Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Summer 2013 - (Page 5)

We’ve Got Your Back W DO YOU HAVE BACK PAIN? Don’t wait any longer to get help. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Division of Neurosurgery at 410-462-5790. ith 24 vertebrae and 23 disks, plus nerves, the spinal column and muscles—all having to work together—it’s no wonder that back pain is so common. “Back pain is probably the most frequent condition, after the common cold, that brings patients in to see their family doctors,” says Agha S. Khan, MD, FACS, chief of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. In fact, it’s estimated that Agha S. Khan, half of all working Americans experience back pain symptoms each MD, FACS year, ranging from minor twinges to extreme pain that keeps people from performing simple tasks. One back condition that challenges daily activity is spinal stenosis. The symptoms include pain, especially when walking or standing, and numbness in the back, legs, arms and/or neck. “This condition typically develops as we get older,” Dr. Khan says. The spinal column—the tube through which your nerves travel—narrows and puts pressure on your spinal nerves and spinal cord. Arthritis and scoliosis often lead to spinal stenosis, as can previous herniated disks. People with spinal stenosis typically have trouble walking or standing for long periods. “Often, you’ll see that they’ll lean on grocery carts,” Dr. Khan says. “They ﬁnd that when they lean forward, they feel more comfortable because space opens for the nerve sack.” It’s important to see your doctor if you think you have spinal stenosis, as the pain will only increase over time. Typical treatments include physical therapy, cold or heat packs, medication and, potentially, surgery. WHO’S YOUR DOCTOR? NEED A D Patients are increasingly turning to specialists, instead of their primary care physicians (PCP), to provide routine care. Experts are concerned that patients are asking their specialists for medical advice that may be out of their ﬁelds of experience. As a patient, it’s important to ask yourself whether you’ve been seeking specialists because you distrust or do not feel comfortable with your PCP. If that’s the case, it’s time to ﬁnd a new PCP. Find a primary care physician who is right for you at one of our Linden Medical Group practices: Armory Place 827 Linden Ave. 410-225-8800 Bolton Hill 1501 W. Mount Royal Ave. 410-225-8855 OCTOR? Find t he your n perfect do cto ee midto ds at umm r for . wn/ﬁ ndad edu/ octor . Heritage Crossing 312 Martin Luther King Blvd., Suite 302 410-225-8855  Questions about your hospital stay? Call Patient Advocate Lisa Cook at 410-225-8920. 5 Five students from Baltimore’s Civitas High School recently completed a six-week internship at UMMC Midtown Campus in the departments of gastroenterology, nursing, pharmacy, laboratory and umm.edu/midtown | Summer 2013 radiology. 5 http://www.umm.edu/midtown/findadoctor

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Summer 2013

Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Summer 2013
Contents
A Healthy Start
Back in Balance
'We Give Parents Hope'
At a Glance

Maryland's Health Matters - Midtown - Summer 2013