Up To A Third Of Knee Replacements Pack Pain And Regret

Research show that up to a third of patients who undergo knee replacement continue to experience chronic pain, while one in five are dissatisfied with the results. A recent study showed that one-third of patients who undergo knee replacement may not even be appropriate candidates for the procedure, because their arthritis symptoms aren’t severe enough to merit aggressive intervention.
Maual therapy and exeices therapy can help many of these cases. Has anyone had good results with non surgical care?

Up To A Third Of Knee Replacements Pack Pain And Regret

Federal Bill Introduced to Expand Medicare Patient Choice

Since 1972 when chiropractic care was first covered by Medicare, only manipulation of the spine has been covered. The United States House of Representatives has introduced legislation “Chiropractic Patients’ Freedom of Choice Act of 2018” (H.R. 7157) to expand coverage to address the current Medicare limit to reimbursement. https://www.ilchiro.org/news/news.asp?id=431035
Do you think this legislation will be beneficial for Medicare patients?

Why Exercise Is So Essential for Mental Health

I frequently talk to my patients about the mental and emotional benefits of exercise. There is now robust evidence that exercise appears to be as good as existing pharmacological interventions across a range of conditions, such as mild to moderate depression, dementia, and anxiety.
Has anyone noticed any of these benefits from exercise?Why Exercise Is So Essential for Mental Health

Babying your back may delay healing

Studies on animals with spinal injuries show faster pain resolution among those forced to exercise than among those allowed to move less. Studies on humans also show much evidence that increased movement leads to faster improvement. So use common sense but do not baby your back after an injury.
Has anyone noticed better recovery by staying active?
Babying your back may delay healing

What's the truth about chiropractors?

This article discusses some myths about chiropractors.
"A common myth is that chiropractors do not undergo a significant amount of training. In fact, they typically complete about 8 years of higher education. They usually graduate with a pre-med major after having taken courses in sciences, such as biology, chemistry, psychology, and physics. They then attend a chiropractic graduate program. On average, these involve 4 years of education with a total of 4,200 instructional hours in course credits."
Does this surprise anyone?

What's the truth about chiropractors?

Managing Neck and Back Pain in America

New Gallup report shows that among those who saw a health care professional for neck or back pain in the last 12 months, 53% saw a chiropractor. Also, 80% of Americans would prefer to see a specialist who is an expert in spine related conditions over a general practitioner if they experienced back or neck related pain.
Has anyone had treatment for a back or neck condition?
Managing Neck and Back Pain in America

Nonsurgical treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis

I treat many patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and it many time leads to leg pain and weakness with standing and walking. a new study in the medical journal Archives of Physical Medicines showed that a comprehensive conservative program demonstrated superior, large, and sustained improvements in walking ability and can be a safe nonsurgical treatment option for patients with sciatica due to lumbar spinal stenosis.
Has anyone had treatment for this condition?
Comprehensive Nonsurgical Treatment Versus Self-directed Care to Improve Walking Ability in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Randomized Trial.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE CARRIES A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER SOCIAL COST WHEN COMPARED TO OPIOIDS.

Musculoskeletal pain, led by spinal disorders, costs the US healthcare system 874 billion dollars per year and is the most common cause of severe
long-term pain and disability. 
A recent study showed that the rate of opioid use was lower for recipients of chiropractic services (19%) as compared to non-recipients (35%).
Do you think more family doctors should inform their patients that chiropractic treatment would be an option for their pain?
CHIROPRACTIC CARE CARRIES A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER SOCIAL COST WHEN COMPARED TO OPIOIDS.

Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016

A new report from the World Health Organization shows that worldwide about one in three women and nearly one in four men do not exercise enough to avoid common diseases. The study, published in Lancet Global Health, also reports that inactivity levels worsened between 2001 and 2016.
Why do you think so many people don't do any exercising?
Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016

Low Back Pain: Should We Recommend Chiropractic Care?

A doctor from the popular medical provider website Medscape discusses the recent military study showing better results when chiropractic care was added to the usual medical care.
She goes on the recemmend chiropractic care as part of a multi-disciplinary approach to managing mechanical back disorders.
Do you think this is a good recommendation?

Pain scientist explains fibromyalgia origins

We previously thought that fibromyalgia was a muscle and soft tissue condition, but our current research shows that it is a disturbance in how the brain processes pain and other sensory information. Opioids do not help. Drugs that effect serotonin levels in the brain and non-drug approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise and stress reduction can be helpful.

Has anyone had relief with these treatments?

Pain scientist explains fibromyalgia origins

Commonly prescribed drugs for back pain often ineffective, review says

Seems like the new fad is to prescribe gabapentinoids such as Lyrica and Neurontin for low back pain. These drugs were approved by the FDA for epilepsy and nerve pain and not approved for low back pain. A new study in PLOS Medicine that reviewed 8 previous trials showed no benefit of these drugs for back pain. 
Would it be more rational to use treatments like exercise therapy and/or spinal manipulation which are evidence-based and much less dangerous?

