Shark Cartilage, My Wife, and the Benefits of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate
A number of years ago, my wife had some issues related to stiffness in her joints. A nutritionist she was seeing suggested she take glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate supplements to help restore her flexibility. While research has yielded conflicting findings about their effectiveness, she began to recognize some benefits in a relatively short period of time.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are produced in the human body and are involved in the production and maintenance of cartilage that cushions joints. Glucosamine sulfate is thought to help with cartilage formation and repair, while chondroitin sulfate helps give cartilage its elastic properties and is thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can help to reduce the painful swelling in the joints that occurs when the exposed bones in the joint rub together.
Both glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are sold as dietary or nutritional supplements. They are extracted from animal tissue: glucosamine from crab, lobster or shrimp shells; and chondroitin sulfate from animal cartilage, such as tracheas or shark cartilage. So, even though I joke with my wife that she has begun growing a tiny fin in the small of her back, she has a much greater range of motion and far less overall stiffness. Labels: Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, NYC, pain management, spine and sports medicine, stiffness
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 3:56 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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Sweet Dreams?
You have probably spent over 25% of your life sleeping. With that much of your life spent under the sheets, it makes sense that proper sleep and a good mattress can go a long way towards mitigating back pain and improving your health.
However, approximately two-thirds of patients with chronic back pain suffer from sleep disorders and a new study indicates that frequently interrupted sleep can make a person more susceptible to pain by altering the body's natural systems that regulate and control pain.
During the study, researchers tested the pain thresholds and pain inhibition of 32 women subjects. Those in a group that had been woken up eight times during the night showed an increase in spontaneous pain, while those in control groups who slept undisturbed did not, showing that disrupted sleep impairs natural pain control mechanisms that are thought to play a key role in the development, maintenance, and exacerbation of chronic pain.
“A sleeping disorder associated with chronic back pain should always be addressed as part of a multi-disciplinary, chronic pain treatment approach,” says Dr. Kessler. “As with any symptom of a chronic pain syndrome, the sleep disruption should not be treated in isolation without taking into account proper treatments for the chronic back pain problem that is part of the cause of the sleeping problem.”
In many cases, the right mattress can certainly help, and for those with chronic pain, getting continuous, undisturbed sleep is key to controlling the pain.Labels: back pain, Low back pain, muscular strain, NYC, pain management, sleep, spine and sports medicine
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 3:44 PM
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Running Again
“I've been running for years,” says Spine and Sports Medicine patient Joanie R. “Until recently, I've been pain free. But, my exercise was compromised by the pain I was feeling in my ankles.”
Running injuries are very specific due to the repetitive nature of the sport, and ankle injuries are the most common sport-related injuries. Many common conditions affect runners, including tendonitis, bursitis, shin splints, ankle and Achilles problems, and more.
“Common foot and ankle injuries include sprains, strains, and stress fractures or bone injuries,” says Dr. Kessler. “Many of these injuries are overuse injuries -- injuries that result from inadequate conditioning or excessive training that places too much stress on the foot and ankle.”
Warning signs of a serious problem that merits immediate evaluation at our offices in Manhattan include the following: pain which increases during the run, locking or catching sensations in the ankle, especially after an injury, recurrent sprains or instability of the ankle, swelling across the front of the ankle joint, and localized bone tenderness, among others. When in doubt, have it checked out!
“I started treatment at Spine and Sports Medicine,” says Joanie, “and although it took some time and a commitment on my part, I am back to running again. They are very professional and motivated me to stay with the program.”
Labels: bursitis, Foot and Joint problems, Foot Pain, NYC, pain management, physical therapy, Running, shin splints, spine and sports medicine, tendonitis
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 5:20 AM
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How To Be a ‘Beautiful Person’
The idea of sticking needles into one’s face may be hard to imagine, yet more and more people who want to slow signs of aging, particularly in their faces, but don’t want to undergo surgery or to inject chemicals, are having facial acupuncture. The aim is to tackle wrinkles, muscle tension that may be causing unsightly lines, as well as systemic issues standing between you and glowing skin. In Chinese Medicine the state of physical health, emotions, and spirit is reflected on the skin, particularly on the skin of the face.
The non-surgical Mei Zen Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture procedure, is a holistic, natural and comprehensive skin rejuvenation program designed to restore, revitalize and relax. Mei Zen means “beautiful person” in Chinese and many are taking this route to change not only their external appearance, but also to improve total body wellness. “I like the idea of using a natural approach to ‘halt’ the aging process without using toxic chemicals like Botox and Restylane,” says an interested patient. “I've used both (don't tell anyone) and I would have loved to find a healthier alternative.” That alternative is now available, right in the New York City offices of Spine and Sports Medicine. In the past 2,000 years, more people have been successfully treated with acupuncture than with all other health modalities combined. Today acupuncture is practiced widely in Asia, the Soviet Union, and in Europe, and is now being used more and more in America. Acupuncture treatments can be given at the same time other techniques are being used, such as conventional Western medicine, osteopathic or chiropractic adjustments, and homeopathy. So, call for an appointment and “get beautiful.” Labels: Acupuncture, health, muscular strain, NYC, pain management, spine and sports medicine
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 3:49 PM
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Osteoarthritis - Degenerative Joint Disease
Osteoarthritis is one of the issues New York’s Spine and Sports Medicine addresses on a daily basis. With a wide range of symptoms, osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, causing joint pain, swelling and reduced motion.
