There is no question that physical therapy is of enormous benefit to individuals with back pain. Some health care professionals highly recommend this treatment to patients with back pain. One of the problems with treatment for back pain is that the business has become lucrative. Some physicians only send patients for treatments which are exorbitantly expensive and where they make some money. For example, surgeons tend to recommend surgery or pain injections.
While medications can relieve back pain, they do not cure the problem. Even the pain relief with medications is temporary. While physical therapy was never strongly emphasized in the past, it is now appreciated that physical therapy alone is far superior than many other treatments available for back pain. Today, the trend is to push individuals with back pain to enter physical therapy programs because of the dismal failure of surgery and other spinal decompression modalities.
Over the past two decades, a lot of evidence has accumulated that reveals the benefits of physical therapy. When done properly, physical therapy can help the process of healing much faster, reduce pain more effectively and also prevent recurrent episodes of back pain. Unlike the past, physical therapy is much more refined. It is not simply lifting weights or jogging around on a track. The specialty is individually designed to help the individual build strength, improve posture, increase flexibility, and adjust his/her lifestyle.
Physical therapy today focuses more on prevention and promotion of healing. In each and every case, physical therapy aims to restore function and increase mobility in the individual.
Showing posts with label back pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label back pain. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
VAX-D for back pain
What is VAX-D?
In the last few years, some orthopedic surgeons have decided that they want to practice medicine like the cosmetic surgeons. Everyone knows that there is money to made with back pain. There are hundreds of treatments for back pain and none of them works well. The orthopedic surgeons have already tried the surgery route and in most cases have made patients worse. So now there is a treatment called VAX-D.
VAX-D stands for vertebral Axial Decompression (if you cant pronounce it, just go by its other name- bull shit therapy). It is the latest non surgical procedure for treating lower back pain. VAX-D has been used in Europe (they have no standards in Europe –so do not be impressed if they are always the first to use a treatment).
Is it FDA approved?
No, VAX-D has not been FDA approved for treatment but is still widely available in North America.
Is it safe?
The good thing about the treatment is that it is generally safe, there are no needles or anesthesia, and there is no cutting involved. All you have to do is lie on a flat table and your back is stretched in one direction. And this my friends is VAX-D.
What does VAX D do?
A lot of hype has been made about the table and the gadgets that go with it. For example, if you have a bone fragment impinging on your nerve in the lower back, this table will pull you in one direction and relive the pressure on the nerve. There is absolutely nothing novel about this treatment, except the name and its cost. The vendors of these therapy have created new vocabulary like negative pressure, disc space, and joint alignment – just hype to sell the treatment. A related treatment available years ago was the inversion therapy which did not do much. Retraction of back joints has been practiced in medicine for the better part of 50 years and is nothing new. People gave up on retraction devices because they never worked
What conditions can be treated with VAX D?
The providers of this therapy claim that besides chronic back pain, VAX -D can be used to treat sciatica, facet joint syndrome, herniated discs, degenerated discs from arthritis, and in individuals who have pain after failed back surgery.
In the last few years, some orthopedic surgeons have decided that they want to practice medicine like the cosmetic surgeons. Everyone knows that there is money to made with back pain. There are hundreds of treatments for back pain and none of them works well. The orthopedic surgeons have already tried the surgery route and in most cases have made patients worse. So now there is a treatment called VAX-D.
VAX-D stands for vertebral Axial Decompression (if you cant pronounce it, just go by its other name- bull shit therapy). It is the latest non surgical procedure for treating lower back pain. VAX-D has been used in Europe (they have no standards in Europe –so do not be impressed if they are always the first to use a treatment).
Is it FDA approved?
No, VAX-D has not been FDA approved for treatment but is still widely available in North America.
Is it safe?
The good thing about the treatment is that it is generally safe, there are no needles or anesthesia, and there is no cutting involved. All you have to do is lie on a flat table and your back is stretched in one direction. And this my friends is VAX-D.
What does VAX D do?
A lot of hype has been made about the table and the gadgets that go with it. For example, if you have a bone fragment impinging on your nerve in the lower back, this table will pull you in one direction and relive the pressure on the nerve. There is absolutely nothing novel about this treatment, except the name and its cost. The vendors of these therapy have created new vocabulary like negative pressure, disc space, and joint alignment – just hype to sell the treatment. A related treatment available years ago was the inversion therapy which did not do much. Retraction of back joints has been practiced in medicine for the better part of 50 years and is nothing new. People gave up on retraction devices because they never worked
What conditions can be treated with VAX D?
The providers of this therapy claim that besides chronic back pain, VAX -D can be used to treat sciatica, facet joint syndrome, herniated discs, degenerated discs from arthritis, and in individuals who have pain after failed back surgery.
What is Spinal stenosis?
