November 27, 2009

Well…how did you do? Yesterday was Thanksgiving in the USA and all of us were tempted beyond the norm, with lots of tasty goodies, that we’re not normally exposed to. And there was the added pressure of family and friends, the pleasant distractions of congenial conversation, and plenty of laughs with people you may not see again, until next year.
 
All of this tends to make us prone to eat just a tad too much, especially of those things you wouldn’t normally have around the house. Some such things are assorted imported cheeses, with grapes, crab imperial salad, New England style clam chowder (particularly appropriate for this Holiday), fennel, celery, and olives (green and black), and that was just a few of the appetizers, to keep us all occupied, while the turkey was cooking in the oven.
 
For the main event, we had mashed potatoes, candied yams (with baby marshmallows), corn pudding, creamed peas with seed onions, turkey corn stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce (with wild cherries, mandarin oranges and real cranberries), rich turkey gravy, eggnog (served with grated nutmeg, cinnamon and whipped cream), and of course, the traditional roasted turkey, supplemented by a Honeybaked spiral cut ham.
 
For dessert, we had multiple pies, pumpkin, pecan and traditional American apple (with cinnamon), though by that time, no one had much room left. Not a bit of tofu in the lot.
 
I might add that my bride is a dynamite cook and my brother-in-law’s girlfriend is also a gourmet cook. If I ate my wife’s cooking all the time, I’d tip the scales at 500 pounds, in no time! Between the two of them, my temptation meter was at an all time high.
 
As the resident surgeon, I always get to carve the meat (the only meat I get to carve these days is at these family feeds). The toughest part of that job is having to listen to all our cats, standing at attention on the other side of the glass and crying to be fed, just outside the French doors of the kitchen (which were built just to keep them OUT, on these occasions). 
 
Don’t feel too bad for them, though. I’ve always been a sucker for crying animals…so they did alright. Little beggars….
 
My father-in-law, Charlie, now 85 and a WW II vet, did the honors for grace, and as this was a special family occasion, to give thanks for all our many blessings, he gave us “the long version.” My brother-in-law always grouses with the “long version,” because he wants to get at the food. But, as I like to remind him, “He isn’t talkin’ to YOU.”
 
After all this, if your mouth isn’t watering, there is really something wrong with you. And you’re no doubt wondering how badly I hurt myself at this feast. Right?
 
Well, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde, the only way to be rid of a temptation is to yield to it. In that spirit, I’m proud to say, I ate a little bit of everything, but only one spoonful of each dish and only one plate, altogether. That’s a real achievement for me. 
 
In years past, I had been known to down at least three full plates, then after a rest, go back for more. But, I didn’t want to blow all the progress I’ve made in my fat loss program.
 
This year, as I watched the Macy’s Parade, I drank ice cold seltzer, with lime, and just before sitting down to eat, as well. It fills you up before you eat, so you’re satisfied with less (and dilutes all that extra salt you’re going to consume, in these delicious dishes, too).
 
How about you? If you feel the “Black Friday Blues,” because you ate a week’s worth of food in one night and are afraid to even look at the scale, no use crying over spilt eggnog. Instead, take a couple of my ultra pure, POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA capsules, to help balance all the extra fats you gorged on.
 

http://www.favoriteformulas.com

 
Then, go out in the fresh air, take a deep breath and start walkin’. After you ramp up your metabolism, with a brisk walk, it’s time to do a few Hindu Squats, or the other great exercises in my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate  (bear in mind, only TEN of these left at the old, lower price. When these are gone, it’s goin’ UP). If you feel too tired to manage that, then just do the Wall Chair, or Horse Stance (also in the PAIN-FREE PROGRAM), to strengthen your leg muscles, for those hours of Christmas Shopping, yet to come. 
 
And, voila! You’re back on the wagon. Just like that! See, no harm, no foul. The trick is to get right back on and not KEEP eating like last night. That means, watch out for the leftovers.
 
And as for Christmas Shopping, what’s a better gift than the gift of health? Anyone on your list with knee pain? If so, give them my newest healing program, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY, which you can get here:   http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
Or, if you’re really a big spender, you can get them my ADVANCED MASTER’S COURSE–HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, ONCE AND FOR ALL! (especially if they’re a physical therapist, a family doctor, chiropractor, massage therapist, personal or athletic trainer) http://www.drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
This will teach them everything they ever wanted to know about getting rid of knee pain, and then some. And it’s especially good for the non-orthopaedist professional. 
 
So, the Season is now officially upon us, and it’s off to the races we go. On your mark, get set…
 
Til next time my friend, be well. And have a great weekend.
 
