Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Parrish Medical Center - (Page 24)

DAY 14 online Create a Care Plan Go to parrish med.com/ motion to learn about The Poetry of Motion® -bone, muscle, joint, spine and sports medicine care and treatment. Find the physician who's right for you. PICK UP THE PHONE Still hurting after a couple of weeks? It's time to make an appointment with your physician. "If the pain is 80 percent the same intensity as when it started, then it's time to see the doctor," Hanscom says. "Back pain is just a symptom. There are many things that can cause it." But don't panic. Even if the pain has lasted this long, it's still probably just a strain. And in that case, treatment options can include prescription medication, starting an exercise or physical therapy program, or both, Pinchback says. "If that doesn't work, then more investigative studies, such as an MRI or a CT scan, will be needed to determine where the pain is coming from," he adds. If you're experiencing leg pain with your backache, it could be a sign of a herniated disk. If you notice numbness in your arms or legs, it could be a sign of spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal) or it might be a side effect of arthritis, which can damage the spine. Just keep in mind that time can heal most (back) wounds. "Because the back is complex, sometimes treatment options have to be delayed to give things time to respond," Pinchback says. When Surgery Is the Only Option in the battle against your back pain, you and your physician have exhausted almost every treatment option-from medication to physical therapy- without success. And now, it's time to consider surgery. This might be necessary because you have a herniated disk or vertebral fractures, or you might have arthritis that has caused severe damage to your spine, says Warner Pinchback, MD, a spokesman for the American Academy of 24 SPRING 2 014 orthopaedic Surgeons. in most cases, surgery can help when the problem is structural. Based on your condition, your physician will discuss your options as well as the benefits and the risks, and guide you through recovery. After surgery to repair a herniated disk, for example, a patient typically will be back to normal in a few weeks. But remember that the duration of your recovery depends on the degree of your condition before surgery. EASY BACK STRETCHES HAMSTRING STRETCH Lie on your back, one foot on floor with knee slightly bent. Raise the other leg toward the opposite shoulder, using a towel to gently increase the stretch. DAY 90 COBRA STRETCH Lie facedown, keep hands by shoulders, and gently raise your torso a few inches. DEVELOP A LONG-TERM PLAN You've entered chronic back pain territory. Chronic back pain is deﬁned as lasting more than three months and often has a neurological component, but that doesn't mean you're facing a lifetime of pain. "There's always something you can do to improve your back pain status," Pinchback says. "As orthopedic surgeons, we are interested in the quality of life and making sure patients are comfortable so they can get back to a normal functioning state." Your doctor may suggest making permanent lifestyle changes-from the way you sleep to the way you eat-or, in rare cases, having surgery. And contrary to popular belief, exercise can help relieve persistent pain, so don't be surprised if it's part of your treatment plan. "Strengthening your core, back and leg muscles will often eliminate the need for surgery altogether," Pinchback says. "But even when you don't have back pain, you need to exercise on a regular basis to stay strong." http://parrishmed.com/motion

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Parrish Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Parrish Medical Center
Contents
Tasty Tips
Opening Thoughts
Community Calendar
What’s New?
What Are Your Wishes?
CT Scans Can Save Lives
Occupational Hazards
The New Rules of Play
Shopping for Two
Back to Basics
Burn, Baby, Burn
Angelina Jolie
Rock Your Health
Breaking Up with Salt
Disgusting! (or Not?)
Virtual Health
Food Label Literacy
Breathing New Life
Foundation Focus
Ask the Expert

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2014 - Parrish Medical Center