Oatmeal is rich in fiber to help us get rid of constipation, lower high blood pressure, and an easy natural weight loss detox. It is also rich in Manganese, a trace mineral we need to keep our bones strong, our blood sugar under control and thyroid (a key player in  hormonal balance) healthy.

Recipe For Oatmeal Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 cup oats
1 cup whole grain flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1.5 cups kefir
2 eggs (preferably organic and from free-range birds)
olive oil for the pan
2 tbsp raw honey or blackstrap molasses
Maple syrup

¼ tsp ground cinnamon
fresh fruits (apples, bananas, blueberries, persimmon, raisins, prunes, etc.

sour cream

Directions:

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl and add kefir and raw honey or blackstrap molasses. Stir thoroughly. Cook as regular pancakes.

Serve with fresh fruits and sour cream on top.

We know that Estrogen is produced in and increases fat cells. Simply put – the more Estrogen, the more cellular fat.

Here’s how to break the Estrogen cycle and then go on a weight management program:

Step One

Have your healthcare practitioner evaluate your hormones. You need to know the ratio of Estrogen to Progesterone currently in your body. If this ratio is out of balance, and you have  Estrogen dominance, then you will likely have or currently be gaining weight around your middle.
Step Two

Consult with your healthcare practitioner whether you can engage in a Detox Program to cleanse your whole system before you engage in any new or altered meal plans. A Detox Program is an excellent way to initiate normalization of hormones and enzymes in your body.

Step Three

Under the supervision of your Health Practitioner begin an Estrogen-lowering program. This will likely include  increasing your Progesterone levels with a natural treatment and / or therapy. Remember – hormone balancing was never all about Progesterone. Balancing Estrogens, if found to be out of balance to Progesterone, is equally important to your weight loss program.

A good Estrogen-lowering Program should include:

- Increase dietary fiber intake. This happens in two ways: 1.) Eat as much high fiber carbohydrates as you can by choosing fruits, vegetables and whole grains. 2.) You may need to add a fiber supplement (30 to 50 grams of fiber daily).

- Increase  indole dietary intake. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower contain indoles in your diet. This also happens two ways: 1.)Eat as much indole containing veggies as you can and 2.) supplement with an indole-3-carbinol supplement. (Target 3 servings a day).

- Increase  dietary essential fatty acid (EFA) intake. Theese are essential because the body does not make them. They help balance Prostaglandin production in the body and this in turn helps regulate Estrogens.

- Increase your overall nutrition by taking extra vitamin C and by taking a concentrated organic fruit and vegetable supplement.

Step Four

Eat 40/30/30. Incorporate a new way of approaching meals purposing to eat Carbohydrates Proteins and Fats in a balanced way at each meal. When we eat balanced meals our weight will normalize, our energy levels will increase and our hormones will be in balance.

Step Five

Get Moving. Develop a great exercise program with the help of a knowledgeable physical therapist or fitness instructor . Make sure the Program is tailored especially for you – one that you can do and are willing to make a commitment to keep.

Total prep time: 5 minutes

Total cook time: 10 minutes

Serves 1

Ingredients:

• Your choice of chopped veggies (i.e., carrots, daikon radish, broccoli, spinach, swiss chard, kale)

• Go for a mix of root veggies and dark, leafy greens

• 2 tbsp miso paste (I highly recommend chickpea miso if you can find it at your local health food store)

• 1 cup pre-cooked beans, such as pinto, black beans or kidney beans

• 2 cups of water

Directions:

1. Chop all veggies into bite-size pieces.

2. Boil water in a small pot under medium heat.

3. Once water boils, add root veggies.  Cook for about 3-4 minutes.

4. Add pre-cooked beans and dark, leafy greens and cook for another 3-4 minutes.

5. Turn off heat.*

6. Scoop out approximately 2 tbsp miso paste into small bowl.  Add a little bit of the broth with the veggies and mix with miso paste.  Add this mixture to pot and stir to combine.

Voila!  That’s it.  Serve and enjoy!

*Make sure water has cooled down a little and is not boiling hot before adding miso paste.  This helps to ensure that the enzymes and other nutrients found in the miso are not destroyed.