One of the most common causes of back pain is narrowing of the spinal canal. Inside the spinal canal run nerves which go to all parts of the body. When narrowing of the canal occurs, it may compress the nerves which results in symptoms. The narrowing of the spinal canal can occur from a variety of medical disorders.
What happens when the spinal canal narrows?
As the spinal canal narrows, it compresses the nerves which exit the spinal cord. Spinal stenosis is most often seen in the lower back and frequently affects elderly individuals-however, it can also occur in young individuals also. the reason why elderly get more spinal canal narrowing has been attributed to getting old.
In some rare cases, the spinal canal in the lower back may be narrowed due to a congenital disorder or from trauma.
Does everyone with spinal canal narrowing develop symptoms?
While everyone develops some degree of spinal canal narrowing with age, not everyone develops symptoms. Some individuals develop symptoms even with degrees of stenosis whereas others can have moderate degree of stenosis and yet have no symptoms.
What are typical symptoms of spinal canal narrowing?
Individuals who have narrowing of spinal canal usually complain of low back pain which often radiates into the buttocks and may go down to back of the thigh. The pain is typically worse while walking or prolonged standing. When lying down the pain can ease off. The pain is often a dull ache in the back but can also produce sharp pains in the buttocks and legs.
What are other symptoms of spinal canal narrowing?
Other symptoms of spinal canal narrowing include burning pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the affected leg.
How is the diagnosis of spinal canal narrowing made?
The diagnosis of spinal canal narrowing is usually made with an MRI. CT scans are also quite good at revealing the narrowing.
for back braces or splints, visit www.medexsupply.com
What happens when the spinal canal narrows?
As the spinal canal narrows, it compresses the nerves which exit the spinal cord. Spinal stenosis is most often seen in the lower back and frequently affects elderly individuals-however, it can also occur in young individuals also. the reason why elderly get more spinal canal narrowing has been attributed to getting old.
In some rare cases, the spinal canal in the lower back may be narrowed due to a congenital disorder or from trauma.
Does everyone with spinal canal narrowing develop symptoms?
While everyone develops some degree of spinal canal narrowing with age, not everyone develops symptoms. Some individuals develop symptoms even with degrees of stenosis whereas others can have moderate degree of stenosis and yet have no symptoms.
What are typical symptoms of spinal canal narrowing?
Individuals who have narrowing of spinal canal usually complain of low back pain which often radiates into the buttocks and may go down to back of the thigh. The pain is typically worse while walking or prolonged standing. When lying down the pain can ease off. The pain is often a dull ache in the back but can also produce sharp pains in the buttocks and legs.
What are other symptoms of spinal canal narrowing?
Other symptoms of spinal canal narrowing include burning pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the affected leg.
How is the diagnosis of spinal canal narrowing made?
The diagnosis of spinal canal narrowing is usually made with an MRI. CT scans are also quite good at revealing the narrowing.
for back braces or splints, visit www.medexsupply.com
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Prolotherapy for Back Pain Part 2
Do the injections hurt?
Is there such a thing as a painless injection? Sure, it hurts. However, with prolotherapy the pain is moderate, but can last a few days. Some unfortunate individuals have longer duration of pain.
What are complications of prolotherapy?
Besides pain, one can have bleeding, infection, nerve injury and tissue damage. Rare but these complications do occur
Is pain relief with prolotherapy permanent?
Well depends on whom you listen to. The doctors say yes to everything, but the real patients who have had injections say no way. Fact – if it works, the pain relief is transient.
Where are the injections done?
In an office or a clinic
Can one combine prolotherapy with other procedure used to treat back pain?
Sure, if you have any money left over, you can combine it with acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage therapy. Now ask your self this question, if prolotherapy was that great, why would there still be a need to combine other treatments? - answer- makes more money for the health care workers.
Is Prolotherapy safe?
Well the human being is a sturdy individual. You can probably inject small amounts of glucose almost anywhere in the body and not screw up. Therefore, in that sense prolotherapy is safe. However, the occasional health care worker goofs up and complications can occur like infections, bleeding, nerve injury and more pain than what you started out with
How long are the sessions spread over?
Well, these Prolotherapy maniacs recommend 2-3 sessions/week over 2-3 months. Ample time to collect down payment on a new Lexus.
Is Prolotherapy better than steroid injections or physical therapy?
The people who market this therapy say yes to everything. Remember you are paying for it and like plastic surgery, there are no refunds.
Is there such a thing as a painless injection? Sure, it hurts. However, with prolotherapy the pain is moderate, but can last a few days. Some unfortunate individuals have longer duration of pain.
What are complications of prolotherapy?
Besides pain, one can have bleeding, infection, nerve injury and tissue damage. Rare but these complications do occur
Is pain relief with prolotherapy permanent?
Well depends on whom you listen to. The doctors say yes to everything, but the real patients who have had injections say no way. Fact – if it works, the pain relief is transient.
