Knee Injuries That May Require Treatment

A knee doctor serving Pottstown, PA, can play a crucial role in diagnosing, treating, and recovering from injuries that affect the knee. The knee is a hinge joint that is particularly vulnerable to injuries and chronic pain. Sometimes a person may not even be aware that they are injured until later on. The knee is an intricate joint with ligaments and tendons that are necessary to make it function properly. Several injuries can happen that may require treatment from a professional at Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania. Knee pain can have a profound impact on a person’s overall quality of life, and, at times, it can change the way a person can function daily. Making sense of your injury can be challenging as there may have been several reasons for the knee pain. Our practice is dedicated to helping get to the root of the problem so that we can gain a better understanding of your injuries and the proper course of action. 

Knee Injuries That May Require Treatment

Typically when a person injures a part of their body, or even breaks a bone, they are aware that something isn’t right. Much of the time, those injured are likely to seek treatment for these injuries. In cases involving the knee, while there may be pain, those experiencing pain may not realize that their knee pain results from a severe knee problem that will require treatment. Common knee problems that cause pain and will require treatment include:

• Patellar (Kneecap) Fractures
• Distal Femur Fracture
• Proximal Tibia Fracture
• Patellar Dislocation
• ACL Injury
• Torn Meniscus
• Torn Tendons
• +More

The Impact of Knee Pain

Knee pain can significantly impact the life a person lives. In some situations, knee injuries resulting from pain can render even the most active of people physically limited. Know that chronic knee pain may be a sign that there is a more significant problem. If you experience any of the following, you must speak with a Pottstown, Pennsylvania knee doctor as soon as possible:

• Trouble walking 
• Difficulty moving the knee
• Pain that lasts more than 48 hours
• You are having difficulty bearing any weight 
• You are unable to sleep because of the pain
• Your everyday activities are impacted

Seeking a physician is critical because, without treatment, further issues may arise. Failing to take action could result in not just pain but even permanent damage. Typically living with such significant knee pain is something no one wants to experience, and treatment will be imperative.

Knee pain can impact nearly every aspect of your life. Fortunately, you can take action to end your knee pain with highly specialized treatments offered at Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania. While surgery may feel like the only option, it’s essential to start with non-surgical, non-invasive therapies to manage pain and ultimately heal the affected area. Procedures offered by professionals at our practice can help you get back on your feet in no time. Learn more about how we can help you by contacting our Pottstown, PA, knee doctor.

What is an orthopedic surgeon?

If you’ve never been to an orthopedic surgeon before, or you’ve never needed their services, then you are going to have some questions about what they do. So let’s talk about some of the frequently asked questions by patients that might satiate your curiosity too. A good orthopedic knee doctor in Pottstown, PA is going to be able to answer any and all questions that you have regarding your knee surgery.

What is an orthopedic surgeon?

Before you go to the orthopedic surgeon, it can be helpful to know about their profession, oftentimes they undergo years of training and education to offer you a specialized service. Orthopedic surgery is a specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, conditions or disorders that happen in the bones, the muscles, the joints or the tendons. An orthopedic surgeon may also deal with ligaments and nerves if they are in the limbs.

What is the difference between doctors and surgeons in this field?

Orthopedic doctors or surgeons by training, this means they are medical doctors or doctors of osteopathy trained in the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system.

What kind of education and training do orthopedic surgeons get?

If who you are seeing is an orthopedic surgeon who is board-certified, then they received at least 13 years of formal education. This includes time in undergrad, medical school and residency in a healthcare institution. Fellowship trained orthopedic surgeons have received an extra year of education at an accredited ownership program. The field of orthopedics is always growing and changing, which means these professionals also get new training every year to stay current on the new findings and treatments in their field.

What does it mean for an orthopedic surgeon to be board-certified?

When a doctor finishes their residency, the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery provides a written test that allows them to become board certified.once this test is been past the surgeon may take the oral portion of the exam after two years, and after this they will have the title of a diplomat of the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. This process is meant to show patients the patient orthopedic surgeon has the knowledge, experience and the skills required to take care of them.

What is the difference between sports medicine doctors and orthopedists?

