Karen Reynolds Acupuncture

Car Accidents, Acupuncture & Your Rights~6 Myths U Need 2 Know (Part II)

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I hope this blog post will clarify some common assumptions and keep you safer in the event that you or a loved one is in a car accident. Injured people benefit from acupuncture after car accidents because it reduces pain, speeds wound healing and helps with overall stress. Too frequently, I find that people are not aware of their legal or insurance rights after an accident. Being in pain and stressed out makes decisions much more difficult too. This 2 part interview with personal injury attorney, Scott Kauffman has been inspired by the needs of my car accident patients. The goal is to share commonly held, but hugely inaccurate, myths about what happens in the aftermath of accidents. This is a timely interview with Scott. I trust him. He is smart, experienced, and makes it his life work to help people who have suffered in accidents get the best care possible and best options possible for recovery.

scott-kauffman

 

 

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:What if I am involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist?  What are my rights?”

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #4 If you purchased uninsured motorist coverage, you have the right to make a claim against your own company for injuries, wage loss and pain and suffering damages experienced following an accident.  

 

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:I have had patients ask me this question too: “My health plan paid for all of my medical treatment after my car accident and they just sent me a letter requesting to be reimbursed out of my injury settlement.  Do I have to pay them back?”

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #5 Most people do not realize that health insurance companies such as Blue Cross or Cigna, or even Kaiser Permanente always seek to recovery reimbursement for medical expenses related to your accident and paid on your behalf out of your injury settlement.  An experienced lawyer can either secure significant reductions or a waiver of these health insurance claims.

 

Know Your Rights Handwritten on Chalkboard. Time Concept. Composition with Chalkboard and Stack of Books, Alarm Clock and Scrolls on Blurred Background. Toned Image.

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:I have had patients say they can settle their own injury claims. On the internet it says that insurance carriers will simply pay a multiple of medical bills ie if medical bills total $2,500, they will pay out $7500.00 to resolve the case. Is this accurate? courage

 Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #6 No, this is no longer the case. Today, Insurance carriers look at many factors including the type of treatment received, extent of injuries, consistency and length of medical treatment, property damage, mechanism of injury, and many other factors.

For more information or to speak with Scott Kauffman personally, please see his contact information below:

Kauffman & Associates, PC

Personal Injury Attorneys
633 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel: (415) 507-0507
Fax: (415) 721-7005

http://kauffmanlaw.com

Car Accidents, Acupuncture & Your Rights~6 Myths U Need 2 Know

By

I hope this blog post will clarify some common assumptions and keep you safer in the event that you or a loved one is in a car accident. Injured people benefit from acupuncture after car accidents because it reduces pain, speeds wound healing and helps with overall stress. Too frequently, I find that people are not aware of their legal or insurance rights after an accident. Being in pain and stressed out makes decisions much more difficult too. This 2-part interview with personal injury attorney, Scott Kauffman has been inspired by the needs of my car accident patients. The goal is to share commonly held, but hugely inaccurate, myths about injuries and motor vehicle accidents. This is a timely interview with Scott. I trust him. He is smart, experienced, and makes it his life work to help people who have suffered in accidents get the best care possible and best options possible for recovery.

Desperate man crying on his old damaged car after a crash accident

{Part II to be released this Thursday, 4/14/16}

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:I have had injured patients on my acupuncture table who say: “I was in a car accident where there was huge damage to my car and to significant injury to me. Since the other driver’s insurance paid for my automobile damage, I’m sure they will pay for my physical medical care costs too.”scott-kauffman

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #1 Assessing and paying for car damage is quite easy.  Once you take your car to a body shop, the body shop and insurance carrier typical work out an agreed price for the repairs.  There is rarely a dispute regarding adjustment or settlement of the vehicle portion of the case. 

 On the other hand, resolution of the bodily injury claim is an entirely different matter.  Disputes commonly arise over the settlement of the injury claim. Most injured parties fail to realize that the settlement of an injury claim is an adversarial process, with the insurance company seeking to settle the case at the lowest possible dollar value.

 Injury attorneys attempt to even the playing field by ensuring that their clients are not mistreated or unfairly compensated by insurance adjusters who are better educated and trained in personal injury law.  Attorneys have far greater leverage in the negotiation process in that insurance adjusters know that their insured can be sued in the event they make a low-ball offer on the injury claim.  As such, most injured parties will do far better hiring an experienced injury attorney to assist them in navigating their injury claim.

