Lower Back Injuries Most Common during Snow Shoveling
In the first long-term study of snow shovel-related emergency department visits, injuries to the lower back were found to be the most common place of injury. Over the course of 17 years of emergency department records 195,100 individuals were treated for incidents involving snow shoveling (11,500 per year). For the United States population, this comes to 4.15 cases per 100,000 people per year.
Darvon and Darvocet Painkillers Removed from US Markets
The pain medications Darvon and Darvocet (a combination medication of Darvon and acetaminophen) were removed from the US market on November 19th by the manufacturer Xanodyne after a safety study showed heart risk during higher than recommended doses and some heart risk even at recommended doses. The FDA is calling for the generic drug propoxyphene (the active ingredient in Darvon) to also be removed.
FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Cymbalta for Use to Treat Chronic Pain
Cymbalta (duloxetine), a popular antidepressant medication and its manufacturing company, Eli Lilly, recently presented its case to an FDA advisory panel for the drug to be approved for use in treating chronic lower back pain, as well as pain due to osteoarthritis. Along with depression, Cymbalta is also approved by the FDA to treat anxiety, fibromyalgia, and nerve pain from diabetes.
SpineAssist: Robotic Guidance System for Assisting in Spine Surgery
The first robotic surgical device to be approved by the FDA for spine surgery is in use in a few hospitals around the world. Surgeons at the Texas Back Institute, and 24 other hospitals internationally, are now performing spine surgery with the assistance of robotic guidance. The SpineAssist device is the only surgical robot designed to operate on the spine, although it is expected to also be approved for brain surgery.
American College of Rheumatology Announces Revised Classification Criteria for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis treatments and research have developed immensely in the last twenty years, but the classification of the disease had not changed since 1987. A joint effort of the American College of Rheumatology and the European League against Rheumatism began in 2008 to develop new classification criteria for the disease aimed at identifying it earlier.
FDA Panel Votes Against Proposed Opioid Abuse and Overdose Plan
An FDA advisory committee recently met to review the FDA’s proposed plan to create a REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) to help deal with opioid abuse and overdoses. In the FDA proposal, manufacturers of extended-release opioids would be responsible for providing educational materials and programs for physicians and nurses. This was to include pamphlets for patients and educational classes to guide physicians’ selection of appropriate patients.
Common Osteoporosis Medication Not Linked to Increased Risk of Esophageal or Gastric Cancer, Large-Scale Study Finds
Patients with osteoporosis – and the doctors who treat them – can potentially ease worries about a particular cancer risk with the use of bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis. Recent studies had found some evidence that the use of bisphosphonates could cause an increased risk of esophageal or gastric cancer in patients.
Study Compares Injections for Treating Sciatica from Herniated Disc
Researchers at the John Hunter Hospital and the Newcastle Bone and Joint Institute, both in Australia, recently finished a study on the effectiveness of transforaminal steroid injections. The study tested the injections as a viable treatment for lumbar radicular pain (sciatica) caused by a herniated disc before surgery is considered.
Diagnostic Injection for Low Back Pain from the Facet Joints May be Unnecessary
A new study performed at John Hopkins Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center suggests the current process of treating axial lower back pain caused by the facet joints is not the most cost-effective.
Bracing Effective for Scoliosis When Worn Regularly, Study Finds
Bracing for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has been controversial because it is not fully understood when bracing is beneficial and when it is not. Doctors at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children studied the efficacy of the Boston Brace when it was worn with compliance to the doctors’ prescribed time of daily brace wear.
Older Men Can Also Be Affected by Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is one of the most common conditions affecting the U.S population, with approximately 10 million people suffering from the disease. With such a high occurrence of this condition among women, it is often thought as a women’s disease among the general population and some physicians. However, approximately 2 million of the 10 million sufferers of osteoporosis are men.
Promising Cannabinoid Research for Neuropathic Pain
A new study conducted at the University of Texas may provide a first step towards developing a new medication for neuropathic pain.
Neuropathic pain is caused by nerve malfunction or nerve damage. There are few effective treatments for this type of pain since it is generally a chronic condition where nerve signals are malfunctioning without an identifiable anatomic cause.
