Conservative Care

The Latest Chiropractic Debate

cmaynard — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:57:17 -0700

July 30, 2009
by: Sylvia Marten

While [url:1621,type=|node|,content=|chiropractic treatment|] of the spine may have been considered unproven at one point in time, that opinion has been dispelled more recently as nearly 9 percent of Americans now seek chiropractic care each year, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

While chiropractic treatment has gained acceptance in the mainstream as a valid form of health care, there is now a growing debate among [url:1624,type=|node|,content=|chiropractors|], specifically as a result of those who claim that chiropractic offers holistic treatment for much more than [url:145,type=|term|,content=|back pain|] and other symptoms associated with the spine.

Since its inception, chiropractic has held as a central tenant that the anatomical relationship between the spine and nervous system is vital to a person’s health.

Traditionally, chiropractic care has been used to treat musculoskeletal conditions, specifically via non-surgical and drug-free means. Chiropractors have based their practice on the idea of manipulating the spine through a series of short-lever, arm thrusts with the goal of reducing subluxation (the altered position of the vertebra and subsequent loss of function as a result of the vertebra being mispositioned in comparison to the other vertebrae) and providing relief for:

Upper and lower back pain
[url:149,type=|term|,content=|Neck pain|]
[url:998,type=|node|,content=|Sciatica|]
Muscle strains
Arthritic pain
Other conditions of the spine.

The acceptance of [url:1620,type=|node|,content=|chiropractic manipulation|] has naturally coincided with strong evidence to its effectiveness in improving function and reducing symptoms of acute and chronic back pain.

With its evolution, chiropractic treatment has expanded and incorporated the use of massage, exercise programs and physical modalities like heat/ice therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound and X-ray to help diagnose and treat back pain.

A Holistic Approach to Chiropractic Care

More recently, some chiropractors have provided chiropractic care for not only back pain but acid reflux, digestive disorders, ear infections, asthma, allegories, colic and much more.

These chiropractors promote chiropractic treatment as holistic, using words like “hygiene” and “wellness,” noting how the spine is directly related to all conditions, and using the concept of “subluxation” as a basis of their arguments.

Such chiropractors say that they don’t want to pigeonhole chiropractic in terms of its treatment abilities but rather aim to provide patients with a more well-rounded understanding of its many applications.

Other chiropractors disagree, saying that there is not any evidence at this point to suggest that chiropractic care is an effective treatment for symptoms beyond back pain and opining that it should thus be primarily used for treatment of spinal conditions.

So just as chiropractic has become more integrated with other health care practices, the battle is not over as it continually seeks to define itself, this time as a holistic approach.

Source: Chicago Tribune

More Chiropractic Resources for Patients

The most recent debate on chiropractic care should not confuse or sway patients interested in exploring this treatment in more detail.

Learn more about chiropractic care by checking out the following resources:

[url:1636,type=|node|,content=|How to Select the Best Chiropractor|]
[url:1635,type=|node|,content=|How to Choose a Chiropractic Clinic|]
[url:1633,type=|node|,content=|What to Expect at the First Chiropractic Consultation|]
[url:15655,type=|node|,content=|Questions to Ask Your Chiropractor|]
[url:15656,type=|node|,content=|Chiropractic Treatment Program Guidelines|]
[url:1647,type=|node|,content=|Chiropractic Treatment of the Joints|]

To the Point: Acupuncture for Easing Back Pain

mlepore — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:53:06 -0700

May 29th, 2009

Some back pain sufferers go to great lengths to find relief. Although [url:1359,type=|node|,content=|acupuncture|] may seem like an extreme form of treatment, it is actually fairly common and has reported high levels of success in many cases.

The Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, in conjunction with Northern California Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, performed a study in which a group of 600 adults suffering from chronic [url:896,type=|node|,content=|lower back pain|] agreed to receive one of the following forms of treatment:

Individualized acupuncture, which uses specific needling sites, number of needles and depth of insertion depending on the patient
Standardized acupuncture, which uses 8 points found to be effective in treating low back pain
Simulated acupuncture, which mimicked acupuncture using a toothpick
Routine care measures, such as medication or physical therapy

The patients who underwent [url:1358,type=|node|,content=|acupuncture treatments|]—including the simulated one—were more likely to report greater improvements in their ability to function than those who just received routine care.

Researchers who conducted the study concluded that the specific effects of the acupuncture and acupuncture-like treatments remain unclear. It is unknown whether the treatments provide physiologically important stimulation or represent a placebo effect.

Although the healing powers of acupuncture are not solidly proven, there are some positive effects to the body that are commonly accepted. It can help stimulate the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and cause specific chemicals to be released into the body that can physically and psychologically affect pain. Many people swear by this ancient Chinese method of medicine and it could be an [url:163,type=|term|,content=|alternative care|] option to look into if you are not finding relief through other methods.

Posted by: Sylvia Marten

Additional Acupuncture and Alternative Care treatment sources:

[url:1363,type=|node|,content=|Non-Medical Care Alternatives for Back Pain|]

[url:162,type=|term|,content=|Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi Health Center|]

[url:1287,type=|node|,content=|Massage Therapy for Lower Back Pain|]

The Group Health Center for Health Studies Acupuncture Study

3 Empowering Health Resolutions for 2008

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 03:23:55 -0800

January 4, 2008
by: Sylvia Marten

Like most of us, you probably start out each new year with the best of intentions: full of hope that THIS is the year you'll finally do "X" (fill in the blank with your #1 item). If you're like me, I dutifully make my list of New Year's Resolutions (usually at least 10 items long), only to get discouraged by late January and in pretty much full abandonment by March.

So, if we have to pick and choose a focus for our resolutions this year, I pick HEALTH. Why? As one of the most personal and potentially all-encompassing factors in our lives, there's little that is more important than our own good health. Above all else - money, careers, a home or a car, even sex - health is the one thing we can't live without and arguably the most influential factor of our quality of life. For people with chronic health conditions, such as chronic back pain, I can't think of a better focus than health and healthy living for 2008.

My top 3 picks for 2008 Health Resolutions:

Exercising. I don't mean just starting to exercise or saying you'll finally try yoga, I mean committing to making exercise part of your normal weekly routine for the rest of your life. The necessity of exercise in the combat of just about every kind of health issue and pain condition is well known. The tougher part is to accept that exercise won't be very helpful if done in fits and starts, and that just thinking about exercising doesn't count.

The most popular excuse for not exercising? "I'm too busy," which translates to "I won't." Keep in mind that even the President of the United States finds time to keep himself fit. The key, according to a 1/1/08 Chicago Tribune article, is "...make exercise a habit that you do every day at the same time. Pick the time that's best for you and just do it." So, if you're not a morning person, don't plan to do a 6am aerobics class. Whatever time and type of exercise you choose, remember the incredible benefits of exercise you will reap: looking and feeling better, reducing stress, reducing pain, and slowing or preventing certain diseases (e.g., osteoporosis, hypertension).
Quit Smoking. No brainer, right? You would think so, given the known linkages of smoking to cancer, heart disease, lung disorders, etc. Well, if you smoke and have a chronic back pain problem, you need to know two things: one is that smoking can significantly worsen your back pain, and two is that most back surgeons will refuse to operate on your back if you smoke because it inhibits the body's ability to heal after surgery. The key with smoking cessation is to surround yourself with the kind of support network you need to quit and stay smoke free. Talk to your doctor about which of the various stop smoking aids available (gums, patches, oral medications, support groups, etc.) are right for you and keep trying until you find something that works. Like exercising, the state of being called "I don't smoke" is one you need to be in for the rest of your life. Period.
Getting organized. Most people simply have accumulated too much stuff over the course of their lives and now have the dreaded "c" word: clutter. One of the worst impacts of clutter? Stress. Clutter stress at home can cause feelings of being overwhelmed and out of control, leading to overeating and feeling like there's no time to do other things such as exercise (see #1 above). Stress is also a known cause of back pain and can exacerbate many chronic health conditions. Eliminating household clutter can be liberating and euphoric, freeing up time (less clutter is easier to clean and organize) and space (making room for that new elliptical trainer or yoga mat). The key to de-cluttering: pick the clutter that is most bothersome and tackle it one project at a time, and then commit to keeping it that way.

