Tips for a Happy Healthy Spine

Whether it's a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or strained muscles, can take some time to diagnose and treat the causes of back pain.  And all the while, you're trying to navigate health insurance, work and family life, and everyday stressors—all while dealing with your back pain.

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/five-ways-keep-your-spine-healthy-and-happy?source=3tab

Integrating Chiropractic Care

What's the best way to incorporate chiropractic care in with care from other doctors?

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/integrating-chiropractic-care-other-doctors

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Recovery

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, or ACDF, is a common type of neck surgery to address pain and other symptoms caused by cervical disc problems. After an ACDF, most patients are able to go home the day of the surgery or the next day, so most of the recovery time is spent at home. Learn the typical considerations and instructions for ACDF postoperative care and rehabilitation.

Featured Article:
ACDF Surgery Postoperative Care

Additional Info

Hospital Care After ACDF Surgery
The goal of the one- or two-day hospital stay following ACDF is to keep the patient as comfortable and mobile as possible while preparing for long-term recovery at home. Learn More...

Getting Adequate Pain Control After Back Surgery
The spine surgeon performing a fusion surgery should have a pain control plan in place prior to surgery and should discuss it with the patient. This includes setting realistic expectations about the type and level of postoperative pain and providing instructions on how to respond when it occurs. Learn More...

Quitting Smoking Before a Spinal Fusion
An extensive amount of research has firmly established that cigarette smoking is bad for patients undergoing spine fusion surgery. But how does it impact a spinal fusion? What do you need to know to help my chances of successfully quitting smoking? Learn More...

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF) Video


An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is an anterior approach to removing a cervical herniated disc in order to relieve spinal cord or root pressure and alleviate corresponding pain, weakness, and numbness. This interactive video provides an overview of anterior cervical discectomy.

Start watching...




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Reiteration on Sciatica

Sciatica (pronounced sigh-at-ih-kah) is not a medical diagnosis in and of itself – it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Learn all about it:

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sciatica/what-you-need-know-about-sciatica

DIY Heat/Cold Therapy

In a world of sophisticated medical care, a simple ice massage can still be one of the more effective, proven methods to treat a sore lower back or neck. It is effective when used either alone or in combination with other treatments, such as chiropractic care. Read more below:

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/heat-therapy-cold-therapy/ice-massage-back-pain-relief

Search Engine Presence

Search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and others have become a major way that people find chiropractors to go to. They often check reviews to get actual patient experiences. As a result, I'm asking all my patients to go online and write a review (good or bad) of the office (environment, cleanliness, staff and me). Important sites are Google, Bing, Yahoo and Yelp.com).

Just go to those sites, search "Cowesett Chiropractic: Dr Rick Jardon" and write whatever you can. It is much appreciated!

NEW RESEARCH: Chiropractic Proves More Effective than Standard Medical Care in the Military

NEW RESEARCH
Chiropractic Proves More Effective than Standard Medical Care in the Military

This study compares standards medical care and the addition of chiropractic to low back pain patients. The results conclude that adding chiropractic renders statistically and clinically significant benefit to receiving chiropractic care and adds to the body of evidence in diverse forums that chiropractic for mechanical back pain is more effective and cost-effective than standard medical care.

To access the article: CLICK HERE

 

This research is offered as a community service from our office.

Dr. Jardon - Have You Experienced Sciatica?

Dr. Rick Jardon on Sciatica

Join Current Care Today!

Current Care is the RI health community's central bank of patient's records. By joining it, you allow your doctors to access x-rays, blood work, medication lists...etc using their computers rather than waiting for faxes, mail or patients to pick up their information for them.

Everyone (not just my patients but friends, relatives co-workers...) should sign up! Stop by the office anytime and fill out the simple enrollment form that takes just two minutes and we will take care of it from there. Pick up more and have all of your family and friends fill them out and return to us. You can also enroll on the internet at CurrentCareRI.org or call 888-858-4815

Back Care for Lower Back Pain

Since most episodes of lower back pain are self-limited, it is often advisable for patients to employ back care on their own early in the course of low back pain.

Back Care First Aid

In most cases, do-it-yourself back care for low back pain should center on a combination of:

• A short course of rest, limited to one to two days
• Pain medication, such as NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofen) and/or acetaminophen
• Application of ice and/or heat on the lower back to decrease inflammation.

Slow mobilization and gentle stretching is then an advisable form of lower back pain care, and the sooner a patient can return to his or her normal functional activities, the sooner the episode of lower back pain will usually get better.

• See Lower Back Pain Treatment

Other Forms of Lower Back Care

Walking is often an excellent exercise for low back pain since it is gentle on the back and helps oxygenate the soft tissues in the back to stimulate a healing response. If walking is too painful, exercising in the water (water therapy or pool therapy) is usually tolerable. Such back care is typically beneficial for lower back pain because the water counteracts gravity and helps to support the patient’s weight in a controlled fashion.

Sitting upright (e.g. in an office chair, driving) will often aggravate low back pain, since this position loads the back three times more than standing. Sitting in a reclining position, however, relieves pressure on the lower back and is often the most comfortable position for patients experiencing an episode of back pain in the lower back (lumbar spine).

When to Seek Lower Back Care from a Medical Professional

Chiropractic on the Lumbar Spine Video

If the lower back pain symptoms do not start to abate within one to two weeks, medical attention should be sought from either the patient’s primary care doctor or chiropractor. The assessment of the patient begins with a history of the patient’s low back pain and includes questions such as:

• Where is the back pain?
• Is there more low back pain or more leg pain?
• How long has the pain been present?
• Does anything make the lower back pain better?
• Does anything make the low back pain worse?
• What back pain care has been tried?
• Have there been other episodes of lower back pain?

A physical exam will also be done to assess the patient’s nerve function and motion in the lower back. Sometimes diagnostic studies (such as an x-ray) will be recommended to better assess the anatomy of the patient’s spine and determine the specific type of back care.

• See Introduction To Diagnostic Studies For Back Pain

Initial Back Care and Lower Back Pain Help

Combining the information from the patient’s history, physical exam, and diagnostic studies, the health provider will then recommend a course of back care for the lower back pain. Generally, conservative (non-surgical) treatments for the low back pain will be recommended first.

If conservative back care fails, back surgery may be a reasonable option to try to cure the lower back pain.

Further Reading: Lower Back Pain Treatment