A sports doctor has been a focus on nonoperative and nonsurgical treatments of sports -related conditions and injuries. Sports medical surgeons or orthopedic surgeons that specialize in sports medicine focus on nonoperative and nonsurgical as well as surgical treatments.

What is arthroscopic surgery?

This surgery is a noninvasive diagnostic and treatment option that is especially popular with sports medicine. The surgeon is going to make a small incision with their needles and use special tools to conduct the procedure. You can have the surgery in a hospital or outpatient facility and it will not require more than a day. This type of surgery is great for an athlete or somebody who does not have the time to go through an invasive surgery, so consider speaking with your orthopedic knee doctor in Pottstown, PA such as the ones available at the Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania.

Physical therapy for sports 

How can physical therapy help sports injuries?

You are attending physical therapy for a sports injury, you may be wondering how you can help your sports injury at home. It could be as simple as having a conversation with your physical therapy for sports, such as the ones available at LeMoine Physical Therapy. 

You might’ve received your sports injury from doing something as casual as jogging or something as competitive as playing basketball or another organized sport. Every type of athletic exercise, sports and more can cause muscle strain, ligament tears or dislocations and they can cause many athletes, no matter how serious of an athlete you are, to be out of the game.

And oftentimes sports injuries are referred to physical therapists for rehabilitation, but why, you may ask.

What type of sports injuries can physical therapy help?

Physical therapy is often an attractive treatment option because it can be used after surgery, before surgery or it can be used as a means of exhausting every single treatment option available to you before you go under the knife.surgery can be scary, and your physical therapist for your sports injuries understands that. Furthermore, surgery is not always the end-all be-all when it comes to preparing a sports injury to get you back in the game, because it can take a very long time to heal from the surgery. However, with physical therapy, you are learning how to exercise to help your body, and live and improve upon your injury.

Physical therapy can help you recover from a wide range of injuries, such as the ones listed below. However, this is not an exhaustive list.

• Ankle sprains
• Groin pulls
• Hamstring strains
• Shin splints
• ACL tears
• Knee meniscus tears
• Tennis elbow
• Tommy John surgery

If you have suffered a sports injury, that has you sidelined from your favorite sports or your professional sports endeavors, you should go to a physical therapist that focuses on sports. There is a lot of physical therapy for sports out there. Sadly, injuries are just part of being into competitive sports, which is seeing a rise in demand for people who can treat injuries from competitive and organized sports and give options other than just surgery. 

Can physical therapy reverse degenerative disc disease?

Degenerative disc disease otherwise known as DDD is a condition that is going to develop because of a misalignment in your spine or trauma to it, and if you play organized and competitive sports, then you might have a lot of traumas to your spine and you might develop this condition and you may be here looking for answers. While this disease cannot be reversed, live child changes or exercise can improve the quality of life and perhaps even get you back into your organized sports, though you might be involved at a lesser level than you were previously.

The pain of DDD is not going to disappear on its own; however, with the help of a physical therapist that focuses on sports injuries and keeps you in the game, it can be greatly lessened.

PRP Therapy FAQ: What Can PRP Therapy Treat?

Body pain is the result of many different things. Whether it was a car accident or another life-changing event, our patients come to us for pain relief. Our bodies naturally change and many times, these changes are uninvited. It could be skin issues, ongoing pain, or even hair loss. Our friend Dr. Robin Unger has provided some great information regarding hair loss that we are sharing below. 

PRP For Hair Loss

PRP treatment continues to gain momentum across medical clinics in the U.S. The treatment is a non-invasive procedure that is being used for a broad range of medical conditions, as well as, cosmetic reasons. PRP has been in use since the 1970s, but in the last 5-10 years, it has made its way into the U.S., from Europe, and is now more affordable than it used to be. The treatment involves an injection of enriched plasma that has been made from your own blood. It encourages new cell growth, repair, and pain relief. 

