By now, everyone’s seen the news about the Fungal Meningitis “outbreak” in the US. What’s only recently coming to light is how all these people became infected, and what the source is.  According to the CDC, over 13,000 people were injected with a drug called preservative-free methylprednisolone acetate (we’ll call it PFMA for short). This is a steroid that’s injected into the body to relieve pain. It is most commonly injected into the spine for low back pain, but has also been used on other joints (knees, shoulders, etc.).  So far, the only people who have died are people who’ve been injected in their spine. 

So what makes this so dangerous?  Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. In these cases, infected PFMA was injected directly into the spinal cord and was able to travel up to the brain.  If the people getting the injection had weakened immune systems due to illness, or antibiotic use, their bodies may not be able to fight off the fungal infection, causing swelling in and around the brain.  So far, at least 14 people have died and many more are very ill.  Several have even had strokes as a result of the meningitis. One compounding factor is that steroids by their nature decrease your immune system’s ability to fight off infection. So people are directly exposed to a fungus and an immune suppressant all at the same time.

What are the symptoms? Many people experience fever, headache, nausea and vomiting and think they have the flu. But, other symptoms include stiff neck, sensitivity to light (and possibly sound) and altered mental state. The only way to definitively diagnose meningitis is with a spinal tap. That’s where the doctor takes a sample of the cerebrospinal fluid from around the spinal cord and has it tested.

How is it treated? Most cases are treated with multiple, long courses of antifungal medications given intravenously in a hospital. How many courses a person requires depends on their immune system health and the type of fungus causing the infection.

Is there a way to prevent fungal meningitis? Yes and no.  Fungal Meningitis is not typically caused by any particular activity, but by being around an airborn fungus and having a weakened or altered immune system.  In this “outbreak” the only way to have prevented exposure was not to get the injection.

Is there another way to deal with back pain without an injection?  Absolutely!  Some people find relief through over the counter or prescription medication, although, those come with their own side effects. Others use Acupuncture or natural remedies to treat the symptoms. Many cases of back pain are caused by the vertebrae in the low back or hips being out of alignment, or by muscle spasms in the low back.  These are conditions that can be treated by a licensed Chiropractor and a Certified Massage Therapist. Chiropractic and Massage Therapy are non-invasive techniques to relax the muscles and re-align the spine.

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/outbreaks/meningitis.html
http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/fungal.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungal_Meningitis#Fungal_meningitis

Plantar Fasciitis affects approximately 2 million Americans a year.  Typical symptoms include pain upon standing, especially with the first steps of the day, heel pain, decreased range of motion, and even knee pain. 

Plantar Fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue that runs the length of the bottom of the foot, and is usually caused by standing for long periods of time.  If left untreated, bone spurs can form at the attachment point of the fascia on the heel.  The bone spurs are typically what cause the heel pain. 

There are many treatments for Plantar Fasciitis, including Massage, rest, Heat therapy, orthodics, anti-inflammatories, and as a last resort, surgery.  Unfortunately none of these address the cause of the fasciitis. 

The "keystone" of the foot is the Talus bone.  When the talus is in place, the bones in the foot stay in alignment.  If the talus shifts out of place, the rest of the bones in the foot can move.  Frequently, when the talus shifts, the calcaneus (heel bone) also shifts.  When the calcaneus moves, it pulls the plantar fascia tight across the bottom of your foot.  Then, as you walk, the weight of your body on the pulled fascia causes pain. 

A Chiropractor trained in extremities adjusting can adjust the bones in your ankle and foot to return the talus and calcaneus to their original positions, taking the pressure off of the plantar fascia.  When the fascia is no longer stretched, the pain goes away.

After watching Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, I've decided to do a 10 day juice fast.  I figure it's a great way to cleanse the system, get a jump start on my healthier life, and maybe even a good way to drop a couple pounds.  I also thought I'd blog about my progress, any ups or downs, tips, and good recipes that I find along the way. So, here goes!
Breakfast today was supposed to be a carrot, cucumber, lime combination which sounded great!  Then, I realized I'm out of cucumber... So, I swapped the cucumber for celery and added a pear for extra sweetness.  Turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.  I'm still eager to try the carrot, cucumber, lime combo, so I'm hitting the grocery store this afternoon.  Here's the recipe (with my modifications):

2-3 carrots (depending on size)
3 stalks of celery
1 pear
1/2 lime

It turned out pretty well, although it's not a large amount of juice (about 20 ounces).  I think an extra pear would've helped - that flavor got lost among the other 3.  So, more experimentation, and another recipe for lunch!

Lunch juice - A new favorite!!
2 cups watermelon
3 apples (I did 2 Rome, 1 Granny Smith)
1/2 Lime

I can get about 2 hours on a glass of juice before I start getting really hungry again.  So my mid-afternoon snack is:
3 lettuce leaves
2 carrots
2 apples
6 strawberries
Result?  Should've added more strawberry!  The lettuce flavor came through a bit strong.  And one of the best ways to introduce a new juicing element, is mixed in with more palatable flavors.  Will have to re-vamp that one :)

Dinner was a big batch, since my juicer is at work, I wanted to make sure I brought enough home with me.
3 carrots
1 cucumber (peeled)
5 celery stalks
3 apples
1 lime
I ended up with about 32 ounces of juice, which was just about right!  Even had a little left over to get me through this morning (day 2) till I could get to work and juice.  Stay tuned!