrawal sets in if you lack more pills.

Upgrading your body and mind with smart pills can be productive or destructive. Can this nootropic neurological nonsense be "limitless"?

NOTE: For more context and perspective watch the brilliant film Limitless which shows how a writer achieves success and riches using nootropics.

Health Books: Must Read Healing, Part 2

Health literacy is the sure way to help you and your health care team make the best medical decisions for you. Making healthy lifestyles permanent is one of the keys to good health. The following books are recommended primarily because they teach you things you can do for yourself that you can incorporate in your lifestyle to make it healthier.

Barney & Baby Bop Go to the Doctor
by Margie Larson

Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom
by Christiane Northrup M.D.

The Medical Advisor: Complete Guide to Alternative & Complimentary Treament
by TIME Life Books

Dr. Koop's Self Care Advisor
by Everett C. Koop, M.D.

Merck Manual
by Merck

Savvy Patient Toolkit
by Margo Corbett


The Empowered Patient
by Elizabeth Cohen

Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide
by J. L. Richardson, M.D.

Best health!

Health Books: Must Read Healing, Part 1

Health literacy is the sure way to help you and your health care team make the best medical decisions for you. Making healthy lifestyles permanent is one of the keys to good health. The following books are recommended primarily because they teach you things you can do for yourself that you can incorporate in your lifestyle to make it healthier.

The Healing Power Of Prayer: The Surprising Connection Betweeen Prayer & Your Health
by Chester L. Tolson, Ph.D. and Harold G. Koenig, M.D.

Food as Medicine: How to Use Diet, Vitamins, Juices and Herbs for a Healthier, Happier and Longer Life
by Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.

Prescription for Herbal Healing
by Phyllis A. Balch, CNC

Spontaneous Healing
by Andrew Weil, M.D.

The Doctor and the Word
by Reginald Cherry, M.D.

Healing Words: The Power of Prayer & the Practice of Medicine
by Larry Dossey, M.D.

20 Minute Yoga Workouts
by America Yoga Foundation & Alice Christensen (founder)

Home Health Massage
by Wendy Kavanagh

Take Charge of Your Hospital Stay: A Start Smart Guide for Patients & Caregivers
by Karen Keating McCann

Power Healing: The Four Keys To Energizing Your Body, Mind, & Spirit
by Dr. Zhi Gang Sha

Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide
by J. L. Richardson, M.D.

Best health!

What You Would Like to Hear From Your Doctor Parody

It's so good to read the truth at last! Would you like to hear your doctor tell you these things?

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it.. Don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q:Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all.. Wine is made from fruit.
Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain.
Bottoms up!

Q:How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q:What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is : No Pain..Good!

Q:Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!
.... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy?
HELLO
Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. And remember:

'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride' AND....

For those of you who watch what you eat , here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION:
Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Health Insurance Update

Health insurance companies are overcharging again! Treatment for medical illness that helps patients is consistently ignored and unapproved. Paying an additional $360 per month to get what you need in addition to your $1000 monthly premium is obtusely extreme. Many drugs used have potential for serious life threatening complications, yet health care providers continue to be pill pushers ignoring reports of better results with alternative treatments. The cost of the medicine may be one-fourth the price in dollars and more deadly, but it is the approved standard of care.

Earnings for the health insurers poured in recently revealing huge profits, earnings, and executive compensation packages. A good chunk of patients' health insurance premiums surely helped this cause as well as that of the lobbyists and uninsured. Health care reform measures that may help patients insurance costs will not kick in for who knows how long - anywhere from one year to four years or more. The patient will be unable to dodge the bullet shooting another increase because it was a fact before health care reform was more than radar blip on the national agenda.

How much longer will patients be ignored and treated so casually by the very people who are supposed to be helping them, healing them, taking them from cradle to grave in a dignified manner?

How much longer will patients be forced to suffer in silence and pain from their diseases while drug companies and health insurance entities continue to prosper in such an adverse environment?

How much longer will patients have to choose between a meal or a pill?

by J.L. Richardson, M.D

Author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide
www.mypatienthandbook.com/

Read excerpts on google Books www.bit.ly/aTBrEN

Some Doctors Miss the Mark

For the past few years I have seen pain management specialists for chronic pain. Seeking relief after many, many years has indeed been a challenge. Each time I was referred to a pain management specialist for the neck and back pain (from arthritis and herniated discs), treatments offered were medicine (especially samples of new stuff), and invasive procedures like epidural spinals and trigger point injections. Alternative treatment was rarely offered, and if so was limited to 20-30 minutes physical therapy sessions for about six weeks every few years, upon my request.

Fortunately, my neurosurgeons saw the light. In efforts to achieve pain control and maintain function without surgery, other treatments such as massage and acupuncture were recommended. Sadly enough, these choices are not covered by my insurance. I am still waiting for over a year now for approval and payment for long term treatment (which works) instead of six weeks.

Even though some doctors miss the mark, there are others who are on the mark. As a savvy patient you must always recognize this. You have choices even if you must pay for medical services you need out of your pocket. It is a tough choice, but the best for your health. If there is something you need that is not covered by your insurance, you have choices. Make the one best for you, especially if your doctor misses the mark.


by J. L. Richardson, MD, family medicine doctor, patient advocate and author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.