How do greens benefit our bodies? They are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and zinc, and are a powerhouse for vitamins A, C, E and K. They are crammed full of fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Their color is associated with spring, which is a time to renew and refresh vital energy. In traditional Asian medicine, the color green is related to the liver, emotional stability and creativity. Greens aid in purifying the blood, strengthening the immune system, improving liver, gall bladder and kidney function, fighting depression, clearing congestion, improving circulation and keeping your skin clear and blemish free.

Leafy greens are the vegetables most missing from the American diet, and many of us never learned how to prepare them. Start with the very simple recipe below. Then each time you go to the market, pick up a new green to try. Soon you’ll find your favorite greens and wonder how you ever lived without them.

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms

1 tablespoon olive oil

1-2 cloves crushed garlic

1 bunch kale, chopped pinch of salt

Directions:

1.     Warm oil in pan on medium heat with minced garlic until aromas of garlic are released, about 2-3 minutes.

2.     Add chopped shiitake mushrooms, stir-fry for 5 minutes.

3.     Add chopped kale, stir-fry for a couple of minutes.

4.     Add a splash of water and pinch of salt to pan, cover and let steam for 4 minutes.

It was formerly believed that a water or juice fast was a preferred detoxification program. However, the modern-day realization that the body’s detoxification systems are heavily nutrient-supported has made it clear that simple juice or water fasting is less complete and no longer the method of choice.

Dr. Jeffrey Bland and Dr. J. Alexander Bralley sought to determine the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention program for detoxification. Researchers chose and randomly divided 37 participants who complained of chronic health problems into either a test diet or placebo (control) diet group.

The test diet group was instructed to take a powdered meal supplement product containing various nutrients at levels suggested to positively influence detoxification. The placebo diet group was instructed to take a separate powdered meal supplement that contained the minimum Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of the same nutrients.

Upon completion of the 3-week study, Dr. Bland and Dr. Bralley stated in the Journal of Applied Nutrition that “[Detoxification] activity was enhanced in the test diet group, whereas in the placebo diet group it was not.” In addition, researchers requested that participants fill out a Metabolic Screening Questionnaire (MSQ)-a questionnaire used to evaluate the severity, duration, and frequency of symptoms associated with individual patient health problems. “The most significant reduction in symptoms [in the test diet group] occurred with ‘tired eyes’ and ‘pain behind the eyes’ headaches, gastrointestinal disturbances, morning pain and stiffness, and chronic respiratory complaints.”

Dr. Bland and Dr. Bralley concluded that a nutritionally-supported detoxification program decreases chronic symptoms and health complaints in participants.

J Appl Nutr 1992;44(2):15.

Advanced Nutrition Publications ©2002

It is known that people can experience severe crashes with no neck injury if there is little or no movement of the head relative to the torso. Consequently, neck distortion resulting from sudden movement of the head relative to the torso probably explains most whiplash injuries. Hyperextension of the neck, or distortion beyond its normal range of motion, may explain many whiplash injuries, but experimental and field studies suggest that nerve damage and its associated long-term symptoms can occur with milder levels of neck distortion. One hypothesis that explains these nerve injuries is based on damage to the nerves in the joints caused by motion of adjacent neck vertebrae during a crash.¹ Another hypothesis suggests that the nerve damage is caused by fluctuation in spinal fluid pressure arising from neck distortions.²

2. What happens to an occupant when their vehicle is struck from the rear? While whiplash injuries are common in all types of crashes, motorists involved in rear-end crashes are more likely to experience whiplash. When a vehicle is struck from the rear it is accelerated forward, causing the seatback to push against the occupant’s torso and propel it forward. The head lags behind the torso until the neck reaches its limit of distortion, then the head is suddenly accelerated by the neck much like the tip of a whip, hence the term whiplash. Head restraints limit the neck distortion that occurs before the head starts to follow the torso.