What PRP May Be Used For

PRP treatment is being used for a broad range of issues; including, but not limited to:

• Reduce pain and swelling in areas that are affected by arthritis
• Boosting the recovery process after a surgical procedure
• Encourage the healing of injured muscles and tissues
• Improve baldness and hair loss
• Slow down the process of aging
• Improve the elasticity of the skin
• Skin rejuvenation
• + More

How PRP Works

If you are interested in getting PRP treatment for hair loss you will need to locate a clinic that offers the therapy. At your appointment, you will discuss the symptoms you’re experiencing as well as your goals and objectives. Your PRP hair loss treatment doctor will determine whether or not the therapy is right for you. If it is the next step it will be similar to the following:

Your blood will be withdrawn from your arm (similar to donating blood or a normal blood test).

Your blood will be placed into a centrifuge and spun into three different parts. One of these will be rich in plasma. In general, for every 1 ml of plasma, there will be 1 million platelet cells. 

After the plasma has been separated, it will be placed into a syringe and injected into the site of treatment. 

The needle used in the PRP therapy is very small which means you should feel minimal discomfort. The procedure takes around one hour. 

After PRP Treatment

After the treatment, bruising around the site of the withdrawal and injection may occur. An over-the-counter pain reliever may be recommended. The risks and side effects of PRP therapy are low, but can include redness at the site of injection, swelling, mild pain,

Bruising, and in rare cases, infection.

You may notice these symptoms for 2-5 days, depending on your body’s recovery time. If you are concerned about any symptoms that you have, then it may be in your best interest to learn more about a hair transplant from a hair loss doctor like Dr. Robin Unger. A doctor like this can explain more about PRP treatment as well as other hair transplant options.

What Can I Expect at a Visit to the Chiropractor? 

Sometimes, going to the doctor or any kind of medical professional can be daunting. This is especially the case if you are in pain and have never been treated for it before. You hope that your pain can be managed and that your appointment will not hurt or be too difficult. If you have never been to a chiropractor before, don’t let it stop you from trying this type of care. Contact a chiropractor, like one from AmeriWell Clinics, to go over any questions you may have regarding care. You can set up a consultation or ask questions over the phone before scheduling your first appointment. 

You Will Go Over Your Health History

It will be important to tell your chiropractor about any health conditions you have as well as symptoms that you get in your everyday life. You are welcome to send some of your medical records to your chiropractor to be more thorough. This will be important to share since you will be doing exercises and your chiropractor may want to do manual manipulations that need to be approved by your medical professional. Some things that may prevent a chiropractor from doing certain treatments include arthritis or other issues with bone strength or structure. 

You Will Discuss Any Symptoms that You Have

There are many different things that chiropractic care can treat, other than just issues with pain. Some of these include headaches, nausea, TMJ, tight muscles, and chiropractic care can even help strengthen immunity. You will want to list all of your symptoms – no matter how big or small – to your chiropractor so that you can get the right treatment for your case. He or she will make a plan that is tailored to your own particular needs and can always alter it as you go along. If you feel that your treatment plan is exacerbating your issues in any way, you should let your chiropractor know. It is important to always be upfront and keep your plan up to date. 

You Will Do Exercises

Most chiropractors will give you stretches and strengthening exercises that you need to do at home to keep up with your care. These will help you get better and maintain your health, even if you need to stop going to the chiropractor for some time. 

You May Get Manual Manipulation Done

Chiropractors are known for their manual manipulation techniques. This may involve cracking your back and other areas, and should absolutely not hurt. If anything, you may feel immediate relief after a tight area is released. 

Contact a Chiropractor Today

It cannot hurt to go see a chiropractor to try this kind of holistic health approach. He or she may help you with issues that you didn’t even realize you had. This can be helpful with eliminating or lessening bad chronic pain and getting your life as close to normal as possible. Contact an experienced chiropractor near you to get started. You can ask questions before getting started and along the way to ensure you feel comfortable and ready for your treatment. 

How Can A Chiropractor Help You? 

Are your feet causing your lower back pain? Or vice versa, could your feet be in pain due to your back? A series of spinal nerves travel from your lower spine down into your legs and terminate in your feet. This means that these nerves end in your feet. When the nerve roots, which is a part of the nerve that exists as it exits the spine, is compressed or irritated, it can cause the pain that you’re feeling in your feet.

But pain can also occur if there is a nerve that is compressed near your hip, knee, or in your foot. So if nothing is helping your foot pain, or nothing is helping your back pain, perhaps you should reach out to a chiropractor such as the ones available at Lotus Wellness Center.

