Severe joint pain, back pain, and other orthopedic conditions can prevent you from carrying out your normal everyday activities, from working to driving to grocery shopping. To the rescue is professional medical pain management, which harnesses various techniques to help mitigate acute or chronic pain. There are some common misconceptions and myths surrounding medical pain…
Physical Therapy Rochester Hills
What Causes Chronic Spinal Pain?
Spinal pain is often felt in the cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) region. Pain symptoms include stiffness, limited range of motion, weakness, and muscle spasms. Pain can turn chronic, especially without proper treatment. Pain can also radiate into the upper and lower extremities. For whatever reason, chronic spinal pain can keep you from your…
How Will a Doctor Determine the Type of Back Pain I Have?
If you’re plagued by back pain, know that you’re not alone. It is a common problem, which experts estimate to affect up to 80 percent of the adult population in the United States. Back pain may develop without an obvious cause, but it can also occur due to: A muscle or ligament strain – From…
How Can a Pain Management Doctor Help Me with My Sciatica?
Sciatica is a painful and frustrating spinal condition that is characterized by persistent pain that begins in the lower back and usually travels down one leg, and sometimes both legs. The good news is that sciatica pain can – with proper care – be controlled. Let’s talk about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of this…
Different Types of Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a condition characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine: instead of falling into normal alignment, the vertebrae make an S- or C-shaped curve. Over time, the curve may become more prominent and eventually cause health problems. There are four types of scoliosis: idiopathic, neuromuscular, degenerative, and congenital scoliosis. While these types have…
Tips to Help You Better Describe Your Back Pain to a Doctor
Did you know that back pain accounts for over 264 million lost workdays annually? That is two workdays per full-time worker in the United States. While back pain usually goes away on its own, it can also persist. The statistics just mentioned can tell you how it can interfere with your daily activities. If back pain has…
Nonsurgical Treatment Options for Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a condition that causes a sideways curvature of the spine and mostly occurs during the growth spurt, a period before puberty when your child’s height rapidly increases. If you think your child may have scoliosis, you will greatly benefit from the expertise of Dr. Bradley Ahlgren of Ahlgren Spine Orthopaedic Surgery. He is…
Common Ski Injuries of the Back
For some people, skiing offers a sense of freedom and thrill that no other winter sport can match. Going down the slopes might be an excellent way to pass the holidays, but injuries are an unfortunate part of this recreational activity. Spinal injuries are some of the most frequent injuries sustained by skiers and snowboarders,…
When Are Steroid Injections a Good Choice in Pain Management?
If you have back pain that is interfering with your quality of life, an orthopedist is your best bet in alleviating the pain on a long-term basis. Whereas oral medications can provide temporary pain relief, injection treatment that is administered by a physician can subdue the pain for weeks or even months at a time….
Physical Therapy: Rehabilitation and Prevention
Most people are aware of physical therapy as an aftercare treatment method. After surgery, doctors usually recommend physical therapy to help manage and ease discomfort or pain. However, physical therapy isn’t limited to rehabilitation — it’s also preventative. It can address minor conditions before they worsen and prevent some conditions from developing altogether. Your physical…