3. How common are neck injuries? Are motorists susceptible to neck injuries in all crash configurations? In the United States, neck sprains and strains are the most frequently reported injury in insurance claims. In 1997, it is estimated that 66 percent of all insurance claimants under bodily injury liability coverage and 59 percent under personal injury protection coverage — the two most important insurance injury coverages — reported a minor neck injury. For 42 and 36 percent of injury claimants, respectively, neck sprains or strains was the most serious injury reported. The cost of just these injury claims where neck pain was the most serious was $7 billion.³

Whiplash injuries can occur in any kind of crash but occur most often in rear-end collisions. A 1999 Institute study found that 26 percent of rear-struck vehicle drivers reported neck injuries.⁴ This was essentially the same as the 24 percent neck injury rate reported in a 1972 Institute study.⁵ Estimates of neck injury rates in other studies have ranged from 7 to 37 percent, depending on whether police or motorists reported the information.^6,7,8

4. Why does my vehicle have a headrest? What many motorists refer to as a headrest is actually a head restraint. It is a common misconception that a restraint is a comfort feature and this simply is not true. Head restraints are installed in vehicles for safety purposes and are an essential safety feature like lap/shoulder belts. Effective head restraints reduce the rearward motion of an occupant’s head in a rear-end crash and decrease the likelihood of sustaining a whiplash injury. A recent 2002 Public Attitude Monitor asked participants what the main purpose of a head restraint was and 67 percent correctly identified safety while 13 percent said comfort and another 15 percent didn’t know.⁹

Are there restraint standards? Yes, since January 1, 1969, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) No. 202 has mandated head restraints in the front outboard seats of all new passenger cars. On September 1, 1991, head restraint standards were extended to pickups, vans and SUVs. The restraints installed by manufacturers must extend at least 27.5 inches above the seating reference point (a point slightly above and in front of where the seat and seatback meet) when in their highest (up) positions. Even at this height the restraint isn’t high enough for many occupants. Many motorists do not adjust their restraints yet there is no regulation dictating a minimum height for restraints in the lowest (down) position in the United States. The European Economic Community followed the United States and mandated head restraints in the late 1970s. Recently the European Union adopted more stringent standards. Effective in 1998 head restraints have to be at least 29.5 inches in the lowest position and exceed 31.5 inches in the highest position. The United States proposed in 2001 to upgrade its standard but the rule has not yet been finalized. In the meantime, two types of restraints satisfy the current requirements. The first is an integral head restraint; this design has a seatback that is high enough to meet the head restraint height requirement. The second is an adjustable head restraint, which consists of a cushion that is attached to the seatback by sliding metal shafts. Adjustable restraints can be moved and sometimes locked into different heights; some can also be adjusted horizontally to change the distance between the head and restraint. Manufacturers may install either integral or adjustable restraints.

5. How should my head restraint be positioned? To reduce the likelihood of sustaining a whiplash injury in a crash, neck distortion must be kept to a minimum. Well-designed and properly positioned head restraints are essential to whiplash prevention. A head restraint should be positioned at least level with the top of the ears or about 3.5 inches below the top of the occupant’s head. The distance from the back of the head to the restraint should be as small as possible, preferably less than four inches. Because motorists differ in height, the amount of adjustment needed varies. For some occupants no adjustment from the downward position is required.

6. How good are the head restraints on passenger vehicles? The Institute regularly evaluates the geometry of head restraints in hundreds of new passenger vehicles and has been doing so since 1995. Each restraint is classified into one of four geometric zones defined by its height and backset (distance from the back of an occupant’s head to the front of the restraint). Restraints are rated as good, acceptable, marginal, or poor. The measurements are made with a dummy representing an average-size male at a typical seatback angle. Head restraints have improved since the surveys began. In 1995 only 3 percent of measured head restraints rated good compared with 45 percent in 2003. The number of poor restraints has decreased dramatically from 82 percent in 1995 to 10 percent in 2003. These ratings are a good indicator of the proportion of motorists likely to be protected in a rear-end crash. Marginal head restraints are not more than 4.5 inches from the back of the dummy’s head and are tall enough to protect average-size males and shorter motorists from injury. Restraints rated acceptable and good can protect taller motorists.

7. Are the Institute’s restraint ratings reflected in real world crashes? Yes, Institute ratings are related to how well people are protected in real world rear-end crashes. The Institute analyzed more than 5,000 insurance claims and determined that, all other factors being the same, drivers with restraints rated good are 24 percent less likely than drivers with poor head restraints to sustain neck injuries in rear-end crashes. In vehicles with restraints rated as acceptable, insurance claims for neck pain were lower for females but not for males. This may be because females in general are shorter than males, allowing a restraint in the down position to offer some protection to women.⁴ A second Institute study conducted in Rochester, New York, surveyed 585 drivers who had been in rear-end crashes. Measurements were taken while each driver assumed a normal driving posture with their restraint in the position it was during the crash. The findings showed that head restraints positioned at or above the head’s center of gravity could reduce reported neck pain after a rear-end crash. Drivers with such head restraints reported 40 percent fewer instances of neck pain than those with poorly positioned restraints.¹⁰

8. What factors influence the severity of neck injury?

Height: Height is a risk factor, particularly among women, according to recent German research.¹¹ Often times shorterindividuals are protected by an unadjusted head restraint. Stature may not play a role in the severity of injury to men because many head restraints are too low to offer even shorter men protection. Taller motorists who don’t adjust their head restraints are more likely to sustain whiplash injuries.

