A Landmark Study on Palliation of Bone Mets PainWhen a primary cancer such as cancer of the breast, prostate or lung spreads to the bone (bone mets), treatment strategies become complex. In today’s world of oncology, better systemic chemotherapies can add months and even years to a patient’s life; in addition, local cancer control of […] KEEP READING
What You Should Know About CartilageOne of the most fascinating components of the human body is cartilage, an incredibly versatile material. Trying to describe cartilage is like the six blind men who try to figure out what an elephant is: “The elephant is like a pillar,” said the man who touched his leg. “Oh no! […] KEEP READING
How Stress Makes Essential Tremor WorseEssential tremor (ET) is the most common form of uncontrollable rhythmic shaking, though it is sometimes misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. The involuntary trembling results from abnormal communication between certain areas of the brain (cerebellum, thalamus, and brain stem). It is estimated that 10 million Americans suffer from ET, though many […] KEEP READING
Have you had the experience of bending slightly backward, and suddenly your lower back yells “OUCH”? Or you’re looking up at the cobweb in the corner, and pain shoots into your right shoulder? These could be symptoms of a condition called osteoarthritis of the spine, also known as facet joint arthritis. Osteoarthritis most often begins […] CONTINUE
One of the delights of traveling outside the U.S. is touring marvels of the ancient world. We moderns are amazed at structures like the Pyramids, Chichen Itza, Stonehenge, the Acropolis and many more. They evoke not only wonder but also curiosity: how were such structures erected without the aid of heavy machinery? Part of the […] CONTINUE
Lower back pain can become crippling. Not only does it affect work and relationships, it is frustrating and demoralizing when the cause cannot be readily identified. The World Health Organization says, “Though several risk factors have been identified (including occupational posture, depressive moods, obesity, body height and age), the causes of the onset of low […] CONTINUE
Your spine is a flexible stack of backbones (vertebrae) that literally take a mild pounding every day. As you move through the day – walking, climbing stairs, getting up from a chair, pushing a lawnmower, carrying something heavy, etc. – your spine bears and helps distribute the pressure. If each vertebra rested directly on the […] CONTINUE
You probably don’t think often of your back and spine. Most of us take our back for granted unless there’s pain. Yet we often use expressions that mention the area that’s hard to see in a mirror: Get off my back! She’s totally spineless. I’ve got your back, pal. He did it when my back […] CONTINUE
It’s a simple fact: pain hurts. Sometimes, the source of pain is very clear. If you accidentally touch a hot pan, it instantly causes a burning sensation. Ow! But you can deal with it because you know a) what caused it, and b) it will soon lessen. But pain isn’t always that straightforward or simple. […] CONTINUE
Lower back pain is one of the most prevalent health conditions worldwide. In industrialized countries, it is estimated that 60-70% of individuals will experience low back pain severe enough to affect their work and quality of life. What causes aches and pains in the lower back? According to the World Health Organization, “Though several risk […] CONTINUE
From a business standpoint, lower back pain costs a lot! It is the second most common cause of adult disability in the U.S., and estimates suggest that 149 million days of work per year are lost due to lower back pain.1 Some back-related absenteeism from work stems from on-the-job injuries. This leads to workers comp […] CONTINUE
If you enjoy movies, you probably have a favorite category. You may prefer drama, suspense, action, romance, comedy, or sci-fi. Some people really go for documentaries. However, for pure entertainment, there’s nothing like a 12-minute educational presentation! (Okay, I’m partly joking.) Seriously, though, some lecturers are better at capturing audience attention than others, even when […] CONTINUE
Lower back pain can become a chronic (ongoing) problem, affecting all aspects of a person’s day. In fact, it’s one of the leading causes of missing work. It is estimated that 5-15% of cases are due to worn out cartilage of the small spinal joints called facet joints. When cartilage becomes thin, or altogether worn […] CONTINUE
