OptimalHealthSecrets.Com
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FAQ's
By Dr. Victor Jean Ouellette June 1999
1. What is OptimalHealthSecrets.Com?
OptimalHealthSecrets.Com is a wellness health care internet site from the alternative complementary perspective. OptimalHealthSecrets.Com has an approach to wellness which includes five categories of treatments for pain and five categories of behaviour modification for optimal health.
2. Who delivers the health care?
Dr. Victor Jean Ouellette is a chiropractic clinician with almost 30 years experience. He has two bricks & mortar clinics. He is the founder and CEO of OptimalHealthSecrets.Com, is writing a manual, and a book, on the Pain Relief Diet, and wrote the Optimal Health Tracking Questionnaire Program.
Dr. Ouellette has a Master of Science degree in biology, human nutrition, and has extra training in sports injuries, acupuncture and lasers. He uses nutritional supplements, diet modification, and Lasers, extensively in his practice for pain relief.
3. What kinds of conditions are treated?
Pain is treated. Pain in the back, neck, or other joints of the body are cared for with a combination of treatment methods. Dr. Ouellette particularly likes difficult cases with long term pain. These patients may have low back pain that has not improved with other methods of medical treatment nor with past chiropractic care. They may have fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue. Chronic cases are difficult to treat and motivate. Dr. Ouellette welcomes these patients and spends time counselling them in lifestyle modification.
4. Do you treat Pathological pain?
Pathological pain is not treated. This type of pain is a long standing unremitting pain of six months or more duration. It is best treated by medical specialists specially trained in pathological pain. However, Dr. Ouellette will provide complementary care to these patients if asked.
5. What is the Pain Relief Diet?
The Pain Relief Diet is a diet that Dr. Ouellette constructed to help his patients with pain. Scientific research implicates several different common foods that may be harmful to humans. Dr. Ouellette removes all of these foods in one diet plan. The Pain Relief Diet is one of the five types of treatment offered by Dr. Ouellette.
6. What are the five types of care?
Many types of care are helpful with pain. The five types of treatment that Dr. Ouellette focuses on are, chiropractic therapy, nutrition therapy, deep fibre therapy, cold LASER therapy with TENS, and exercise therapy.
7. What procedures will I go through if I visit the clinic?
Dr. Ouellette performs a thorough chiropractic work-up. Time is taken for an extensive consultation and examination. Each level of the spine in the neck and lower back are checked for nerve pinching, misaligned bones and fixated joints. Fixated joints are ones that are not moving properly. A neurological exam searches each level of the spine for muscle weakness and nerve pinching. An orthopaedic exam searches for spinal joint problems and range of motion problems. A chiropractic exam searches for specific joint problems in the spine, and other joints of the body, to pinpoint the cause of the problem. Women wear gowns and their slacks at all times during the examination. All problem areas are recorded and a treatment plan recommended to the patient. The consultation and examination will take anywhere from a half hour to one hour. People interested in nutrition, will complete the Optimal Health Tracking Questionnaire Program. This will take about one hour.
8. What kind of chiropractic therapy is offered?
Dr. Ouellette performs a thorough chiropractic work-up. Time is taken for an extensive consultation and examination. Each level of the spine in the neck and lower back are checked for nerve pinching, misaligned bones and fixated joints. Fixated joints are ones that are not moving properly. A neurological exam searches each level of the spine for muscle weakness and nerve pinching. An orthopaedic exam searches for spinal joint problems and range of motion problems. A chiropractic exam searches for specific joint problems in the spine, and other joints of the body, to pinpoint the cause of the problem. All problem areas are recorded and a treatment plan recommended to the patient.
Dr. Ouellette uses chiropractic spinal treatments as his main treatment therapy. The types of chiropractic spinal treatments Dr. Ouellette delivers are traditional spinal corrections to problem bones in the spine using his hands only. No hand held devices are used for giving spinal manipulations. These treatments are often called spinal corrections or adjustments but are called manipulations by other health care professions. Other joints in the body may also be adjusted if needed. Once these spinal joints are corrected, the body has the opportunity to heal itself.
9. What are the other types of treatments Dr. Ouellette uses for pain?
Dr. Ouellette uses several forms of therapy as helpers to the spinal corrections. Nutritional modification and meal supplement products are recommended. Deep fibre therapy on tight muscle is offered where needed. Deep fibre therapy is often accompanied by Dr. Ouellette's hand TENS technique. This is a procedure that passes TENS current through the doctor's hands at the same time it is going through the patient's body. TENS current has been used in health care for more than fifty years.
