If you have back or spine pain you don’t have to suffer. Throughout our website and in several posts here on our blog we talk about pain management options that we offer to our patients. An experienced spine care doctor will work with you to find and treat your spine and back pain problems. If you have pain, call us and let’s start working toward a solution. One treatment option that we have available is known as the sacroiliac joint block.

What is a Sacroiliac Joint Block?

Many pain management therapies for back and spine pain involve injections and the sacroiliac joint block is no different. These injections are used to both treat pain and find and diagnose the source of lower back pain. Sacroiliac joint blocks are especially useful in treating pain associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction which is a problem involving the joint that connects the bottom of your spine to your hip.

How is the Procedure Completed?

A sacroiliac joint block is a relatively simple procedure that can be completed in about 10 to 15 minutes in our offices. We will use a live x-ray machine known as a fluoroscope to guide an injection needle to the correct injection site. Then your doctor will inject the treatment medications which generally consist of lidocaine to numb the pain and a steroid to reduce inflammation. After the injection you will need to recover for at least 10 minutes while a nurse discusses discharge and home care after the procedure with you. A sacroiliac joint block procedure generally involves a series of 3 injections administered on 3 separate office visits.

What Are the Risks Associated with this Procedure?

Every procedure carries some level of risk, but in general the risks associated with this procedure are minimal. Your doctor will happily discuss the risks and benefits with you if you ask. There is a risk of swelling or bruising at the injection site and a small risk of infection. Some people notice an increase or change in their pain shortly after the procedure, but this should diminish over time. There is also a very slight risk that the needle will enter the dural sac causing a spinal headache. We take steps to reduce your risks and to ensure the best treatment outcome possible.

How Can I Prepare?

We recommend that you wear comfortable clothing when you come in for a sacroiliac joint block procedure. You won’t be able to drive home, so arrange for a ride before you come in. Keep taking your regular medications, but avoid any other food or drink for 4 hours before your injection. If you have any other questions give us a call. We are happy to help.

Here at the Spine Institute Northwest we utilize some of the most effective back and spine pain treatment methods to help our patients feel better and achieve the quality of life that they desire. If you have back pain contact us and see if a sacroiliac joint block could be an effective choice for managing your pain.

Doctors can use many different treatment options to help relieve chronic back pain in their patients. Prescription pain medication and surgery are two options available to doctors, but they aren’t the only ones. Physical therapy may also be a viable option in handling back pain, especially when used in conjunction with other more conventional treatments.

What is Physical Therapy?

You have probably heard the term physical therapy before, but if you haven’t experienced this type of treatment you may be unfamiliar with what physical therapy really entails. Basically physical therapy combines an understanding of human anatomy and physiology with various stretches and exercises. When used to treat back or spine pain physical therapy focuses on the various muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons in the spinal area. Trained specialists will teach proper exercises and techniques and may educate patients on proper posture, movement, etc.

How Can Physical Therapy Help Back Pain?

Strong bodies can deal with physical stressors more easily than bodies that are not in good shape. Physical therapy helps to strengthen the body which can help prevent future back injuries from occurring. Physical therapy also promotes the healing of strained or problem areas in the back which can lead to the resolution of some conditions and a decrease in pain. Finally, physical therapy can help patients to find and correct improper movements that may be contributing to an underlying back pain problem.

Physical therapy treats back pain using a multi-dimensional approach; it strengthens bodies to prevent future problems, promotes healing and educates patients on proper movement and stretching techniques. Skills learned in physical therapy may help patients to avoid future back pain problems and recover more quickly from pain when it does occur.

Physical therapy is an excellent complement to the other treatment options that may be used by your doctor to treat back pain. For example physical therapy may be used after a surgical procedure to aid in recovery and then continued to build back strength and increase mobility. Physical therapy can complement prescription pain medications and increase comfort in patients. At the Spine Institute Northwest we strive to ensure that each patient receives treatment custom tailored to their condition and needs which may mean a combination of several treatment options including physical therapy.

Is Physical Therapy Right for Me?

Each case of back pain is different and will require different treatment methods. Only your doctor can determine if physical therapy could make a welcome addition to your treatment plan. Physical therapy however can often be used as a complement to back pain treatment as it speeds healing, builds strength and reduces the occurrence of future back problems.

Stop struggling with back pain and schedule an appointment with a back pain specialist today. You don’t have to endure back pain with the many treatment options available through modern medicine.

Here at the Spine Institute Northwest we help patients with back pain and spinal problems every day. We have seen firsthand the hardships that can be caused by chronic pain and experience joy each time a patient makes progress in their recovery. If you are experiencing chronic back pain or other spinal problems, help is available. A spine care doctor will help you to find the problem and choose appropriate treatment options. Here are some tips for choosing a spine care doctor.

Decide You Are Ready for Treatment

The first step to choosing a spine care doctor is deciding that you are ready to take action. If you are tired of dealing with back pain and you don’t want the pain to keep getting worse, it might be time to start looking for a spine care doctor.