Nerve root irritation or compression in the lumbar or sacral spine; otherwise known as the lower back can cause sciatica pain to radiate down your leg and into your feet. Specifically, compression of a nerve root, which is also called classic sciatica, can cause pain along the outer side of your feet. Nerve roots can be compressed or irritated because of a number of reasons, such as a lumbar herniated disc which is where a leaking disc exists, lumbar degenerative disc disease which is age-related and causes narrowing and shrinkage of the discs, spondylolisthesis which is the slipping of vertebrae over the one below it, and lumbar spinal stenosis which is the narrowing of the bony openings for spinal nerves and/or the spinal cord.

The inability to lift the front part of your photo you’re frequently tripping while walking might be due to a condition called drop, which is typically caused due to a compression in the L5 nerve root. A chiropractor is going to be able to help you get to the root of your problems with back pain or foot pain.

Foot pain can also occur when there is compression damage along the path and the hip, leg, or the knee. Some examples of this are things such as peroneal neuropathy, which is a condition where the peroneal nerve is compressed or injured; sciatic neuropathy, which is damage to the pelvic region; tarsal tunnel syndrome or dysfunction of the tibial nerve within the tarsal tunnel of the inner ankle; or sural nerve entrapment.

The pain that follows a recent trauma to the lower back, hip, knee or ankle may help indicate the side of nerve damage, and in this instance you would be able to tell your chiropractor exactly what happened and why you think you have this pain. But painted in nerve root compression sciatica can also be associated with other symptoms such as pain, numbness or weakness in the buttocks, thigh and leg.

Regardless of whether you have back or foot pain, finding the root of that pain in the cause and dealing with it is a great way to make sure that you stay healthy and pain-free.

Knee Surgeon in Pottstown, PA

Recovery from Knee Surgery

When you have knee surgery at Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania, recovery and rehabilitation is a crucial stage. In this stage, you’ll get back on your feet and return to an active lifestyle.

The 12 weeks following surgery are very important for recovery and rehab. Committing to a plan made by a knee surgeon in Pottstown, PA, and pushing yourself to do as much as possible each day will help you heal faster from surgery and improve your chances for long-term success.

Read on to learn what to expect during the 12 weeks after surgery and how to set goals for your healing.

Day 1

 Rehabilitation begins right after you wake up from surgery.

Within the first 24 hours, your physical therapist (PT) will help you to stand up and walk using an assistive device. Assistive devices include walkers, crutches, and canes.

A nurse or occupational therapist will help you with tasks such as changing the bandage, dressing, bathing, and using the toilet.

Your PT will show you how to get in and out of bed and how to move around using an assistive device. They may ask you to sit at the side of the bed, walk a few steps, and transfer yourself to a bedside commode.

They will also help you use a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine, which is a device that moves the joint slowly and gently after surgery. It helps prevent a build-up of scar tissue and joint stiffness.

You’ll probably use the CPM in the hospital and possibly at home, too. Some people leave the operating room with their leg already in the device.

Some pain, swelling, and bruising are normal after knee surgery. Knee Surgeons in Pottstown, PA recommend that you try to use your knee as soon as possible, but avoid pushing yourself too far too soon. Your healthcare team at Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania will help you set realistic goals.

What can you do at this stage?

Get plenty of rest. Your PT will help you get out of bed and walk a short distance. Work on bending and straightening your knee and use a CPM machine if you need one.

Day 2

On the second day, you might walk for brief periods using an assistive device. As you recover from surgery, your activity level will increase gradually.

If the knee surgeon in Pottstown, PA used waterproof dressings, you can shower the day after surgery. If they use normal dressing, you’ll have to wait for 5–7 days before showering, and avoid soaking for 3–4 weeks to let the incision heal fully.

Your PT might ask you to use a regular toilet rather than a bedpan. They might ask you to try to climb a few steps at a time. You might still need to use the CPM machine.

Work on achieving full knee extension at this stage. Increase knee flexion (bending) by at least 10 degrees if possible.

What can you do at this stage?

On day two you can stand up, sit, change locations, and use a toilet instead of a bedpan. You can walk a little further and climb a few steps with help from your PT. If you have waterproof dressings, you can shower the day after surgery.

Discharge Day

You will likely stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days after surgery, but this can be a lot longer.

When you can leave the hospital depends heavily on the physical therapy you need, how quickly you are able to progress, your health before surgery, your age, and any medical issues.

By now your knee should be getting stronger and you’ll be able to increase your exercise and other activities. You’ll be working toward bending your knee further with or without a CPM machine.

Your knee surgeon in Pottstown, PA will be shifting you from prescription-strength to lower-dose pain medication. 

What can you do at this stage?

At discharge, you may be able to:

•     stand with little or no help
•     go on longer walks outside your hospital room and rely on assistive devices less
•     dress, bathe, and use the toilet on your own
•     climb up and down a flight of stairs with help

Stay In Touch With Your Medical Team

After being discharged from hospital, please stay in touch with our Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania and have regular check-ups from your knee surgeon in Pottstown, PA to make sure that your knee is staying healthy. 

Fluid Flow Regenerative Medicine Therapy Pennsylvania

What is Fluid Flow?

Fluid Flow is an amniotic allograft that takes the amniotic liquid within the placenta and promotes the process of tissue repair, replacement, and reconstruction. This amniotic fluid consists of substances like cytokines that are important factors within tissue healing. Fluid flow regenerative therapy in Pennsylvania, has also been shown to help with pain management for patients.

At Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania, we use fluid flow regenerative medicine therapy to help patients undergo the treatment they need, all while allowing them to maintain a comfortable and productive lifestyle.

What does it treat?

Fluid Flow regenerative medicine therapy can treat a number of different problems in patients. Used by health care practitioners for decades, amniotic allografts have been utilized in treating conditions like chronic pain, sexual dysfunction, hair loss, as well as orthopedic conditions.

By promoting the body’s own healing responses, Fluid Flow can effectively activate the factors responsible for the repair, replacement, and reconstruction of tissue for patients. In terms of orthopedic treatment, some injuries that would benefit from Fluid Flow are:

•     Sports injuries
•     Joint pain
•     Tendonitis
•     Fasciitis
•     Muscle tears

How is it Administered?

At Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania, Fluid Flow is typically administered through an injection into the patient’s body to the targeted pain generator. However, it is also possible to use Fluid Flow through a nebulizer. This allows the patient to breathe in the Fluid Flow, which then uses the same process of releasing cytokines into the body to promote healing and pain management.

Is it Safe?

Fluid Flow liquid allograft is processed strictly using FDA approved requirements. Donors contributing to Fluid Flow technology are all thoroughly screened and assessed for any high risk behavior or diseases beforehand. Also, all donated tissue has been approved for transplant following the industry standards, as well as tested for any infectious disease.

How Does it Work?

Fluid Flow technology is a form of regenerative medicine therapy that helps to activate the body’s healing responses. After it is injected, Fluid Flow releases cytokines into the patient’s body which are shown to promote healing and pain management.

The process works in lieu of inflammatory tendencies, instead of utilizing repair processes consistent in regenerative medicine. This regenerative therapy will start the healing process while at the same time allowing the patient to have the quality of life necessary for a productive lifestyle.

What are the benefits of using Fluid Flow?

Using Fluid Flow regenerative medicine therapy allows the patient’s body to naturally heal and regenerate tissue as needed. The amniotic fluid activates the body’s healing response while limiting any inflammatory responses. Also, the regenerative process replaces the build-up of scar tissue in patients. For this reason, Fluid Flow has been an effective application for patients with orthopedic conditions.

Are There Risks in Undergoing Treatment?

Obtaining amniotic fluid has no ethical or moral issues associated with its use. There is no harm to the foetus, only the amniotic membrane and fluid is used, which is typically discarded if not used for regenerative therapies.

A Non-Surgical Solution

If you have been looking for a non-surgical solution to relieve pain and recover from injuries to your joints, muscles, soft tissues, and beyond, Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania offers the latest in fluid flow regenerative medicine therapy in Pennsylvania. Find out more today by calling or booking a consultation with our certified specialists.