To further relieve pain and inflammation, Dr. Ouellette uses two types of LASERS in his practice when needed. A visible red laser, which can be seen, is used in conjunction with TENS current. Also an invisible Infrared LASER is often used as needed.
Dr. Ouellette may recommend specific exercises to increase the ranges of motion of tight joints. Some mobilization and stretching exercises are quite helpful, particularly for some types shoulder pain.
10. What are the five types of optimal health behaviour modifications?
OptimalHealthSecrets.Com teaches five types of lifestyle modifications to people interested in optimal health.
These are:
1. Spinal health As delivered by chiropractors.
2. Nutrition The Pain Relief Diet & nutrition supplements.
3. Exercise Specific to weak, or problem areas of the body.
4. Rest & Relaxation Effective rest is important for healing and for maintaining good health.
5. Attitude & Perspective balance Outlook is important to optimal health and healing.
11. How do you teach all these behaviours?
We teach these behaviours using Dr. Ouellette's Health Tracking Questionnaire Program. It is composed of thirty questionnaires and over 250 questions, that categorize lifestyles and knowledge. The program gives a percentage result to each questionnaire. If you do one thing good in your life and one thing bad, they cancel each other out. We look at the whole body and, using the scientific knowledge we have today, set a goal for overall improvement toward what is considered, the best living possible. This goal is optimal health.
Retaking the questionnaire in the future, allows the clinic to track improvements. A progress graph of each questionnaire is kept on file but all questionnaires and answers are destroyed after copying the results to the progress graph.
12. How often are treatments required?
Treatment for pain will likely be recommended four or five times during the first week. In the second, third, and fourth weeks visits would likely be scheduled three times a week tapering quickly, over the following two months, to once a month.
Optimal health would require monthly chiropractic care so small problems can be discovered before they become large problems.
We recommend the Optimal Health Tracking Program be taken every three months for the first year. This is when most improvements will occur. This schedule will give five test scores to compare improvements in optimal health behaviours. In subsequent years, taking the questionnaires every six months will be sufficient.
13. How long does it take to see results?
The speed of results varies depending on several things. We like to see improvement on every visit, including the first. Your diagnosis plays a large part in how quickly you will recover. If you do not have severe degeneration and you do everything that is asked, you may see results in a little as four days.
14. How much does it cost?
Chiropractic care in Ontario is not covered by OHIP. You will have to phone the office to find out the current fee schedule.
15. Does it hurt?
No. According to scientific research, chiropractic treatments are safe and effective. Popping sounds when the spine is adjusted are normal, and usually indicate sufficient force was used to achieve a joint release from the fixation. Some people may notice mild discomfort on the first few adjustments. Some arthritic sufferers may notice more discomfort. They should tell their chiropractor what they are experiencing so different treatment techniques can be used. Discomfort is often due to the tearing of scar tissue around a joint, which is necessary to free the joint.
16. Do chiropractic joint adjustments cause arthritis?
No. There is no scientific evidence of that. Adjustments are small, minute manipulations that are given very quickly. The popping sound is the release of gas into the joint and results in a freer join movement. Just as popping your knuckles does not cause arthritis in the knuckles or the wrist, and stubbing a toe does not cause arthritis in the ankle, then manipulating the spine does not cause arthritis in the spine. As a mater of fact, manipulation to an arthritic spine can often offer much relief. It can slow the progression of arthritis by freeing up and preventing spinal fixations. These spinal fixations eventually may lead to drying out of the joints and a worsening of the arthritis due to the lack of normal motion caused by the fixation. Chiropractic spinal adjustments would be helpful here.
17. Do chiropractic joint adjustments cause damaged spinal discs?
No. movements used by chiropractors, during adjustments, are small and not forceful enough to damage spinal discs. If there is a disc herniation, or disc bulge, in the spine that a chiropractor is treating, then it was there before the chiropractor started. Chiropractic care has been used for more than a century on damaged spinal discs to improve their function. Chiropractic care to spinal disc ruptures is far safer than surgery, and may eliminate the need for surgery. You will have to give it a trail period of treatments to see if your disc bulge responds to chiropractic care.