Yours for optimal health and a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to   http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to   http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

November 25, 2009

Well, tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States. This is a day officially set aside to thank God for all the many blessings that we enjoy.
 
When you think about it, whether or not you’re a religious person, whether all things in your life are as you would have them be, or not, all of us have many things for which we can be thankful.
 
For myself, I’m glad to be alive. I’m grateful for the life I’ve had to this point and I hope to continue living it, in good health and with great joy, for many years to come. 
 
I’m especially thankful for my lovely wife of 35 years and for my family, including my surviving horde of cats(and my departed cats and dogs, whose companionship enriched my life), whose company I treasure (even if they are a LOT of work). 
 
I’m also grateful for my new and old friends, my colleagues, my former surgical career and my continued health and comfort. 
 
I’m grateful that my fall (in May, 2001) didn’t kill me, or paralyze me, which it might have. I’m thankful that, even if it ended my surgical career, it opened new doors in my life, allowing me to use my medical knowledge and clinical experience in new and helpful ways, and to meet you and so many other subscribers and friends, from the farthest reaches of the globe.
 
I’m grateful for the success of this website and for the multiple products I’ve produced, beginning with my LITTLE GREEN BOOK FOR ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
I’m also thankful for the ever expanding success of my sister site, Dr. Bill’s Favorite Formulas, with the best damn pharmaceutical grade fish oil you can get, my POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA
 http://www.favoriteformulas.com
 
I’m really grateful that I’ve been able to (finally) knock off over 50 pounds and keep it off, this year. And shortly, I’ll be revealing exactly how I did it… 
 
For all of this and more I am very grateful. I have many, many things to be thankful for, this Thanksgiving Day. 
 
And, as this is the beginning of the Christmas Season, I want to thank YOU, for your support, your friendship and your patronage, and to wish you and yours the Peace & Joy of The Season and many blessings for the New Year to come.
 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, my friend! Be well. (And don’t eat too much–but if you do, don’t beat yourself up. Just enjoy it and climb back on the wagon the very next day. And take an extra capsule or two of the fish oil for a couple of days
 
Yours for optimal health and a pain-free tomorrow,
 
 Dr. Bill

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to  http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

November 24, 2009

Back in the day, circa 1975, I was in my orthopaedic residency at St. Luke’s Hospital Center in New York City. My wife and I were living in a terrific triplex in a handsome old brownstone on West 76th Street, just down from Central Park West (if you’d like to see my old apartment, watch the old John Travolta film, “Saturday Night Fever.” His girlfriend’s apartment, at the end of the film, WAS my apartment–no kidding).
 
Around the corner was the American Museum of Natural History, on West 79th Street. And this particular street was the site where the giant balloons used in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade were set up. So, at this very time of year, lo those many years ago, the roustabouts were laying the enormous deflated characters out along the street, ready for inflation with huge amounts of helium.
 
Naturally, the street was closed to traffic. But if you were on foot, and you didn’t interfere with them, you could go over and watch them do their parade preparation, which was really something to see.
 
You may not realize it, but those balloons are incredibly large, up close. And they weigh thousands of pounds, with all those heavy lines the handlers use, to guide them between the stone canyons of the city and keep them from flying off, in a brisk wind. 
 
Starting on the night before the parade, they begin to inflate them, using portable gasoline driven pumps. They make quite a racket, but no one seemed to mind–it’s part of being a real New Yorker. By the morning of the Parade, they’re all pumped up and ready to go. 
 
The reason I know this, of course, is that my wife and I stayed up that night, that year, to watch this whole procedure play out. It was really something to see and one not many people get the opportunity to experience.
 
So, I imagine that they’re preparing right now, getting ready for the big day, this year. And you should start doing your personal preparation, too, to deal with all the extra temptations, ushered in by this particular Holiday and the Christmas Season, to follow.
 
Unless you’re unbelievably disciplined (which God knows, I’m not), chances are good that the next few days will be your last opportunity to get in a few hill sprints, or strengthening exercises, like those in my Pain-Free Program  http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html  before you get swept up in the domestic demands of Thanksgiving. Before you know it, the “Honey Do” List will creep up on you and grow before your eyes (Honey, do this, honey do that…). Next thing you know, you’ve got no more time to work out. Any married man will understand what I’m saying, here.
 