Gender: The same German report also found women to be 1.8 to 2.2 times more at risk of neck injury in all types of collisions, a finding that is consistent with research by the Institute and other organizations. In addition, a Swedish study found that women with whiplash injuries are more likely to develop long-term symptoms of whiplash than are men with whiplash. Fifty-five percent of the women who sustained whiplash injuries went on to develop long-term symptoms compared with 38 percent of men.¹² One possible explanation is that men have more neck musculature than women for about the same size head. Another hypothesis is that women tend to sit farther away from their seatbacks than men, thus their heads travel farther to the rear in a crash before reaching a head restraint.

Seating position: It is uncertain which seating position exposes an occupant to a greater chance of sustaining a neck injury. One study concluded drivers have a higher risk rate than passengers. It was hypothesized that drivers are prone to move forward and away from the seatback as they reach for the steering wheel and observe traffic around them, whereas passengers are usually more relaxed and lean further back in their seats, with their heads close to the restraint. Occupants seated in the back seat rather than the front, are also less likely to sustain a neck injury.¹³

A more recent study indicates a higher disability risk from neck injury for females than for males in any seating position. For females, the disability risk is lowest in the front passenger seat. The risk is significantly higher for females in the rear passenger seat. For men, there is a small difference between the front seat occupants, while the risk decreases from the front seat to the rear seat. The disability risk in the driver seat is three times higher for females than for males, and four times higher for females in the rear seat.¹⁴

9. What restraint improvements can be expected in the future? After years of neglect, improved head restraints are beginning to appear. Some auto manufacturers include head restraints that automatically adjust position when the seat is adjusted. Tall occupants who adjust the seat rearward to gain leg room also gain the added protection of a higher head restraint. Other manufacturers have incorporated ‘active’ systems that automatically improve head restraint position during a crash. For example, the Saab Active Head Restraint and General Motors Catcher’s Mitt designs include head restraints attached to a lever arm in the seatback that moves the restraint up and forward as the occupant’s back pushes into the seatback. Volvo’s WHIPS — or whiplash injury prevention system seat – combines good head restraint geometry with a special seatback hinge that gently accelerates the seat occupant’s torso, thus giving the head restraint time to catch the head before neck distortions become too severe.

Volvo WHIPS seat:

Saab Active Head Restraint

10.Is there any evidence head restraint improvements are effective in reducing neck injuries? Recently the Institute gathered data from Nationwide, Progressive, and State Farm insurance companies to look at improved seat design in rear-end crashes. More than 2,000 property damage liability claims were identified involving selected vehicles. The vehicles studied were the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable models with improved head restraint geometry, Volvo S70s with WHIPS (Whiplash Injury Prevention System), Toyota and Lexus models with the WIL (Whiplash Injury Lessening) system plus a number of Buick, Nissan, Pontiac, and Saab models with active head restraints. The rates of insurance claims for driver neck injuries in the rear-end crashes were compared before and after the seat and head restraint design changes. A 43 percent reduction in neck injury claim rates was seen for the Saab, General Motors, and Nissan models with active head restraints, compared with similar cars before such restraints were introduced. Similar before/after comparisons of Volvos and Fords showed reductions in claim rates. A 49 percent reduction was seen in Volvos compared with an 18 percent reduction in the Fords with improved geometry. The Toyota WIL system did not show any reduction in neck injuries.¹⁵

References

¹Ono, K. and Kaneoka, K. 1997. Motion analysis of human cervical vertebrae during low-speed rear impacts by the simulated sled. Proceedings of the 1997 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact, 223-237. Bron, France: International Research Council on the Biokinetics of Impacts.