18. Do chiropractic neck adjustments cause strokes?
No. Research shows chiropractic care to be safe. If you measure the chiropractic safety record against the medical safety record, there is no comparison at all. Chiropractic care comes out far safer than medical care for the same condition. The benefits of care far outweigh the risks. This benefits-to-risks, is a well know argument that is used by the medical profession to justify dangerous procedures like surgery.
Chiropractic care is a licenced act precisely because there are risks involved. The same is true of the dental profession which is licenced because certain acts are dangerous and require expert training. Chiropractors are well trained and expert at delivering their type of care. Don't let amateurs play around with your spine, and don't let poorly trained health care professionals dabble in spinal manipulation with your body. Leave all spinal treatments to the experts, the chiropractors.
19. Don't medical doctors offer prevention too?
The medical doctors generally accept the idea that prevention is important but their type of prevention is usually the kind where you detect a problem early. That means you wait until you get the problem then detect it early. True Optimal Health is when you are doing things that stop diseases and conditions from starting in the first place. This means paying attention to several things at once, like the five factors for Optimal Health & Wellness.
20. I am tired a lot. What can I do?
Fatigue can be a sign of something very serious or something as simple as lack of sleep or not enough good food. Have your family doctor do a work up on you. They will want to check your blood for anemia and Vitamin B12, among other things. Then see a chiropractor. One of the more common good effects that people say they get from being treated by a chiropractor, is they sleep better. Finally look to the type of foods you are eating. Maybe you are eating foods on a daily basis that are reacting with your system in a way the drains energy from you. See the Pain Relief Diet for more info.
21. Why do these health products cost so much?
Unfortunately, in our day and age it costs money to buy optimal health. Some newer products have been shown by scientific studies to be of some benefit. When they first come onto the market, like everything else, they are expensive. This will not change in the future. But as time goes on and more people purchase the products, the prices should come down.
22. Are chiropractors well educated?
Yes, very much so. About 60 years ago that was not the case but now days chiropractors are highly trained professionals every bit as skilled, for their field of practice, as medical doctors are for theirs. Chiropractors write the same basic science exams as medical doctors in many parts of the world. Chiropractors are considered EXPERT at what they do. Chiropractors are safe and effective. Chiropractic is one of the safest forms of care around. Chiropractors will make a diagnosis thus telling you what is wrong. See the article Chiropractic Education showing Chiropractic hours of education (4,485) compared to Medicine (4,248) most often using the same textbooks.
23. Is milk a good food?
No, No, No
Not only do we consider milk, not to be good, we consider cow's milk to actually be bad for humans. Cow's Milk has chalk added to it to make it look white so consumers buy it. Chalk is not absorbed very well by humans. Cow's milk has a problem with the ratio of carbohydrates to proteins. Human milk has more protein than carbohydrate but cows milk has more carbohydrate than protein. This is a major difference and a major problem for young humans. And carbohydrate is fattening, and also sets off the glycemic reaction by the body.
The cow's proteins are not very well tolerated by the young human digestive system. Some studies are indicating that partial breakdown products from milk protein, casein, may cause some mental disorder problems in humans. The smaller breakdown products called exorphins, result if you have a malfunctioning enzyme in the intestines. These exorphins infiltrate the brain and cause hallucinations and other disturbances.
Then there is the story of the growth hormones given to cows to produce more milk, and the antibiotics given routinely to the cows to produce more milk, and the additives that are added to cows food.
Then after all that there is still the problem with the milk sugars which are not very well digested by most humans. All in all milk is NOT a good food for humans.
Also be very wary of using soy as a milk substitute. There is a warning out not to feed infants any soy based products due to the estrogenic effect of this legume. Loren Cordain has written extensively on the deleterious effects of Cereal grain and legumes to humans.
24. Is wheat a good food?
Yes for some people, but it is at the top of the list for causing food allergies and intestinal reactions that are not good. Most people will benefit by eliminating wheat completely or drastically cutting it back in their diet. This is a well know secret to health care providers 'in-the-know'. People know wheat is bad but eat it anyway then complain about being sick. Eating a wheat based product can give you back pain the following day.
25. Is beef a good food?
Beef is OK for a lot of people but according to one theory on foods, it can cause reactions in blood type A and AB people. Beef is not good for people with and arthritis or any inflammatory processes. Beef is very high in what is called Arachidonic Acid. In fact the flesh part of the meat is mostly Arachidonic Acid. This acid is broken down by metabolism in humans, to what is called Prostaglandin E2. Prostaglandin E2 will make inflammation worse and cause more pain.