One of the commonalities among all three resolutions is commitment. They will all take incredible self discipline and will power to achieve, not only initially but over the long haul too. The good news is that there is outside help available, if you need it, for each and every one of these. Best of all, I'm willing to bet that the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits will become the only motivator you need to stay the course. Best wishes for a healthy 2008!

Additional resources to help get you started:

[url:157,type=|term|,content=|Spine-health.com Exercise Health Center|]
Smoke Free 2008 (American Lung Association) - http://www.smokefree08.org/site/c.jeJSIZOsEjH/b.3761509/
[url:1758,type=|node|,content=|Obtaining a Solid Spine Fusion|]
National Association of Professional Organizers - http://www.napo.net/public/

Is Your Pain Medication Prescribed Off-Label?

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:46:35 -0700

October 1, 2007
by: Sylvia Marten

Experts estimate that 21% of prescriptions for common drugs are written for off-label uses. According to a study on Off-Label Prescribing published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, three-fourths of those prescriptions were for off-label uses that lacked scientific support. What's going on?

First, let's talk about what we mean by on "label" drugs. In the U. S. , the FDA requires that drug makers submit, test and get approval from the FDA for specific uses of their product before the product can ever be marketed. To obtain approval, pharmaceutical manufacturers must submit extensive study data demonstrating safety and effectiveness, a process which usually takes several years and millions of dollars. When a product is approved by the FDA, a specific "label" for that product is approved too. The label must include the product's approved indications, dosage and method of administration, and use in specific populations.

So, what is "off-label"? After the FDA approves a drug for its specific use, physicians can prescribe the product for uses not covered by the approved label. This is "off-label" use. Off-label uses include:a drug prescribed to patients with conditions not listed on the approved label; departure from the approved drug dosage, method of administration, or patient population; and unapproved product combinations, such as using two different drugs to treat a single condition. This practice is perfectly legal but it lacks any kind of oversight.

"Off-label" drugs for back pain. Among the types of drugs commonly prescribed off-label, most common were heart drugs and anti-convulsants (indicated for seizures). For example, gabapentin, brand name Neurontin, had one of the highest proportions of off-label use among specific medications, namely for neuropathic pain (it is only indicated for use in controlling epileptic seizures and in pain from post-herpetic neuralgia). Neurontin also happens to be a quite commonly prescribed drug for people diagnosed with chronic back pain or chronic low back pain. This of course means the drug is being prescribed off-label in the back pain patient population.

Patients should always consider carefully all medications that are prescribed to them. It is fair for patients to ask their doctors whether a prescription is on or off-label, and this can be easily and more thoroughly researched on reliable health information websites that address medications, such as MedlinePlus, the FDA, or condition-specific sites. If off-label, it is important to know whether there is sufficient data to support its use or if the practitioner's decision is based on anecdotal evidence. The patient should weigh off-label recommendations against the alternatives with his/her practitioner, and ultimately decide if he/she is comfortable with an off-label drug for the specific health issue being addressed. It is important for patients to keep in mind that a drug prescribed off-label to them is a drug that has not been approved by the FDA for some element of their specific health situation.

Is "off-label" drug prescribing good or bad? There isn't a clear cut answer. Anecdotally, many of my colleagues and personal circle of friends have experienced off-label drug use with positive results. For example, our children have been prescribed albuterol for various severe pulmonary episodes (not asthma, for which it's indicated) with much success. The Spine-health.com message boards are full of stories of people taking medications off-label for back pain or [url:887,type=|node|,content=|leg pain|] as prescribed by their doctors, with many experiencing much needed pain relief not possible with approved drugs. So, off-label use can be positive in that it expands access to important health benefits that may not be possible with alternatives. On the flip side, concerns and warning bells should go off with respect to safety and the long-term impact of a drug use that has not been extensively studied.