Where are the injections done?
In an office or a clinic
Can one combine prolotherapy with other procedure used to treat back pain?
Sure, if you have any money left over, you can combine it with acupuncture, chiropractic, physical therapy, and massage therapy. Now ask your self this question, if prolotherapy was that great, why would there still be a need to combine other treatments? - answer- makes more money for the health care workers.
Is Prolotherapy safe?
Well the human being is a sturdy individual. You can probably inject small amounts of glucose almost anywhere in the body and not screw up. Therefore, in that sense prolotherapy is safe. However, the occasional health care worker goofs up and complications can occur like infections, bleeding, nerve injury and more pain than what you started out with
How long are the sessions spread over?
Well, these Prolotherapy maniacs recommend 2-3 sessions/week over 2-3 months. Ample time to collect down payment on a new Lexus.
Is Prolotherapy better than steroid injections or physical therapy?
The people who market this therapy say yes to everything. Remember you are paying for it and like plastic surgery, there are no refunds.
Prolotherapy for Back Pain Part 1
What is Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is also known as Regenerative injection therapy. The procedure essentially involves injection of high concentration of glucose (yes simply sugar water) into the attachment of bone- such as tendon and ligaments. The solution is injected at precise points and the theory is that glucose water magically increases blood supply, repairs the tissues and relieves pain (and all this time I thought sugar was bad!)
Is there scientific proof that prolotherapy works?
There have been a few experimental studies performed in rats. But because the experimental rats cannot communicate so it is hard to know. However, the rats did run and eat as normal. The few human guinea pigs who have been studied did not see any improvement.
What type of pain disorders are treated with prolotherapy?
Well, physicians and alternative practitioners recommend prolotherapy for almost all musculoskeletal disorders associated with pain including back pain, shoulder pain, groin pain, elbow pain, and arm pain and so on.
What other disorders are treated by prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy has been used to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders like whiplash and neck pain, low back pain, cervical disc, lumbar disc herniations, rotator cuff injuries, tennis/golfer’s elbow, wrist problems, knee arthritis and pain, hip pain, ankle sprains, achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis - but this does not mean it works in all of them
Does Prolotherapy Work in humans?
Depends on whom you ask. The doctors and alternative care health practitioners who sell this therapy are adamant that it works. They are sure about it and always quote some study. However, if you talk to individuals who have had this therapy, the word BULL SHIT is the first thing that they say. Hopeless and fake are a few other choice words for this treatment.
IS there any scientific data to support prolotherapy use in humans?
Well, there are very few reports published but an overview analysis of prolotherapy by Cochrane, revealed that it did nothing. Cochrane does say the glucose injections are not bad for the body, but as far as pain was concerned, it did diddly squat. Most studies are difficult to understand and have conflicting data. Overall, prolotherapy does nothing.
How many sessions are required?
When there is money to be made, rest assured nothing will be cured in one session. Same goes for prolotherapy. One needs at least 6-14 sessions. Sometimes two parts of the body can be treated in each session. The treatment as the experts say should last several months.
Prolotherapy is also known as Regenerative injection therapy. The procedure essentially involves injection of high concentration of glucose (yes simply sugar water) into the attachment of bone- such as tendon and ligaments. The solution is injected at precise points and the theory is that glucose water magically increases blood supply, repairs the tissues and relieves pain (and all this time I thought sugar was bad!)
Is there scientific proof that prolotherapy works?
There have been a few experimental studies performed in rats. But because the experimental rats cannot communicate so it is hard to know. However, the rats did run and eat as normal. The few human guinea pigs who have been studied did not see any improvement.
What type of pain disorders are treated with prolotherapy?
Well, physicians and alternative practitioners recommend prolotherapy for almost all musculoskeletal disorders associated with pain including back pain, shoulder pain, groin pain, elbow pain, and arm pain and so on.
What other disorders are treated by prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy has been used to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders like whiplash and neck pain, low back pain, cervical disc, lumbar disc herniations, rotator cuff injuries, tennis/golfer’s elbow, wrist problems, knee arthritis and pain, hip pain, ankle sprains, achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis - but this does not mean it works in all of them
Does Prolotherapy Work in humans?
Depends on whom you ask. The doctors and alternative care health practitioners who sell this therapy are adamant that it works. They are sure about it and always quote some study. However, if you talk to individuals who have had this therapy, the word BULL SHIT is the first thing that they say. Hopeless and fake are a few other choice words for this treatment.
IS there any scientific data to support prolotherapy use in humans?
Well, there are very few reports published but an overview analysis of prolotherapy by Cochrane, revealed that it did nothing. Cochrane does say the glucose injections are not bad for the body, but as far as pain was concerned, it did diddly squat. Most studies are difficult to understand and have conflicting data. Overall, prolotherapy does nothing.
