Special report: suicidal ideation among American surgeons

Here is a disturbing study from the Archives of Surgery Journal. We have known that surgeons have a higher rate of suicide than the general population. This study was a survey that found suicidal ideation (thoughts) was 1.5 to 3.0 times more common among surgeons than the general population. Even more disturbing was that only 26% of them had sought psychiatric or psychologic help, while 60% were reluctant to seek help due to concern that it could affect their medical license.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21242446

The back pain most surgeons won't find

Did you know that experts estimate that 20-25% of chrronic lower back pain comes from the sacroiliac joints ( the joints between the lower spine and pelvis)? This is one of the reasons there are so many unsuccessful low back/spine surgeries. 
Although fusion of the SI joints can be beneficial in a very small subset of patients, it to is a highly overperformed surgery.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/18/health/back-pain-misdiagnosis-shamie/index.html?hpt=hp_bn13

Bicycle and Sporting Helmets and Concussions

We have been hearing much recently about the new found awareness of the severity of concussions culminating with the recent $765 million NFL concussion settlement. I ran across this very well researched and informative Bicycling Magazine article discussing the poor ability of bicycle and other sporting helmets on preventing concussions. It is a rather long article, and even explains why woodpeckers do not get concussions :-)

Senseless

I just did an invitational bicycle ride a couple weeks ago and saw a rider limping very badly at one of the rest stops. He told me he had plantar fasciitis and meds and physical therapy had not helped. 
This is a condition that I frequently treat which is many times the result of biomechanical dysfunctions of the foot, ankle, knee, and/or hip. The incidence seems to be increasing probably due to the weight increase of Americans and the increased participation in sports and exercise.
Anyone experienced this condition?

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/mar/09/health/la-he-feet-20130309

Opioid (Narcotic) Use Common After Spine Surgery

Did you know that prescription drug abuse and addiction now kills more people than all the illegal drugs combined? Here is a new study from the North American Spine Society showed that 32% of patients were still using opioid (narcotic) drugs one year after back surgery. This is in spite of the fact that narcotic drugs have not been proven effective or safe for chronic back or joint pain! Nothing scientific about this medical practice.
Any thoughts on this?

Opioid (Narcotic) Use Common After Spine Surgery

A new study from the prestigious Spine Journal shows that more than one in five patients are so dissatisfied with the results of their spinal stenosis ( narrowing) surgery that they undergo the pain, expense, disability, and danger of another surgery within 10 years. Plus the authors state that the re-operation rate seems to be increasing.
The cumulative reoperation rate was 4.7% at 3 months, 7.2% at 1 year, 9.4% at 2 years, 11.2% at 3 years, 12.5% at 4 years, and 14.2% at 5 years. The adjusted reoperation rate was not different between decompression and fusion surgeries. The calculated reoperation rate was expected to be 22.9% at 10 years.
Would it be worthwhile to try chiropractic care before this surgery? What is your opinion?

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1529943013007729