The study authors cited several reasons as to why the high percentage of off-label prescribing is occurring, with some reasons being legitimate and others not. The practice itself raises issues that require addressing, including a better/faster process for getting legitimate additional uses for a drug indicated, but also for ensuring patient safety for patients dutifully following an off-label treatment protocol as prescribed by physicians they trust.

Posted by: Sylvia

Additional reading:

[url:1921,type=|node|]
[url:1948,type=|node|]
[url:808,type=|node|]

14 Natural Pain Relievers

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:41:12 -0700

August 9, 2007
by: Stephanie

Many who live with chronic back pain would really love to be less dependent on painkillers to manage their pain. But how? Natural pain relievers may be the answer. Here’s a list that might help – each of these won’t be for everyone, but any number of these natural pain relievers might help you be able to rely less on pain medications and feel more in control of your life.

Release your inner endorphins. These natural chemicals block pain signals from reaching your brain. Endorphins are the body's natural pain relievers, and they can be as strong as many of the strongest pain relievers. Endorphins also help alleviate anxiety, stress and depression -- conditions that often accompany and exacerbate chronic pain. The body produces endorphins during aerobic exercise. A “runner’s high” is not just for those running long distances -- any activity that gets your blood pumping for a sustained period will release pain relieving endorphins into your system.
Find good company. Those who have regular contact with others dealing with similar forms of chronic pain find that their pain becomes more manageable. An online group that is both active and supportive is best. Members of the Spine-health.com Back Pain and Chronic Pain discussion forums say that it is quite simply “free therapy”.
Eat cookies. Research shows that eating sweet foods like cookies, chocolate or ice cream, helps reduce the sensation of pain.
Or just bake the cookies. Enjoying a smell that is both sweet and pleasant has been shown to reduce the [url:6637,type=|node|,content=|perception of pain|].
Feel the heat. Applying some form of heat -- a hot water bottle, gel-filled pad heated in the microwave, electric heating pad, or hot bath -- can go a long way in easing your pain. [url:1662,type=|node|,content=|Benefits of heat|] are twofold: it increases the flow of healing oxygen and nutrients to the damaged area, and it suppresses pain signals being sent to your brain. Some find that wearing a heat wrap, such as Thermacare heat wrap, is best because it releases a low level heat for several hours and can be worn under clothes so you remain mobile.
Cool it with ice. Ahh, how this cools down inflamed and sore tissues. Back pain almost always comes with some level of inflammation, and ice is the best natural way to reduce it. [url:1664,type=|node|,content=|Ice|] also helps by acting as a local anesthetic, and by slowing the nerve impulses, which in turn interrupts the pain-spasm reactions between the nerves in the affected area.
Loosen up. Almost everyone can benefit from [url:1186,type=|node|,content=|stretching the soft tissues|] - the muscles, ligaments and tendons - in and around the spine. Your back is designed for movement, and if your motion is limited it can make your back pain worse. If you suffer from chronic back pain, you may find it takes weeks or months of stretching to loosen up your spine and soft tissues, but you will find that meaningful and sustained pain relief will follow the increase in motion.
Enjoy the outdoors. People who got the recommended daily 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D experienced less pain than those who didn’t, according to a Boston University study of 221 men and women with [url:969,type=|term|,content=|knee osteoarthritis|]. Researchers surmised that Vitamin D helps relieve pain by aiding in the absorption of calcium, which is needed for bone growth and repair. Other research shows vitamin D may directly help soothe pain. 93% of 150 people with unexplained sources of pain were recently found to be deficient in Vitamin D levels, according to recent research at the University of Minnesota. About 15 minutes of sun exposure on your face and hands a day is enough to get your daily dose of D, or a 200-IU supplement of Vitamin D and as much calcium as is found in two glasses of milk.
Imagine yourself to a better place. Guided imagery allows you to hear and internalize therapeutic suggestions that help you feel better. In one study of 28 women with osteoarthritis pain, half of the women listened to a 10- to 15-minute recorded script twice daily that guided them through muscle relaxation techniques. On average, women in the guided imagery group reported that their pain eased by 18% and that their mobility improved by 13%; vs. those in the control group who experienced a 16% worsening of pain and a 2% decrease in mobility. Guided imagery can be learned with a practitioner or on your own using audiotapes or CDs.
Change your inner thinking. Hypnosis involves influencing the subconscious mind in order to change your inner thinking, thereby enabling you to change the way you view pain and assisting in the your body’s healing process. The human body has an infinite capacity for healing, and this is just one technique that many find helpful.
Meditate twice daily. Easy to learn and immediate results make this one of my favorite paths to natural pain relief. Meditation comes in a huge variety of forms --some complex, some simple. My personal favorite is just to find a sound that is pleasing to you but has no particular meaning (my sound is “som”), close your eyes, sit (or lie) still and comfortably, and repeat the sound in your mind. When your thoughts wander, notice that they have wandered and return to your sound. If you feel your pain, notice the pain and return to your sound. Start with a few minutes, and gradually lengthen to thirty minutes. You will find yourself refreshed and reinvigorated, with less pain overall. Meditation can also help reduce the depression, anxiety, stress and sleeping problems that often accompany chronic pain.
Realign your energy flow.The mechanism of action for the ancient Chinese healing technique of acupucture is still not completely understood, but it has been proven in medical trials to reduce certain types of chronic pain, including [url:1358,type=|node|,content=|back pain|]. The American Association of Oriental Medicine has a list of trained acupuncturists. P.S. the needles are super-thin and not painful.
Get enough restorative sleep. Getting enough sleep is critical to managing the pain and healing, so it’s important to employ a variety of [url:1927,type=|node|,content=|sleep aids|] to help you get a healthy amount of sleep. Regular exercise that physically exhausts the body is the best way to promote deep sleep. Visualization, meditation, and other psychological techniques can also help you get to sleep and stay asleep. And don’t forget the power of naps.
Enjoy a massage. In my book, nothing beats a good [url:1287,type=|node|,content=|therapeutic massage|]. It gets the blood flowing, which helps nourish and heal the body, and releases endorphins, which release powerful pain relieving substances in the body (see first point on the list).