Knee Pain Relief Philadelphia, PA

What causes Knee Pain?

Knee pain can be caused by a sudden injury, an overuse injury, or by an underlying condition, such as arthritis. Treatment will vary depending on the cause. Symptoms of knee injury can include pain, swelling, and stiffness. We offer Knee Pain Relief Philadelphia, PA, if you have been experiencing knee pain, you should consult a knee doctor for a professional diagnosis and individualized treatment plan.

What Does a Knee Injury Feel Like?

Obviously, it hurts! But the type of pain and where you feel it can vary, depending on what the problem is. You may have:

• Pain, usually when you bend or straighten the knee (including when you go down stairs)
• Swelling
• Trouble putting weight on the knee
• Problems moving your knee
• Knee buckling or “locking”

If you have these symptoms, see our Knee Pain Relief Philadelphia, PA doctor. He will check your knee. You may also need X-rays or an MRI to see more detail of the joint.

Knee Injury: 6 Things to Do for the Pain

Your plan that the Knee Pain Relief Philadelphia, PA, doctor recommends for you will depend on your specific injury. Mild to moderate issues will often get better on their own. To speed the healing, you can:

1. Rest your knee. Take a few days off from intense activity.
2. Ice it to curb pain and swelling. Do it for 15 to 20 minutes every 3 to 4 hours. Keep doing it for 2 to 3 days or until the pain is gone.
3. Compress your knee. Use an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeves to wrap the joint. It will keep down swelling or add support.
4. Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you’re sitting or lying down to cut down on swelling.
5. Take anti-inflammatory medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen will help with pain and swelling. Follow the instructions on the label. These drugs can have side effects, so you should only use them now and then unless your doctor says otherwise.
6. Practice stretching and strengthening exercises if your doctor recommends them. You may want to do physical therapy, too.

Some people with knee pain need more help. For instance, if you have bursitis, the Knee Pain Relief Philadelphia, PA doctor may need to draw out extra fluid from the bursa in your knee. If you have arthritis, you may need an occasional corticosteroid shot to settle down inflammation. And if you have a torn ligament or certain knee injuries, you may need surgery.

How Can I Prevent Knee Pain?

Although you can’t prevent all injuries, you can take these steps to make them less likely.

• Stop exercising if you feel pain in your knee.
• If you want to make your workout more intense, always do it gradually.
• Stretch your legs before and after physical activity.
• Use knee pads to prevent bursitis, especially if you have to kneel a lot.
• Wear shoes that fit well and offer enough support.
• Keep your thigh muscles strong with regular stretching and strengthening.
• If you’re overweight, work to drop some pounds so there’s less stress on all of your joints, including your knees.

When You’re Experiencing Knee Pain, Call the Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania

If you have been experiencing knee pain, you should consult a knee doctor for a professional diagnosis and individualized treatment plan. To schedule a consultation with an osteoarthritis doctor in Philadelphia, PA today, call the Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania.       

How Zombies Exist

“So I have a theory as to why zombies are able to walk and ‘live,’ so to speak. I can’t even explain their particular smell. Yep, they have a particular smell. I have had this theory for a while, and at every Halloween party, I try to explain my theory to people who will listen. Unfortunately, my geeky and academic explanation only serves to produce a temporary glassy-eyed zombie smiling back at me trying to figure a way out of the conversation. So a few years ago I decided to write down my theories. Here is a synopsis, with references.

Zombies exist… The movies do not have it completely right but they do come close. In order for you to understand my theory, I need to explain who we are normally as humans. As a geneticist, I know that at birth we are 99.9% human by genotype. That is, the genes we carry in and on our bodies are mostly human. By the time we die we are 90% bacteria.[1] After we are born we begin to colonize bacteria in our gut and on our body. Who we become as we age depends on how our bodies are colonized by bacteria, viruses, and other types of bugs. By the time we turn 2, we pretty much know what the bacteria in our bodies will look like for the rest of our lives.[2] This development is so specific that the pattern of bacteria each person has in their gut is almost like a fingerprint, specific to each individual.[3] We know this through kissing studies….really! Look it up! [4]