Find a Doctor Specializing in Spine Care

The spine is a complex collection of bones, nerves and tissues. Proper spine treatment requires a doctor with experience and training in this specific field. Don’t just go to any doctor for your spine and back problems; choose a doctor experienced in spine care. Practices devoted solely to spine treatment, like the Spine Institute Northwest, will have more experience in treating spinal problems than general practice doctors.

Ask for Recommendations

You could just choose your doctor out of the phone book, but that would be like taking a shot in the dark. Ask for recommendations as you look for a spine care doctor. Your physician may know of a good spine doctor in your area. Friends, family and even co-workers may have experience with doctors in this field and often can provide recommendations and referrals.

Check Out Testimonials or Talk with Current Patients

Patients can give you great insight into the type of care you may receive from a doctor or medical practice. Ask potential spine care doctors to see their patient testimonials. Talk with any current or former patients of the practice that you know.

Meet the Doctor

You can learn a lot about a doctor by doing research and calling around, but until you actually sit down with them and talk, you won’t really know if the doctor is a good fit for your needs. Schedule a consultation and meet the doctor. This will give you a chance to ask questions, talk about your situation and determine which doctor can help you achieve your treatment goals.

Choose a spine care doctor with the experience and training needed to give you the care you need. These tips will help you narrow the many choose choices and find the doctor that is right for your situation.

Back pain can fall anywhere in the range from uncomfortable to downright debilitating. The type of pain management used will vary depending on the level of pain and the reason for the back pain. One pain management option is known as the spinal pain pump or an intrathecal pump implant.

What is a Spinal Pump?

A spinal pain pump is a special medical device that dispenses pain medication directly to the spinal cord. The pump is implanted under the abdominal skin and a small catheter runs from the pump to the affected area on the spine. The pump will dispense specialized medication into the spinal fluid to relieve spinal and back pain. Since the pump can deliver the medication right to the affected area, lower doses of medication are needed and the results tend to be better than oral medication. Lower doses also mean fewer side effects.

When is an Intrathecal Pump Implant Used?

A spinal pump is typically used only on patients with severe, chronic pain. It is a good alternative to oral medications for patients that are not receiving adequate pain relief from their current medications or that are experiencing debilitating or extreme side effects from oral medications. Oral treatments spread a medication throughout the entire body, but the spinal pump allows concentrated medication to be delivered precisely to problem areas for a lower dose and decreased side effects.

What Types of Pain Medications are used with a Spinal Pain Pump?

Spinal pain pumps can be used with a variety of different pain relief options making this treatment option a viable choice for many patients. They can be used with local anesthetics, opiods like morphine, adrenergic agonists and other pain relief options. If this treatment option is right for you, your doctors will carefully create a pain relief regiment for your specific problems and needs. It may take time to find the best combination of treatments and medication for your situation. Most spinal pain pumps will need to be refilled with medication every one to six months. The implant can remain in place for several years until the batteries wear out and the pump needs replacing.

How Do I Determine If This Treatment is Right for Me?

Only a doctor can determine if a spinal pain pump can help you with your back pain. Schedule an appointment and come in to our offices. As with any medical procedure there are risks associated with this treatment option. Your doctor can explain the risks and benefits of this treatment option. We would love to discuss your specific problems and find treatment options that will work for you.

An intrathecal pump implant allows pain medication to be delivered directly to your spinal cord allowing for better pain relief and fewer side effects. It is one of many back pain relief options available to our patients.

What do runny noses, itchy skin and back pain all have in common? They are all symptoms of a problem, not the root cause. Back pain can be caused by many different underlying problems. Understanding the cause of back pain is essential in determining the best treatment options and pain management solutions. Let’s take a look at a few of the common causes of back pain.

Muscle Strain

The spine is supported by a complex network of large muscles that support the spine and the upper body. These spinal muscles are used almost every time that you move or lift. Since back muscles are used frequently, they are at a great risk for muscle strain or overexertion. Muscle strain occurs when muscle fibers are stretched or torn.

Back pain caused by muscle strain will often resolve itself with proper rest and future prevention. Learning to lift properly, getting enough exercise (including strength training) and maintaining a healthy weight have been shown to reduce the occurrence of this type of back pain. Prevention is always easier than fixing a problem once the pain has occurred. Sprains, caused by torn ligaments, may present with similar symptoms to muscle strain.

Disc Problems

Ruptured or slipped discs are another common cause of back pain. The spinal column is comprised of many small bones known as vertebrae. These bones rest upon each other with a small, cushioning disc in between each bone. When the disc ruptures, shifts or degenerates, back pain may result.

Nerve Problems

Bulging discs occasionally irritate a nerve and cause back pain. Sciatica is an example of back pain related to a nerve issue. This type of pain is often sharp and may be accompanied with tingling or numbness.

Pain Syndromes

Fibromyalgia and other pain syndromes may carry back pain as a symptom. In the case of fibromyalgia little is known about the cause of the pain, but there are many treatment options available to help control the symptoms of this syndrome.

Abdominal Disorders

Back pain isn’t always caused by back problems. In some cases it can be a sign of a problem somewhere else entirely. Kidney diseases, urinary tract or bladder infections, appendicitis and ovarian problems may present with back pain as a symptom.

