Blog - Page 14 of 15 - Michigan Spine & Pain

Staying the Course: Preventing and Dealing with Golf Injuries

It seems like such a great idea: summer golf in Michigan. We have weathered through the cold winter and the wet spring and the beautiful, temperate summer is our reward. It’s fun and great exercise and just plain rejuvenating to get out and play 18 holes regularly.

But don’t be fooled. Despite the relaxation that golf at its best can provide, golf can also pose chances for injuries and pain.

In general, golf injuries are caused by repetitive use, the same thing that causes carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. When golfers repeat the same motion over and over, they can unwittingly put serious stress on the same muscles, joints and tendons, causing injury.

The most prevalent golf injuries are golfer’s elbow and low back pain.

Golfer’s Elbow is also known as medial epicondylitis. Golfer’s elbow is essentially an inflammation of the tendons that connect the muscles in your forearm to the inside bone at your elbow. Golfer’s elbow results from overuse of these muscles and tendons, which can lead to pain and soreness at the point of the elbow closest to the body.

You can prevent golfer’s elbow by strengthening these muscles, particularly the muscles in your forearm. Some easy exercises include squeezing a tennis ball for at least five minutes per hand, and any wrist curling exercises that are weight-bearing.

Low Back Pain is caused by golf swing mechanics that put additional pressure on the muscles in your low back. If you suffer from poor flexibility or weakened muscles in that area, a round of golf can exacerbate that weakness. In addition, you have to be aware of how you’re toting around your golf bag, being sure to lift it appropriately.

You can prevent low back pain by increasing your flexibility and strengthening the muscles in the back and abdomen. Yoga and Pilates could be helpful, as well as basic stretching. Abdominal workouts like crunches also build strength and add to flexibility. Any weight-bearing activities that mimic rowing or pulling down can also add to back strength.

Golfers could also benefit from checking in with a trainer or golf professional to have another person examine their swing, correcting mechanical flaws that could contribute to back problems. Typically, the issues in a swing that should be corrected are poor posture and overswinging.

All golfers should spend time stretching before a round, paying special attention to arms, wrists, back and abdominal muscles.

Aches and Pains? Is It Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a disorder whose chief symptom is pain, the kind of pain that is called musculoskeletal pain (in the muscles, bones and joints).

The other significant symptoms of Fibromyalgia are intense fatigue, difficulty sleeping, problems with memory and severe moods (either swinging between highs and lows or even a vague depression).

Fibromyalgia is a very complicated disorder. Sometimes it evidences itself after a physical or emotional trauma, sometimes it shows up after a medical procedure, and sometimes there appears to be no “trigger”.

You could be at risk for Fibromyalgia if you have rheumatic diseases. Fibromyalgia is more prevalent in women.

Diagnosing Fibromyalgia:

Fibromyalgia can be tricky to diagnose. In general, fibromyalgia will be suspected if you experience pain, often in the form of a dull ache, pain that does not go away for at least three months. The pain needs to be experienced in multiple locations, on both the left and right sides of the body and both above and below the waist.

Treating Fibromyalgia:

At Michigan Spine and Pain, we are aware that Fibromyalgia treatment must be individualized. We cannot eradicate Fibromyalgia, but we can work together to try to keep the symptoms at bay through therapies, medication and maintaining a good level of general health, through proper diet, exercise and restorative sleep schedules.

Medication can be as simple as over the counter pain relievers, prescription pain relievers, certain anti-depressants, medication to aid in sleeping better or certain anti-seizure medication. All of these substances need to be monitored and part of regular conversation between you and your health care provider, so we can be sure that the medication is effective and is not creating other unwanted side effects.

Medication and healthy life style maintenance are two parts of the puzzle. Often times, other interventions can be quite helpful, too, including psychological counseling to find strategies to decrease stress, physical therapy to learn gentle stretching exercises that can help, acupuncture and massage therapy.

Swimming Away from Back Pain

For those who suffer from back pain, it is imperative to lead an active lifestyle.

