HOW TO TREAT MULTILEVEL DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE
Approximately 40% of adults over the age of 40 have experienced degeneration of at least one disc in the spine[1]. Degenerative disc disease is a condition that is part of age-related “wear and tear” for many. It occurs due to the thinning of the shock-absorbing intervertebral discs in the spine and is usually gradual in its deterioration. In many cases, degenerative disc disease may occur in one of the spinal discs as a result of stress and damage. However, quite often, the stress can happen simultaneously on multiple levels throughout the spine. In such cases, degenerative disc disease is classified as
Strategies For Natural Pain Relief and Knowing When It’s Time to See a Doctor
By Brad Culling, D.O. When I talk to my patients about their acute pain, I encourage them to seek out natural remedies and strategies first. These can be very effective for tackling and managing your pain so that it lowers your need to see a doctor. Of course, if your pain is prolonged and persistent, affecting your quality of life, then it may be time to seek medical help. This is any chronic pain that persists longer than 6-8 weeks and no other remedies are working to affect your pain. At that point, see your doctor and they can help you
Does Stress Cause Chronic Neck Pain? How Relaxation Strategies Can Help You Keep Pain At Bay
By Advanced Pain Care Stress can certainly cause or even exacerbate chronic neck pain. When you experience stress, whether a chronic stress disorder, or bouts of anxiety, or depression, your body will trigger the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for your “fight or flight” response. This response, when triggered, will produce and release an increase in cortisol and adrenaline hormones. Elevations in cortisol, particularly, can lead to a loss in muscle mass and an increase in fat accumulation. In moments of threat, your body’s stress response is a helpful reaction because it can help you either fight
Spondylosis Vs. Spondylolisthesis 101: Symptoms and Treatment
By Victor M. Taylor, M.D. DABA Spondylosis is an umbrella term for deterioration of the spinal vertebrae and associated structures particularly the disc and facet joints. Spondytolisthesis is a term used when one of the vertebrae slips forward over another. Causes of Spondylosis and Spondylolisthesis Spondylosis is common and could be considered a normal part of the aging process. Though almost everyone over the age of 50 years old will have some degree of spondylosis, not everyone will suffer from symptoms of the condition. There are many factors in why it could be more severe in some over others. The condition can be strongly
What are The Different Types of Orthopedic Surgery?
The persistent pain in bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles can seriously disrupt the everyday movements of the body. As these parts make up the musculoskeletal system, the problems related to them require a special branch of medicine, called orthopedics. An orthopedist or orthopedic surgeon is a doctor specializing in this field. Some may be general orthopedic doctors who can diagnose and treat all types of orthopedic conditions but usually, there are specialties based on different types of body parts - hand, foot, knee, etc. An orthopedic surgeon diagnoses your joint/bone problems and suggests the ideal surgical or non-surgical orthopedic treatment. You
Peripheral Neuropathy: How it Impacts the Quality of Life
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that affects the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. As is evident from the name, peripheral relates to anything outside – the brain and the spinal cord (the central nervous system), while neuropathy is a disease affecting the nerves. As a result, the nerves that act as messengers carrying messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body are damaged. Due to this interruption in the communication that is critical for body mobility, muscle movement can become impaired, affecting movement in the limbs and also causing pain. Considering the
What Does Meniscus Pain Feel Like And How Can You Get Relief?
By Advanced Pain Care Meniscus pain is typically sharp and stabbing, and can have an audible or palpable popping or clicking, or even a mechanical locking sensation where the knee literally cannot be moved (called “painful mechanical symptoms”). Meniscus tear pain can make even the most simple tasks feel unbearable, like rolling over in bed, getting out of a chair or car seat, twisting, or squatting and kneeling or crossing the leg. Anyone can experience pain from a meniscus tear, and unfortunately for us all, meniscus tears become more common as we get older. Thankfully, Advanced Pain Care is well-versed in
What is the Best Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is one of the most severe joint disorders people suffer from. Unlike other joint problems, this is caused by the “attack” of one’s own immune system, resulting in unbearable pain and inflammation in different joints of the body. While the causes for this autoimmune condition are unidentifiable, it may occur due to factors like age (more common in middle-aged people or the elderly), gender (more prevalent in females), genetics/heredity, infections of the gut or mouth, stress, smoking, etc. RA develops gradually and can affect any region of the body, but it usually occurs in - the hands, fingers,
What Happens if Chronic Pain is Left Untreated?
We all experience occasional pain at some point, owing to a number of factors like - occupation, improper postures, injuries, and so on. Even though we continue to cope with various pain issues and live normally, it not always possible to deal with all of them on our own; especially those that hamper our ability to perform basic physical movements such as walking, standing, running, etc. If you’re experiencing persistent pain in your body, and face difficulties in doing your everyday tasks, this could be an indication of a chronic pain condition. It is different from the usual and temporary type
Spinal Cord Stimulator: What You Need to Know
If the chronic pain in your back (or neck) prompted you to search online for a suitable treatment, you might have come across results for a Spinal Cord Stimulator. It’s important to know if it may be suited for your condition. To help you with this, we’ve listed everything you should know about Spinal Cord Stimulation. Let’s first begin with the basic understanding of what it is and how it works. A spinal cord stimulator (also known as SCS) is a remotely controlled device that treats or manages different types of chronic pain by sending a low-level electrical current to the