How many sessions are required?
When there is money to be made, rest assured nothing will be cured in one session. Same goes for prolotherapy. One needs at least 6-14 sessions. Sometimes two parts of the body can be treated in each session. The treatment as the experts say should last several months.
Epidural Steroid Injections Part 3
Final Word
Most of the current evidence on epidural steroids is anecdotal. A few studies indicate that this therapy is essentially not effective. The majority of patients find no long-term benefit from steroid injection and it does not prolong the time to surgery. The problem is that the health care professionals have become charlatans and offering dubious therapies with no proven benefit. For all those with back pain, remember medicine and money never make a good mix.
Cost
Epidural steroid injections can cost anywhere from $1200- $2000. There are many health care specialists who are now into the business of pain management and perform the injections. The majority of them do it because they make money.
By the way, most insurance companies and Medicare do not fully reimburse these steroidal injections.
If you have back pain, read the literature on this topic and choose your health care provider well. To date, the only thing epidural steroidal injections have been known to cure is your wallet.
Most of the current evidence on epidural steroids is anecdotal. A few studies indicate that this therapy is essentially not effective. The majority of patients find no long-term benefit from steroid injection and it does not prolong the time to surgery. The problem is that the health care professionals have become charlatans and offering dubious therapies with no proven benefit. For all those with back pain, remember medicine and money never make a good mix.
Cost
Epidural steroid injections can cost anywhere from $1200- $2000. There are many health care specialists who are now into the business of pain management and perform the injections. The majority of them do it because they make money.
By the way, most insurance companies and Medicare do not fully reimburse these steroidal injections.
If you have back pain, read the literature on this topic and choose your health care provider well. To date, the only thing epidural steroidal injections have been known to cure is your wallet.
Epidural Steroid Injections 101
What is an epidural steroid injection?
One of the treatments for back pain is to inject corticosteroids in the spine- in an area called the epidural space. Most of the nerves which transmit pain signals to the brain run in the spinal cord-so it makes sense to block the nerves here. The epidural space is the inner canal in the spinal cord and can only be accessed with a long thin needle.
Can anyone receive an epidural injection for back pain?
Definitely not. In some patients, the nerve may be pinched and irritated by pressure. When the nerve is pinched, it may cause pain, numbness or, tingling in the neck, arms, legs or buttocks. Sometimes the pain may also radiate down to the back of the foot. In most cases, individuals who have recent onset of back pain generally respond to epidural injections. Other individuals who have back pain which radiates to the back of the legs may be helped. For those individuals who have had back pain for many months or years, epidural injection will not help at all. Other individuals who have back pain from muscle pain, joint problems or arthritis generally do not respond to these injections.
How is the injection done?
The injection is done in an office setting and does not take more than 30 minutes. You will be asked to lie down flat on the table and bring your knees to your chest area. This opens up the epidural space. The physician will numb the skin with an anesthetic and then may use an x ray to guide the needle into the epidural space. An x ray is not always needed. Once the correct position is obtained, the corticosteroid is injected into the space.
Once the injection is done, you are monitored for 30 minutes and most patients can be discharged in 1-2 hours. The majority of individuals will feel numbness or a mild weakness in the arms or legs after the injections. Sometimes one may even feel dizzy. After an epidural injection, one cannot drive home.
One of the treatments for back pain is to inject corticosteroids in the spine- in an area called the epidural space. Most of the nerves which transmit pain signals to the brain run in the spinal cord-so it makes sense to block the nerves here. The epidural space is the inner canal in the spinal cord and can only be accessed with a long thin needle.
Can anyone receive an epidural injection for back pain?
Definitely not. In some patients, the nerve may be pinched and irritated by pressure. When the nerve is pinched, it may cause pain, numbness or, tingling in the neck, arms, legs or buttocks. Sometimes the pain may also radiate down to the back of the foot. In most cases, individuals who have recent onset of back pain generally respond to epidural injections. Other individuals who have back pain which radiates to the back of the legs may be helped. For those individuals who have had back pain for many months or years, epidural injection will not help at all. Other individuals who have back pain from muscle pain, joint problems or arthritis generally do not respond to these injections.
How is the injection done?
The injection is done in an office setting and does not take more than 30 minutes. You will be asked to lie down flat on the table and bring your knees to your chest area. This opens up the epidural space. The physician will numb the skin with an anesthetic and then may use an x ray to guide the needle into the epidural space. An x ray is not always needed. Once the correct position is obtained, the corticosteroid is injected into the space.
Once the injection is done, you are monitored for 30 minutes and most patients can be discharged in 1-2 hours. The majority of individuals will feel numbness or a mild weakness in the arms or legs after the injections. Sometimes one may even feel dizzy. After an epidural injection, one cannot drive home.
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