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
Clinical Trials Test Radioimmunotherapy for Prostate Cancer Bone Mets Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of bone mets (spread to the bone), along with breast and lung cancer. However, prostate cancer (PCa) has a unique property that allows a new form of targeted tumor destruction called radioimmunotherapy (radiation + an immune system […] CONTINUE
Weight Bearing Exercise May Help Curb Metastatic Bone Tumors Human bone is like a bank vault holding a fortune in gold – except the “gold” is actually precious growth factors that pay a vital role in bone health. These growth factors are the target of greedy cancer cells that have broken away from their primary […] CONTINUE
2 Reasons to Skip Diagnostic Injections for Facet Joint Pain Is there anyone who looks forward to getting a shot? Even though today’s needles are incredibly thin, and doses for things like a flu vaccine are relatively tiny, I suspect that most people experience momentary fluttering in their stomach or a slight increase in heart […] CONTINUE
Everyone’s heart goes out to a woman diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. At this point, the cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other organs, including bones, lung, liver, brain and skin. Naturally, the patient herself is the main focus of concern for those who love her. However, cancer is […] CONTINUE
When Facet Joints Become Locked The facet joints are small, cartilage lined points of contact where the bones (vertebrae) in the spinal column meet the vertebrae above and below. See the illustration.They are located toward the outside of each vertebra, and they both allow mobility and yet limit its range. The facet joints that […] CONTINUE
MRI or Bone Scintigraphy: Which is Best? What comes to mind when you hear “nuclear”? Some people might think of a nuclear family. Others might think of nuclear energy. For most people, nuclear medicine will hardly be the first expression to pop into their heads. Yet nuclear medicine – which is not yet even 100 […] CONTINUE
What Causes Essential Tremor? Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder. It is characterized by involuntary rhythmic shaking of the hands, arms, head, voice or other areas of the body. It may be more pronounced during a deliberate action, such as reaching for something, buttoning a shirt, combing hair, etc. It is not […] CONTINUE
Words Can’t Describe Facet Joint Pain The whole notion of pain, and how every individual experiences pain, is up for debate. We don’t know how another person experiences pain … Miriam Toews If you have back pain, did you ever try to describe it to someone? Doctors can assess the amount of pain using a scale […] CONTINUE
Spanish Study Confirms Merits of MRgFUS for Facet Pain It’s always exciting when a new way comes along to manage chronic pain with less medication, invasiveness and risk of complications. Lower back pain from facet joint osteoarthritis that does not respond to physical therapy, exercise, heat/cold applications and over the counter anti-inflammatories is particularly difficult […] CONTINUE
4 Needles You May Not Want in Your Back One of the conventional treatments for facet joint pain is x-ray guided injections into the inflamed joints. The facet joints are located between each vertebra (backbone) where the small outer projections of one vertebra meet those above and below. These joints, cushioned with cartilage, allow spinal […] CONTINUE