²Svensson, M.Y.; Aldman, B.; Lövsund, P.; Seeman, T.; Suneson, A.; and Örtengren. 1993. Pressure effects in the spinal canal during whiplash extension motion — a possible cause of injury to the cervical spinal ganglia. Proceedings of the 1993 International Conference on the Biomechanics of Impacts, 189-200. IRCOBI, Lyon, France.

³Insurance Research Council. 1999. Injuries in auto accidents. Malvern, PA: Insurance Research Council.

⁴Farmer, C.M.; Wells, J.K.; and Werner, J.V. 1999. Relationship of head restraint positioning to driver neck injury in rear-end crashes. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 31: 719-728.

⁵O’Neill, B.; Haddon, W.; Kelley, A.B.; and Sorenson, W.W. 1972. Automobile head restraints — frequency of neck injury claims in relation to the presence of head restraints. American Journal of Public Health 62: 309-406.

⁶Braunstein, P.W. and Moore, J.O. 1959. The fallacy of the term ‘whiplash’ injury. American journal of surgery, 97: 522-529.

⁷Quinlan, K.P.; Annest, J.L.; Myers, B.; Ryan, G. and Hill, H. 2004. Neck strains and sprains among motor vehicle occupants — United States, 2000. Accident Analysis and Prevention 36: 21-27.

⁸States, J.D.; Balcerak, J.C.; Williams, J.S.; Morris, A.T.; Babcock, W.; Polvino, R.; Riger, R.; and Dawley, R.E. 1972. Injury frequency and head restraint effectiveness in rear-end impact accidents. Proceedings of the 16th Stapp Car Crash Conference, 228-245.

⁹Insurance Research Council. 2002. Public Attitude Monitor 2002.

¹⁰Chapline, J.F.; Ferguson, S.A.; Lilis, R.P.; Lund, A.K.; and Williams, A.F. 2000. Neck pain and head restraint position relative to the driver’s head in rear-end collisions. Accident Analysis and Prevention 32(2): 287-297.

¹¹Temming, J. and Zobel, R. 1998. Frequency and risk of cervical spine distortion injuries in passenger car accidents: significance of human factors data. Proceedings of the International Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact 219-233. Goteborg, Sweden, IROCBI.

¹²Krafft, M. 1998. A comparison of short- and long-term consequences of AIS 1 neck injuries, in rear impacts. Proceeding of the International Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact, 235-248. Goteborg, Sweden, IRCOBI.

¹³Lundell, B.; Jakobsson, L.; Alfredsson, B.; Jernstrom, C.; and Isakkson-Hellman, I. 1998. Guidelines for and the design of a car seat concept for improved protection against neck injuries in rear end car impacts. SAE Technical Paper Series 980301. Detroit, MI: International Congress and Exposition.

¹⁴Krafft, M.; Kullgren, A.; Lie, A.; and Tingvall, C. 2003. The risk of whiplash injury in the rear seat compared to the front seat in rear impacts. Traffic Injury Prevention 4: 136-140.

¹⁵Farmer, C.M.; Wells, J.K.; and Lund, A.K. 2003. Effects of head restraint and seat redesign on neck injury risk in rear-end crashes. Traffic Injury Prevention 4: 83-90.

©1996-2004, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute

Bending over a slight amount should not give you back pain later or during. However, if your back, specifically your lower back is not stable, you will get pain just from minor bending. This is because your spinal structure is not stable. This in turn allows abnormal forces to be applied to your disks, facet joints and associated ligaments, tendons and muscle of the spine. These abnormal forces over time will cause degeneration of the spine. This may begin to manifest as the pain you describe, with worsening symptoms, back pain during activities you normally didn’t have pain with before, sciatica, numbness and rupture of the disk itself. These events and progressions can be stopped and the damage allowed to heal with expert chiropractic care and rehabilitation. Adjustments only may not help because you are describing a structure event and not just a subluxation. Of course your treatment will need to be highly specific. This is why I perform a comprehensive exam the details levels of restriction of movement, strength, coordination, endurance, muscle firing patterns, structural detail of the spine and all of the relevant elements. This is the reason that my patients get better faster and stay better. I routinely get patients from other standard chiropractic centers who have experience more back pain or other joint pain. I perform highly specific adjustments, rehabilitation, massage, myofacial release, strengthening, coordination and endurance activities so that my patients get the best possible care. I even perform detailed labs if needed. However, I don’t think that the case you described will require any labs.