A degenerative condition most commonly associated with people over the age of 45, some question whether regular athletic activity -- for example, the impact of feet hitting the pavement or hands hitting a punching bag -- can damage joints and result in osteoarthritis years later. Researchers considered the question of whether people who participate in regular athletic activities, but have not sustained any known injury, are at risk for developing osteoarthritis, and in a 1997 article in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage concluded that the condition can occur prematurely in certain sports including soccer, rugby, racket sports, track and field, and long-distance running. Recreational sports done at a "reasonable" level, however, do not increase risk, according to researchers.
“There's no known cure for osteoarthritis,” says Dr. Kessler, “but treatments can help to reduce pain and maintain joint movement so that you can go about your daily tasks. Taking steps to actively manage osteoarthritis may help you gain control over your osteoarthritis pain.”
Therapies that manage osteoarthritis pain and improve function include exercise, weight control, rest, pain relief, alternative therapies and, in some cases, surgery.
Labels: arthritis, health, NYC, osteoarthritis, pain management, physical therapy, spine and sports medicine
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 2:52 PM
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My Aching Feet
I’ve been wearing the same pair of walking shoes for so long there’s barely any tread left, the material around the toes is chafed to a gauzy thinness, and whatever insole support there once was has been squashed flatter than a postage stamp. But, I love them! It’s getting ridiculous though, as I’ve suffered over the years from shin splints, bunions, heel spurs, nail problems, swelling, inflammation and soreness, as well as knee and back pain while walking. The average person walks more than 115,000 miles in a lifetime. Every walking step you take exerts pressure up to three times your body weight on your feet.
Running exerts up to ten times your body weight. We cram our feet into ill-fitting shoes, subject them to the unnatural angles of high heels, pound them on pavement and asphalt, smother them in airless socks and shoes, or simply stand on them for hours on end. It's no wonder that the skin, 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 ligaments in each of our feet sometimes can't stand up to the pressure.
Women are especially at risk. Of the 356 women involved in a survey by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Association, 80% had some kind of foot pain -- no surprise when you consider that 88% of them were wearing shoes that were smaller than their feet. “Ankle and foot pain can typically be caused by acute injury, repetitive stress as in running or sports, or by other parts of the body referring pain to that area,” says Dr. Kessler. “It can even be caused by improper footwear or by the way you walk. Finding the cause and getting the appropriate treatment is essential in helping you move around the city with ease and without pain.” So, while I love them dearly, I’m afraid it’s time to retire those golden oldies to the back of the closet where they can bask in the glory of the many miles we’ve traveled together. Labels: Foot and Joint problems, Foot Pain, pain management, spine and sports medicine, Sport Injury, Surgery
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 6:33 AM
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Nursemaid’s Elbow
We’ve all heard of tennis elbow, but nursemaid’s elbow? Nursemaid's elbow is a partial dislocation of the elbow, which occurs when the lower part of the arm (forearm) slips out of its normal position at the elbow joint, caused by a sudden pull on the extended arm. Nursemaid's elbow is a common condition in young children and generally affects children under the age of five. The injury occurs when a child is pulled up too hard by the hand or the wrist. It is often seen after someone lifts a child up by one arm. (For example, when trying to lift the child over a curb or high step, or when an obstinate child is forcibly pulled along or lifted by the forearm.) Swinging a young child from the arms while playing can also cause this injury. When the injury occurs, the child usually begins crying immediately and refuses to use the arm.
The child may hold the arm so that it is slightly bent at the elbow and pressed up against the stomach. The child will move the shoulder, but not the elbow. Some children stop crying as the immediate pain goes away, but continue to refuse to move the elbow. Once the elbow dislocates, it is likely to do so again, especially in the 3 or 4 weeks following the injury, so don’t wait around. Give us a call. Labels: Elbow Problems, muscular strain, pain management, physical therapy, spine and sports medicine
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 12:44 PM
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Wizards Suffer, Too
Even Harry Potter has migraines. That diagnosis comes from Fred Sheftell, MD, and colleagues at the New England Center for Headache. Sheftell's team scrutinized all of J.K. Rowling's published Harry Potter books, looking for references to Potter's headaches, headaches that happen when the evil Lord Voldemort is nearby and that strike in the area of Potter's head where he has a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt.
More than 70% of Americans -- wizards or otherwise -- will suffer headache pain severe enough to compel them to seek medical attention at some point during their lifetimes. A small but substantial minority of patients experience chronic daily or near daily headaches, which significantly impacts on the quality of their lives and the lives of their families. Migraine symptoms include a pounding headache, nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity.
The interdisciplinary pain team at Spine and Sports Medicine utilizes their knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics, and ergonomics and works closely with patients to assess and treat mechanical factors contributing to headaches. The team will evaluate a person’s pain response to repeated movements and sustained positions and consider the patient’s general condition and activity level. Treatment focuses on educating and empowering the patient to participate in techniques and specific exercises to correct mechanical problems.
So, whether you’re a wizard or not, if you suffer from migraines, get in touch with Spine and Sports Medicine.
Labels: orofacial pain, pain management, spine and sports medicine
Posted by Spine and Sports Medicine on 2:52 PM
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