Item: NJ Spine & Orthopedic
Rating: 5
Author: H. Reyes

Is My Back Pain Serious?

It’s something that keeps you up at night, makes daily activities more difficult and slows down your life. While you’re going through times of intense back pain, you might feel like you’re alone. This is hardly the case — you’re one of a huge majority, according to the Chicago Tribune, which reports 80 percent of adults have back pain that is severe enough to seek medical attention — so much so that it is one of the most common complaints cited by people going into hospital emergency rooms. When you don’t know why you’re experiencing serious back pain, that pain may be compounded by fear. Before you let your fears run away with you, let’s look at some of the common causes of back pain. They are: Muscle strain Ill-fitting shoes Wearing the wrong kinds of shoes Being overweight or obese Weak back muscles Poor posture Wearing an unsupportive bra Overexertion Your mattress Depression Purse or backpack In other words, there could be many non-alarming issues causing your back pain and quite a few simple fixes to help you resolve it. In addition to these, aging, smoking, poor physical fitness and genetics may be the source of your back pain, but there are ways to reduce many of the common causes of back pain. Reduce Your Risks of Back Pain from Common Causes Severe back pain is no laughing matter. It not only hurts, but it can affect your quality of life by limiting your ability to participate in the fun activities going on around you. You can address many of the common causes of back pain by following the recommendations listed below. Muscle Strain. When it comes to muscle strain, prevention is the best cure. Learn to bend and lift properly. Stretch and warm up correctly before beginning any strenuous workout. Consider yoga and other exercises designed to strengthen your core. Consult your physician before engaging in any exercise program or regimen whether or not you’re currently experiencing back pain.For pain relief in the aftermath of a muscle strain, consider cold compresses, massage therapy and over the counter muscle creams and pain remedies. Shoe-Related Back Pain. Whether your back pain is the result of shoes that do not properly fit or the result of wearing the wrong kinds of shoes, there are things you can do to help reduce your back pain.First, exchange shoes that do not fit properly for shoes that have been professionally fit for your feet. These shoes may cost more, but you’ll save money on over-the-counter and other remedies for back pain and hurt less too. Shoe orthotics, which may be more affordable, might work for you, too.Second, wear shoes that offer proper arch support and ditch the stilettos. At the very least, limit your wearing of these types of shoes. Weight-Related Back Pain. Back pain brought on by weight is one you must address slowly over time. Exercise efforts may have been thwarted by the pain you’re experiencing, but the reward of taking off

Overcoming Surgery Anxiety

Whether you are having major surgery or just an out-patient procedure, it is normal to feel some anxiety. Doctors perform surgeries every day, but most patients have little or no experience with surgical procedures. Anticipating the unknown can make you a bit tense. Anxiety’s Physical Effects Anxiety can cause physical symptoms that may interfere with your surgery or your ability to recover afterward. If your anxiety becomes severe, you may experience: Nausea Quickened pulse Irregular heartbeat Insomnia Shortness of breath The symptoms of anxiety can mimic heart disease and make it more difficult to handle pain. Anxiety also interferes with some of your cognitive functions, making it harder to remember pre-operative instructions and other advice you get before surgery. Preparing for Surgery Anxiety is a natural fear response that helps you protect yourself from an impending threat. When it comes to surgery, it is natural to be afraid, but you are not in immediate danger. If surgery was not the best option for you, your doctor would advise against it. Reducing your anxiety before surgery can make you a better patient and improve the outcome of the procedure. Here are a few stress-reduction strategies that may work for you: Be well-informed — Ask all of your questions in your appointments leading up to surgery. Talk to other people went through the same procedure. Find out exactly what you can expect. Let music soothe you — Listening to relaxing music before your surgery can reduce your blood pressure and slow your breathing. It can counteract the physical signs of stress. Meditate — Meditation and yoga are shown to induce relaxation, slow breathing, and calm heart rate. You could consider yoga part of your pre-operative routine and even begin practicing meditation as soon as you learn you will have surgery. Distracting activities — Reading, listening to music or playing video games can be ways to distract your attention from your impending surgery. When your mind is focused on something else, you won’t be worried about the surgery. Pre-surgery stress is similar to the what you feel at other stressful times in your life. Whatever stress-reducing tactics work for you will also work before surgery. Being able to relax before surgery is important and can be achieved in many individual ways. Professional Help to Overcome Stress If you are unable to overcome your anxiety about an impending surgery, there is help available. The hospital or medical clinic where your surgery will be performed has medical professionals you can reach out to. Explain your concerns and what you are feeling, and they can direct you to the right department. Sometimes talking to an anesthesiologist and learning more about how anesthesia could affect you will reduce your anxiety as well. If you cannot pinpoint the exact cause of your stress, maybe talking with a counselor or social worker will help. They can help you understand your anxiety and how to better cope with it. With the right preparation and support, you should have no trouble

Best Backpacks for Your Child

A backpack is a handy and popular way for kids to carry their books and other school supplies. As they move through their day, kids need books and papers, pens and pencils, and even snacks and gym clothes. Keeping them organized in a backpack is practical and allows their hands to be free for other tasks like opening locker doors and holding the handrails going up and down stairs. However, backpacks can also be the leading cause of back pain in children. Poorly designed backpacks that do not provide enough padding for small shoulders can lead to soreness. Additionally, a heavy backpack can pull a child’s spine out of alignment and cause him or her to lean forward while walking, wreaking havoc on your child’s posture and balance. Backpacks for School Choosing a backpack with quality design and structural elements for the school year can help ensure the weight of the pack is even, reducing the risk of back pain and other posture problems. Here are the features you should look for: Straps — Backpacks for kids should have two straps that can distribute the weight evenly on both shoulders. This will prevent your child from constantly leaning to one side and developing poor posture as he or she grows. It also allows for good balance with the weight centered on their body, so muscles on either side of the body engage evenly. Size — To effectively carry the load and not damage your child’s posture and developing muscles, the backpack needs to fit properly in the center of his or her back. Where the two straps meet at the top of the bag should be just one or two inches below your child’s shoulders. The bottom of the pack should not hang more than a couple inches below the waistline. Padding — The best backpacks for kids include wide straps with adequate padding. Comfort is important. Padding will take some of the pressure off of small shoulders that may not be naturally padded with muscle and fat yet. Wide straps also distribute weight better and don’t dig into tender shoulders. Even with the best comfort features on your child’s backpack, though, it can still lead to back pain if it is overloaded — your child cannot carry an excessive amount of weight to school every day. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons sets a standard for the weight of a child’s backpack at 15-20% of the child’s body weight. Along with fitting the backpack to your child, you can monitor the amount of weight that is carried in it to be sure it is not contributing to back pain. As your child grows, he or she can graduate to a bigger, heavier pack, but it’s a good idea to start small. Back pain that develops in childhood can affect your child into adulthood. For more help with your kid’s back pain, contact the specialists at NJ Spine & Orthopedic to schedule an appointment. Contact Us

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Is My Back Pain Serious?

Overcoming Surgery Anxiety

Best Backpacks for Your Child

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