Finding an exercise that maintains activity levels, burns calories and builds muscle is key. Swimming accomplishes all three. Swimming takes all of the stress off of joints. And swimming can strengthen back muscles and core muscles. In addition, swimming has been documented to reduce back pain.

But not all swimming is created equal.

If you are suffering from back pain, you should not begin a swimming regimen or any exercise routine without consulting your health care provider.

If you are cleared to swim, you may want to engage a coach, instructor or trainer to look at your stroke and to be sure that you are not twisting too much and are working efficiently.

The best swimming strokes for pain patients are the breaststroke and the backstroke. Both of these are better than the butterfly and crawl, which utilize a more “twisty” motion.

If you and your doctor decide that swimming is for you, start your exercise routine slowly and increase incrementally. According to the New York Times, “Japanese researchers looked at 35 people with low back pain who were enrolled in an aquatic exercise program, which included swimming and walking in a pool. Almost all of the patients showed improvements after six months, but the researchers found that those who participated at least twice weekly showed more significant improvements than those who went only once a week. The improvement in physical score was independent of the initial ability in swimming.”

Treating Pregnancy Low Back Pain

Previously, we talked about the high incidence of low back pain in pregnant women, especially in the final trimester of pregnancy, and some basic ways to prevent low-back pain. We hope that you will be able to prevent back pain.

If, despite your efforts, back pain arrives, let’s talk about what you can do or how we can help:

Physical therapy: If your back pain is unbearable, we encourage you to make an appointment with our physical therapist. We can recommend exercises for you and watch you practice while you’re in the office. That way, we can be sure your position and movements are safe and appropriate. These exercises can be to prevent pain or for when back pain flares up.
Posture check: When you come into our office, we can also show you the best ways to sit and stand that will allow you to keep back pain at bay.
Pain medication: check with us regarding what drugs are allowed for pregnant women.
Sometimes, applying heat or cold can alleviate back pain. Come see us before starting this regimen. Often several days of cold compresses followed by a few days of heat applied to the low back can bring some relief. Never apply heat to your stomach.
Psychological support: in our offices, we understand that the physical and the mental aspects of pain are interrelated. If you are under stress (and pregnancy, even a well-planned, expected one can be stressful), you may need some counseling to help you through this transition.
Chiropractic adjustment: this procedure can be safe during pregnancy and can really help diminish pain.
Acupuncture: this complementary medical approach, inserting small needles into the skin, also can be a source of relief for many of our patients.
Support Belt: there is not great evidence that these support belts are effective; nevertheless, if it works for you, there’s no danger in trying one on (except the cost of buying one).

Give us a call and let us help you if your lower back pain is more than you can bear.

IMPORTANT NOTE: ANYTIME you are ever concerned that the feeling or sensation you have while pregnant is questionable, call your obstetrician immediately. Pain accompanied by vaginal bleeding, fever or burning during urination may be very serious. If this occurs, contact your obstetrician immediately.

Pregnancy and Lower Back Pain

It is true. You’re not just imagining it! There are so many pregnant women! In Michigan, the long winter has a side benefit of higher conceptions during the winter months, which means lots of fall babies.

Pregnancy is an exciting time for you, your family and friends, but the changes in your body can increase the pressure on your spine and cause back pain, particularly low back pain. You are definitely not alone. Most women (between 50 and 80%) experience back pain during pregnancy. Typically, lower back pain hits its peak beginning in the 7^th month.

This article addresses the reasons for low back pain and some preventive measures. A future post will be about available treatment for pregnancy-related low back pain.

Reasons for low back pain include:

Weight gain. It is healthy and necessary to gain an appropriate amount of weight during pregnancy, but your back takes the brunt of that extra weight.
Posture changes. When you are pregnant, you may inadvertently be shifting your posture, which can contribute to low back pain.
Hormone changes. The culprit is a hormone called relaxin. Relaxin allows the ligaments in your pelvis to relax and makes the joints looser. This effect is to prepare your body for childbirth. But, the down side is that the relaxin can cause the ligaments that support your spine to loosen, and this can lead to pain.
Muscle separation. The uterus expands as your pregnancy progresses, and there are two planes of muscles called the rectal abdominis muscles, which can separate from the expansion.
Stress. Often people physically take on stress in their body, bringing on muscle tension, which can lead to pain or spasms. Although pregnancy can be exciting and joyful, it is not without stress, as you contemplate the changes in your lifestyle and the time and financial commitment that being a parent entails.