Major Pain Medication Tylenol Recall Expanded
Over-the-counter medicines Tylenol, Motrin and Benadryl are being recalled by Johnson & Johnson. This is an expansion of the company’s recall in late April 2010 (Learn more).
Supplement Study for Osteoarthritis of the Spine
A recent study examined the effectiveness of glucosamine on relieving lower back pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the lumbar (lower) spine.
New Research may Provide Explanation to Back Pain from Herniated Discs
Researchers studying autoimmune disease have found a link between immune response and back pain. According to a study by Duke University Medical Center published in the July issue of the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism, a response by immune cells was observed when a herniated disc was present.
Is Bed Rest or Staying Active Better for Low Back Pain Recovery?
While many news sources are pronouncing "Staying active is better than rest" for people with acute low back pain with or without sciatica, the data actually show that staying active is only marginally better for people with low back pain without sciatica, and not any better at all for those with sciatica.
New Osteoporosis Medication Approved by FDA
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the drug Prolia (denosumab) for use in treating osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 50 percent of women over age fifty will experience a bone fracture caused in some part by osteoporosis. Prolia is designed to prevent fractures by promoting bone strength, while also providing a convenient alternative to the most common osteoporosis treatment options currently prescribed.
Acupuncture for Pain Treatment
Acupuncture is a popular form of Chinese medicine that has been around for over 2500 years. While it is typically not the first option used to treat neck pain or back pain, an increasing number of patients are using acupuncture for supplemental pain relief at the urging of physicians and other health professionals.
Knee Braces Shown to Reduce Pain From Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common, and often most disabling form of arthritis. It occurs frequently in weight-bearing joints including the hips and knees, and is characterized by tenderness, swelling, and stiffness, and moderate to severe pain.
Non-Surgical Treatment For Scoliosis May Not Be Cost Effective
Scoliosis is not a disease or diagnosis in itself, rather it is a term used to describe an abnormal curvature of the spine. The condition can be caused by a number of factors-congenital, developmental, or degenerative problems-although the majority of cases have no apparent cause and thus are termed "idiopathic" scoliosis.
The condition typically develops in the upper back, but may also be found in the mid-back or low back. The curvature of the spine is side to side, and may be present as a single C-shaped curve or a double S-shaped curve.
Modifications to OxyContin Reduce Risk of Misuse
Narcotic pain medications are commonly prescribed for severe episodes of back pain, but their potentially addictive nature can be a concern for doctors and patients alike. In small doses, narcotic medications can be highly effective in treating pain; however, the body quickly builds a natural tolerance to the medications and they lose effectiveness. To help maximize relief and minimize the risk of physical dependence, narcotic medications are typically only used as a short-term solution (less than two weeks).
DePuy Spine Stops Production of Charite Artificial Disc
DePuy Spine confirmed to Orthopedics This Week in March 2010 that it has ceased production of the Charité lumbar artificial disc in favor of an improved version, called the In Motion artificial disc. The Charité artificial disc was a revolutionary development in spinal technology, as it was the first commercial product for total replacement of diseased lumbar discs.
Small Shifts in Lifestyle Can Help Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Fibromyalgia is a painful muscular condition characterized by generalized back and muscle pain, and specific tender points around the body. The condition affects women nearly eight times more than men of the same age. Because there is no known anatomical cause for the condition, treatments often focus on therapeutic modalities including massage or gentle aerobics; however, physical activity can often be limited due to symptoms of the condition.
Simple Meditation Helps Reduce Perception of Pain
Meditation is a mental practice undertaken to achieve a certain state of mind, increasing one's mindfulness and concentration. By bringing focus to the mind, it is believed the physical body is allowed to heal itself. Although meditation makes up a large part of yoga and Tai Chi, it can also be practiced alone for psychological and physical well being, or as part of a pain management program.
Improved Understanding of Inflammation May Lead To Better Pain Relief
Inflammation often plays a large role in the pain experienced after a back or neck injury. Whether the injury is due to muscle strain or joint dysfunction, the body's first priority is to increase blood and nutrient flow to the affected area to promote healing. As a result, the surrounding tissues become red and swollen and can place pressure on nearby nerves.
