- Osteoporosis
- Headaches
- Warts
- ArthritisResearch suggests that high doses of fish oil, or other sources of omega-3 fatty acids, may help for one particular type of joint pain: rheumatoid arthritis. But its effect on most other types of joint pain, including osteoarthritis, is unclear.
- FibromyalgiaResearchers in Spain recently concluded a review involving fibromyalgia patients that show measurable benefits of dietary changes that could be a potential drug-free intervention helping to ease the symptoms of this treatable but incurable disease.
- Plantar FasciitisA: Being overweight can be a risk factor for plantar fasciitis. Also at risk are people who do a lot of walking or running on hard surfaces (so city dwellers who walk on sidewalks for several miles a day are at risk as are warehouse workers who are on their feet on a hard concrete surface.) The “tightness” of your Achilles’ Tendon also contributes to plantar fasciitis. Finally, foot anomalies like flat feet or high arches can also contribute to many foot issues including plantar fasciitis.
- Sinusitis
- Medical Weight LossOne of the components to effective weight loss, of course, is increased exercise. Unfortunately for many patients with painful knees, some forms of exercise can be impossible. Physicians recommend swimming and water aerobics for these patients, as these exercises put far less stress on aching joints.
- RheumatologyAnother sticking point that is often acknowledged but also given short shrift: dietary supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration the same way prescription or over-the-counter medications are — so there’s no guarantee the fish oil listed on the label is what’s actually in the bottle, or that it’s high quality, or even that it’s safe to take. According to the American College of Rheumatology: “Some fish oil supplements may contain high levels of mercury or vitamin A, which could be toxic.”
- Primary CarePhysiatrists often act in concert with a patient’s other physicians, such as primary care doctors and neurologists — or even spearhead a team of medical professionals to optimize a patient’s treatment.
- Ear InfectionsSecondary headaches are headaches that are caused by other disease processes, some relatively minor (dehydration, sinus infection, ear infection, flu); some quite serious (encephalitis, aneurysm, stroke). Your health care provider would need to evaluate your symptoms and examine you in person to rule out more serious ailments.
- Sleep DisordersPeople who suffer pain need restorative sleep, more than the general population. Yet, people in pain tend not to get enough restorative sleep. The 2015 Sleep Poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation says that 23% of chronic pain sufferers say they have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.
- Emergency CareKnow the rules of your insurance provider. Be sure you have to up-to-date knowledge of your physicians’ and hospital networks, your out of pocket deductible, the dates of your plan and your co-pays for doctors, lab work, screening, emergency room and urgent care visits.
- Constipation
- Irritable Bowel SyndromeThe study analyzed the benefits of a gluten-free diet on patients suffering simultaneously with fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and celiac disease. Sufferers of FM often times experience multiple chronic conditions including irritable bowel syndrome and celiac disease, which the Spanish study sought to correlate and address. Recent studies show that eliminating gluten in one’s diet can impact fibromyalgia, IBS, and celiac disease occurring simultaneously in people, also known as comorbidity. Comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional diseases or disorders co-occurring with a primary disease or disorder.
- Bronchitis
- Diarrhea
- Pneumonia
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic Pain
- Pregnancy
- Labor and DeliveryLooking ahead: most women with pelvic girdle pain are able to have a vaginal birth. In addition, 90% of pregnant women who experience pelvic girdle pain are “cured” once the baby has been delivered. One caveat: future pregnancies have a higher chance of also including pelvic girdle pain.
- Internal MedicineIn a recent issue of JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) Internal Medicine there is a summary of a study of 18,000 participants who received either real acupuncture, fake acupuncture (for the purpose of the study) or no acupuncture at all. Their findings were that acupuncture relieved pain in many cases.