How to Prevent Lower Back Pain in Pregnancy

Monitor your weight gain. Pregnancy is not the time to diet. You need more calories to sustain yourself and nourish the growing baby. But pregnancy is also not the time to say to yourself, “My maternity clothes are so roomy. I’ll eat whatever I want!” Overindulging and allowing a really large weight gain will put added pressure on your back. If you can, try to find a balance of proper eating.
Practice good posture when standing. Stand up straight. Keep your shoulders back. Try not to slouch or to lean back. Keep your feet apart. If you are forced to stand for a long time, rest one foot on a low stool or a low step. Take breaks.
Wear shoes that help your posture. Those spike heels go back in the closet! It’s time for comfortable, low-heeled (not flat) shoes with really good support, especially in the arches.
Practice good posture when sitting. Think about where you sit the most. Your favorite couch may not be the one that encourages good posture. You need an upright seat that gives you good firm back support. Experiment with pillows behind your back. Also look for an ottoman or footstool for you to place your feet on.
Be extremely careful when you lift anything. First consider not lifting and asking somebody else for assistance. But, if you must lift, even something small, squat down and lift with your legs. Don’t bend at the waist. Remember, even taking the dishes out of the dishwasher is light lifting. Bend the knees, not the waist.
Try to stay active. Regular physical activity is important for anybody with back issues and pregnant women still accrue the benefits of an active lifestyle. If your obstetrician gives the ok, consider regular gentle exercises. Walking and swimming are excellent choices. Also, any exercise regimen like very gentle yoga or pilates where you can stretch can be beneficial as well.

Adding Chocolate to Your Health Care Plan

Let the Cheering Commence: Chocolate is Good for Your Heart and can Ease Pain!

There has been an explosion of interest – and now a continuous flow of evidence-based research – on the overall benefits of chocolate, especially when consumed in moderation and as part of an overall healthy lifestyle. “The luscious aroma, taste and textures of chocolate have delighted the senses of people in many parts of the world for centuries and make it a well-known comfort food,” commented Sunil Kochhar, Ph.D. during the Cocoa: Science and Technology symposium held at the March 2014 National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society.(source: www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2012/march/science-celebrates-cocoa-and-chocolates-potential-health-benefits.html)

Physical pain can take an emotional toll on a person. Now, scientists have discovered that chocolate can help with that, too! Perhaps even more interesting than the comfort-food qualities of chocolate, though, is the emerging understanding that “Dark chocolate can relieve stress for some people” and that “chocolate may be useful in treating of diseases involving disorders of the trigeminal nerve, including migraine and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.” (source: www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2012/march/science-celebrates-cocoa-and-chocolates-potential-health-benefits.html In addition to reducing stress, providing comfort and positively influencing certain nerve components connected with TMJ, researchers are continuing to look at scientifically significant laboratory results indicating chocolate eating’s positive correlation with diseases and conditions. The list of potential physiological benefits is even longer than we have time for here. But here are a few currently being studied:

fighting cardiovascular problems
preventing clot formation
protecting livers from damage that can lead to liver disease
reducing high blood pressure – a major heart disease risk
reducing the risk of colon cancer

Adding to the good news…Breaking news from Dallas TX: At the 247^th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society researchers presented the health-craving (and the chocolate-craving) world with the first research based and peer reviewed evidence on why chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is an anti-inflammatory health food. Researchers from Louisiana State University, lead by John Finley, Ph.D., explained that the benefits of chocolate have been spoken about for centuries, but a modern scientific understanding of why has remained a mystery. Finley’s team identified Bifidobacterium and lactic acid as “good microbes” that literately consume the chocolate we eat and then ferment it into anti-inflammatory compounds that are good for the heart. Read more here: www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/newsreleases/2014/march/the-precise-reason-for-the-health-benefits-of-dark-chocolate-mystery-solved.html

Spring Cleaning for your Body

If you have been cooped up inside during our long, difficult winter, the sunny skies and clear roads are calling you! But, even the fittest of us have to ease into spring time exercise, especially if the winter has been a time of couch sitting and excessive screen time. If January and February brought only binge eating and binge watching favorite shows, April promises warmer weather and opportunities for walking, jogging, running, golf, and tennis abound.