The development of a proper gut bacteria is important for us as humans and for this to happen in a very specific way. Normally for us to be able to digest certain foods and make certain vitamins we need particular bacteria in our bodies. Bacteria even help us manage our moods. This balance of bacteria is called our microbiome and the government has a specific organization studying human gut microbiome.[5] Your gut microbiome even has memories![6]

Another thing you need to understand is that we have 2 brains. Yep, we actually have 2 brains (no man jokes here please, this is serious). Most people understand we have the central nervous system (CNS) that contains the brain in our skull and the spine down our back that sends signals to our body. The second brain is located in our gut. Yep, the gut has an intricate system of nerves called the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) that allows the gut to communicate with our CNS. It is called the gut-nervous connection.[7] If you cut the nerve that helps connect the ENS with the CNS your gut muscles and memories will continue to work allowing your gut to move and digest, and “think” for itself. It’s true! Look at the references here. [8]

A final bit of information that will help you understand my theory: If you are an adult reading this you normally have about 3 to 5 pounds of total bacteria in and on your body working to help keep you healthy and alive. That bacteria have a total of well over 150 times the amount of genes than the total number of human genes in your body. There is a very powerful metabolic interplay between the gut bacteria and their human host[9]. There is a very particular balance of bacteria in your body that makes you human. If that balance is disturbed it is called “dysbiosis.” Dysbiosis can be a simple diarrhea caught while travelling to a foreign country or a long term imbalance that causes you not to be able to make a certain vitamin or allow your gut lining to normally absorb food and nutrients that you need to be human.[10] Which leads me to my theory on zombies:

Scientists have not discovered all the types of bacteria and viruses we have in our bodies normally. Not even close.[11] The cinema wants you to believe that a foreign bacteria or virus infects us to turn you as a human into a zombie. That cannot be correct. My theory is that the virus/bacteria that make a zombie a zombie is already in our system. I also theorize that not everyone can become a zombie. That there is a special set of dormant genes that are passed down in certain families that get turned on and cause a cascade of events turning that person into a zombie. I believe when that normal microbiome balance gets disrupted that person begins the transformation into the walking dead. I think that a very particular set of zombie transformation genes gets turned on and the very particular pattern of bacteria and viruses take over the second brain and eats away and cuts off the central nervous system. The second brain, the ENS, takes over the muscles and allows the person to become the “Walking Dead.” I base my theories on real science and experimentation (note all the references!). I also have theories on why Zombies smell the way they do and why the movies have it wrong on how to kill a zombie.

Sincerely,

Doctor Gonzalez, Mad Scientist Geek”

If you or someone you know wants to learn more about how to be your healthiest self with a medical nutrition in Silver Spring, MD, contact Atlantis Medical Wellness Center for a consultation with a wellness doctor.

APPENDIX A

[1] Arumugam M, et al. Enterotypes of the human gut microbiome. Nature 2011;473:174-180

[2] Duca F. et al. Metabolic interplay between gut bacteria and their host. Front Horm Res. (2014) vol 2 pp 73-82

[3] Turnbaugh PJ, et al. (2010) Organismal, genetic, and transcriptional variation in the deeply sequenced gut microbiomes of identical twins. Poc Natl Acad Sci 107, 7503-7508

[4] Remco K et al.Shaping the oral microbiota through intimate kissing. Microbiome. Nov 2014. 2:41.

[5] https://commonfund.nih.gov/hmp/index

[6] Barnaby DD Psychological Science December 2010vol. 21 no. 12 1835-1844

[7] Lomax AE, Fernandez E, Sharkey KA. Plasticity of the enteric nervous system during intestinal inflammation. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2005; 17: 4–15

[8] Grundy D. 5-HT System in the Gut: roles in the regulation of visceral sensitivity and motor functions. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci.2008 Aug;12 Suppl 1:63-7.

[9] Duca F. et al. Metabolic interplay between gut bacteria and their host. Front Horm Res. (2014) vol 2 pp 73-82

[10] Tap J, et al. Towards the human intestinal microbiota phylogenetic core. Environ Microbial 2009;11:2574-2584

[11] Wu GD, et al. Linking long term dietary patterns with gut microbial enterotypes. Science 2011.;334:105-108