CONDITIONS

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Do you have a spinal condition that’s causing you chronic pain intense enough to interfere with your life or day-to-day activities? Are you afraid you’ll never be able to get your pain under control or that it might continue to worsen as you age? 

WELL, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. 

Many people with spinal disorders feel frustrated, confused, and helpless about their conditions. As many as 500,000 people suffer from some form of spinal injury each year. The good news is that you can ease your concerns and fears by gaining a better understanding of your condition. 

 

At NJ Spine and Orthopedic, we work to help you understand your symptoms, diagnose your condition and inform you of the various treatments. Below is an overview of the most common types of spine conditions, as well as other orthopedic conditions.

Top 5 Tips for Recovery after Laser Spine Surgery

At NJ Spine & Orthopedic, we offer the latest technology in laser spine surgeries to treat various back conditions. However, our back doctors will always try conservative healing methods, such as physical therapy or medication, before offering surgery. Laser spine surgery is minimally invasive, meaning that it’s not as painful as traditional open procedures. However, that does not mean you should be careless when recovering. You must still give your body time to rest and heal before going about daily activities again. Here are five tips for recovering from your laser spine surgery. Maintain a Healthy Diet Establish a well-balanced, low-fat diet that is rich in fresh vegetables and fruit. Since you will be less active in your recovery, try to avoid high-calorie and fattening foods. Maintaining a healthy diet is vital to a successful recovery. Additionally, adhering to a healthy diet may help you lose weight if you are overweight. In return, this may help ease pressure on your back, as a primary cause of back pain is pressure due to excess weight. Take Prescription Medications as Directed Taking and refilling your prescribed medications as your doctor directs is vital to managing pain after laser spine surgery. Do not take more medication than your doctor prescribes. If you discover that your medicine is not helping to manage your pain, contact your doctor right away. Additionally, other non-drug pain relief treatments can aid in your recovery. Heat and ice packs can help reduce swelling or stiffness. Just be sure not to apply the pack directly on the incision. Gentle exercise and light massages may also alleviate discomfort. Sleep Properly Following Spine Surgery Good sleep may help you heal faster. You should take the following steps to take the stress off the spine when sleeping on your back. Sleep with your upper back, shoulders, and head raised slightly. Place a pillow under the back of your knees, so they are slightly bent. Use the log roll method to get out of bed. Roll onto your side, keeping your hips and shoulders in line, turning at the same time. Push yourself up with your arms and allow your legs to bend over the side of the bed. However, your surgeon may offer specific sleeping advice, depending on the location of the incision. Proper Sitting Techniques Post-Laser Spine Surgery Sitting puts the most stress on your back. Many surgeons suggest patients walk around every 10 minutes after sitting for an hour. Additionally, you should avoid long car rides until you fully heal. A good rule of thumb is to never sit with your knees higher than your hips. Put a firm pillow or wedge behind your back when you sit down. A raised toilet seat may also assist in sitting on and rising from the toilet. Attend Physical Therapy Physical therapy may begin the day after your surgery, and it is an essential part of the recovery process. It helps you rebuild your strength, flexibility, and physical endurance. Make sure you attend all

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Can Cracking Your Back Cause Back Pain?

One of the first things many people do after waking up or after a long day of work is crack their back. Even though a proper spinal adjustment does not require a cracking sound to be effective, hearing one creates the feeling that you released tension, tightness, or discomfort. However, many wonder if cracking your back can cause or worsen back pain. Continue reading to learn more about the common myths and misconceptions associated with cracking your back. If you still have more questions, contact the back doctors at New Jersey Spine & Orthopedic. Is It Bad to Crack Your Back? In general, it is safe to crack your back. However, that has not stopped people from creating wild misconceptions about the practice, such as developing arthritis or stunting growth. Arthritis Does Not Come from Back Cracking One of the most common myths regarding back or knuckle cracking is that it will cause arthritis. Arthritis forms from natural wear and tear on the body as we age. A joint infection or injury can expedite the natural breakdown of tissue. However, cracking your back and other chiropractic care may actually ease some of your pain. Back Cracking Does Not Stunt Growth Since you may release fluid or gas when cracking your back, people say it can stunt your growth. This is not the case. