Have you heard the terms “vertebroplasty” and “kyphoplasty” used in regards to the treatment of a spinal compression fracture? If so, it may be important to understand what they are as well as the differences between these two procedures. Both of these procedures treat the same injury, a compression fracture in the spine often caused…
Because of the controversy with opioid use for patients suffering from chronic pain and the risk for addiction, there is some concern in the medical community that the drugs be used safely and effectively. How can patients reduce their own use of these drugs? Here are five ways you can curb opioid use when using…
The buzz around “mental health” has been getting louder over the last few years. So many people throw the words around like they don’t really mean anything. When someone says “I’m taking a mental health day,” and they don’t come in to work, what are they really saying? Things are changing in our culture and…
While opioid medications do help those with chronic pain, they can cause their own side effects–from addiction to overdose. Controlled short-term use of these medications is often beneficial for patients, but growing evidence is showing that with long-term use of these drugs, the risks of dependency and cycles of abuse can outweigh the benefits. For those…