Living with chronic pain doesn’t just take a toll physically; it takes a toll mentally as well. Chronic pain can disrupt work, family life, and social engagements. Many orthopedic doctors are familiar with chronic pain symptoms, since the pain often stems from issues of the musculoskeletal system. If you’ve been living with untreated chronic pain, it might be a good idea to consult an orthopedic specialist. Narrowing down the source of the pain and setting up a pain management plan is an important part of relieving symptoms and restoring a sense of normalcy in your life. Pain management can take many forms. Below are some of the most common types of pain management treatment. Talking to your doctor will be the best way to come up with a successful plan. (more…)
Living with chronic pain doesn’t just take a toll physically; it takes a toll mentally as well. Chronic pain can disrupt work, family life, and social engagements. Many orthopedic doctors are familiar with chronic pain symptoms, since the pain often stems from issues of the musculoskeletal system. If you’ve been living with untreated chronic pain, it might be a good idea to consult an orthopedic specialist. Narrowing down the source of the pain and setting up a pain management plan is an important part of relieving symptoms and restoring a sense of normalcy in your life. Pain management can take many forms. Below are some of the most common types of pain management treatment. Talking to your doctor will be the best way to come up with a successful plan.
Drug Therapy
Drug therapy includes the treatment of pain with medication. This might include over-the-counter drugs or prescription medication. It’s generally preferable to try to manage pain with the mildest medication possible, so over-the-counter medications are usually a good place to start. Medications like acetaminophen and NSAIDs can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation that might be causing pain. Topical pain relievers in the form of creams, lotions, or sprays can sometimes be effective. If over-the-counter medications don’t seem to be enough to manage the pain, talk to your doctor and he or she can talk to you about prescription pain medication options. It’s always important to understand any risks or side-effects that are associated with drugs you’re taking, even over-the-counter drugs.
Direct Injections
In some cases, your doctor can use injections to help manage your pain. If trigger points in your muscles are painful, trigger point injections can help the knotted muscle relax and relieve pain. Steroids or other medications can be injected into swollen joints to reduce inflammation. A nerve block is another injection option. This injection numbs the surrounding nerves. This isn’t always a viable option, so consultation with your doctor is key.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
While relieving pain is important, working on the underlying problem to find a permanent solution should be the goal. Physical therapy uses special techniques, exercises, and stretches to help improve problems caused by a disability or injury. Movement and function can often be improved with physical therapy, leading to less pain and a better outlook for the future. Physical therapy exercises should often be continued even after scheduled meetings with the therapist have ended. Exercise can also be an important part of managing pain. While you may need to take a break from strenuous exercise to allow for healing, studies show that resting for too long or living a mostly sedentary lifestyle can increase your risk for chronic pain.
Mind-Body Therapies
Mind-body therapies focus on the mind’s ability to affect the physical body. Learning techniques like meditation, visualization, relaxation, and biofeedback can help you manage painful symptoms naturally. Studies have shown that these techniques can be effective if practiced regularly and properly. Some pain is stress related and these techniques are particularly effective at managing this type of pain.
Most pain management specialists in Jacksonville, FL, will use a combination of pain management therapies and techniques that are tailored to your unique situation.
Ways to Reduce Infection after Knee Replacement Surgery
Although infections after knee replacement surgery are rare, orthopedic surgeons in Jacksonville, FL, want their patients to be informed about the risks and how to avoid complications from infection. The more you know about these risks, no matter how low, the better prepared you’ll be when recovering from surgery. (more…)
4 Signs It’s Time to Consult an Orthopedic Hip Surgeon
Do you have pain or stiffness in your hips? If so, it might be time to consult with an orthopedic clinic. Many people associate these aches and pains with getting older, but severe pain and tightness should never be mistaken for the normal aging process. If you experience any of the following symptoms, contact your physician for a referral to an orthopedic center in Jacksonville, FL. (more…)
Myths about Joint Replacement Surgery Debunked
Are you considering joint replacement surgery? Several myths surround joint replacement surgery. Knowing that much of what you’ve heard isn’t true should put you more at ease going into your joint replacement surgery. (more…)
5 Most Common Causes of Knee Pain
Severe knee pain is an unfortunate part of a lot of people’s lives and can hamper everyday obligations. Unfortunately, knee pain can happen to almost anyone, no matter their age, gender, or lifestyle. To protect yourself from the dangers of escalating knee injuries and conditions, it’s important to know the common causes. Knowing the exact reason for knee pain can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and increase the chances of a successful treatment. If you are experiencing severe knee pain and want to seek out treatment, make an appointment with an orthopedic specialist spine care in Jacksonville, FL.Here is a list of the most common causes of knee pain. (more…)
Signs You May Need Joint Replacement Surgery
Joint pain might seem like nothing more than a side effect of getting older, but the reality is that pain isn’t supposed to be something that rules your life. Pain is meant to be a sign that something is wrong with your body and needs to be fixed, and in some cases, pain is a sign that you need major medical attention to function properly. (more…)
The Benefits of Chiropractic Medicine for Treating Spine Injuries
When a person has a back injury, the first thought is usually to reach for a pain reliever or a muscle cream to relieve the soreness. But when the back pain relates to a spinal cord issue, pills or creams usually aren’t the solution that you’re seeking. (more…)
An Overview of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeries
For years, spine surgeries were something for patients to seriously worry about. In order to get the procedure done properly, doctors had to make a major incision in the patient’s back, opening up an area of about five to six inches. The muscles had to be pulled back to open access to the spine, causing a new kind of pain after the surgery. In other words, it was common for patients to find themselves entering with one back problem and leaving with another. (more…)
Dos and Don’ts after Joint Replacement Surgery
One of the downsides to aging is that our joints wear out or get damaged. A lifetime of playing sports, exercising, and other physical pursuits, just like any appliance you have, takes its toll. In extreme cases of joint damage or wear, it may be necessary to replace the joint. If your doctor is recommending joint replacement procedures in Jacksonville, FL, the following are some do’s and don’ts for you following your surgery.