Risk of hearing loss associated with common painkillers
Many episodes of low back pain can be controlled with common over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen. These classes of drugs include brands like Tylenol, Bayer, Advil, and Aleve. However, although these are not prescription medications, these over-the-counter pain medications do have certain risks.
New Artificial Lumbar Disc Shows Promise Compared to Currently Available Discs
Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back pain in adults, resulting from inflammation and instability around the affected disc. Traditionally, degenerative disc disease was treated through spinal fusion surgery, which stops the motion at the pain-generating joint. However, recent developments have allowed physicians to localize the affected disc and replace it with an artificial disc, thereby reducing pain while restoring normal spinal motion.
New Study Indicates Safety of Mild Procedure for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
A recent observational study examined the safety of mild ("Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression" by Vertos Medical Inc.) by doing a retrospective review of 90 patients treated with the procedure between January 2008 and July 2009. Researchers found no serious complications with the mild devices or technique, concluding that mild was as safe as or safer than similar spinal stenosis treatments.
Behavioral Therapy Helps Improve Sleep in Chronic Pain Patients
Many patients with chronic neck and back pain find it nearly impossible to get a good, restful night of sleep. In fact, it is estimated that 65% of people with a chronic pain condition experience sleep problems. While some turn to prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids, there is the risk of drug interaction and other side effects if the patient is also taking pain medication. A new study at the University of Rochester shows that cognitive behavioral therapy can significantly improve sleep and daily functioning in patients suffering from chronic neck or back pain.
Acupuncture May Be Effective for Pain Management in Young Patients
Managing pain associated with chronic illness is a difficult task for adults, but is often even harder for children. One reason is that children are not able to communicate their pain needs as effectively as adults. Research shows that anywhere from 30-70 percent of pediatric patients with a chronic illness experience pain, and that many of those suffering do not receive adequate pain relief.
Cymbalta May Decrease Chronic Low Back Pain
Duloxetine functions as a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and is often used for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.
Spinal Manipulation Effective for Cervicogenic Headache, Study Finds
In this study, researchers initially examined how different doses of spinal manipulation or light massage treatments affected patients with cervicogenic headaches, which refer to a group of headaches where the cervical spine (neck) is the primary structural source of pain.
Teenage Back Pain Associated with Competitive Youth Sports, Study Finds
The study added that teenagers who were active in competitive sports since they were young children may have the highest risk of lower back pain.
Heavier Backpacks Increase Risk of Back Pain in Children
In the first study to use imaging techniques to examine the effects of backpacks on children's spinal anatomy, researchers conducted standing MRI scans on the lumbar spines of 8 kids (average age 11 years) as they first wore an empty backpack and graduated to increasingly heavier backpacks of 9, 18 and 26 pounds.
Spine Surgeons Prefer Back Surgery Less Than Patients
The study added that spine surgeons will typically recommend back surgery for leg pain before back pain based on the causes of pain and effectiveness of surgeries.
FDA Approves New Morphine Concentrations for Acute and Chronic Pain Relief
While this medicine has been available on the market and commonly used to manage pain for years, Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution was not officially approved by the FDA until earlier this week. It is now the only morphine oral solution to be approved at this greater concentration.
Opioid Pain Killer Use Increases Risk of Fractures in Older Adults, Study Finds
After examining approximately 2,341 adults aged 60 or older and suffering from non-cancer chronic pain, the study reported that the risk of bone fracture was higher in patients using opioids compared to patients not using these drugs.
Fibromyalgia Pain May Be Reduced by Slow Breathing and Positive Mood, Study Finds
However, patients with fibromyalgia and associated negative feelings like sadness or depression are unlikely to experience decreases in pain as a result of slowed breathing, the study added.
Fibromyalgia Drug Savella Should Be Recalled, Consumer Advocacy Group Says
In a letter written earlier this week to the FDA, the group cited a company study on Savella that it says shows that taking this drug increases the risk of higher blood pressure (hypertension) and hardly alleviates fibromyalgia pain when compared to a placebo pill.
Acute Back Pain with Serious Pathology Is Rare in Primary Care, Study Says
In this study, researchers surveyed approximately 1,172 acute back pain patients on the possible presence of 25 red flags, or symptoms, associated with serious back pain causes like cancer, cauda equina syndrome, spinal fractures or infection.
