Blog

9 Tips for Spring Cleaning without Pain

Submitted by Cathy Brown on April 11, 2018

Ah, spring, the season to tackle those dusty baseboards and dirty windows. If you’re one of those people who takes seriously the tradition of spring cleaning, make sure you’re doing it in a way that doesn’t leave you limping in agony.

Follow these nine tips to get your house clean without throwing out your back or knees or anything else.

  1. Warm up. Cleaning is a workout, and like any workout, it helps to warm up and stretch beforehand. Take a quick five-minute walk and then stretch before diving into your cleaning. Start with neck stretches and make your way all the way down to your legs and ankles.
  2. Lift with the legs. You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s important enough to repeat. Don’t bend from the waist to pick...
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Medical Marijuana Not the Answer for Most Pain

Submitted by Cathy Brown on March 9, 2018

Using marijuana to treat medical problems is not legal in Utah, which may be frustrating if you’ve heard that it could be the answer to your chronic pain. As it turns out, you may not be missing out on much.

New guidelines in Canadian Family Physician say the benefits of marijuana for pain relief have been overstated, and that its use comes with risks and side effects.

A literature review published in Annals of Internal Medicine last fall came to much the same conclusion, although both sources say more research...

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Dehydration Headache or Chronic Migraine?

Submitted by Rachel Cohen on June 13, 2017

Now that summer is officially upon us, it’s imperative patients at Southwest Spine and Pain Center prepare themselves for this season’s high temperatures. Why? Simple. People exposed to extreme heat are increasingly susceptible to heat-related health problems such as sunburn, dehydration, muscle cramps, heat rash, and heat stroke. These ailments can exacerbate your pain or cause new pain symptoms to arise. If you plan to be outside for long periods of time, consider the following:

  • Drink plenty of water. We’re talkin’ a gallon each day!
  • Apply and then re-apply SPF 30 or higher every 2 hours
  • Wear light-colored, moisture-wicking, breathable clothes
  • Take frequent breaks where you find shade or go inside
  • Watch for signs of heat exhaustion (...
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Introducing The Superion ® Indirect Decompression System (IDS)

Submitted by Rachel Cohen on May 25, 2017

Millions of Americans are affected by chronic back and leg pain every year, often resulting in loss of mobility, lost work, and warranted frustrations. Unfortunately, open back surgery is not feasible for many of these individuals, especially since it can lead to complications such as surgical scars, post-surgical pain, and a lengthy recovery time that requires weeks away from work. Fortunately, there is new a treatment option that provides patients with the possibility of a completely pain-free lifestyle.

Introducing The Superion ® Indirect Decompression System (IDS)

The FDA recently approved a new treatment option for moderate lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), and it's called the Superion ® Indirect Decompression System (IDS). This minimally invasive...

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Types of Chronic Pain

Submitted by Rachel Cohen on October 30, 2015

30-Second Blog Snapshot:

  • Patients experiencing symptoms such as shooting, burning, or aching pain that lasts more than six weeks may have chronic pain.
  • Although patients may feel relieved to have some kind of diagnosis, the journey is not over; chronic pain can mean a number of different things and manifest in a variety of ways.
  • The pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center take the guesswork out of chronic pain and explain the different types of pain patients may be experiencing.

The general definition of chronic pain is pain that can be described as shooting, aching, or burning; pain that does not go away after an illness, injury, or surgical procedure; pain that lasts longer than six weeks....

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FDA Approves New Medication Formulation For Chronic Pain

Submitted by Rachel Cohen on October 28, 2015

30-Second Blog Snapshot:

  • According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a prescription medicine, which has already been approved for pain management, has been approved in a new medication formulation.
  • The product is called Belbuca and it is a buprenorphine buccal film product (dissolvable medication) that provides around-the-clock pain care.
  • The pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center talk about this medication for chronic pain.

Medscape, a publication that shares the latest in medical news, released information this week that the FDA is expected to make a new medication available for patients with chronic pain in early 2016...

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Running With Sciatica

Submitted by Rachel Cohen on October 23, 2015

30-Second Blog Snapshot:

  • Sciatica is a chronic pain condition that causes pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the lower back, hips, and legs.
  • When it comes to running, sciatica may complicate things by creating even more discomfort or pain if it’s not managed properly.
  • In this blog, the team at Southwest Spine and Pain Center explains ways to deal with sciatica while running.

First, patients should understand running does not cause sciatica. In fact, running can be a form of treatment if it’s performed correctly. It’s also important patients recognize the difference between running pain and sciatic pain. In this blog, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center provide patients with tips...

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Are Fibromyalgia And Endometriosis Related?

Submitted by Rachel Cohen on October 21, 2015

30-Second Blog Snapshot:

  • According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), women with endometriosis are more likely to have other chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • That said, many women wonder why these two conditions are related and if there are treatment options that can mitigate the two disorders.
  • In this blog, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center discuss the relationship between endometriosis and fibromyalgia.

Endometriosis is a complex condition that causes uterine tissue (endometrium) to grow outside the uterus on places like the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowels, and more. Although the displaced endometrial tissue acts normally during...

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Long-Term Opioid Therapy Often Ineffective, Study Says

Submitted by Rachel Cohen on October 16, 2015

30-Second Blog Snapshot:

  • According to a study published in the Journal of Women’s Health, long-term opioid use is often ineffective for chronic pain patients, especially in women.
  • The study analyzed the effects of opioid therapy on men and women, its level of effectiveness, and whether or not it provided a favorable “global pain status.”
  • The chronic pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center discuss results from the study.

Although opioids are an effective tool for pain management, the pain specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center advise limiting the use of these substances to ensure safe, controlled pain relief. As a result, the team at Southwest Spine and Pain Center provides...

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What Is Hanna Somatic Education (Hanna Somatics)?

Submitted by Rachel Cohen on October 14, 2015

30-Second Blog Snapshot:

  • Hanna Somatic Education (HSE), also called Hanna Somatics, is a type of mind-body training that encourages physical and mental control over muscles to reduce chronic musculoskeletal pain.
  • In layman’s terms, this technique teaches the brain to re-learn certain muscle movements to relieve muscle tension.
  • The pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center explain what Hanna Somatic Education is, and how it may benefit patients with chronic pain.

What Is Hanna Somatic Education (Hanna Somatics)?

Hanna Somatics is a relatively new treatment technique that teaches chronic pain patients to regain complete awareness of...

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