- Kidney StonesWe need to remain hydrated, so that blood moves to our organs. When we are properly hydrated, we avoid kidney stones, our digestive system moves along appropriately, our skin is in its optimal condition and we can also keep hunger at bay if we are watching our weight. In addition, headache sufferers need to remain fully hydrated, as dehydration can be a trigger for migraines and other headache disorders.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)Doctors used to regularly recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) to their pregnant patients You should be aware of two recent studies that implicate acetaminophen in developmental delays and increased incidence of ADHD among children whose mothers took it.
- Depression
- Mental HealthExercise: When permitted, exercise is a great antidote to pain. Even moderate walking on a daily basis can alleviate certain symptoms of fibromyalgia and contributes to all aspects of physical and mental health. Other regularly prescribed exercises include water aerobics, swimming and biking.
- Psychiatry
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Diabetes Care
- UltrasoundTypical components of the diagnosis will be taking a complete medical history including discussing when the pain or immobility began and how much pain you are in. The doctor will examine you and probably order diagnostic exams including x-rays (to look at the skeletal underpinning) and/or MRI ’s or ultrasound s and possibly a CT scan to detect issues in soft tissue. The doctor may also order an arthogram where dye is injected into the shoulder to better evaluate how the shoulder operates. Or the doctor may order arthoscopy, where a tiny camera looks into the shoulder joint area, allowing an incredible view and sometimes enabling a doctor to make repairs on the spot.
- MRIIn some cases, a patient dealing with chronic pain may feel they are alone. This can be extremely frustrating to a patient who is living with pain. Our patient care coordinators advocate for the patient and help them navigate the confusing world of healthcare. We take the extra step so our patients don’t have to, and can focus on eliminating their pain. For example, in many cases an MRI is needed to rule out certain diagnoses on a patient. In this case, instead of giving the patient the MRI order and requiring that they schedule the procedure themselves, a Patient Care Coordinator at Michigan Spine & Pain will schedule the appointment, ensure that it is covered by the patient’s insurance, and then alert the patient of the time and date of the scheduled appointment.
- X-Rays
- Computed TomographyDiscs are the shock absorbers of the body. Like jelly donuts, they are capsules filled with a central core of soft disc material. As we get older, the capsules become drier and sometimes the center can rupture out. We perform a discogram to look at discs in detail to determine whether or not a patient’s problem is in this area. A needle is placed into the disc and dye is injected in. The pain specialists check the flow of the dye under x-ray and look for fissures or leaks. Additionally, they look to see if injecting the dye reproduces the patient’s normal pain. Once it is determined whether or not the disc is the patient’s problem, we can then decide on the best course of treatment to help the patient. Often, after the dye is injected, we have the patient undergo a CT-scan so we can look for fissures in better detail.
- SciaticaThe DRX9000® has been cleared by the FDA to treat patients suffering with incapacitating lower back pain and sciatica caused by herniated discs, degenerative discs, and posterior facet syndrome. The therapy itself works to stretch the spine, using a spinal decompression table in order to create negative pressure and space within the disc to allow disc fluid to move back into place. This creates an environment in which the disc can receive more nutrients and therefore heal itself more quickly and effectively. The ultimate goal of spinal decompression therapy is to relieve the patient’s chronic back, arm, neck, and/or leg pain, and to heal the source of said pain. Spinal decompression therapy is also referred to as non-surgical decompression therapy, since it is often used as a safe, affordable, and extremely effective alternative to spinal surgery. The distinction between surgical and non-surgical spinal decompression is an important one, as surgical spinal procedures are often considered a last option, while spinal decompression therapy is a safe treatment at any stage of back pain.
- WhiplashWith the neck, the most common problems are related to the discs located between the bones and the muscles in the neck. Neck pain or cervical pain, can lead to pain and problems in the entire body if the spinal cord is compressed. We have customized programs to reduce or eliminate neck pain all together. Neck pain can be acute, which means it only lasts a short period of time. It can also be chronic, meaning it lasts for an extended period of time, such as several weeks or longer. Most causes of neck pain are not serious, for example – poor posture while working, leaning into a computer all day, or hunching over a workbench can cause neck pain. Other common causes can be: muscle strains, worn joints, disc disorders or injuries. Many times, injuries can cause a patient to experience neck pain, such as whiplash caused by a car accident.
