Answering Questions

I have not been faithful to my readers. My internet has been down for over 3 weeks because some workmen moved our satellite dish, and I haven't taken the effort to read the comments and questions to these blogs for a while through other sources. My internet is now working again! I was so excited last night to log on after the man came and fixed the satellite! And to think that 20 years ago I didn't even know what the internet was. It is quite amazing how quickly new technology becomes engrained in our culture so that what was once non-existant is now a necessity.


I have now resolved to write something, large or small, on this blog at least once a week. Now the world can see how well I am able to keep my resolutions! This there are many questions that deserve an answer. I will work on answering them to the best of my knowledge.





How would I find someone who provides the following therapies you suggested for CRPS/RSD? -- hydrogen peroxide intravenously, ultraviolet blood irradiation, specific frequency input, such as colored light, infrared therapy, low level laser therapy, magnetic therapy, and FMS (frequency specific microcurrent. My symptoms are getting worse and I would like to try some of these therapies.Thanks.


This is not an easy answer. I doubt there are very many physicians or other health practitioners who do all of these therapies. Physicians who utilize some of the practices often do not advertise them because they are not considered standard of care by the general medical community. The following are several sources for physicians who use treatments that are scientifically sound but "outside the box." Many of these organizations have been around a long time and base their treatments on scientific research, but are not necessarily accepted by mainstream medical physicians. Other physicians do not maintain long-term membership in these organizations and therefore may not be on their lists but still utilize the therapies according to protocol. However, be aware that there are also practitioners who use therapies that are not scientifically sound and, though rarely, harmful. It will take due diligence on your part to locate, call, question if they do the therapy and their training in it, to be able to find the practitioner or practitioners that will assist you the most.


The American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM); http://www.acam.org/
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM); http://www.aaemonline.org/
American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA); http://www.holisticmedicine.org/
Cranial Academy; http://www.cranialacademy.com/
American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO); http://www.academyofosteopathy.org/
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP); http://www.naturopathic.org/
American Academy of Chiropractic Physicians (AACP); http://www.aacp.net/
International Hyperbaric Medical Association (IHMA); http://www.hyperbaricmedicalassociation.org/
International Oxidative Medicine Association; http://www.healthy.net/othersites/farr/ioma/about.htm
International Society for Neurofeedback and Research (ISNR); http://www.isnr.org/
Klinghardt Academy of Neurobiology; www.klinghardtneurobiology.com

You can also go to http://www.locateadoctor.com/ and put in the procedure you are looking for, with results such as for low level laser therapy: http://www.locateadoc.com/doctors/low-level-laser-therapy-cold-laser-therapy.html.


And as always, you can Google the procedure along with physicians, and various sources will come up. Good luck!!






So can biofeedback release trauma? What has to happen in the brain or body for trauma release to be complete - or stop releasing?

"Trauma release" is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The body is reacting to triggers that sub-consciously remind it of the trauma that was previously experienced. The brain gets stuck in that trauma, creating a loop that keeps the brain from working through and letting go of that trauma. It keeps re-living the trauma, either sub-consciously, which often creates physical symptoms, through dreams, or through "abreactions," which is a "release, or acting out, of repressed trauma." This is often in the form of a "waking dream," in which the person feels like they are actually in the middle of the trauma once again. A softer form is repetitive physical symptoms, such as tremors, ticks, pain in specific areas related to the trauma, etc.

Neurofeedback has been proven to improve symptoms due to post-traumatic stress disorder. See the video related to treatment of veterans with PTSD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IavubNlq1as. For information on neurofeedback treatments along the Wasatch front in Utah go to http://www.vanguardbiofeedback.com/ or call 1-877-870-BRAIN. Also see www.isnr.org for further research.


More answers coming in the next blog.

Until we meet again,

Dr. Judi

Trauma and the Brain

True love is often carved into a tree because the scar created in the bark will last forever. A couple can return years later and still find their proclaimed love visible for all to see.

