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Tag: serenity health care

Dealing with High PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Levels

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Articles. No Comments on Dealing with High PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Levels

The PSA blood test is commonly used to check for signs of prostate cancer or other prostate problems. When a PSA level comes back high, the next step is usually recommended is a biopsy. But recent information suggests another possible option could be to repeat the PSA test a month or so later to monitor.
This recommendation comes because PSA levels can fluctuate up and down — so a man with a high PSA level may not actually have any prostate problems at all. In fact, studies researching nearly 1,000 men, found that about half of those whose PSA levels were initially high had a normal result in a subsequent test according to James Eastham, MD, FACS, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. There are three possible reasons for a high PSA: cancer, inflammation or infection of the prostate or lab error.
According to Eastham, a man should not undergo a biopsy of the prostate based on one high PSA level. I would agree with this and recommend trying to evaluate other possibilities for a high level and monitor. I would go further to recommend various supplements to assist in lowering the PSA level. Here is a list of supplements and their doses that have been researched and can assist in lowering the PSA level. A word of caution that if you use these supplements and the PSA doesn’t go down you should seek medical care.

  • For PSA levels higher than 1.0 add boron at 6-15mg a day, consider adding prescription Avodart to reduce levels quickly.
  • ECGc (green tea) can be dosed at 1300 mg a day.
  • Lycopene 10 mg a day has been shown to reduce cancer by 30%.
  • Adding DIM or IC3 has been helpful to lower estrogen levels, but a newer Chinese herb called Myomin can be more beneficial because it lowers estrogen further up the pathway.
  • Curcumin can be helpful for inflammation using 300-600 mg a day has been studied.
  • Vitamin D levels should be measured and dosed appropriately.

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Heel Pain Relief…Understanding Plantar Fasciitis

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, Chiropractic Care. No Comments on Heel Pain Relief…Understanding Plantar Fasciitis

By: Heather King, DC

Plantar fasciitis or “heel pain syndrome” affects nearly 2 million people!  Plantar fasciitis is inflammation and pain in the band of tissue that connects the heel to the toes, and forms the arch of the foot.  It can come on slowly over time or be a sudden sharp pain.  It can affect one foot or possibly both, and it can develop in both runners and non-runners.

Relief from Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)
Relief from Plantar Fasciitis (Heel Pain)

My patients that suffer from plantar fasciitis often describe the pain as being more intense first thing in the morning after they have been off their feet for an extended period of time.  Pain may lessen somewhat after movement but doesn’t completely go away. It is important to have a proper diagnosis to determine the source of your heel pain. Treatment options can vary.  Most common choices are injections, anti-inflammatory medications, orthotics, chiropractic treatment, splinting and physical therapy for those suffering from plantar fasciitis.

Chiropractic treatment consists of restoring normal joint mechanics followed by stretching and sometimes the use of modalities such as ultrasound. An article published in Dynamic Chiropractic in March 2000, states that adjustments of the foot and ankle joints with emphasis on the subtalar joint (calcaneus or heel bone) proves to be most useful in combination with other therapies to treat plantar fasciitis.

Recovery from plantar fasciitis is slow and on average, it takes 6-9 months to fully recover and be pain free.  Unfortunately, for some individuals it can be a life long struggle to control and continued or regular therapy is needed.

We can help relieve your pain and put you on the road to recovery and/or managing this syndrome! Take action today so you can return to the lifestyle you enjoy.

Schedule an appointment with me to discuss your heal pain by calling Serenity Health Care Center at 262-522-8640.

Worker’s Compensation Surveillance

Written by Dr. Debra Muth on . Posted in Blog, The Dark Side of Injury. No Comments on Worker’s Compensation Surveillance

Expect worker’s compensation surveillance when you file a claim! My family found out just how intrusive worker’s compensation surveillance is after my husband was injured at work. It prompted me to write a book, “The Dark Side of Injury”. My hope is that if you walk a few miles in my shoes as you read my story, you’ll learn some things that will make filing a worker’s comp claim easier for you.

Expect Worker's Compensation Surveillance When You File a Claim
Expect Worker’s Compensation Surveillance When You File a Claim

Employers and insurance companies commonly hire multiple private investigators for worker’s compensation surveillance to track activities of injury victims. Companies count on “a picture is worth a thousand words,” as they attempt to prove that you are not injured. While insurance companies claim worker’s compensation surveillance stops fraud, it’s more about denying benefits to save money.

Worker’s compensation surveillance is everywhere. While investigators aren’t allowed on your private property, they can park across the street from your house. They can follow you in a vehicle. Detectives climb trees, hide behind shrubbery and corners. Because they are in plain clothes and switch shifts, you never know when you’re being videoed or photographed. Private eyes are watching you—close your window blinds if you don’t want them to see you nude, bathing or having sex.

Worker’s compensation surveillance extends beyond just keeping an eye on your activities. Private investigators monitor your Internet activity, especially on social media sites where people share and post pictures about what they are doing. Be on guard about posting content or pictures that can be misinterpreted. It’s all too easy for innocent pictures to be misconstrued when taken out of context. Limiting online activities is a good idea.

Even when you aren’t doing anything wrong, it’s uncomfortable to be under a magnifying glass. While you are cautious about following all the restrictions set by your doctor, you never know when something will send the wrong impression. I found that keeping a detailed surveillance log was helpful. This log helps you remember the happenings on a specific day so that you can respond to erroneous charges.

Take charge of your life. Don’t allow an insurance company to unfairly deny your workers compensation benefits. Fight back. Get the tools and tips to navigate the worker’s compensation system in “The Dark Side of Injury”.  And, talk to your attorney about worker’s compensation surveillance and laws in your state.