Any more thoughts on natural pain relievers? Please share what has worked for you!

Posted by: Stephanie

Sources:

Also see: [url:830,type=|node|]

New Hope for Smokers with Back Pain

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:15:12 -0700

August 8, 2007
by: Sylvia Marten

There’s a unique drug now on the market for smokers trying to quit - Chantix (manufactured and distributed by Pfizer). It was actually approved by the FDA in May 2006 and given priority FDA review because of its significant potential benefit to public health.

Chantix, a prescription drug indicated for smoking cessation, is different because it acts on the brain in two ways: by providing some nicotine effects to ease withdrawal symptoms and by blocking the effects of nicotine from cigarettes if patients resume smoking.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 44.5 million adults in the United States smoke cigarettes and more than 8.6 million of them have at least one serious illness caused by smoking. In particular, smokers are nearly 3 times as likely to develop chronic low back pain as non-smokers.

According to a user survey conducted on Spine-health.com, about 30% of the chronic back pain population self reports having a smoking addiction. Couple this with the fact that about 80% of those same people are candidates for [url:165,type=|term|,content=|back surgery|] – and we have trouble. Smokers are at higher risk for healing problems after fusion surgery, which means that potentially the chronic back pain problem and the smoking addiction will remain after surgery if smokers with back pain don’t quit.

