Tag: Physical Therapy
Pain management is one of the oldest areas of medicine. And just as there are many different causes of pain, there are many different treatment options. One of the most controversial options is pain-relieving drugs, especially the long-term use of opioids for chronic pain. One thing is for sure – all patients should have access to a variety of pain management options. Pain-relieving drugs may be the right choice in some cases, but they should never be the only option on the table. A recent bill sponsored by Wisconsin congressman Ron Kind serves to highlight this issue. Many veterans receive …
Last month, The New York Times ran a very interesting article in the Science section, written by a woman living with scoliosis. In “Hope for an S-Shaped Back,” Rachel Rabkin Peachman shares her journey of living with scoliosis. Peachman was diagnosed as a child and her condition’s progression was slowed through bracing, which helped allow her to avoid surgery with a 45-degree curve as a young adult. Over time, however, her curve continued to progress, and at 38 years old she is now living with the pain of a 55-degree upper curve and 33-degree lower curve. In hopes of avoiding …
The elite athletes representing their countries at the Sochi Olympics are in peak physical shape and are at the top of their sport. However, accidents and injuries still occur, especially in potentially dangerous conditions and courses. On February 15, we saw an unfortunate example of this when Russian skicross racer Maria Komissarova fractured her 12th dorsal vertebra and dislocated her spine during a practice session. Fractures or breaks of vertebrae in the lower back can be very dangerous and possibly lead to paralysis, if improperly handled. Spinal fractures often require a swift course of action from highly trained doctors. Komissarova …
