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Can Wearable Devices for Posture Help with Chronic Back Pain?

Submitted by Cathy Brown on September 13, 2018

You may have heard about wearable devices that can nudge you into sitting up straight. But how well do they work, and can they really help alleviate your chronic back pain?

Back pain affects 60-80 percent of the U.S. adults, and undoubtedly poor posture contributes to the problem. Too many of us spend too many hours slouched at our desks and hunched over our phones. Tech companies are developing devices to try to nudge us to sit up straight.

The problem is there don’t seem to be any carefully controlled scientific studies of the effectiveness of these devices. Several journalists have tried them out and...

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Join us on September 13 for a free Superion device conference

Submitted by Admin on August 28, 2018

Do you suffer from pain when walking or standing? Do you find relief when leaning over or sitting? Have you tried six months of conservative care without finding relief from your pain? Do you want to avoid undergoing major surgery? 

If you answered “Yes,” we may have a solution for you!

Southwest Spine & Pain Center will be holding a Superion® device conference on Thursday, September 13, 2018 at 7-9pm. This free event will be held at Mountain Point Medical Center in their conference room. 

DOWNLOAD THE EVENT FLYER

WHEN
Thursday September 13, 2018
7pm-9pm

WHERE...

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Working Out and Sore Back Muscles—Is It Okay?

Submitted by Cathy Brown on August 24, 2018

You’ve heard the saying, “No pain, no gain.” But is it really true? If you’re in pain, shouldn’t you just lie low?

The truth is probably somewhere in between those two ideas.

Exercise is absolutely good for you, and in fact, moving is usually better than lying in bed for most low back pain. But you need to go about your workouts sensibly.

The best way to do that is to start slowly and gradually build up the length and intensity of your workouts. You want to build your body up, not injure it. A good way to start is by simply walking, starting with as little as 5-10 minutes a day and gradually adding time and distance.

If you’ve been inactive, when you first start working out, you may have some achy muscles, especially if you’re doing a lot more than you’re...

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Stem Cell Treatment a Promising Option for Joint Pain

Submitted by Cathy Brown on July 3, 2018

In Utah, we are blessed with “the greatest snow on earth” and plenty of ski areas where we can enjoy the white stuff. Unfortunately, sometimes carving a path down the slopes can lead to injuries, and after years of skiing, you may have painful arthritis.

Of course, even if you’re not a skier, you may wind up with injuries and arthritis. Osteoarthritis is extremely common, affecting more than 27 million Americans.

The good news is we have some promising new treatments for people with joint pain. One we’re particularly excited about is stem cell therapy.

Although the treatment is not usually covered by insurance because it is relatively...

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10 Things You Should Know about Migraine Headaches

Submitted by Cathy Brown on June 26, 2018

June is Migraine and Headache Awareness Month. If you suffer from migraine headaches, you may feel like you don’t need anyone to raise your awareness. But knowing and sharing these facts may help you feel less alone and give your family, friends, and coworkers the information they need to help support you.

  1. Migraines are not “just a headache.” They are a serious neurological disorder that can include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and sensitivity to light, sound, and smell, in addition to severe throbbing pain, usually in one side of the head. Some migraine sufferers also experience visual symptoms, called an aura, and tingling or numbness.
  2. Nearly 42 million people in the U.S. suffer from head...
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Southwest Spine & Pain Center first and only provider of Vertiflex spine procedure in Northern Utah

Submitted by Cathy Brown on June 11, 2018

St. George, Utah – June 8, 2018

Southwest Spine & Pain Center, the leading spine and pain care group in Utah, is excited to be the first and only provider in Northern Utah of Vertiflex’s Superion® Indirect Decompression System (IDS) for patients suffering from moderate lumbar spinal stenosis. Board certified physicians, Dr. Eric Freeman and Dr. Bryan Hoelzer of Southwest Spine and Pain, who are located in Provo, Utah are the only certified MD’s in Northern Utah who are able to offer this innovative and highly effective therapy.

What is lumbar spinal stenosis?

Lumbar spinal stenosis can be the result of aging and “wear and tear” on the spine from everyday activities. It is a narrowing of the spinal canal that can produce a variety of symptoms:

  • a...
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What to Expect During Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment

Submitted by Cathy Brown on May 31, 2018

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment is a way to use the body’s natural healing powers to treat arthritis and other painful musculoskeletal conditions. It’s been used for osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip, and spine as well as rotator cuff tears, ACL injury, back and neck injuries, and ligament sprains. 

Blood platelets, which secrete growth factors, can strengthen surrounding tissues, muscles, and ligaments. PRP treatment involves using a concentrated solution of platelets from the patient’s own blood. This means there is less risk of an allergic reaction and no risk of contracting a blood-borne infection from a donor.  

So what exactly happens during a PRP treatment? The whole process takes from 45 to 90...

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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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