So the thing to do is take advantage of these last couple of days, get that ol’ metabolism jacked up, with your method of choice, to get you geared up ahead of time, to compensate for the overeating likely to occur on Thursday. And for further protection, be sure to get your twice daily doses of my POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA  http://www.favoriteformulas.com  an ultra pure, enteric coated, highly concentrated, pharmaceutical grade fish oil. That will help to keep your blood lipids in balance, by reducing triglycerides, cholesterol, risk of heart attack and stroke and by relieving pain, due to chronic inflammation. Do these simple things, and keep your intake under some control, and you’ll be able to enjoy the bounty of Thanksgiving Day, without guilt.
 
Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for optimal health and a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill 
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

November 23, 2009

Last Friday, just after I finished my last email to you, in fact, I read a disturbing news report from the Associated Press. Let me tell you what it had to say and then, I’ll comment.
 
This man, Daniel Webb, was treated at a hospital for a knee injury last March. He was then returned to his mobile home last Thursday, by the paramedics, who reportedly placed him in a recliner, after warning him that if they did so, he would probably not be able to get up again. 
 
You see, Mr. Webb was reported to tip the scales at 500 pounds (though the police report said 800). In any case, he was apparently a biggun. Now here’s where it gets amazing.
 
This man, restricted as he apparently was to his recliner, literally stayed in this seat for eight solid months, even eliminating in his recliner (which unimaginable mess was dutifully cleaned regularly, by his wife (Greater love hath no woman…).
 
Finally, with Mr. Webb complaining of pain, and with a horrible odor being emitted (one can only imagine), the paramedics were called again. By this time, he was so wedged into the recliner, having grown into it, he literally needed to be cut out of his chair. Large, necrotic ulcers were revealed in his skin, the apparent source of the foul odor. He was then taken to the local hopspital where he subsequently died, reportedly (and not too surprisingly) of a heart attack.
 
His wife claimed he was embarrassed to ask for help and (get this) he had no insurance. Are they friggin’ kidding me? I don’t mean to speak ill of the departed, but did either of these benighted people have a brain? 
 
And what kind of social services did that local hospital have? This is unbelievable! This guy should never have been discharged from the hospital, if he was unable to even rise from his recliner. And they just leave him there?! With no  follow-up?
 
But the issue here is that the guy was “embarrassed” and “had no insurance?” The guy is stuck in his recliner for eight months, trapped in a prison of flesh and THAT was his problem? Truly amazing. Seems to me there were plenty of blame issues to go around.  Everyone involved with this case was an idiot (unless there some ameliorating circumstances not reported–we can only hope). 
 
Well, I’ve said before and this case sure proves it: ”in Nature, the penalty for stupidity…is death.”
 
Thank God, most problems with obesity aren’t this extreme. But they are nevertheless deadly, if not addressed. And this being Thanksgiving Day week, it seems like a good time to bring them up.
 
Something like two thirds of the American population is either overweight, or frankly obese. And all that extra fat is associated with, an aggravating factor, or a causal factor in many of the top killer diseases: Heart Disease, Cancer, Strokes, Lung Diseases (ie., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Diabetes (Type II) and all its complications, even Alzheimer’s Disease. And it’s a big factor in Arthritis, as well, afflicting a multiple of the extra weight on all the weight bearing joints and spine.
 
As you may know, I have lost and kept off over 50 pounds, virtually all of it fat. And, as a Boomer, with a slower metabolism than in my youth, I understand just how difficult that can be. So I’ve seen working on a Fat Loss course, which I hope to have available early in the New Year, to help you do the same thing.
 
Until then, especially this week, and more especially on Thanksgiving Day, do yourself a favor and keep a journal of what you’re eating. You’ll be amazed how that helps to keep you under some control.
 
Next, drink a big glass of water before every meal. It will keep you hydrated and will distend your stomach, making you feel fuller, sooner, with less food. 
 
Naturally, hold off on “seconds,” for at least 20 minutes. Likwise, eat slowly and enjoy your food. All these tips will give your brain a chance to realize that you’re full and send you satiety signals.
 
If, despite your increased awareness, you over-indulge in a few high fat treats, don’t beat yourself up. Hey, the Holidays only come once a year (Thank God!). Enjoy yourself, but try to take it easy. One way to be sure you don’t send your choletserol and triglycerides soaring is to take a couple of extra of my ultra pure, enteric coated, super concentrated omega-3 fatty acid, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, my very own POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA
http://www.favoriteformulas.com   That will keep your lipids balanced and help to compensate for any indulgences at this time of year. Be sure to take the fish oil with garlic, to maximize its beneficial effects on your cholesterol levels.
 
Finally, don’t skip your exercise, even if it’s just walking. If you have knee pain, from injury, inflammation, malalignment, muscle imbalance, or arthritis, you WILL benefit and get fast pain relief from my popular PAIN-FREE PROGRAM
http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html  a collection of the best, proven knee pain exercises, that I’ve used on my patients and myself. So I know the work, first hand. Here’s a heads up, if you’re interested, in that regards.
 