Back Pain and Age

Back pain becomes more prevalent as you age. This is due to a variety of factors. Arthritis and osteoporosis often result in back pain and are conditions typically associated with older people. Discs may deteriorate or become weaker throughout the aging process. Deterioration of bones and tissues can lead to back pain and problems.

The next time your back hurts remember that there is no one set reason. Back pain has many causes and therefore, many treatment options. Back pain can be chronic or temporary, intense or mild; it all depends on the type of pain and its cause. If you are experiencing back pain, make an appointment and come on in. The first step in treating the pain is figuring out what is causing it.

MedX computerized testing/strengthening programs provide relief for those in chronic and sub-acute pain, and effective therapy also for those in poor health, susceptible to injury, de-conditioned, or in a state of atrophy following surgery or immobilization. Its function is described in various terms such as rehab, therapy, sports medicine, functional restoration, or medical exercise.

MedX physical therapy protocol is able to accurately test and safely strengthen muscles of the back, neck and knee. Its extensive research and development began decades ago at Nautilus Sports/Medical Industries, then owned and operated by Arthur Jones.

The University of Florida ‘s Center for Exercise Science conducted numerous research projects using equipment built by Arthur Jones, first at Nautilus and later at MedX Inc., formed in 1986 with headquarters on Jumbo-Lair Ranch in Ocala Florida . Michael N. Fulton, MD, a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and adjunct associate professor in the Department of Orthopedics, University of Florida , College of Medicine , was involved in both the research and application of this technology for more than two decades. MedX medical machines feature elaborate restraint mechanisms to isolate targeted muscles. This isolation both eliminates the risk of harmful impact forces and pinpoints deficient areas that can then be addressed during exercise sessions. MedX has developed a testing procedure consisting of sequential isometric (static) contractions. MedX’s engineers and researchers tested motor-driven dynamic exercise methods (e.g., isokinetic devices) during research, but found static testing to provide far greater accuracy and repeatability.

The MedX clinician administers the test by locking the machine’s movement lever at these selected points, or joint angles, along a bio-mechanical range of motion. The range of testing points can be restricted to areas the patient finds free of pain. Once set at a testing point, the patient then contracts isometrically for three to five seconds, presumably to his or her maximum exertion pain-free.

Utilizing a strain gauge the computer software measures force output, or foot-pounds of torque, which it then correlates to the angular position. After completing the test at one angle, the clinician then releases and relocates the movement lever to the next testing point, usually 6 to 12 degrees further along the range of movement. At the conclusion of the entire test the computer software connects sequential static force measurements like connecting the dots into what is termed a strength curve.

Comparison to Norms

Both the strength level and curve shape can be compared to age- and gender-matched normative data established through extensive clinical research at the University of Florida . It’s when these norms are reached that pain diminishes, typically. The software can also compare previous test results, selected group results, or a variety of data which can be displayed in tabular or graph format, and also printed.

A rehabilitation program consists of repeating this computerized assessment at regular intervals of one per month, interspersed with weekly or twice-weekly exercise sessions. The typical treatment protocol involves approximately 20-24 total sessions although patients who demonstrate expedient progress with diminished symptoms and restored strength may require fewer visits. MedX-based therapy is reimbursed under basic physical therapy insurance coverage by most carriers

Your patient’s reports are available to you at any time, and will be routinely faxed to your office upon the patient’s discharge from the program.

The Strengthening Component

During directed, lumbar-specific, cervical-specific, or thigh-specific exercise sessions a weight stack is engaged, set at an appropriate level of resistance based upon test results. Dynamic repetitions are performed within a pain-free arc. The computer tracks duration of each repetition, the number completed, and the range of motion on each.

Effective protocols of testing and exercising combinations have been established through research not only at the University of Florida , but also in numerous independent clinical studies published in peer-reviewed medical and exercise journals.

These machines can also detect fatigability of the targeted muscles. This is determined by use of a three-part session: test, exercise, and then text again. The difference in the pre-exercise to post-exercise strength levels represents the fatiguing effect of dynamic exercise. The amount of fatigue (inroad) will vary among individuals, and is indicative of fiber-type characteristics of the targeted musculature. Individuals with significantly lower than normal strength or abnormal endurance may be at increased risk for spinal injury.

Research-Proven Results

MedX has accumulated an impressive array of research findings, much of it published in peer-reviewed journals. Its use has demonstrated increases in bone mineral density20-21 and has been used in industrial settings to reduce disability4-5 and with geriatric patients22. Its computerized testing machines are used in therapy centers around the world.

The body of scientific literature on conservative injury management is rapidly expanding and the MedX corporation provides ongoing scientific updates through its online Applied Research Review available at www.medxonline.com.

Clinician training and educational support is provided independently by University of Florida ‘s Center for Exercise Science, Colleges of Medicine and Health and Human Performance. Certification on all five medical exercise machines requires 8 days of intensive training at the University of Florida , which culminates in written and practical examinations. Additional research and training has been conducted at the University of California at San Diego, CA .

REFERENCES:

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21. Braith RW, Welsch MA, Mills RM, Keller J, Pollock ML; Resistance Exercise Training Restored Bone Mineral Density After Heart Transplantation. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. S25(5), May 1995

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