26. Why is it good to talk to a chiropractor about some proposed surgery
on your spine or other parts of your skeleton?
Chiropractors often have treatments that can help the body heal. A trial period of treatments with a chiropractor is a good idea before surgery is seriously contemplated on the spine. Although chiropractors do not have expertise in the surgical field, they do have expertise in helping people avoid some kinds of surgery. This expertise may be of some benefit to you. Making sure your leg lengths are equal, your foot arches are normal and you pelvis is in place and moving freely will help a lot of spinal conditions as well as some lower limb conditions. Your chiropractor can help you get all the lower back vertebrae working properly. This may be all you need to avoid some surgeries. In any case, it is better to go to your chiropractor before the surgery than it is to go after the surgery and ask for help then.
27. Doesn't high vitamin C just get spilled out in the urine making high
doses a waste?
People are still asking this question. This question comes from an old style out dated thinking that is not supported by research. Scientists found that Vitamin C spills out in the urine at certain doses and then medical doctors jumped to conclusions and said that this is a waste without having research adequately support that conclusion.
Yes higher doses do get spilled out in the urine, but no, it is not a waste. While the Vitamin C is in the system it acts as a powerful antioxidant that prevents many Free Radicals from damaging your system. People living in high pollution, like a city, need extra Vitamin C and also other Vitamins and antioxidants, for that matter. See article number 14 in the Nutrition Category on our web site, for more things that increase your need for antioxidants.
Vitamin C is a cofactor in hydroxylation reactions in our bodies. It is absolutely necessary for the formation of Collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in Mammals making up connective tissues which hold our bodies together. Collagen is found almost everywhere in our bodies and is the main source material for wound healing including surgical trauma. Collagen fibers are the principal components of skin, and deeper connective tissues, the organic substances of bones and teeth, and the ground substance between cells.
An argument can be made that human ancestors and early humans, ate a natural diet much higher in Vitamin C than we eat today. This would lead one to think that our genetics function much better on higher doses than what the government says will prevent Scurvy. Maybe we are now, in our modern times, living on an unnatural, abnormally low amount of vitamin C?
28. How do I eat properly when I don't have time to cook?
One very good way is to have a home made vegetable soup in the fridge at all times. Warm a bit up when you feel like snacking. Another way is to always have some washed vegetables cut into pieces, and under plastic wrap, in the refrigerator at all times.
29. What happens if I don't get chiropractic care?
If you don't get chiropractic care then several things may happen. You should understand that other forms of health care will not reposition bones in the spine and will not remove any fixated joints in the bones of the spine. Massage therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture and other forms of manual therapy will not correct the spine. Posture remains poor and eventually leads to degeneration and pain in the spine. Nerves remain pinched and eventually lead to abnormal nerve function. One of the worst things that can happen is that joint fixations remain and eventually lead to cartilage degeneration in those joints as proven by scientific research. This is called arthritis when it gets severe. Joints need to move to remain moist and healthy. Without this movement they dry out and degenerate.
30. Does Your Clinic Accept Clients for Weight Loss?
No. Pain relief is our objective. People interested in weight loss should seek help at one of the many good weight loss clinics. We offer some advice for weight loss and it is clear that the Pain Relief Diet takes weight off fast but, our clinic is not oriented toward weight loss. See article on Weight Loss
31. Does Your Clinic Deal with Smoking?
No. We consider all people taking recreational drugs on a daily basis as having a disease. We do not treat diseases. Recreational drugs include smoking and alcohol. We recommend that our smoking clients practice the Two-Puff Rule. The Two-Puff Rule consists of taking only two puffs and then putting out the cigarette and saving it for the next time a smoke is needed. We used to use the Cold LASER and Acupuncture ear patches for a quit smoking program, however, the medications and nicotine patches work very well together and that is the recommendation that we make now. Contact the Lung Society or the Cancer Society for more information on quitting.
32. How Do Lasers Work?
Lasers are machines that create a low power cold light with special properties that have healing effects. Laser light occurs as orbiting electrons fall down into a lower orbit and then give off the excess energy that they had when they were in the higher orbit. This excess energy comes off as light and as other invisible energy but it has characteristics of mono chromicity, synchronicity, and lack of divergence, among others. These characteristics tend to have healing properties in their photogenic effects on the skin and underlying tissues. Decreases in prostaglandin E2 and increases in collagen repair have been noted.