My Fulfillment Department has just told me that there are only TEN (10) volumes left of the First Edition of the Pain-Free Program. So if you want one of these collector’s items, at the old price, ACT NOW. 
 
No kidding. When these ten are gone, they’re gone for good. The next version WILL be at a higher price, effective as soon as the old ones are fini. So if you have any interest, make your move NOW.
 
Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for optimal health and a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to  http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to
 http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to  http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html 
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

November 20, 2009

The other night, I was working late, as I often do, typing away on my computer keyboard. I was writing down all the great tips and methods that I’m packing into my new fat loss product, that I hope to be able to offer you, in about a month, or so. Keep an eye peeled for the announcements, either here, or on my sister supplement website, http://www.favoriteformulas.com
 
I had previously done my hour long brisk walk for the day (which I often alternate with hill sprints), as well as my knee pain exercises, from my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM, which keep my arthritis pain quiet and add some resistance leg work to my overall exercise program: http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
So I was tired by this time and ready for bed. Tomorrow is another day…
 
Anyway, it was late when I crawled into bed. The TV was on and I was channel surfing for something soporific, to go to sleep by. Now, after about 2AM, many cable channels begin to air paid programming, with 30 and 60 minute infomercials. 
 
Some of them, like those great old music collections from the 70′s and 80′s are really pretty entertaining: Jimmi Hendriks, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane (and later, Jefferson Starship). Look, I know I’m dating myself, but at this stage of the game, I really have no other choice, do I?
 
Then, I clicked onto one of those “Male Enhancement” infomercials and there he was, after many months of taking a back seat to the cute, if vacant brunette who batts her eyelashes at us, in the ExTenz commercials…

It was the return of “Smilin’ Jack,” for EnZyte.
 
This guy has the fixed rictus grin of the Joker. Presumably, he’s happy as can be, ’cause with this product, he can now keep it up, all night long. Right. Still, it was nice to see him again, just as a change of pace. 
 
I reflected on how odd it was that ED commercials now routinely invade our homes, not just the herbal stuff, but prescription drugs, too (I’m still trying to figure out why two people, sitting in the middle of a field, in two different antique bathtubs, are associated with intimacy). I remember when married couples on TV had to be fully clothed in pajamas, in seperate beds. Now, we’re asked to imagine how this “simple little pill can enlarge that certain part of the male body.” Quite a change, from then to now.
 
Truth is, if you want to get a real reaction in that area, you need to boost your body’s production of nitric oxide. That’s what all those frightfully expensive prescription meds do. And you want to do that, but without their reported adverse side effects. 
 
If that describes you, and you want a solution that’s natural, safe, effective and a fraction of the cost, then try my all natural MEGAREX FORMULA  http://www.favoriteformulas.com/enhancement
 
I’m not going to make outrageous claims that defy medical science and anatomical facts, like these other products do. The fact that anyone believes a tenth part of that crap just amazes me. 
 
What I will tell you is that if you want a non-invasive remedy that works by the same chemical pathway as that international best-selling blue pill, but WITHOUT its side effects, then give it a try. And let me know how you do.
 
Til next time, my friend, be well. And have a great weekend.
 
Yours for optimal health and a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on  http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

November 19, 2009

I wrote an article the other day about the pros and cons of the flu and H1N1 vaccines and I was quickly reminded of the bias against mainstream Medicine in the diehard Alternative Community. It easily matches the knee-jerk derision that Alternative Medicine engenders in many doctors. Neither side, in my view, has sole ownership of “the truth.”
 
It never ceases to amaze me that the faux pas of the FDA, Medicine in general and the newsworthy missteps of individual doctors have managed to turn off a huge portion of the general public to mainstream, everyday Medicine. It never seems to occur to them that the reason these incidents are newsworthy and often deemed outrageous is because they are so relatively rare. 
 
While there is much to recommend natural methods and alternative, or traditional treatments for a variety of ailments, it is not those treatments that have virtually doubled the life expectancy of the general public. That’s taken as a given…but it isn’t a given. That achievement is largely because of the amazing advances in medical science and surgery over the last half century.
 
Yet over 60-70% of patients use some form of Alternative Care, in addition to their standard medications and mainstream treatments. More striking, most of them do NOT tell their treating physicians that they are doing so. So, it’s clear that something is lacking in the standard medical approach and that something in the Alternative approach is resonating with the public.
 