- ArthroscopyAnkle arthroscopy is a less invasive surgery, where a narrow instrument can be utilized to remove small segments of cartilage or bone chips or even to tie or repair a torn ligament.
- Joint ReplacementIn a database called Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement (FORCE-TJR), information is accumulated regarding total joint replacement surgeries from orthopedic surgeons in 22 states.
- Arthroscopy
- Knee ReplacementThe sheer numbers of knee replacement surgery have skyrocketed. In fact, the number of knee replacements has doubled in the past decade. More worrisome is that the number of knee replacement surgeries on patients younger than 65 has tripled in the same time frame.
- Skin CancerGetting enough Vitamin D: Vitamin D allows your body to absorb calcium. Some of the foods which contain calcium also contain Vitamin D, but it is difficult to get all of the required Vitamin D through food alone. Sunlight also aids in production of Vitamin D, but those who live in cloudy locales or who apply sunscreen to prevent skin cancer don’t get the Vitamin D through the sunlight. For most people, a Vitamin D supplement is necessary. You should take a supplement that covers the shortfall of Vitamin D that you don’t take in with food. Consult with your health care provider regarding your appropriate Vitamin D requirement.
- Acne Treatment
- EczemaUse it as gargle to relieve mouth ulcers. Bathe the skin affected with eczema several times a day with cooled chamomile tea.
- Burns
- Sports MedicineWhen you get injured, your first thought may be to make an appointment directly with an orthopedic surgeon, chiropractor or sports medicine physician. However, a physiatrist helps a wide range of patients, including those suffering from injury, disease or musculoskeletal pain.
- Physical TherapyIt is easy, when you are in pain, to avoid movement. But, with the help of physical therapy, we can teach you how to move efficiently, in ways that are less painful. Movement of joints and exercise in general are significant contributors to overall pain reduction. In the past, particularly for back pain, patients were advised to “go to bed”. Now we know that excessive bed rest is counterproductive. More movement is the key to more pain relief.
- Occupational TherapyPlease consult your health care team regarding the stairs in your life. You may be able to utilize physical therapy or occupational therapy to conquer the stairs.
- Frozen Shoulder
- Tennis ElbowYou don’t have to play tennis to have a tennis elbow. Lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow, is a painful condition that occurs when tendons in your elbow are overly strained. This is commonly caused by repetitive motions of the arm and wrist.
- Shoulder Pain
- Flatfoot Correction
- Ankle SprainE American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, the most common cause for a persistently painful ankle is incomplete healing after an ankle sprain. When you sprain your ankle, the connecting tissue between the bones is stretched or torn. Without thorough and complete rehabilitation, the ligament or surrounding muscles may remain weak, resulting in recurrent instability. As a result, you may experience additional ankle injuries.
- Neck Pain
- Back Pain
- Manual TherapyJoint Mobilization Therapy: This therapy involves a deep stretching movement applied to the joints, ligaments, muscles, tendons and discs. These treatments work to restore mobility, range of motion, relax tight muscles, and help limit disability and pain.
- Achilles TendonitisAnkle sprains, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, swollen feet and blisters are all common golfing injuries. Proper shoes and strengthening exercises will help you stay on your feet without pain or injury.
- Ankle SprainLupus, an autoimmune disease, often affects many joints, Although many forms of arthritis and related conditions can affect the ankles, the most common cause of ankle pain is a sprain. A sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the ankle become stretched or torn. Here is what you need to know about sprained ankles and some other common ankle injuries.
- Flat Feet
- Plantar FasciitisMaybe you’ve heard of plantar fasciitis. Maybe you have been diagnosed with it. Maybe you’re wondering what your chronic or recurring foot and ankle pain is. Here are a few FAQs regarding Plantar Fasciitis.
- Allergies