Do you remember that burning feeling in your mouth after you’ve eaten a particularly hot pepper? That heat is created by a chemical found in peppers called capsaicin. There is even a culture of foodies in the United States who aim to eat some of the the hottest peppers in the world containing this chemical. While…
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…
Adding exercise to your daily routine can be one of the most effective things you can do to reduce your low back pain. Before you begin physical fitness, it is important to understand what exercises are best for your body and the pain you’re feeling. It is also important to discuss a new workout routine…
It has been shown in many studies that optimistic thinking has an overall positive impact on health and well-being. Is it possible for patients, and science, to take a step beyond just thinking about feeling better and actually use the mind to create feelings of comfort? This is the idea behind biofeedback training. What is biofeedback…
Osteoporosis, a degenerative disease of the bones, can cause many health issues. Since this condition leads to brittle bones, the risks of fracturing bones are greater, especially those in the spine or hips. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, half of all women and a quarter of all men over the age of…
80% of patients who visited a primary care provider for back pain were prescribed at least one medication, notes Dr. Mark Borigini in a post for Psychology Today. There are obviously many treatment options for back pain–ranging from physical therapy to epidural steroid injections. Medicines used for back pain continue to be one of the leading…
Many musculoskeletal conditions, such as back pain, can be treated with chiropractic care. Here’s how. How does chiropractic care work? The main technique used by chiropractors is the spinal adjustment. This procedure aims to relieve pressure and stress in the muscles around the spine, increase the patient’s range of motion, and increase muscle strength. During…