 

 

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:Recently I referred a client to you, Scott, and I’m so glad I did. She was in terrible back pain after her car was hit by a truck. She was being pressured by the truck driver’s insurance adjuster to meet and give a recorded testimony. Am I correct that the law does not require doing that and that there are risks involved in doing so?

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #2: The law does not require an injured party to provide a formal statement to the insurance company adjuster.  Once I’m retained to represent a client, I advise the adverse company that no statement will be provided.  These statements are typically designed as fishing expeditions and are often used later in the case to undermine or reduce the ultimate settlement.

 

The word RIGHTS written in vintage letterpress type.

 

Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist in Corte Madera, CA:I have frequently have patients who are involved in car accidents that were not their fault. They often presume that since they have a good insurance policy, their carrier will represent them with respect to their medical issues. Is this accurate?

Scott J. Kauffman, Personal Injury Attorney in San Rafael, CA: Myth #3: Many prospective clients believe that their own insurance company will assist them in settling their bodily injury claim. This is not accurate. Your insurance company is available to help pay for your car damage if you purchased collision coverage. They will also pay for an attorney if you caused car damage or injury to another party.  On the other hand, if you suffered injuries as a result of the carelessness of another, your insurance company will not help or protect your interests.

 

For more information or to speak with Scott Kauffman personally, please see his contact information below:

Kauffman & Associates, PC

Personal Injury Attorneys
633 Fifth Avenue
San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel: (415) 507-0507
Fax: (415) 721-7005

http://kauffmanlaw.com

 

http://kauffmanlaw.com/san-rafael-personal-injury-attorney/

Easy Ways to Check 4 Ovulation

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Are you ovulating?

Are you ovulating?

Are you trying to get pregnant but not sure about regular ovulation? Do you know if you are in fact making an egg each month? In 17 years of my fertility acupuncture practice, I’ve worked with women with different challenges in getting pregnant. Some have long menstrual cycles, skipped cycles, painful cycles, or difficulty figuring out if they are ovulating.

Acupuncture is highly regulatory for these types of menstrual, ovulation and hormonal irregularities. A common treatment plan is for women to see me for a once per week acupuncture and customized Chinese herbal formulas for 2-3 menstrual cycles.

This article is about tracking your ovulation and the best ways to do so. I strongly suggest to my fertility clients that they track ovulation. Sometimes women think that ovulation happens smack dab in the middle of their cycle. Making an assumption about when you are ovulating can directly impact getting pregnant. There is the somewhat mythical idea that ovulation happens on cycle Day 14 of the fairytale 28 day cycle.

 In reality, few women ovulate exactly on Day 14. In fact, the ovulation day for many women can vary month to month, as much as three days. A 3-day variability can most directly impact your chances of getting pregnant. Since your egg only lives 24 to 48 hours unfertilized, you can easily miss opportunities for conception if you simply assume that you ovulate in the middle of your cycle.

Ways to Check for Ovulation

Ultrasound of the Ovaries

Ovulation Predictor Kit (OPK)

Easy Ways to Check Ovulation by Karen Reynolds, Licensed Acupuncturist

Easy Ways to Check Ovulation by Karen Reynolds, Licensed Acupuncturist

Fertility Monitors

Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

Cervical Mucous Changes

 

 

Ultrasound of the Ovaries

Doctors consider the most reliable method of determining ovulation to be an ultrasound of your ovaries. If you have not had a well woman examination with your gynecologist, obstetrician or nurse practitioner within the last year, I strongly recommend it. I also strongly recommend genetic pre-screening for both men and women before getting pregnant. Genetic carrier screening is typically not done until well into a woman’s first trimester. Testing can be done before pregnancy to rule out genetic issues and head off future heart ache. Please see my book Baby Blueprints for more information on that very important topic. https://karenreynolds.wpengine.com/baby-blueprints-book/

Do share with your MD or NP that you are seeking to get pregnant so they will better be able to select the most optimal time in your cycle to schedule your appointment. They may do an ultrasound at the time of your exam. An ultrasound is painless and fast and gives precise information about the activity of your ovaries as well as the thickness of your uterine lining.

 

Technology in your own hands: Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) and Fertility Monitors

Since monthly ultrasounds are usually not cost effective or possible from a scheduling perspective, the next way to track ovulation is with Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) available at drug stores, grocery stores, and on-line.

 

How do OPKs work?