Here are some pointers to getting that behind back in gear:

Underestimate how fit you are. Don’t go from three months on the couch to a 10 mile run. Assume you are out of shape and start slowly.
Look at your old sports shoes. Maybe it’s time to reinvest in some new equipment!
Build up your time in cardiovascular activity. Even if the first day consists of only a fifteen minute walk, that’s ok. Every day add more time (5-15 minutes each day).
Exercising every day even for shorter periods is a much healthier choice than exercising strenuously once a week. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise every single day is good for weight management, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and maintaining appropriate blood sugar.

If you are already exercising three times a week with weight-bearing exercises, good for you! Consider increasing the amount of the weights slightly and challenge yourself.

Please remember to always consult your health care provider before beginning any new exercise regimen.

Striving to Make Our Service “Painless”!

In addition to keeping our professional teams on top of the latest in the clinical applications of pain alleviation science, Michigan Spine and Pain is always looking at trends and emerging best practices in the field of practice management. We want our office to run in the best possible way in order to offer our patients the best possible opportunities for pain relief healthcare. We are always interested in learning what our patients in particular, and healthcare consuming public, in general, wants most from their experiences with our medical practice.

PSFK Labs, a NYC-based marketing specialty firm in cooperation with the pharmaceutical research firm Boehringer Ingelheim recently released an in depth marketing study examining some of the most important trends that will guide the future of healthcare access and delivery. “We’re witnessing the emergence of a proactive and empowered patient who is more in control of their personal health choices. Armed with information about their lifestyle and conditions, they expect their relationships with their doctors to be more personal and collaborative, as they work together towards achieving the best outcomes.” (source: www.psfk.com/publishing/future-of-health-2014#!Ar218) Seven trends that the report specifically highlights are:

1. Data Synergies

2. Living Health Databases

3. Instant Access

4. Informed Conversations

5. Prescription for Technology

6. Responsive Care Systems

7. Consumer-Driven Marketplace

A brief explanation of each of these trends – as excerpted from www.psfk.com – follows:

Data Synergies — As people begin to generate a greater volume of personal health data… People will want control over this information to ensure that they receive the greatest benefit from shared access…

Living Health Databases — Research database that can be mined for deeper insights about individuals and communities. Doctors can use these insights to support better assessments about conditions, treatment effectiveness and warning signs.

Instant Access — …the ability to connect with their doctors through a wider variety of platforms and channels – video, online, mobile and social – to receive care that is more personal, regular and convenient.

Informed Conversations — As consumers broaden their healthcare networks to include, wellness experts and patient communities, they’ll require access to personal medical results and resources that are accurate, standardized and easily understood to facilitate discussion and collaborate on treatment plans.

Prescription For Technology — More digitally-savvy consumers are looking to their doctors and healthcare providers to be technology and information advisors in the medical space.

Responsive Care Systems — As sophisticated health monitoring and analysis technologies develop for the consumer and professional marketplaces, we’ll see a transition to a more responsive model of care that steps in to provide support at key moments. These systems will automate processes like appointment and medication reminders, and prompt when human input is required, such as when a patient is deviating from their treatment.

Consumer-Driven Marketplace — As consumers take advantage of connected technologies, social tools and information resources to become more knowledgeable about their health and that of their families, there will be a subsequent push for healthcare options that better fit their lifestyle choices. (source: www.psfk.com/2014/02/key-takeaways-future-health.html#!AsjhA)

It is important to us to know what works well for you about your experiences with your care at our office. We agree that the trends highlighted here are with us to stay; Michigan Spine and Pain will be ready for the future opportunities and challenges of providing excellent modern care to our informed patients living in a digital world. What would you like to see more of, what do you think might work best for you? Let us know. We are here today, tomorrow and in the future because of and – for – of our fantastic patients.

