Monthly Archives: June 2011
1. The right sleep environment can make all the difference in preventing back pain. One option is to put a small pillow between your knees when you sleep. This will help keep your hips in-line, avoiding lower back stiffness.
2. Good Posture is very important in preventing back and neck pain. Always be aware of your posture and try to choose a firm backed chair for sitting.
3. If you exercise regularly, be aware that your shoes need to be supportive. Replace running shoes every 6-8 months since they are made from soft materials and flatten after repeated use, causing your foot to lose support, which in turn will cause back problems. Consider buying orthopedic inserts for your shoes, these will aid in proper foot support, reducing back strain. Continue reading
What Is Spinal Fusion Surgery?
Spinal Fusion surgery is a procedure in which vertebrae are fused together to prevent a painful movement at the joint. Inserting a piece of bone between the vertebrae and encouraging the bone to grow accomplish this process, fusing the vertebrae together, preventing movement between them and eliminating the pain. To eliminate movement, this process is repeated in the spaces above and below the target vertebra, isolating it from moving entirely.
Who Would Be A Good Candidate?
Spinal Fusion surgery is a method of treating several problems with the spinal column. Some of those problems include (but are not limited to):
· Degenerative Disc Disease
· A Weak or Unstable Spine
· Scoliosis
· When a Vertebra Slips Out of Place in the Spinal Column
· Deformities
These are some of the most common conditions under which a patient should talk to a doctor regarding their options on spinal fusion surgery. If a patient is experiencing severe back pain, s/he should immediately talk to a doctor to determine the cause and location of the pain to know how to best take care of the problem. Continue reading
While you cannot prevent all back injuries or chronic back pain, certain lifestyle changes and healthy habits can prevent some issues from developing.
- Healthy Diet- Eating a well balanced diet works to promote
healthy bones and muscles, needed to support and protect your spinal column. - Healthy Weight- Excess weigh adds stress onto multiple portions of your spine. Work proactively to lose weight if you are currently overweight or obese. And if you are currently at an optimal weight, work to avoid adding weight as you age. Adding simple exercise programs into your weekly schedule coupled with healthy eating will improve your back health
- Drink Water- While we have all heard that drinking water is important, many of us fail to implement this healthy strategy into our daily lives. Water keeps our body fluid. It also lifts intevertebral discs, allowing them to function properly as shock absorbers. Drink 8, 8 ounce glasses of water daily. Continue reading
Did you know that how you are sleeping could be the culprit of your chronic lower back pain? Sleeping positions can exacerbate or even cause back pain to develop. The good news is that whether you sleep on your side, stomach or back, simple changes at bedtime may be able to relieve or eliminate your current back issues.
Sleep on Your Side?
If you love to sleep on your side, place a pillow between your knees and thighs to prevent your top knee from sliding forward onto the mattress. When this position occurs, it can cause your lower spine to rotate, causing back or even hip pain to worsen or develop.
Sleep on your Stomach?
Even though you may love this position, avoid sleeping on your stomach. This position causes your back to arch, one of the most common causes of lower back pain. If you can’t sleep any other way, consider placing a small pillow underneath your hips to put your spine into proper alignment. Continue reading
Millions of people suffer from back pain every day and seek out Tempe back pain treatment. For some it is simply from straining themselves too hard at work or during a sporting event, others have been involved in accidents and some may have Spinal Stenosis, Disc Herniation or Degenerative Disc Disease.
Your first step towards relief should always to be to consult a physician for a thorough exam, but before you embark on any solution you should be aware of all of your Houston back pain treatment choices. Let’s take a look at a few of the common options.
Physical Therapy
For many, Tempe back pain treatment can be as simple as physical therapy. Often this is the first course of action many take in their search for Houston back pain treatment. However, while physical therapy may be all some patients need, there are many others who need a more lasting solution.
Medication
Prescription medication is turned to by many for relief and as a form of Tempe back pain treatment. However, these are not just super sized aspirin you will be taking, chronic back pain sufferers are normally prescribed narcotic pain killers. This can not only be addictive and expensive, but are not a real solution. Continue reading
There can be many sources of neck and back pain. Depending on what the cause of your back pain is, will determine what type of treatment is needed and whether minimally invasive spine surgery in Tempe is an option.
Some types of back pain treatment include open back surgery, artificial disk replacement, narcotic medication and physical therapy. However there are also a large number of back pain patients that have a lot to benefit from choosing minimally invasive spine surgery in Tempe.