Smoking and Non-Surgical Treatment of Back Pain Associated with Continued Opioid Use
In what’s believed to be the first longitudinal study to assess predictors of long-term use of these potent drugs, researchers collected data from the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) on patients with lower back pain due to spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.
Higher Doses of Opioids for Chronic Pain Increase Opioid Overdose Risks
Also known as narcotics, opioids like oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet, Percodan), hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and hydrocodone (Vicodin) are potent analgesic drugs that can effectively treat back pain, arthritis and other chronic conditions in the short-term.
Chronic Sleep Loss Severely Impairs Cognitive Abilities, Especially Late at Night
In this study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, 9 healthy volunteers were recruited to live a 43-hour day that included 33 hours of wakefulness and 10 hours of scheduled sleep for approximately 3 weeks.
Hip Joint Twisting Up 54% with Running Shoes Compared to Running Barefoot, Study Finds
As detailed in the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation journal PM&R, researchers were surprised to learn that running with modern-day running shoes caused a disproportionately large, 54% increase in internal hip rotation torque (twisting) when compared
Spine Immobilization Leads to 15 Extra Deaths Per Every 1,000 Shooting or Stabbing Victims
Many states encourage that gunshot and stab wound victims be stabilized with cervical collars and secured to boards prior to transportation to the hospital, a practice that researchers say may be more harmful than beneficial for patients least injured by such penetrating trauma.
Risk of Lower Back Pain Is 31% Higher in Current Smokers than Never Smokers
Smoking may not necessarily lead to lower back pain, but this risk still exists for current smokers, especially adolescents, according to new analysis in The American Journal of Medicine.
Based on the recent findings of Finnish researchers who analyzed 40 previous studies on lower back pain in current, former and never smokers, there is a “fairly modest” association with smoking and lower back pain.
Are Antidepressant Medications Any Different Than Placebo for Mild or Moderate Depression?
While antidepressant medications apparently provide substantial benefits to patients with severe symptoms of depression, their benefits are typically minimal or nonexistent when treating mild or moderate forms of depression, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
To determine whether there is a significant difference between antidepressants and placebo for patients with less severe depression, researchers examined data on 718 patients from 6 large-scale, placebo-controlled trials of antidepressants approved by the FDA.
Fibromyalgia, Arthritis Prevalent in Migraine Sufferers Who Were Emotionally Abused as Children
In this study, researchers recruited patients with physician-diagnosed migraines from 11 outpatient headache centers in the United States.
Orthopedic Surgeon Training Needs Improvements, Study Suggests
Orthopedic surgeon training requires several basic changes to improve upon the doctor learning experience and patient care for back pain and other symptoms, according to a study gathering the opinions of orthopedic residency directors throughout the country.
As detailed in the January issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, this study gauged the responses of 17 heads of noteworthy orthopedic programs in the United States, with these medical professionals asked to evaluate current residency models for orthopedic training.
Bone Fracture Risks High in HIV-Positive Postmenopausal Women
Postmenopausal women who are HIV-positive face a high risk of bone fractures as a result of low bone mineral density and accelerated bone loss, according to a new study to be published in February’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
During this longitudinal study, researchers examined the confounding question of why women with HIV show less bone mineral density and hypothesized that such bone loss may be related to the effects of not only the HIV infection but HIV treatments on the skeleton.
Chronic Lower Back Pain May Not Be Relieved by Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
As detailed in the journal Neurology, the systematic review found only five studies that examined chronic lower back pain relief from TENS treatments using electrodes to provide mild, electrical currents to painful areas of the back.
Nonunion Osteoporosis Fractures Effectively Treated by Balloon Kyphoplasty
As detailed in January's Orthopedics, this study involved a pool of 200 patients who underwent kyphoplasty surgery for osteoporotic fractures that failed to merge or heal and were thus described as nonunion.
Studies Provide Back Pain Patients with More Reasons to Stop Smoking in 2010
As recently detailed in the journal Nature, a study explored the effects of smoking on the genetic makeup of cells, with researchers respectively comparing a cancerous cell and a healthy cell from a 55-year-old man with lung cancer.