Remember that cutting the grass should not trim time off of your day because of pain.

Thanks,
 
Dr Bob
Expert Health and Rehabilitation
Goaskdrbob.com

Great question.

You’re very perceptive to notice this phenomenon. Your instincts are correct! People do carry stress in their upper back, shoulder, neck and head. The basic reason is that as a species, humans have binocular vision so we cannot see behind as other “prey” species such as rabbits, horses and etc. These animals have eyes positioned to the side of their head to see to the side and behind in order to view possible threats. Humans do not posses this quality. Secondly, predators generally attack from behind and bite the neck to speed the capture. So to protect attacks from behind, humans use muscles to move the shoulder blades toward the neck and lower the head to reduce exposure of the neck. So that’s why humans tend to develop upper back, shoulder, neck and head problems in relationship to stress. Although we no longer have saber-toothed tigers to create our stress, we do have events that create stress levels that are more constant in our busy life styles. However, this should not make pain or head aches. If this occurs, then there are greater problems than just stress, because stress is actually needed. That’s right, stress is needed. The reason is that living organism needs stress to encourage positive change. This is considered good stress. That is how evolution and the diverse changes we see in the world occurred. However, when you do not respond positively to stress of any type, you are experiencing bad stress. This type of stress has a negative impact on your total physiology and will make you sick. What I mean to say is that all organs will be negatively affected by bad stress. So what is a bad stress? Well anything. It is how the person and their body responds. So to one person a good stress could be a bad stress for another which will cause problems. Why do you think that there is so much disease in the world now as opposed to many years ago? That’s right…more people not being able to deal with stress in a positive way so the body becomes sick from the negative effects of bad stress. So what can be done? To start, I would identify the stress issues that are negatively impacting you. These could be simple to complex. Most bad stress issues are complex. This means that just talking about it is not enough. For instance, your stress handling hormones will change causing disease processes to begin. So why don’t blood tests show these problems before they become a symptom? Blood is a transport mechanism. When problems show up in the blood, the disease process has generally been going on for a while and has become severe enough to show up in the blood.
Let me ask you a question…do you wait until your tooth abscesses before you brush your teeth? Do you wait until your motor in your car blows up before changing the oil? No we don’t! We know that catching a problem before it breaks is a better way. So too with your health. You must protect the physiology as a means to promote wellness. I measure physiology to identify issues before they become cases requiring prescription drugs. I use specific laboratory testing and examinations to evaluate your functional physiology. I then prescribe nutrients that will normalize the problems. We have other rehabilitative services and machines to provide a comprehensive solution to your problems.
You can contact me via the web site, cl-chiro.com.

Dr Bob.

Fingers going numb is not a good thing. This generally means that nerves are being compromised. Now comes the hard part…why and where the nerves are being injured. I have patients coming in all the time with numb fingers and not everyone has the same problem. That is why I perform a comprehensive orthopaedic exam. What most people don’t know is that anywhere along the nerve, injury can have the same symptoms. So finding only one spot of problems will not solve the condition. That is why so many people have numbness problems, because they are not being evaluated properly. I have been committed for over 17 years to developing expertise based on science and proper health care. I routinely stay on top of the latest research on biomechanics.
So lets get down to brass tacks. When does this occur most often? What fingers are affected? Any injuries in the past? Taking any medication? (yes, almost all medication will cause some toxic reaction in your body, hence side effects, that have an effect on your nerves), do you smoke? Any family history? Play sports? What kind of job do you have? Any other problems with the right arm? Sleep on your stomach? Has this ever occurred after any event?
So with this information, I would check nerve functioning, circulatory performance, joint movement, strength, coordination, dexterity, orthopaedic performance, skin appearance, joint deformities, neck movement patterns, shoulder movement patterns and elbow movement patterns along with muscle firing patterns. Of course there is more but each patient will get testing that is unique to their needs.
On top of that, I would perform a comprehensive exam of you head aches. Generally head aches are a separate issue from numbness in the hand. Although, they can be related. Only a proper evaluation and exam will be able to determine that. Again, head aches are not normal for any reason.

Remember that numbness means some kind of nerve injury and head aches are never normal.
I do have a free consult so that you can see the office and ask questions. We have many success stories with our patients…get yours started today.

Thanks,
 
Dr Bob
Expert Health and Rehabilitation
Goaskdrbob.com