Exploring Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral – adjective, pe·riph·er·al – pəˈrifərəl/

Neuropathy – noun, neu·rop·a·thy – n(y)o͝oˈräpəTHē/

Peripheral Neuropathy is not a single, identifiable disease. Really it is it is a complication found in a number of different medical conditions from cancer to degenerative disk disease or diabetes. Neuropathy can also be seen without any particular cause being diagnosed. This is referred to as idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. Any number of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord may be involved. Three main types of nerves can be involved in peripheral neuropathy: Autonomic nerves (not under conscious control, “automatic” or “involuntary” nerves), motor nerves and sensory nerves. Some of the specific names of nerves that fall into these groups include

Phrenic – C3-C5 – diaphragm
Radial – C5-C8, T1 – skin and muscles of posterior arm, forearm, and hand, plus thumb and first two fingers
Median – C5-C8, T1 – skin and muscles of anterior arm, forearm, and hand
Ulnar – C8, T1 – skin and muscles of medial arm, forearm, and hand, plus little finger and ring finger
Intercostal – T2-T12 – intercostal muscles, abdominal muscles, and skin of trunk
Femoral – L2-L4 – skin and muscles of anterior thigh, plus medial leg and foot
Sciatic – L4-S3 – skin and muscles of posterior thigh, leg, and foot.

(source:www.innvista.com/health/anatomy/spinal-and-major-peripheral-nerves/)

Approximately one dozen different conditions related to nerve damage and pain can commonly be found throughout medical literature. Other very rare Peripheral neuropathy-related pain scenarios sometimes do present in certain hard to identify or treat situations. The most common types of neuropathy include:

Autonomic Neuropathy
Cancer-Related Neuropathies
Chemotherapy Induced Neuropathy
Compressive Neuropathies
Diabetic Neuropathy
Drug-Induced Neuropathy and Toxic Neuropathy
G.I. and Nutrition-Related Neuropathies
Hereditary Neuropathies
Infectious Diseases and Neuropathy

Because each different type of Peripheral Neuropathy can have a very unique expression of symptoms, it is important to have a conversation about any of your questions, symptoms or concerns with your doctor.

We have treated countless numbers of patients with Peripheral Neuropathy at Michigan Spine and Pain. Your symptoms might include intense pain – or even a lack of appropriate sensation. The range of sensation intensification and/or sensation loss can be very large from one patient to another with a Peripheral Neuropathy diagnosis. With our team at your side you can be confident that we are here to support you throughout your journey with Peripheral Neuropathy pain management. We are familiar with a wide range of traditional, complementary and alternative practices that have helped many of our patients. Have you been diagnosed with Peripheral Neuropathy? Are you looking for some additional treatment perspective or options? Don’t stay on the edge of knowledge about this complex issue. We’re here to talk and here to help.

Influencing Drug Companies for Change

Seeing Positive Signs 8 years later…

British journalist Jacky Law’s 2006 book, Big Pharma: How the World’s Biggest Drug Companies Control Illness was a chart-topper that exposed how pharmaceutical companies (and their business/profit departments…) that decide which health care issues are researched and which medicines are produced in light of the failure of regulatory standards and laws that were supposed to mitigate the pharmaceutical companies will to peruse profit in deference to improvements in public health. The spotlight shone on this issue by Law almost a decade ago has lasted and has compelled many pharmaceutical corporations to engage in a more public discourse about drug research and, no doubt, helped build the foundations for last month’s February 4^th announcement by the National Institutes of Health:

Feb 4 (Reuters) – Ten big rival drug companies have formed a pact to cooperate on a government-backed effort to accelerate the discovery of new drugs, the Wall Street Journal reported. The companies and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will share scientists, tissue and blood samples, and data, to identify targets for new drugs for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, the Journal said. The collaboration, called the Accelerating Medicines Partnership, will cost about $230 million and involves drug makers such as Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi. The agreement prohibits participants from using any discovery for their own drug development until the project makes data public on that discovery. (source: www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/04/nih-drugspact-idUSL3N0L915B20140204)

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