In recognition of this trend, most major Medical Colleges, Universities and Community Hospitals have developed Departments for Alternative and Complementary Medicine. It’s now standard practice before anesthesia induction, before surgery, for a patient to be asked specifically about common herbs that could have significant effects and interactions with other medications. In a way, Alternative has now become mainstream.
 
Oddly enough, I always had that point of view. I often taught seminars and college level graduate courses for chiropractors, physical and occupational therapists, athletic and personal trainers, massage therapists, EMT’s and nurse practitioners. I viewed them as allies in the common fight against disease…a view I still hold. 
 
Perhaps because I have unassailable, orthodox credentials, perhaps because I had an unusual level of surgical skills, with virtually unmatched clinical results, perhaps because I have always enjoyed complete confidence in my own abilities, or perhaps because there’s a part of me that’s a bit of a rebel, I never felt at all threatened by these other healers. Nor did I feel the need to diminish them. 
 
Instead, I felt that each of us was trying to help our fellow man and woman, in our own ways. And I was always willing to take all the help I could get, from wherever I could get it.
 
I must admit that some of my colleagues thought that much of this stuff was voodoo…and many still do. But I’ve seen many cases where an alternative treatment was successful and still others, where it supported and augmented the standard treatments of mainline physicians.
 
If our goal is to help people and make them better, why wouldn’t we use every effective method at our disposal? Why would we simply write off a whole segment of the healing community, because it doesn’t share the same standards of validity?
 
My attitude is, and always has been, that I believe in what WORKS, whatever that may be. And I will learn from the guy who sweeps the floor, if what he has to teach me works. To me, that’s the ONLY thing that counts.
 
It was in that spirit that I wrote my newest healing program, HOW TO AVOID KNEE SURGERY:
 
http://www.drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
Although it’s specifically about the knee (especially the selected knee pain exercises), about 80% of the material applies for the body, in general. For example, I recommend the application of a certain kind of magnet, to reduce local inflammation and relieve pain. It really DOES WORK! And I also advocate the use of pharmaceutical grade fish oil, like my own enteric coated POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA
 
 http://www.favoriteformulas.com
 
which can augment local treatments with proven systemic effects that reduce inflammation, as well as NSAID medication, but without their known adverse side effects. 
 
Now, does this mean that I’ve gone over to the “Dark Side?” Not at all. There IS a place for surgery. There are times when nothing else will do. But it should be either the last resort, or the best choice for a successful result, for a given patient. In short, it should be indicated and necessary.
 
So, I believe there’s a proper place for BOTH schools of thought. There is much to be learned from the world of Alternative and Traditional Medicine. And we owe much to conventional wisdom, as well. I hold BOTH to the same standard: does it work?
 
Together, they can help you help yourself to better health, a longer, happier life and rapid and complete pain relief, for a variety of problems. We need to be open to what each approach can offer. An open mind is a beautiful thing….
 
Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for optimal health and a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to  http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to
http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

November 18, 2009

It’s just amazing to me, but next week, it’s Thanksgiving, already. According to the Stillwell Special Theory of Relativity, time perception has contracted close to its maximum, as the Holiday Season approaches. So it all goes by at a dizzying pace, accelerating exponentially til New Year’s Eve, when it hits its peak. 
 
Then, beginning on New Year’s Day, time perception suddenly extends and crawls, like molasses. Happens every year….
 
Well, today, we have our Holiday Lighting company coming to deck the halls with icicle lights, Santa’s Workshop (an animated display, showing the elves placing gifts on a conveyor belt to Santa’s sack), twinkling snowman, angels and a new polar bear. I know it sounds tacky, but it really is very cute. It also easily doubles my electric bill for December. But, it’s part of the Christmas Season, and we enjoy it, so what the Hell!
 
The last guy, Bennie, reportedly went off in another career direction, so this is a new bunch who have taken over, this year. I guess we’ll see how it goes….
 
Our front door is covered by a peaked roof that has to be reached by a big Genie Boom (a kind of crane, to help them reach the roof and hang our lights, without stepping on the roof). One year, they sent their smallest guy up there on a ladder.  He managed to put his foot right through a copper roof, while fixing the string of lights. Guess it could have been much worse–he could have fallen off and killed himself!
 
And, oh yeah, I had to replace that copper roof. Well, it was old, anyway. Hopefully, the new guys will be a little more adept. But this is what you have to do, if you expect to have icicles in Florida for the Holidays.
 
The Christmas Season is weird in Florida, anyway. It was a beautiful 80 degrees today, clear sky and slight breeze with no humidity. Just gorgeous. Man, I wish it would stay this way all year long. Absolutely lovely, but definitely not “Christmassy.”
 
