Massage: A Natural Reaction to Pain
What did you do the last time you bumped your head or had a sore muscle? More than likely, you rubbed it. Throughout time, touching has been a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and healers in all countries and cultures have developed a wide range of therapeutic techniques using touch.
Having a massage does more than just relax your body and your mind -- there are specific physiological and psychological benefits related to massage, ranging from calming the nervous system and reducing tension and anxiety, to improving circulation which allows the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, stimulating the lymphatic system which carries away the body’s waste products, and helping with pain management in conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, and muscle spasms.
In the soothing environment of our centrally located Manhattan, New York offices, our massage therapists work under the direction of our physiatrist (MD) who pinpoints the problem area. “Our massage therapists will use a variety of techniques to promote healing and relaxation, as well as to promote greater flexibility and range of motion,” says Dr. Kessler. “Massage helps to improve blood circulation, decrease pain and inflammation, helps to relax the muscles, and makes you feel better.”Labels: back pain, Low back pain, massage therapy, neck pain, physical therapy
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 11:31 AM
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Sciatica – Getting to the Root of the Problem
The term sciatica describes the symptoms of leg pain and possibly tingling, numbness or weakness that travels from the low back through the buttock and down the large sciatic nerve in the back of the leg. The clinical diagnosis of sciatica is referred to as a "radiculopathy," which means simply that a disc has protruded from its normal position in the vertebral column and is putting pressure on the radicular nerve (nerve root) in the lower back, which forms part of the sciatic nerve.
“An important thing to understand is that sciatica is a symptom of a problem -- of something compressing or irritating the nerve roots that comprise the sciatic nerve -- rather than a medical diagnosis or medical disorder in and of itself,” says Dr. Kessler. “This is an important distinction because it is the underlying diagnosis (vs. the symptoms of sciatica) that often needs to be treated in order to relieve sciatic nerve pain.”
In addition to standard medical treatments, several alternative treatments have also been shown to provide effective sciatica pain relief for many patients, including acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic manipulation, all of which can be provided in the comfortable New York City offices of Spine and Sports Medicine.Labels: Acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, Low back pain, massage therapy, neck pain, NYC, Sciatica, spine and sports medicine
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 3:25 AM
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Neck Pain from a Wig?
Only in Hollywood… A recent entertainment newspaper report indicated that the wig that Keira Knightley flaunts in her upcoming 18th century movie, “The Duchess,” was so heavy that a resting post was specially made for her to rest her neck between takes. In the movie, Knightly plays a scandalous aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, and in keeping with the part, had to pull on a sky-high Marie Antoinette-style wig for several key scenes.
Wig or no wig, neck pain is no picnic.
Any part of your neck -- muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments or nerves -- can cause it. Pain may also come from your shoulder, jaw, head or upper arms. Muscle strain or tension often causes neck pain. “The problem is usually overuse, such as from sitting at a computer for too long,” says Dr. Kessler. “Sometimes you can strain your neck muscles from sleeping in an awkward position or overdoing it during exercise. Falls or accidents, including car accidents, are another common cause of neck pain.”
Treatment depends on the cause, but may include applying ice, taking pain relievers, getting physical therapy or wearing a cervical collar.Labels: neck pain, NYC, pain management, physical therapy, posture, spine and sports medicine, Sport Injury
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 9:37 AM
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Death, Taxes, and Degenerative Disc Disease
Certain as death and taxes, degenerative disk disease happens to everyone. However, not everyone who has degenerative changes in their lumbar spine has pain. Many people who have "normal" backs have MRIs that show disc herniations, degenerative changes, and narrowed spinal canals. Yet, every patient is different, and not everyone develops symptoms as a result of degenerative disc disease.
One of the most common causes of back pain and neck pain, and also one of the most misunderstood, degenerative disc disease is not actually a disease -- it is part of the normal aging of the spine. In this condition, the discs in the spine -- pillow-like pads that separate the interlocking vertebrae that make up the spine and act as shock absorbers --eventually lose their cushioning. The breakdown of the discs can result in back or neck pain, as well as osteoarthritis, herniated disc, or spinal stenosis.
When we are born, each disc is comprised of about 80% water, which gives it its spongy quality and allows it to function as a shock absorber. As we age, the water content decreases and the disc becomes less effective. Additionally, the proteins within the disc also change composition, and most of us will develop tears into the annulus fibrosus (the outer hard core of the disc). Unlike other tissues of the body, there is very little blood supply to the disc, so once a disc is injured, it cannot repair itself, and a spiral of degeneration can set in, known also as Spondylosis.
“Pain from DDD is initially treated with ice or heat and with nonprescription medications,” says medical director Brian Kessler, MD. “Further treatments depend on whether the damaged disc has resulted in other conditions. Physical therapy and exercises are often recommended, and in some cases surgery may be recommended if the pain is severe and disrupts a person’s ability to participate in everyday activities.”Labels: back pain, degenerative disc disease, Low back pain, neck pain, NYC, spine and sports medicine
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 1:19 AM
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Why is Psychology an Important Aspect of Treating Pain?
Did anyone ever tell you the pain is “all in your head”? Well, pain is both a physical and psychological experience. Because the brain plays such a central role in the pain process, certain techniques that target a person's thoughts, emotions or behaviors related to pain are often effective.
“There are a number of self-management techniques for pain,” our Medical Director observes. These include relaxation strategies such as deep breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and biofeedback. Relaxation techniques can give a person an increased sense of control over his/her pain. “This can help to reduce pain levels, and with less pain, a person is able to function better.”
Self-management techniques can also include cognitive skills such as "thought stopping" or "reframing," which can help people fend off some of the negative thoughts and feelings that often arise as a consequence of living with pain.
So, while pain isn’t “all in your head,” there are some actions you can take to help yourself psychologically manage different aspects of it.Labels: back pain, Knee Pain, Low back pain, neck pain, physical therapy
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 7:28 AM
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A pain in the Neck
My neck pain extends down into my shoulder. I know bad posture has something to do with it. It’s not nearly as drastic as the hairdresser’s situation, but it causes me discomfort nonetheless. According to the doctors at Spine and Sports Medicine, physical therapy will help me restore the range of motion, relax my muscles and strengthen my postural endurance.
The pain in my neck from sitting too long at work with my head craned forward staring at the computer screen is nothing like the pain suffered by a trampoliner in the UK who was enjoying an outdoor barbeque party and a turn on the trampoline at a friend’s house when she suffered an accident that broke her neck. A former hairdresser, she was paralyzed and told she would be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
With the Fourth of July coming up and a sweet barbeque on the agenda, I’m hoping that my neck pain will be better soon. Like the hairdresser who is now actually walking on her own, hopefully I’ll “bounce back,” too. But, just to be on the safe side, I think I’ll steer clear of any trampolines.
Labels: muscular strain, neck pain, posture
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 6:14 PM
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