"I'd never get my back operated on!"
"My neighbor, Joe Blow, had spine surgery and he was worse after the surgery. I'd never have my back operated on!"
I hope you never need it, but I had my back operated on because of excruciating leg pain secondary to a herniated disc. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Most, not all, of my spine surgery patients say the same thing. This is not to suggest surgery should be the first choice, but don't worry about Joe Blow.
People do get worse after spine surgery. Why? Several common reasons:
First, they probably should never have been operated on in the first place. When surgeons stretch the appropriate indications for a procedure to "try" to help a patient who is often begging (yes many patients request spine surgery) for a procedure, the result is failure.
Second, if you smoke, are hurt on the job or in a motor vehicle accident, have psychological issues such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disease, there is little chance you will be improved with spine surgery.
Third, if your pain pattern, neurological deficit, and imaging studies do not all match, you will not get a good surgical response.
Fourth, if you have had years and years of pain or 2, 3, 4 or more previous spine operations, the next one won't help you
Fifth, if you are addicted to narcotic medications, you will not be helped with spine surgery.
Sixth, if you see three or more spine surgeons that say you shouldn't be operated on, and you let the fourth surgeon do the procedure, you will not be helped.
Spine surgery should not be the first nor the last option for your pain. Make sure your spine surgeon is Board Certified in Neurosurgery or Orthopaedic Surgery. Thoroughly discuss your procedure and options with your surgeon. And make sure your pain isn't coming from some other ailment like arthritis of the spine or hip, diabetes affecting the nerves, or other reasons that only well qualified doctors can eliminate as causes.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Training Visit For Middletown High School Girls Softball Team With Beverly Kornides, PT - Hagerstown Office
In keeping with MMI's philosophy of service to the community and prevention of injury through patient education, I met with the Middletown High School Girls Softball Team on Saturday, March 5, 2011. The goal was to speak to the players, coaches and interested parents on the subject of proper stretching and strengthening for injury prevention.
I was invited by the parent of one of my patients who knew of my ability to connect with young adolescents and impress upon them the importance of taking care of their bodies, and preparing their muscles for a season of softball practices and games five days a week.
Most informed parents and coaches understand that overuse injuries are on the rise as statistics show that greater than thirty percent of repeated trauma injuries were in the age group of 15 to 24 year old females. Fifty percent of this age group was middle and high school female athletes. While sixty-two percent of organized sports injuries occur at the athlete's practices.
Many of the girls participated in strength training, usually at the school. Although having good intentions, I discovered that in these athletes many of the primary muscles that help with longevity and tolerance in the game were neglected in this training. Major deficits occurred including limited core building and posterior shoulder and mid-back strengthening exercises. Stretching, likewise, was found to be less than optimal.
A strong core - the muscles in your abdominals, back and glutes - gives you stability, power and endurance. If your core muscles can't support your pelvis it will drop which causes your hips, knees and ankles to lose proper alignment. When this happens you can't efficiently absorb forces and your muscles fatigue quickly. This could lead to common problems encountered by athletes such as anterior knee pain, shin splints, low back pain and foot pain or even fractures.
A strong mid and upper back and posterior shoulders allows one to hold proper form while running and playing as well as when sitting in the classroom. How many of our youth spend so much time with bad posture, rounding shoulders while on the computer, phone or video games. This sets up postural muscle imbalances that have been linked to rotator cuff problems, neck and low back pain and common baseball ailments such as "Little League Elbow.
Finally, the players learned the importance of stretching and flexibility. Flexible muscles are more efficient. Gains in strength and endurance allow muscles to recover more efficiently and lessen the chance of breakdown or "repeated trauma" complaints.
So, with that knowledge now, GOOD LUCK GIRLS. . . have a fun and safe 2011 softball season!
I was invited by the parent of one of my patients who knew of my ability to connect with young adolescents and impress upon them the importance of taking care of their bodies, and preparing their muscles for a season of softball practices and games five days a week.
Most informed parents and coaches understand that overuse injuries are on the rise as statistics show that greater than thirty percent of repeated trauma injuries were in the age group of 15 to 24 year old females. Fifty percent of this age group was middle and high school female athletes. While sixty-two percent of organized sports injuries occur at the athlete's practices.
Many of the girls participated in strength training, usually at the school. Although having good intentions, I discovered that in these athletes many of the primary muscles that help with longevity and tolerance in the game were neglected in this training. Major deficits occurred including limited core building and posterior shoulder and mid-back strengthening exercises. Stretching, likewise, was found to be less than optimal.
A strong core - the muscles in your abdominals, back and glutes - gives you stability, power and endurance. If your core muscles can't support your pelvis it will drop which causes your hips, knees and ankles to lose proper alignment. When this happens you can't efficiently absorb forces and your muscles fatigue quickly. This could lead to common problems encountered by athletes such as anterior knee pain, shin splints, low back pain and foot pain or even fractures.
A strong mid and upper back and posterior shoulders allows one to hold proper form while running and playing as well as when sitting in the classroom. How many of our youth spend so much time with bad posture, rounding shoulders while on the computer, phone or video games. This sets up postural muscle imbalances that have been linked to rotator cuff problems, neck and low back pain and common baseball ailments such as "Little League Elbow.
Finally, the players learned the importance of stretching and flexibility. Flexible muscles are more efficient. Gains in strength and endurance allow muscles to recover more efficiently and lessen the chance of breakdown or "repeated trauma" complaints.
So, with that knowledge now, GOOD LUCK GIRLS. . . have a fun and safe 2011 softball season!
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