Well, this way, we’re ready for the Season, which officially begins on Thanksgiving. We plan to have the family over for Thanksgiving Dinner, still have to clean the house, polish the silver, buy the turkey, get the groceries and so on. But at least with the Christmas lights, we’ll be ready. Just have to throw the switch….
 
As for missing that certain “nip in the air,” the bride and I will go into the City (New York, of course) for a long weekend, in December, to shop and dine and see the Holiday sights–the Greatest City in the World, in all its Christmas finery, something everyone should see, at least once.
 
So from here on out, it all goes into hyperdrive. And while the Holidays are fun and, in fact, my favorite time of year, they impose a LOT of stress on all of us. 
 
Between the physical, mental and emotional holiday stresses, hectic schedules, poor eating habits and all, our immune systems take a real beating. That’s why I’m glad I take my daily doses of my ultra pure, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, and my enhanced, pharmaceutical grade CoEnzyme Q10
 
http://www.favoriteformulas.com
http://www.favoriteformulas.com/CoQ10formula
 
They help to quench free radicals and reduce inflammation, balance your blood lipids (especially if you indulge in a bit too much eggnog, or other saturated fats) and protect your heart and brain.
 
And, here’s a tip for women for this shopping season: wear flats, not heels. High heels significantly increase forces across the knees and will cause more knee pain, even if you take the escalators and elevators, while shopping. Of course, the same thing applies if you’re a guy wearing cowboy boots.
 
If you find that those extra hours on your feet, while shopping, give you knee pain, you can stop it fast, using the strategic, specially modified  knee pain exercises in my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM:

http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
So here we go. It’s almost here. Take a deep breath…and go for it. If you’re smart, you’ll start shopping NOW, before all the madness really starts. Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 

P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to  http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on  http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

November 17, 2009

The other day, I was sitting in my study, reviewing my emails and comments sent from my subscribers, as I often do. One guy wrote to tell me that he has one knee that has been giving him fits, for some time.
 
Though he didn’t tell me whether he had ever injured the knee, or if it just started bothering him out of the blue, it’s clearly giving him a problem. One thing he did mention, though, was that he has loud crunching coming from within the joint, especially when he tries to climb stairs.
 
Oh yeah, he also mentioned that he’s in his late fifties. So that puts him in Baby Boomer territory, mighty close to home for me.
 
Besides looking to relieve his pain, he wanted to know if that crunching means he’s doing damage, when he tries to do squats.
 
Well, the answer is, the damage is already done. That’s where the crunching sensation comes from. Just don’t go deeper than half way down and you should be fine. But the noise is likely to stay for the duration (unless you have surgery).
 
Odds are good he has my old friend, chondromalacia patellae. This is something I’ve had myself for a couple of decades, now. And, as I’m still here and going strong, I can tell you that it need not be the end of the line for the affected knee joint.
 
I explain this disease in some detail in my LITTLE GREEN BOOK FOR ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN http://www.drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
But here are the basics, just in case you have the same problem. Chondromalacia patellae is simply Greek for “soft cartilage of the kneecap.”
 
This is an extremely common disorder and, in fact, it was the number one reason why people came to see me, during my years in practice. It’s a degenerative condition in which the protective cartilage undersurface of the kneecap gets progressively softer. 
 
As the cartilage gets softer, pressure from bending the knee penetrates deeper and deeper into the underlying bone, where all the nerves are. The more pressure that gets through, the more pain you feel.
 
In addition, there is some inflammation of the knee, that accompanies this softening. So between the extra pressure in the bone and the chemical inflammation, it can get pretty painful, especially when kneeling or climbing stairs. 
 
But wait–it gets better! As the soft cartilage gets progressively softer, the cartilage begins to fray and shred. Eventually this shredding tears up the formerly smooth cartilage surface, so it resembles crab meat. And it’s this shredded surface that makes that crunching noise, when the knee is bent under pressure.
 
What to do? Well, I outline a number of alternative and conventional treatments in the LITTLE GREEN BOOK,  but chief among these is the knee pain exercises in my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM, which you should get as a companion to the LITTLE GREEN BOOK (which has none).
 
http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
Used together, they provide a one-two punch, to knock out your knee pain for good, and usually without surgery. It’s what I use to treat my own case of chondromalacia, and what I recommend you try, too.
 
For additional benefit, you might want to add a twice a day dose of my ultra pure, enteric coated, highly concentrated, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, DR. BILL’S POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA:
 
http://www.favoriteformulas.com 
 
Among a number of tremendous heart and brain healthy benefits, fish oil has a proven, potent, natural anti inflammatory effect, that may equal or exceed the effects of OTC  NSAID medications, but without all their adverse side effects. 
 