Commonly prescribed drugs for back pain often ineffective, review says

Got Osteoporosis? Don’t Be Afraid of Exercise

It’s easy to understand why many people with osteoporosis think exercise isn’t advisable. But that isn’t the case. Not only is a sedentary (inactive) lifestyle a risk factor for osteoporosis, but reserch now shows that low- and moderate-intensity exercise are actually beneficial for osteoporosis sufferers.
Were you aware that exercise can be beneficial for osteoporosis?
Got Osteoporosis? Don’t Be Afraid of Exercise

Chiropractic has role to play in easing lower back pain: study

Article from US News on a military study recently published in the Journal of the AMA. Active-duty military personnel reported having fewer back problems when they visited a chiropractor along with receiving usual medical care, the researchers said.
Do you think having more access to chiropractic treatment will be beneficial for our military?

Chiropractic has role to play in easing lower back pain: study

The Surprising Reasons Your Lower Back Pain Treatment Isn’t Working

his article from Prevention magazine reviews the new groundbreaking research recently published in the medical journal The Lancet showing that much back treatment is not based on current research. The authors of the studies recommend non drug treatments such as chiropractic spinal manipulation and exercise therapy before trying drug therapy. 
Do you think these are good recommendations.
The Surprising Reasons Your Lower Back Pain Treatment Isn’t Working

The guidelines on low back pain are clear: drugs and surgery should be the last resort

Good comprehensive article discussing the recommendations from several recent low back pain guidelines to start out with non drug treatments such as spinal manipulation (adjustments) and keep drugs and surgery as second line treatments.
Do you think these are good recommendations?The guidelines on low back pain are clear: drugs and surgery should be the last resort

Alternative treatments for new patients with chronic pain helping with opioid decline

A new law in West Virginia sets limits on opioid prescriptions and mandates that health-care practitioners prescribe or recommend physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic care for new patients with conditions that cause chronic pain.
Do you think this law will help decrease opioid prescribing?

Alternative treatments for new patients with chronic pain helping with opioid decline

Millions Get Wrong Treatment for Back Pain: Lancet Study

Another article on the three papers recently published in the Lancet medical journal. They state that much of the diagnostic and treatment modalities used for back pain are not based on scientific evidence, are costly, and can be dangerous. Worldwide, disability from chronic back pain has risen more than 50 percent since 1990, and the trend is expected to continue as the number of seniors grows.
I cannot figure out why this widespread mistreatment continues. Aniyone have any ideas?
Millions Get Wrong Treatment for Back Pain: Study

Pain Pills Don't Go Away After Back Surgery

New study from the Pain Journal showed with spinal fusion back surgery, 77% of patients continued to use opioids (narcotic) drugs long term post surgery. So, is spine surgery failing to take away the pain, or is opioid use a hard habit to break? Both probably deserve equal blame. That's why nondrug, nonsurgical options – such as chiropractic care – for back pain are landing front and center in the health care conversation.
Pain Pills Don't Go Away After Back Surgery

Text Neck

Did you know that staring down at a mobile device places up to 60 pounds of pressure on your neck? That is the weight of 5-6 bowling balls. Ouch!

New Systematic Review Study Shows Effectiveness of Spinal Manipulation for Chronic Low Back Pain

A new systematic review of 51 previous studies published in the prestigious Spine Journal concludes that manipulation and mobilization (adjustments which are mostly used by chiropractors) is effective for chronic (more than 3 months duration) low back pain and is also safe.
Does it surprise anyone that manipulation is also beneficial for chronic disorders?

Protect your back from injury by using proper technique in garden

Good article from the director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Please take these suggestions to save yourself some pain and disability.

Has anyone experienced an injury while gardening?

Protect your back from injury by using proper technique in garden

Should You See a Chiropractor?

“I’ve been going since 1993 when I was in high school,” says Olympic marathon silver medalist Meb Keflezighi. “Now I try and get adjusted at least once every two weeks. What I like about chiro is that they look at the whole body, not just the injury.
Should You See a Chiropractor?

Middle age is not too late to increase cardiac fitness, studies show

Very well done study from Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association showed that by beginning to exercise formerly sedentary middle aged people increased their aerobic fitness by 18 percent. They also improved their cardiac compliance, or elasticity, by 25 percent which will help prevent heart failure.
If a pill did this, it would be a blockbuster. Why would you not want to take advantage of these benefits?
Middle age is not too late to increase cardiac fitness, studies show

Neck pain is 4th leading cause of disability worldwide

Neck pain is the third most common chronic pain condition in the U.S. and the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide, representing a substantial burden to society, which doctors of chiropractic can help alleviate.

Ask Well: Do Pain Relievers Heal Tendinitis, or Just Ease Pain?

Most physicians now believe that tendinitis – the suffix “itis” means inflamed – is misnamed, since the condition may involve little or no inflammation. 
Studies have shown that use of anti-inlammatory drugs including cortisone can lead to significant increaed risk of future flare-ups. 
Animal studies show that they delay and inhibit healing. 
Do you think it is better to get quick relief or better long term healing?

Ask Well: Do Pain Relievers Heal Tendinitis, or Just Ease Pain?

Ohio imposes strict rule on workers' back surgery, opioids

Ohio residents with work-related back injuries in most cases must try remedies like rest, physical therapy and chiropractic care before turning to spinal fusion surgery and opioid (narcotic) painkillers under a groundbreaking new guideline.
Studies have shown that fewer than half of patients are able to return to work after the surgery and that it is often ineffective or followed by complications.
Do you think this is a good change in the guidelines?
Ohio imposes strict rule on workers' back surgery, opioids