OPKs contain strips which are used mid-stream in urination and vary in cost from approximately $15-70 per month. 12-48 Hours prior to your ovulation, a hormone called Luteinizing Hormone (LH) will be found in higher amounts in your urine. This rise in LH in your urine is called the “LH surge”. The color changes on OPK strips will let you know you’ll soon be ovulating. If you never get a solid color change, try checking twice per day, 8 hours apart and at consistent times. While most women will see their LH surge in mornings, some women consistently produce LH later in the afternoon.

 

Are you getting confusing OPK results?

If you have been using OPKs for some time and you are getting inconsistent readings, you may want to consider the purchase of a Fertility monitor. Systems typically cost between $200-$400. These track changes in salinity of saliva as well as vaginal fluids. Some companies even have new mobile fertility monitors, which are smart phone compatible.

 

Traditional methods: BBT and Cervical Mucous

Basal Body Temperature tracking (BBT) and cervical mucous tracking are older methods of tracking ovulation. Patience and consistency is necessary for BBT monitoring. Directions for measuring your BBT and charting the results must be followed exactly, so as not to skew results. First obtain a specialized basal body temperature thermometer. These are more accurate than general body thermometers. Typical cold and flu thermometers have markings to the 0.2 degree. A BBT is marked the 0.1 degree, which is better.

 

Ideally at ovulation, the body temperature will bump up 0.4 degrees and stay elevated until the end of the cycle. Take your temperature first thing in the morning, at the same time each morning before even rising from bed. It is best to take measurements only after at least three hours of uninterrupted sleep. Have the thermometer at your beside so as not to have to get out of bed and move around before taking your temperature. Activity will drive your temperature up and give you false readings. BBT charts are easily downloadable on-line and there are many smart phone apps that now make this tracking process even easier.

 

Please do keep in mind several things about BBTs. Some women do not show the 0.4 increase in their basal body temperature, but that does not mean all is lost. Certain hormonal or medical situations impact whether your BBT rises. Some examples are PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) or medications.  Also keep in mind that once you see the rise in your basal body temperature, you have already ovulated.  So tracking with a BBT chart gives you insight to the trends in your ovulation patterns. However the best timing of intercourse is before that temperature rise happens.

 

If you notice consistent patterns in your BBT like an up and down, sawtooth temperature shape or others, which is not a 0.4 increase sustained until menstrual bleeding, this is a perfect issue with which to consult with an acupuncturist. Each type of pattern shape corresponds with specific diagnoses in Oriental medicine. Acupuncturists have a wealth of acupuncture points and Chinese herbs, which address irregularities specifically.

Best ways to check ovulation.

Best ways to check ovulation.

Checking cervical mucous is another more traditional way to monitor ovulation. Cervical mucous changes consistency at ovulation. It will become fluffy much like egg whites when you are ovulating. However, for some women, changes in cervical mucous are not so obvious. Most BBT charts provide extra columns for notes for you to track mucous changes as well as any other symptoms you may have.

 

All content here is written personally by me in with the goal that it is be helpful to you. As long as you include the link for this blog entry to credit me as the author, it is fine to repost or share if you wish.

 Do please feel free to comment or ask questions here or per my Facebook page at: Karen Reynolds, LAc, RN Acupuncture for Optimal Health.

 For scheduling information and appointment availability, do please visit my website at: KReynoldsAcupuncture.com.

 

 

 

 

Zika Virus Pregnancy Risks

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Hello from Karen Reynolds, Acupuncturist and RN in Corte Madera, CA. In my acupuncture practice, I work with pregnant women and women trying to conceive. I’m noticing concern right now about Zika virus pregnancy risks. This article is about Zika virus pregnancy risks and how to protect yourself.

Mosquitoes spread the Zika virus; but keep in mind that does not mean all mosquitoes. It is specific mosquitoes in specific countries. If an infected mosquito bites a person, they typically will have a week of symptoms such as: rashes, joint pains, fever and red eyes. Many people do not even realize they have been infected, because the symptoms are mild and rarely cause trips to the hospital. If you are pregnant and worried, below are statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). I hope these put your mind at ease.

Countries where Zika virus is currently being found:

Africa, Brazil, the Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia and Uganda.

US Territories where Zika Virus is currently being found:

American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. 

 

As of March 2, 2016
Zika virus pregnancy risksThe number of Zika cases having occurred in the continental US is ZERO.
The number of Zika cases developing after travel abroad is 153.

What are the Zika virus pregnancy risks?
Babies with microcephaly have been born to women, bitten by infected mosquitoes. Microcephaly is when a baby’s head and brain are significantly smaller in size. These children can have problems with speech, vision, balance, swallowing, and have a decreased ability to learn.