Many of us have scars in our skin from childhood cuts and scrapes, or more serious burns or trauma.

But severe trauma, both emotional and physical, can create deeper scars that change the brain and can create chronic physical and/or emotional problems.

For a long time, scientists considered the brain unchanging after a certain age. However, newer research shows that the brain can create new brain cells and change nerve cell connections up until death. The changes are slower with age, but with the right stimulation changes can take place. This is called neuroplasticity.

When we experience physical or emotional trauma, the neural connections in the brain can change so there is a "brain scar," meaning that trauma becomes imprinted in the brain connections and the emotions and/or body keeps reacting as if it is in that trauma.

Consider the millions of inputs into your high-tech computer called the brain. If any of the imputs are flawed through "scarring" of the nervous system, then some of the output may also be flawed. The output may feel very real, and may even cause physical changes, but it is simply a result of the flawed neural input and output.

With emotional trauma, such as abuse, an accident that causes an acute fear of dying, war experiences, sudden death of a loved one, etc., the brain can go into a pattern that keeps reliving that trauma. Sometimes the reliving can be subconscious, resulting in panic attacks. Other times the person is conscious of constantly experiencing the trauma through thoughts, dreams, or "abreactions," which is a flashback of the trauma that actually feels like the person is experiencing it again. This is called post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

With physical trauma, such as a painful accident, surgery, or even dental procedures, a very low level pathologic impulse can affect the nervous system, and may reflex out at the same or a different level through the brain and autonomic nervous system. This can result in chronic pain, organ dysfunction, or at times an extreme dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

"I sprained my ankle Dec. 14, 2007 and was diagnosed with RSD/CRPS. I am now 7 1/2 months post-injury and am dealing with the terrible pain of this condition. I would like to know what you know about this condition. "

RSD/CRPS is a chronic, painful and progressive neurological syndrome characterized by severe burning pain, pathologic changes in the skin, muscle and possibly bone, excessive sweating in the area of problem, tissue swelling and extreme sensitivity to touch. The syndrome usually develops in an injured limb, such as a broken leg, or following surgery. However, many cases of RSD involve only a minor injury, such as a sprain. And in some cases, no precipitating event can be identified. The pain becomes disproportionate to the inciting event. There may or may not be evidence of actual nerve injury. Pain may begin in one area or limb and then spread to other limbs.

Millions of people in the United States may suffer from this chronic pain syndrome. RSD/CRPS affects both men and women, and also occurs in children. It can occur at any age, but usually affects people between the ages of 40 and 60 years. RSD/CRPS appears to involve the complex interaction of the sensory, motor, and autonomic nervous systems, and the immune system. It is thought that brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) control over these various processes is somehow changed as a result of an injury.

Traditional western medical treatment often combines physical therapy to maintain mobility, medications to control pain, nerve blocks to block faulty neurological input, and psychosocial support to learn how to live with chronic pain. There is no belief that RSD/CRPS can be cured, though at times there are spontaneous remissions.

There are many alternative treatments that have been shown to have affect on RSD/CRPS. The most common are oxygenation therapies, such as hyperbaric oxygen treatment, hydrogen peroxide intravenously, and ultraviolet blood irradiation. These therapies seem to calm the nervous system and begin to heal the "scar."

Other treatments include specific frequency input, such as colored light, infrared therapy, low level laser therapy, magnetic therapy, and FMS (frequency specific microcurrent). There are studies that show that these therapies increase healing and often, over time, may even cure the problem.

We also use neurofeedback, which is a form of biofeedback that changes brain wave patterns. We perform a test called a Quantitative EEG (QEEG) which showes where brain wave patterns are abnormal, and use that information to create a neurofeedback protocol to change those patterns, which helps to "remove the scar." For more information go to www.vanguardbiofeedback.com.

If you are interested in learning more about healing emotional scars, click on "comments" below and Ask Dr. Judi!

Until we meet again,
Dr. Judi