Until recently, researchers believed that back pain will “heal” on its own. We have learned, however, that this is not always true. When back pain is not treated, it may go away temporarily but will most likely return. For more than 33% of people who experience low-back pain, the pain lasts for more than 30 […]
What Causes Back Pain?
Most cases of back pain are mechanical; they are not caused by critical conditions (such as infection, fracture, aneurysm, or cancer) or organ disease (such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots, uterine problems). Since back pain can have a variety of causes an careful examination and diagnosis is essential. The back is a complicated […]
Rehabilitation of the TMJ
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can cause painful chewing, jaw clicking, ear/face pain, tooth pain, and headache. In the absence of an obviously locked jaw, the offending temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is usually diagnosed after the painful ears, teeth, and/or sinuses have been examined and found to be fine. While there are rare causes of TMD (inflammatory arthritis, […]
Tingling hand? Think carpal tunnel every time.
Some diagnoses get all the glory. Leg pain?… think sciatica. Headache at the forehead?… think sinus infection. Hand tingling/pain?… think carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). And if you’ve used a computer, then it must be CTS. With no further need for sarcasm (while it is April 1st), let us discuss the importance of a doctor’s diagnostic […]
Options for Pain? Dr. Oz Misses the Obvious
While giving an excellent description of the neurological mechanism of pain, Time overlooks the obvious in their most recent edition highlighting pain. The march 7th issue titled, Understanding Pain, addresses traditional, emerging, and alternative options for those suffering from chronic pain of various causes. Dr. Mehmet Oz (cardiac surgeon, author, and Emmy award-winning TV Host) […]
Recap of MidSouth Headache Symposium
Headache is a common pain that nearly everyone experiences at some point in their life. As such, primary health care professionals evaluate and manage head/face pain every day. Since any headache type can result from a varied number of causes, and any headache sufferer may have several concurrent types of headache, the evaluation of headache […]