What to keep in mind if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant?
During the first week a person has Zika virus, the virus is found in the person’s blood. That is how it is passed to the fetus of pregnant women. That also means it can be passed from an infected person to a sexual partner.
Men infected with Zika virus will have the virus in their semen (the fluid containing sperm). The virus also stays in the semen longer than in the bloodstream. If you are pregnant and your sexual partner has traveled to any areas noted above, use condoms during all sexual intercourse as well as all oral sex.Zika virus pregnancy risks

Please note that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website is wealth of knowledge. It has additional information about Zika virus pregnancy risks, traveling, and the best ways to protect against mosquito bites. Fortunately we are not seeing Zika virus outbreaks in the US and known cases in our country have occurred after travel abroad.

Safe sexual practices along with travel awareness will give you the best chance of avoiding exposure and having a healthy pregnancy and baby.

I hope this article is helpful and sets your mind at greater ease. All content is written personally by me. Please enjoy and feel free to share with me your thoughts or questions here. As long as you include the link for this blog entry to credit me as the author, it is fine to repost or share this article if you wish. For scheduling information and appointment availability, do please visit my website at: KReynoldsAcupuncture.com.

PCOS, Babies and You Part II

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imagesWelcome to Part II of PCOS, Babies & You

Are you are trying to get pregnant but having problems with regular ovulation or your menstrual cycle? This blog has important information about what is called: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS directly affects fertility, but here is how acupuncture helps.

There are many fertility blood tests out there. Two important ones are:

  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and
  • Luteinizing Hormone.

These are best drawn on your Cycle Day #3. For the purposes of fertility, it is healthy for Lab work for fertilityyour FSH and LH to be in what is called a One to One ratio. So for example: if a woman’s FSH is 6, ideally her LH would also be 6. Women with Polycsytic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have a much higher LH (often 2-3x more LH) than FSH.

Science shows that acupuncture improves this very important fertility ratio of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone in your body. 1 (Please see Part I of this blog for additional information about other signs of PCOS.)

 

Acupuncture is effective for PCOS. Here is how:

Acupuncture promotes ovulation. 2

Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are highly effective in lowering testosterone levels in women with PCOS. 3 (Testosterone is another hormone, which is related to getting pregnant. It is usually high in women with PCOS.)Chines herbs for fertility/KReynoldsAcupuncture.com

The results of a clinical trial by a researcher, Shi reflect lowering testosterone levels by 80.6% with Chinese herbs alone and lowering testosterone levels by 93.8%using       both acupuncture and Chinese herbs together.

Acupuncture regulates:

  •             Hormone (endocrine) functions (like FSH, LH & Testosterone)
  •             Blood sugar levels,
  •             Cholesterol (lipid) levels. 4

 A study done by the famous infertility researcher, Elisabet Stener-Victorin, states that Acupuncture when received consistently over time has lasting benefits on hormones and ovulation for PCOS. 5

PCOS is complicated. It impacts your ovulation, menstrual cycle, fertility hormones as well as blood sugar and cholesterol. Your body is a finely tuned but also delicate operation. Anything that throws wrenches in your gears, distorts your baby making production line. Acupuncture can help you and baby making run more smoothly.Fertility, Babies, KReynoldsAcupuncture.com

Thank you for reading PCOS, Babies, and You~Parts I & II. All content here is written personally by me in with the goal that it is be helpful to you. Please enjoy and feel free to share with me your thoughts or questions here. As long as you include the link for this blog entry to credit me as the author, it is fine to repost or share this article if you wish. For scheduling information and appointment availability, do please visit my website at: KReynoldsAcupuncture.com.

1 Pastore, L.M., Williams, C.D., Jenkins, J., Patrie, J.T. (2011). True and sham acupuncture produced similar frequency of ovulation and improved LH to FSH in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 96(10):3143-3150.
 2 Liu, Z.C., Sun, F.M., Zhu, M.H., Wang, X.Z. (2004). Effect of acupuncture on insulin resistance in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 2(6): 8-11.
3 Shi, Y., Feng, H.J., Liu, H.R., Zhu, D. (2009). Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs on polycystic ovary syndrome of kidney deficiency and phlegm stasis type. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 29(2):99-102. Chinese.
4 Liu, Z.C., Sun, F.M., Zhu, M.H., Wang, X.Z. (2004). Effect of acupuncture on insulin resistance in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 2(6): 8-11.
5Stener-Victorin, E., Jedel, E., Manneras, L. (2008). Acupuncture in polycystic ovary syndrome: Current experimental and clinical evidence. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 20(3): 290-298.

 

 

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