Do Listen to Your Doc
Your joint replacement specialist in Jacksonville, FL, has one job as it pertains to replacing your joints and your recovery. That means they’re not going to give you advice or recommendations that will hurt you or slow your recovery. You need to listen to them and do what they tell you to do regarding rest, recuperation, and rehabilitation.
Don’t Push It
If you’re the least bit active, the recuperation part of your post-surgery routine will be the most frustrating. The tendency will be, especially once you start to feel better, to push your rehabilitation as hard as you can. While a commitment and dedication to your rehab program is ideal, your joint replacement therapy in Jacksonville, FL, will be geared towards making sure everything you do helps you recover. Unless told otherwise, you must stick to the routine that is recommended and not push beyond that.
Do Exercise, but Sensibly
Once you’re well into your recovery, you will be able to begin exercising external to any joint replacement programs in Jacksonville, FL, that you’re involved in. You must pursue low-impact exercise like walking, bicycling, or swimming and avoid any exercise or sports that could lead to any type a physical impact. When exercising, do so strenuously, but do not overdo it.
Don’t Flex the Joint beyond the Rehab Threshold
As important as low-impact exercises to your recovery, it’s equally as important that you do not flex the joint that has been replaced beyond the limits of your rehab. To get the best understanding of what that means, you should discuss post-operative joint use with your joint replacement surgeon in Jacksonville, FL. Your surgeon will be able to explain to you natural and unnatural joint movement as well as what the thresholds are for your type of surgery.
Actions that every joint replacement specialist will tell you that you should avoid include crossing your legs and turning them inward and putting a pillow between your legs when you lie down if you have had knee replacement or bending at the hip if you have had hip replacement surgery. They will also tell you to use assistive tools to pick up objects and to relieve stress on the joint when sitting.
Joint replacement procedures in Jacksonville, FL, will do a lot to getting you back to your healthiest state. You, however, have a responsibility to follow the advice of your specialist and doctors. That is the only way to ensure that your recovery goes as smooth as possible.
Things You Didn’t Know about Spinal Fusion Surgery
A condition called lumbar spinal stenosis causes chronic lower back pain and loss of mobility in older adults. More and more patients are turning to spinal fusion surgery as a means to treat this painful condition. But is spinal fusion surgery right for you? Before you decide to go through with this surgery, make sure you have all the facts. Talk to a spine care specialist in Jacksonville, FL, and ask the right questions. Keep reading to find out more about treating lumbar spinal stenosis with spinal fusion surgery.
What Is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
Lumbar spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal. Over time, this narrowing of the spinal canal puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This pressure causes lower back pain that may be accompanied by intermittent leg weakness, numbness, or leg pain.
What Is Spinal Fusion Surgery?
Spinal fusion surgery is the process of connecting two or more vertebrae in the spinal column using a bone graft. The bone graft fuses the vertebrae together to form one bone to prevent the joint from moving and potentially alleviate lower back pain.
Is Surgery the Only Option for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
No. If your legs and toes are functioning fine, and you only have intermittent back pain, spinal fusion surgery is not recommended. Physical therapy, exercise and a healthy diet will help to alleviate your back pain without surgery.
What Are the Risks of Spinal Fusion Surgery?
The risks of spinal fusion surgery include pain at the graft site, infection, excessive bleeding, nerve damage, blood clots and spinal fluid leakage. There is also a significant risk of eventual reoperation.
Who Is the Ideal Candidate for Spinal Fusion Surgery?
The ideal candidate for spinal fusion surgery is someone who only has two affected vertebrae. Patients rarely feel a loss of mobility with the fusion of two vertebrae. But if more than two vertebrae are affected and require a fusion, significant reduction in spinal mobility may result. The ideal candidate for spinal fusion surgery is also someone who is physically active, doesn’t smoke, isn’t obese. and leads a healthy lifestyle.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Spinal Fusion Surgery?
The recovery time from spinal fusion surgery can last three to six months. You will likely spend two days recovering in the hospital. Once home, care needs to be taken to allow the new bone graft to fuse the vertebrae together and heal. No heavy lifting is allowed during the first few weeks following surgery. Pain will begin to subside after about 4 weeks. At this time, you can start doing physical therapy exercises. After about three months of physical therapy, your doctor will let you know if you can resume your normal activities again.
Spinal fusion surgery has helped many people recover from chronic lower back pain and lead healthy, active lives. But spinal fusion surgery isn’t for everyone. If you would like more information, talk to spine care consultants in Jacksonville, FL, and they will be sure to answer your questions.