Like I said, this regimen is what I use myself, for my own knee pain, so I can tell you, it works. Try it yourself and see. Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete andbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to  http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION

Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

November 16, 2009

 Most rational and thinking Americans have realized by now that the current Administration has little use for common sense and any real protections for the American people. This is no conservative screed, but merely a factual observation. Everything, and I mean everything, is a political calculation with these guys.
 
Imagine how wonderful it would be if they used one tenth part of the intellect and energy they use on these self-serving games for the actual betterment of their country. Hey, why stop there? Imagine if they actually had a brain between them….
 
The latest evidence was revealed last Friday the 13th, when AG Eric Holder, possibly the most radical, least sensible Attorney General in history, did his bit to enhance the dire associations with that date. He has decided, in a blatantly political and tactically stupid move, to try KSM (Khalid Sheikh Mohammed) in a CIVILIAN court, in New York City, no less.
 
As for why this is such an eminently foolish decision, I refer you to this excellent article in the online WSJ:
 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703683804574533622533459520.html?mod=djemEditorialPage
 
Of course, the usual suspects in the legal community will be lining up to represent these savages. This does several things, none of them good for us, or for justice. It bestows full civil rights on non-citizen, avowed enemies of our country, who have ADMITTED to murdering nearly three thousand of our countrymen on 9/11; it opens up the uncertainties of a jury trial, possibilities which even include aquittal on legal technicalities; it exposes the population of New York to the increased danger of jihadist attacks. 
 
And all for what? Why, the good opinion of the Eurowimps, who they are trying so hard to emulate, the chance to put the Bush Administration and its policies on trial and to force what is obviously an Act of War into the paradigm of civilian crime. 
 
This is all so unutterably stupid that I can scarcely credit it.
 
I hope all of those who voted for this travesty of an Administration are happy with what their niave leap of faith has wrought. I don’t blame Maobama and his cadre of leftists, socialists, fascists, statists and Marxists: they are what they are. But broad groups of Americans willfully looked past what was obvious to many of us and now, this is what we have to deal with.
 
Only ten months into this Administration and unemployment is at its highest since the Great Depression, the dollar is in the toilet, we’ve already had the first terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11 (which you’d think might be a warning). Say what you will about George Bush, this did not happen on his watch, after 9/11–he kept us safe, regardless of his other faults.
 
Wimps when it comes to facing off against the country’s true enemies, and defending American principles and sovereignty, they are fierce against fellow Americans who dare to question their frankly unamerican schemes and tactics.
 
Every day brings a new outrage. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, a fresh insult emerges. I just HOPE we can survive the next three years of the CHANGE nobody believed possible.
 
And with all this, what is this bunch worried about? “Health Care” for all. Which, by the way, the current bills do NOT provide, after all the sturm und drang. If I thought it would help, I’d send each of them a free bottle of my Brain Boosting Formula, to help them think things through.
 
http://www.favoriteformulas.com/boostyourbrain 
 
But I doubt it would. Well, at least with this crowd around, I’m never at a loss to find something to rail about. Now, if I can just control my blood pressure at their antics, I’ll have it made.
 
To that end, I make sure I take my ultra pure, enteric coated, pharmaceutical grade fish oil, my very own POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA  http://www.favoriteformulas.com
 
which reduces blood pressure, improves mood, reduces heart rate, drops triglyceride levels and reduces risk of plaque formation, inflammation, heart attack and stroke. Combined with a healthy diet, hill sprints several times a week and the knee pain exercises I do daily, from my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM
 
http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
I manage to calm down and keep my head from exploding. Let’s just hope that our worst fears remain unrealized and that we can slow this onslaught down, come 2010. Til next time, my friend, be well.
 
Yours for a pain-free tomorrow,
 
Dr. Bill

P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to  http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to  http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved

November 13, 2009

Went for a nuclear stress test yesterday. No major problems, just routine. But this is a test that gives you the maximum information about your heart, for your time spent. Like my colonoscopy, just before my last birthday, this is just part of normal preventive maintenance. 
 
As I’ve said before, it’s what you DON’T know that’ll hurt you. I try to live by what I tell you. So I’m not just talkin’ the talk, but walkin’ the walk. Short of an invasive test, like a coronary angiogram, the nuclear stress test will give you the most information about the state of your heart.
 
If you’ve never had one of these, here’s a brief synopsis of what it’s all about. 
 