Experimental Injection Reportedly Simulates Effects of Chronic Pain Medications
According to researchers at the hospital, injecting specially-designed fat-based particles called liposomes, which sit in the body and slowly release powerful drugs, could provide effective relief for patients with back pain and other chronic pain for up to one week at a time, consequently allowing them to rely less on daily medications.
Birth Control Injection Increases Risk of Bone Loss in Certain Women
As detailed in the January 2010 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, this study followed 95 DMPA users for two years.
Recent Findings Reveal Gaps in Understanding and Treatment of Depression
As detailed in the Annals of Surgery, approximately 7,905 surgeons participated in a confidential survey-study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, with 700 of them (8.9 percent) admitting that they made major medical errors during sur
Being Overly Negative about Certain Foods May Help Avoid Holiday Weight Gain and Pain
As recently detailed in the Journal of Consumer Research, the study suggested that perception as opposed to the reality of how threatening certain food is to weight gain may exert a bigger influence on whether or not people choose to eat such food.
Night Before Christmas Can Impair Sleep Patterns, Survey Finds
According to a year-end survey from SleepBetter.org that included a nationally representative sample of approximately 1,001 Americans, 1 in 6 people estimated that they will lose sleep because of holiday stress, with parents more affected than children.
FDA Temporarily Recalls Brand Name Arthritis Pain Reliever
According to a press release from the manufacturer, five lots of this over-the-counter pain medication were recalled in November due to an unusual odor resembling mold, mildew and mustiness and associated with nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea, with the latest recall precautionary.
Why Is Osteoporosis Prevalent in Certain Bones?
As detailed in a new study recently published in the open access journal PLoS ONE, researchers compared the cells of skull and limb bones taken from adult rats, finding approximately 1,236 genetic differences between these bones.
Pain Killer Abuse Skyrockets among U.S. Troops
As detailed in the recently released results of a Pentagon survey of more than 28,500 troops last year, pain killer abuse among troops within the previous year was at 22% in 2008 in comparison to 10% in 2005.
Osteoporosis Medications May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer
As recently presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, researchers detailed that breast cancer developed in only 64 out of 2,216 women who were taking bisphosphonates when entering the WHI program back in 1991.
Radiation Exposure from CT Scans Is Reportedly Higher Than Expected
Radiation exposure in computerized tomography (CT scans) may be more than previously reported, possibly leading to increased cases of radiation-related cancer and cancer mortalities, according to new findings.
As recently detailed in the Archives of Internal Medicine, two separate studies explored cancer incidences and deaths as related to CT scans, which involve shooting an x-ray beam through the body and using a computer to reformat the image into a cross section of internal organs, bone, soft tissue, blood vessels or other anatomy.
Anti-Inflammatory Drug Can Impair Heart Attack and Stroke Protections
As recently detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers learned in animal studies that Celebrex limits aspirin from discouraging the formation of blood clots that can lead to heart attack or stroke.
Chemotherapy Drug Increases the Risk of Chronic Pain
As recently detailed in the Journal of Pain, researchers surveyed 240 women who participated in clinical trials for Taxol between 1994 and 2001.
Opioid-Related Deaths Double in Ontario Between 1991 and 2004
As recently detailed in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers analyzed prescription records in Ontario from 1991 to 2007, finding that annual opioid prescriptions increased by 29 percent (from 458 to 591 out of 1,000 individuals).
Antidepressants Fail to Affect Protein That Contributes to Depression Recurrences
As detailed in the Archives of General Psychiatry, researchers have learned that monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is highly elevated during clinical depression but unaffected by most antidepressants, potentially explaining why recurrence is a major problem with depression.
Depression Leads to Bone Loss, Especially in Young Women
As recently detailed in the journal Biological Psychiatry, researchers examined all studies on depression and bone mineral density conducted to date, with 23 papers identified and approximately 2,322 depressed and 21,141 non-depressed individuals studied.
Discovery of Hidden Sensory Network Could Explain More about Fibromyalgia & Migraines
As recently detailed in the journal Pain, researchers studied two patients with a rare condition called congenial insensitivity to pain, which is marked by an inability to feel most pain.
Could Antidepressant Use Among Chronic Pain Sufferers Lead to Personality Changes?