The 3 types of minimally invasive spine surgery offered in Tempe are:
- Percutaneous Lumbar Pedicle Screws
- External Lateral Lumber Fusion
- Trans-Sacral L5/S1 Fusion
Why choose minimally invasive spine surgery in Tempe?Physical therapy and medication is not always enough and may not provide a lasting solution Continue reading
There are an incredible number of Tempe back pain sufferers today. In fact 8 out of 10 Tempe residents will suffer from back pain at some point in their adult life. However, there are solutions.
Fortunately most Tempe back pain sufferers will find that their discomfort is short lived and will dissipate quickly. According to experts from the Arizona Back Institute many Tempe back pain victims can also help prevent these pains and problems through regular exercise, diet and weight control. Others can simply find relief from ice packs and heat. However 30% of the population will encounter chronic back pain that requires professional attention.
Tempe back pain patients who have been suffering from back, leg or neck pain that has been ongoing or is the result of an accident or serious incident should seek a professionals help and guidance. Many have tried living with their pain, even with medication and have found it to remain a long term problem that limits their activity and affects all areas of their lives. Others have sought out physical therapy or have tried out chiropractic services. However, as you already know prescription medications come with their own array of issues and risks while physical therapy may not be a lasting and sufficient solution for a large percentage of Tempe back pain patients.
At the same time many Tempe back pain sufferers have perhaps been a little to quick to subject themselves to open back surgery. While open back surgery may certainly be warranted in some cases a large number of this group could have discovered another, less risky and more pleasant option. Continue reading
If you have been suffering from chronic back pain or have been involved in a debilitating accident which has left you with severe and ongoing leg, back or neck pain and have been recommended for surgery, you want to make sure that you are in the hands of the best possible spine surgeon.
Let’s be honest. A spine surgeon is going to be doing a little more than putting on a band aid or taking your blood pressure and you don’t want to put your back pain surgery in the hands of just anyone. So what should you be looking for in an spine surgeon and where can you find one in Tempe?
A great and trusted spine surgeon will make sure that you are properly examined and that back pain surgery is really the right choice for you. The best will also utilize minimally invasive spine surgery in Tempe. This means a safer solution that requires less medication and enables many to be up and walking around within just hours afterwards. It may not be right for everyone, but it can definitely be a more attractive choice for those who can benefit from it.
Let’s be honest. A spine surgeon is going to be doing a little more than putting on a band aid or taking your blood pressure and you don’t want to put your back pain surgery in the hands of just anyone. So what should you be looking for in an spine surgeon and where can you find one in Houston?
A great and trusted spine surgeon will make sure that you are properly examined and that back pain surgery is really the right choice for you. The best will also utilize minimally invasive spine surgery in Houston. This means a safer solution that requires less medication and enables many to be up and walking around within just hours afterwards. It may not be right for everyone, but it can definitely be a more attractive choice for those who can benefit from it. Continue reading
According to data released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and published at the Pain Center on MSNBC shows that in just one year 27 million adults reported suffering from back pain, a number that continues to grow rapidly.
The good news is that about 90% of these sufferers will see relief without needing spinal back surgery and will find it goes away with spine treatments like therapy. However about 5% of those with neck, leg and back pain will find that they will need some form of spinal back surgery in order to rectify the problem and find long-term spine solutions.
For those who have been suffering from back pain in Tempe for several months and have not found any of the spine treatments they have tried so far to work effectively or provide lasting solutions is spinal back surgery really worth it?
Traditional invasive, major spinal back surgery does not always provide a permanent fix. Plus of course like any other major open surgery it does come with risks and lengthy periods or convalescence and the need for lots of pain medication. Continue reading
Suffering from back pain? Millions of Americans suffer from back pain annually, so you are not alone. Understanding the underlying cause of back pain is essential for proper diagnosis.
While this is not a comprehensive list, these are 6 common causes of back pain.
Ruptured Disc- Many patients are diagnosed with a ruptured disc, or herniated disc, when the underlying condition presents symptoms such as leg pain, lower leg weakness and persistent back pain. When the ruptured disc presses against spinal nerves, pain can result.
Spinal Stenosis- This conditions affects men and women equally, typically among adults over the age of 50, and is attributed to the aging process. As the space surrounding the spinal cord narrows, nerves can become compressed, resulting in chronic pain.
Discogenic Back Pain- As we age, lumbar disc degeneration is often experienced. While some do not experience pain as a side effect, extreme pain and discomfort is felt by others. Continue reading