COLD lasers are painless and relatively free of risks. One caution is that you do not look directly into the laser beam. There are several different kinds of therapeutic lasers. Dr. Ouellette uses a red visible laser and an invisible infrared laser.
33. What Is Deep Fibre Therapy?
Deep Fibre Therapy is deep pressure applied to the client's soft tissues using the therapist's bare hands. Tender points are located and pressure applied in a way that makes them hurt more, but only temporarily. This breaks up the inflammation and allows the area to heal. Many different types of tender areas are worked. Trigger points in muscles are commonly treated along with other tissues that may be painful.
34. What Is TENS?
TENS is a form of safe electrical stimulation that helps relax muscles and relieve pain. It is called Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. It is a very low current, high volt procedure that causes a slight tingling sensation and sometimes makes the muscles twitch to the frequency of the current. Dr. Ouellette has a unique Hand-TENS technique that connects his body into the same current pathway to which the patient is connected. Dr. Ouellette feels the same tingling sensation in his hands that the patient does. He has been using this technique on patients since 1985. This is a very good treatment for patients who do not want their neck adjusted.
35. Why Are Monthly Chiropractic Visits Important?
Monthly chiropractic visits are like regular visits to the dentist. The doctor searches for small problems and treats them before they become large problems. This is a common form of preventive health care. Keeping the bones of the spine and the nerves of the body working properly cannot be overlooked and is important for optimal health.
36. What kinds of questionnaires are in the Questionnaire Program?
There are thirty questionnaires divided into four modules. See the list near the end of this booklet. Results are calculated as percentages of Optimal Health. A higher result equals more optimal living. You can choose which questionnaire modules you would like to take. A nutritional work-up requires the Nutrition Module and the Pain Relief Diet module.
On the first visit you will spend half an hour filling out an Entrance Form composed of instructions and some questions. You will take home a packet of data and begin recording a One Week Diet Diary. After a period of one or two weeks you will return with the four take-home forms filled out. The other three take-home forms are the Bowel Transit Time, a Review of Present Supplementation, and a one- week Grocery Receipt list.
On the second visit you will complete the questionnaire modules. This will take about one hour for people fluent in English. You will leave the completed questionnaires at the reception desk and schedule another visit.
On the third visit Dr. Ouellette will take about a half an hour to discuss the results of the questionnaires, answer questions, give recommendations, and suggest an Action Plan.
37. What are the costs for the Questionnaires?
The Entrance Form costs $10 which includes the cost of handouts. Each module costs $10. Doctor Ouellette's nutritional counselling fees are $25 per fifteen minute period (fees subject to change). A half-hour time period is generally sufficient to explain results, make recommendations, and suggest an Action Plan. A special opening promotion is offered for $40 which includes all questionnaires plus one half hour consultation.
38. What Kinds of Patients Do We Like?
 People with unusual pains and fatigue that their doctor or chiropractor cannot figure out. Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue may have been mentioned.People who blame their pain on weather change. In reality, it may be 'poison foods' plugging their system in combination with spinal function problems.
People with pain and fatigue that their doctor has said is due to depression. Their headache or muscle tension may not be due to depression but to a combination of spinal problems and 'poison foods'.
People with athletic injuries that have been dogging them for years.
People with heartburn and/or mid-back pain who are taking daily drugs to keep it in check
In summary we like:
Mechanical conditions of bones or joints that have been resistant to chiropractic or medical care.
Digestive upsets and skin problems
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Overuse syndromes Repetitive Stress Injuries or RSI of the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, foot, knee, hip, and back.
39. What Kinds of Patients are Difficult to Treat?
People who are not willing to do anything to get rid of their pain but want someone else to do it for them.
People who place conditions on their care. The 'can't do' people. They can't eat vegetables, they can't eat fruits, they can't take tablets, or they can't exercise.
People who want the doctor to take their pain away instead of learning how to take it away themselves.
People who are suing someone because of their pain or who are receiving insurance money as a result of their pain.
People who don't think food has anything to do with pain.
If you are one of these difficult patients, you will have to change your attitude before we can help you. Attitude can be changed; it just takes a different way of looking at things. When you are ready, give us a call.
Copyright 2002 by Dr. Victor Jean Ouellette All Rights Reserved
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