Read excerpts at Google Books http://books.google.com/books?id=kPmXiNrg1pYC&printsec=frontcover&dq=patient+handbook+to+medical+care

www.twitter.com/MD4U

Marijuana for Pain: Up Close & Personal

Such a timely question, medical cannabis. I live in a state that has all but decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Police may write tickets and confiscate, but even that minimal enforcement is rarely performed.

While I empathize with my cohorts with a variety of pain issues, I can only speak from my own experiences, so here's my first person perspective.

I was in the music business in Nashville when it became known as the "Third Coast" in the early-mid 1980s. Drugs were everywhere. The same people who smoked dope were into exotic highs like mushrooms, and then cocaine swept over us like a wave. Not wanting to raise my daughters in that environment, I left - the business, and the state.

Having been in the environment, I am one who unfailingly believes that marijuana is indeed often a "gateway drug" to more hard core substances - but for a different reason. The people I saw moving on to harder substances were a personality type - those who pushed the envelope. Perhaps for some it is the thrill of living dangerously, i.e. breaking a law, rather than the effect of the drug. I honestly
don't think I ever met anyone who suffered withdrawal symptoms from either being without a supply of pot, or from discontinuing it cold turkey.

Alcohol and tobacco are legal, controlled and taxed. There is an expectation that the ingredients (including the toxic ones) are of a consistent strength and character. Not so with illegal cannabis, which may be laced with angel dust or rat poison for that matter. No two highs are the same, or so I'm told.

The fact that there is no guarantee of safety or consistency, nor a legal way for me to try cannabis medicinally (and that I obey the speed limit when no one is watching) prevents me from experimenting. But some nights the painful systemic neuropathy drives me to the very brink of sanity.

With liver function tests consistently out of normal range, I'm in a terrible place for pain control: I have none. Neuroleptic drugs like gabapentin are notoriously hepatotoxic. Hydrocodone/apap or stronger narcotic/acetaminophen combinations are not only not effective for neuropathic pain, the acetaminophen is contraindicated in the presence of suspected or confirmed liver disease. So is alcohol.

I'm not aware of any research indicating cannabis in liver disease.

Medical cannabis can be delivered through smokeless methods, important to folks with respiratory disease. I've read that atomized cannabis is particularly effective and I'd love to try it, prescribed and monitored by my physician. Surely it would be safer pain control than the corticosteroid that only helps a little.

I've been a good Doo-Bee. I passed up the pipe, the rolled dollar bill, the magic mushrooms, and the Jack Daniels bottle under significant peer pressure. I'm so careful with my prescribed pain medications that I'm considered "narcotic naive". I've had surgical pain interventions, but there is no rhizotomy for systemic neuropathy.

Would it be too much to ask my government to permit me compassionate use of a natural substance to alleviate the pain that prevents me from being the person I can be?

Rachel Rosenfeld
http://www.twitter.com/NanaRCR

Thanks to guest blogger Rachel Rosenfeld for this great post on medical marijauna as it relates to her personal health issues. Medical research by doctors has shown it to be effective for safe treatment of pain and many other medical conditions that have been failed by traditional medication (including Marinol pills). Legalizing marijuana will have a great positive impact on patient comfort and quality of life.

Treatment - Alternative & Conventional

With all the controversy surrounding whether a child with cancer should have conventional chemotherapy or alternative treatment, it can be hard to know what to do. Prayer and meditation are tops in alternative treatments patients use. It works. So why aren't more doctors recommending it along with all the other treatments? Why does conventional treatment get first choice?

Massage, acupuncture and other alternative modalities can be just as effective with better results, less side effects. Treatments and medicines used over 2000 years ago on Eastern medicine are dismissed and discouraged as fist line treatments. Evidence based studies is the buzzword for medical treatments that works best today. Drug trials over a few months to years take precedence over tried and true alternative treatments.

One size does not fit all. Treatments must be customized to each patient. This takes careful history taking, physical exam, in conjunction with other tests - conventional and alternative. All aspects of medical treatment must be respected and offered to patients so they can make a fully informed medical decision.

Even more discouraging is that health insurance rarely covers any alternative treatments. For a person with a chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis, insurance will cover addictive potent pain medications when routine massages and/or acupuncture and/or routine conventional physical therapy offer better pain control, and ongoing daily function. Drug addiction is covered by insurance over non addicting complimentary treatment even knowing that rehabilitation for addiction will incur extra cost and suffering for the patient.

What do you choose? Are you willing to pay extra for treatments that your insurance does not cover?

by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.


http://www.mypatienhandbook.com/
www.twitter.com/MD4U
www.blogtalkradio.com/drjfpmd

Medical Marijuana

Medicinal uses of marijuana prove beneficial to patients especially those with cancer, pain, AIDS, MS, glaucoma, and many more chronic non terminal illnesses. Like so many forms of alternative and complimentary medical treatments, it has been viewed with lots of controversy and skepticism because studies have also shown it to be harmful. Is this unlike any other medicine that is legal? Really, no.

As controversial as it may be, it is legal in some states for medicinal use. How can this be fair? Who gets to decide who gets a cannabis prescription to "take as directed whenever for whatever"? The state of Ohio is currently considering the Ohio Medical Compassion Act which would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. The title of the act itself is a testament.

Other things to consider in making marijuana legal: decrease drug related crimes; decrease money spent on drug crimes; give farmers a moneymaking crop (as pot and hemp).

If it were legal and taxed, it would be a high healing crime reduction money maker.