Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. Lower back pain, specifically, affects 31 million Americans. Many who suffer from back pain need to seek methods from a trained specialist. Some can manage this pain with exercise. Here’s how. UPPER BACK PAIN These exercises work best for upper back and pain right behind your shoulders. REAR DELTOID PULLS This exercise involves a cable tower and rope handle. Making sure the rope handle …
Many entering the world of pain management feel overwhelmed by their options. After all, no two methods are alike. Here are the factors you need to keep in mind when choosing your physical therapy plan. REFERRALS AND EXPERIENCE Even if you aren’t required to receive a referral from your primary care doctor, ask your doctor to recommend a physical therapist or facility for your specific issue. Don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for recommen…
One in two Americans have a musculoskeletal condition. These conditions vary from arthritis, back and neck pain, and osteoporosis. If you’re suffering from musculoskeletal pain, you can find pain relief beyond pain killers and operations. Here’s what you need to know. WHAT IS MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN? Musculoskeletal pain affects the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones. CAUSES Musculoskeletal pain can be caused from: Wear and tear of daily activit…
Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research shows bone loss is much more common in women than men. This can be a frustrating fact to read for women because one of the causes is low calcium intake. Why are women taking in less calcium? It could be because women are twice as likely to suffer from IBS. IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome. It’s an intestinal disorder that causes stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, and constipation. One of the treatments is someth…
Diagnostics Those with degenerative disc disease enjoy a 33% reduction in pain score and a 25% decrease in disability when compared to non-surgical patients. Operative care even reduces treatment costs. Spinal fusion has been the traditional go-to approach for many years, but treating such a broad range of conditions in the same way is like trying to shoot a fly with a cannon. Thorough diagnostics will determine the best surgical option for you. …
What Causes Back Pain? Back pain can be caused by a multitude of factors from sprains and strains to degenerative diseases. When struggling with chronic pain in you back, seek a spine specialist for diagnoses and treatment. Seeking treatment allows you to return to regular activity and the kind of life you've wanted to lead. Relieving, reducing, and managing back pain is a real possibility for you, too. Diagnosis Addressing pain begins with an ac…
The last few years have seen significant advances in the field of MRI imaging. Let's take a look at some of the most important upgrades: MRI-Conditional Implant Scans Medical implant technology has grown increasingly sophisticated, but implants traditionally complicated the MRI scanning procedure. Nowadays, however, spinal implants, pacemakers and other devices are becoming MRI-conditional, which means they do not interfere with the scanning proc…
Finding a top rated team of interventional pain management specialists requires one to understand what you need in a provider. When seeking a pain management medical provider to address my spinal issues, choose carefully. These tips will help you find the right medical specialist. Experience and Training It goes without saying that using a highly trained medical professional is absolutely mandatory. Your doctor must be renowned in their field and…
Holiday shopping is said to burn 1500 calories per trip, so it can be as harsh on your body as it is on your bank account. There are 12000 ER visits caused by activities of the season every year. 10% of them are caused by back strain, and 34% are related to falls. Keep your shopping trips safe and injury-free with these tips: Keep a Light Purse and Slim Wallet You probably know you need to empty out your purse before a long shopping trip, but you…
Michael S. Chang, MD was recently interviewed for an azcentral article. Read about Dr. Chang and his expertise on spinal conditions in children and adults.