A new report in the Archives of General Psychiatry has found that patients who used an SSRI named paroxetine to treat depression experienced signficantly decreased levels of neuroticism and increased feelings of extraversion as compared to cognitive therapy and placebo groups.
Percutaneous Disc Decompression Provides Long-Term Relief of Sciatica, Study Finds
As recently presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), a randomized, controlled study involved approximately 31 patients (17 men and 14 women with a mean age of 36) who complained of back pain and leg pain (sciatica).
Could Childhood Obesity Spur Early Disc Degeneration and Future Back Pain?
As recently presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, a new study examined approximately 188 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 20 who complained of back pain and sought care during a 4-year period at New York City’s The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore.
Osteoarthritis Increases U.S. Annual Health Care Costs by $186 Billion
Also known as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is marked by stiffness, inflammation and pain in mostly the weight-bearing joints (hips and knees) plus the hands, feet and spine.
Chronic Pain Increases Likelihood of Elderly Falling Down
As detailed in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a new study initially surveyed 749 seniors, aged 70 and over, on whether they were suffering from any chronic pain and then required them to keep records of each time they fell during the following 18 months.
Flaxseed Oil in Diet Reduces Risk of Osteoporosis, Study Suggests
Diabetes in post-menopausal women may also lead to a greater risk of osteoporosis than removal of the ovaries, as detailed in the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition and Public Health.
Intensive Physical Therapy Improves Function after Lumbar Discectomy
Patients Favor Doctors Who Disclose Potential Side Effects of Treatment
As recently detailed in The Archives of Internal Medicine, nearly 2,300 medical and surgical acute care patients were randomly sampled in Massachusetts hospitals between April 1 and October 1, 2003, with 603 patients reporting approximately 845 adverse events, which refers to changes in health or side effects that occurred during or a
Injuries and Illnesses Cause More than 1 Million Missed Work Days in 2008
As many people prepare to enjoy some extra time away from their jobs this Thanksgiving weekend, recent studies provide more insight on the relationship of missing time from work due to back pain and other injuries and illnesses.
In the past, exact estimates to the amount of work time missed because of back pain have varied, although back pain has been previously described as the second most common cause of missed workdays due to illness.
Could Chemical Compound Minimize Certain Effects of Spinal Cord Injuries?
As recently detailed in the Journal of Neurophysiology, the chemical compound, 4-aminopyridine-3-methyl-hydroxide, was used to treat pig spinal cord tissue that was simulated to experience the stresses that occur in spinal cord compression injuries, which stretch rather than sever the nerves and can lead to paralysis.
Respiratory Function Diminishes in Patients with Neuromuscular Disorders and Scoliosis
As detailed in a recent edition of The Spine Journal, neuromuscular disorders are known to lead to lung volume loss and respiratory muscle weakness, but the effects of scoliosis on lung function are unknown, a point that served as a basis of this study.
Sex Lives Improve following Surgeries that Reduce Chronic Lower Back Pain
As detailed in the December edition of The Spine Journal, a randomized, controlled trial examined 152 chronic low back pain patients who had either total disc replacement surgery (TDR) or a posterolateral fusion (PLF) or posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).
Risk of Infection after Spine Surgery is 2%
After querying the SRS database for the years 2004-2007, researchers identified approximately 108,419 cases of superficial and deep wound infections following spine surgery.
Discography for Patients without Back Pain Can Quicken Disc Degeneration
The study compared a control group of 75 patients with another 75 patients without back pain who had a protocol MRI and a discography examination on one or several levels of the spine (L3/4, L4/5 and/or L5/S1) back in 1997.
Can Too Much Texting Lead to Neck Pain and Shoulder Pain?
As recently presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA), the Temple study observed 138 university students with the purpose of determining the relationship between texting and upper body pain.
Chronic Pain Patients with Depression More Likely to Receive Opioids
Published in the November-December issue of the journal General Hospital Psychiatry, the study analyzed the medical records of tens of thousands of patients enrolled with two insurers between 1997 and 2005.
Low-Level Laser Therapy Relieves 70% of Acute Neck Pain
The review headed by researchers in Australia and recently published in The Lancet studied 16 randomized, controlled trials including a total of 820 patients with neck pain that could not be linked to a specific cause.