It is common for back surgeons to ask their patients to quit smoking prior to surgery and commit to not smoking for at least three months after surgery (and hopefully longer, from an overall health standpoint). In recent months, we have heard anecdotally from some of our physician members that they have seen great results using Chantix with their back pain patients. Other smoking cessation aids include: [url:6745,type=|node|,content=|Zyban|] (pill), Nicotrol (nasal spray), Nicorette (gum), Nicoderm CQ (patches), Habitrol (patches), Commit (lozenges), and counseling and support groups.If you are a smoker with back pain, you should consider talking to your doctor about smoking cessation aids – to help you quit smoking and to ease your back pain.

Posted by: Sylvia

More reading:

Chantix patient information sheet at FDA
[url:1826,type=|node|,content=|Healing after spine fusion surgery|]
Varenicline (Chantix) shows greater continuous smoking abstinence

New Research on Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injections for Back Pain and Sciatica

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:50:58 -0700

August 3, 2007
by: Sylvia Marten

It should be noted that interlaminar epidural injections are different than transforaminal epidural steroid injections (also called spinal nerve blocks) and that transforaminal epidural steroid injections have been shown to be effective for sciatica in clinical trials.

The effectiveness of lumbar interlaminar [url:6010,type=|node|,content=|epidural steroid injections|] for treatment of lower back pain and sciatica continues to be a hotly debated topic.

Some physicians view epidural steroid injections as an important pain relief treatment option for many patients with severe lower back pain that radiates down the leg. They would argue that, while it doesn’t work for everyone, an epidural steroid injection is one of the only non-surgical options that can provide almost immediate pain relief for severe sciatica. Others view the recent reviews as evidence that interlaminar injections should not be performed.

As always, the devil is in the details, and significant details are left out of the clinical trial reviews. Most notably:

The injection protocol in the studies cited do not include the use of fluoroscopy or x-ray to verify proper placement of the medication, despite the fact that fluoroscopic guidance is an important factor in the success of the procedure and is routinely used today.
Most of the studies do not classify patients according to diagnosis and tend to 'lump' different types sources of pain together.

"These methodological flaws are considerable and make it difficult to impossible to draw conclusions from the studies. More clinical studies are needed to properly define the role of epidural steroid injections in low back pain and in sciatica" states Ray Baker, MD, a pain management physician in Bellevue Washington and Medical Advisor for Spine-health.com.

Until more definitive and reliable research is available, patients are advised to make sure that they:

Enlist the services of professionals with extensive experience in doing epidural steroid injections
Always use fluoroscopy to ensure accurate placement
Follow the generally accepted guidelines of limiting the number of [url:168,type=|term|,content=|injections|] to a maximum of three within any one-year period

Sources:

American Academy of Neurology
[url:168,type=|term|]

Take Control of your Low Back Pain

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:57:36 -0700

July 25, 2007
by: Sylvia Marten

Unlike some health conditions that need to be resolved as soon as possible (such as a broken bone), most forms of low back pain actually don't need to be fixed. Low back pain usually just needs to be managed - through a combination of [url:170,type=|term|,content=|pain management|], specific types of exercise, nutrition and postural changes that protect the spine.

While some people with this condition are unlucky enough to develop debilitating back pain, for most of us the back pain from degenerative disc disease is just a signal that we need to adopt a healthier lifestyle to keep the symptoms in check.

The natural history of degenerative disc disease is a [url:137,type=|term|,content=|chronic|] low level of pain or discomfort with intermittent flare ups of pain. Managing this common type of back pain has two main objectives:

Manage your pain level. Keeping the pain to a tolerable level will help keep you active, which in turn will help minimize the pain and prevent it from getting worse. Common pain management techniques include ice packs, heating pads, over-the-counter or prescription pain medications, and possibly epidural steroid injections. Some people find alternative treatments quite helpful, such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy.
Personally, I think nothing beats a good neuromuscular massage. On mild days a heating pad on my low back at the end of the day feels soothing, and if I've overdone it exercising or roughhousing with the kids then an ice pack usually does the trick.