First, they start an I.V. in your arm. Then, they inject a small amount of a radioactive isotope, that has an affinity for heart muscle, in this case a Technetium (Tc 99) sestamibi product called Cardiolite. Another isotope sometimes used is thallium. Same difference.
 
The amount of radiation is very small, about what you might get from a dental or a chest x-ray, or less. And you’re “radioactive” for a very short period of time, just a few hours, as your body clears the isotope quickly and you pee it out. In any case, it’s nothing to worry about.
 
The heart muscle takes up the isotope from the blood and begins to emit radiation from wherever the isotope has been deposited. So, first you lie still under a machine that “reads” the radiation emissions and assembles them into a series of pictures.
 
Then, you get the stress test. That’s a graduated series of walks on a treadmill. They hook you up to an EKG machine, to monitor your heart rate and look for any signs of ischemia (oxygen deprivation), and they also monitor your blood pressure, periodically throughout the test.
 
You start at a slow walk and on a level plane, to warm up. Then, every so often, the treadmill speeds picks up and the grade increases (you begin walking uphill). Increased speed and an increased angle increase the work your heart is asked to do. That’s why they call it a stress test. These increases continue until you get to a predetermined heart rate, usually up to 80% of your calculated maximum.
 
They figure that out by subtracting your age from 220. Now, in my case, I had been doing hill sprints, as part of my fat loss program. So I actually got to OVER 100% of my maximum heart rate, with no problems. Between my substantial weight loss and my ultra pure, enteric coated pharmaceutical grade fish oil, POWERHOUSE OMEGA FORMULA  http://www.favoriteformulas.com I wasn’t surprised, but I WAS pleased. So was my cardiologist, who is a big fan of fish oil, himself.
 
Anyway, at the peak of activity on the treadmill, they inject you with even more of the isotope. Then, you go have lunch and rest. 
 
An hour or so later, you come back and repeat the scan that you had first. The intial scan (taken at rest, as a baseline) is then compared with the post stress test scan. 
 
Ideally, as in my case, there is no difference between the two. This indicates that there is full perfusion–meaning that the blood supply to your heart muscle is NOT blocked, or compromised. It’s all good.
 
If, however, there IS a difference, it suggests that there is a partial blockage of one of the coronary arteries to the heart muscle. That’s because a partly blocked artery cannot bring as much isotope into the stressed heart muscle segment downstream, so that shows up as a relatively “cold” area on the scan.
 
Based on its severity, that could mean you need medication, or that you need a cardiac catheterization (sometimes called a coronary angiogram, a “PCI” for percutaneous cardiac intervention, or a “cath”). 
 
If you have severe disease, you might experience chest pain, or angina, at some point during the stress test. In that case, the defects seen on the scans will help determine which areas and therefore, which coronary arteries are blocked and how badly.
 
As for me, I’m good. The doc was very pleased by my efforts to lose weight and exercise. And, as this test showed, between my hill sprints and my PAIN-FREE PROGRAM exercises, which you can see here http://www.drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html those efforts pay off…big time! Since heart disease is the number one killer in the USA, it makes sense to do whatever you can, to keep your coronaries whistle clean. 
 
So take my advice: get yourself checked, by your own doctor, at least once a year. Whatever it costs, it’s cheap insurance and an early warning of trouble can make all the difference between life and death. And death is pretty final. If you haven’t been seen by your doc in a while, go make that appointment, today. I’ll say it again: it’s what you DON’T know that can hurt you.
 
Til next time, my friend, be well. And have a great weekend.
 
Yours for optimal health,
 
Dr. Bill
 
P.S. For DR. BILL’S LITTLE GREEN BOOK ON ELIMINATING KNEE PAIN, a concise, but complete handbook on the root causes and the various options for treating knee pain, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/eliminate_knee_pain.html 
 
P.P.S. For DR. BILL’S PAIN-FREE PROGRAM: EXERCISES TO PREVENT OR ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN, please go to http://drbillsclinic.com/exercise_eliminate.html 
 
P.P.P.S. For conventional and alternative treatments and exercises to relieve knee pain without surgery click on http://drbillsclinic.com/avoid_knee_surgery.html 
 
P.P.P.P.S. For the giant, comprehensive ADVANCED MASTERS’ COURSE: HOW TO ELIMINATE KNEE PAIN–ONCE & FOR ALL!, everything you need to know on causes and solutions for knee pain and the complete exercise program, too, go to http://drbillsclinic.com/advanced_masters.html
 
FREE BONUS CD with any order: THE HEALING POWER OF POSITIVE PAIN PERCEPTION
 
Copyright, 2009 by William Thomas Stillwell, MD, FACS
All rights reserved