Stay healthy overall. Good overall health -- and the health of the muscles, ligaments and tendons that support your spine -- will go a long way to minimizing painful flare-ups. Exercise and physical fitness are critical, including stretching and building strength in the core trunk muscles that help support the spine. Aerobic exercise brings important nutrients to the discs in the low back. Modifying movements and posture minimize stress on the low back and help prevent injury, and eating well fortifies the body (including spinal discs) against degeneration. And of course avoid smoking and don't drink too much alcohol.

Like other chronic conditions (diabetes, asthma), with mechanical low back pain you can do a lot personally to help keep the severity of the condition in check. It is by no means a guarantee that the condition won't worsen -- some people can do everything right and their back pain still gets much worse. But for most of us, these lifestyle changes can go a long way to keeping the pain in check and, importantly, avoiding the need for extensive surgery.

Posted by: Stephanie

Additional resources:

[url:809,type=|node|,content=|Living with Degenerative Disc Disease|]
[url:830,type=|node|,content=|Depression Guide|]

Ice Application for Lower Back Pain Relief

spine-health — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:23:48 -0700

June 18, 2007
by: Stephanie

Thanks for the great ice application tip from Healthbolt.

"Next time you have to ice something down, try throwing some dishwashing liquid in a baggie, instead of the normal ‘cubes. Leave it in the freezer ’till cool, and enjoy. It’ll hold it’s temperature longer, mold to your body better than ice, and it can be frozen over and over."

Never forget the power of ice or a cold pack to help ease your low back pain. Sometimes a simple thing like an ice pack can really make a difference in your pain levels.

Posted by: Stephanie

Additional reading:

[url:1664,type=|node|,content=|Ice massage therapy for back pain relief|]

Pain management physicians accused of drug pushing

spine-health — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:31:07 -0700

June 18, 2007
by: Stephanie

KevinMD brought to my attention an interesting article in the New York Times about treating [url:137,type=|term|,content=|chronic pain|] - especially through the use of opioids.

Examples of opioids commonly prescribed to treat back pain and other forms of chronic pain include OxyContin, Dilaudid, Vicodin, Percocet, oxycodone, methadone or morphine.

The article quotes research findings that as many as 50% of patients with chronic pain do not get adequately treated for the pain from their physicians. Why? The article postulates a number of widespread factors, such as fear (among both the public and medical community) of [url:1924,type=|node|,content=|addiction|].

The point that surprised me most was an increase in physicians' fear of being prosecuted for prescribing opioids. In 2006, the DEA opened 735 investigations of doctors regarding their drug prescriptions, and just being investigated can ruin a doctor.

The article states "an investigation alone can be enough to put a doctor out of business, as doctors can lose their licenses and practices and have their homes, offices and cars seized even if no federal criminal charges are ever filed. 71 doctors were arrested last year for crimes related to “diversion” — the leakage of prescription medicine into illegal drug markets."

A compelling discussion.

Posted by: Stephanie

Source: When is a Pain Doctor a Drug Pusher? - New York Times

With Low Back Pain, Simple Remedies Are Often Best

Sat, 12 May 2007 20:20:41 -0700

May 12, 2007
by: Stephanie

Many of the e-mails I get from people visiting Spine-health.com ask “what’s new for back pain” or “what do you know about this new technology?” And I understand - it’s tempting to get caught up in seeking the newest, most sophisticated [url:137,type=|term|,content=|chronic pain treatments|]. But new technology isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just the simple, tried and true therapies that help the most.

A recent review of 9 studies involving 1,200 participants shows that [url:1665,type=|node|,content=|heat does in fact reliably help relieve low back pain|].

I know it works for me. Personally, I prefer gel heating packs and low level heat wraps. They’re soothing, easy to do, and don’t have any negative side effects. I like the long lasting, extended wear heat wraps because they last for several hours and never get too hot. During long plane trips they’re a life saver for my low back. I also like the gel packs you can warm up in the microwave – they’re fast, easy, and reusable, so very economical.

Posted by: Stephanie

Additional reading:

[url:1662,type=|node|,content=|Benefits of heat therapy for low back pain|]
[url:896,type=|node|]
[url:137,type=|term|]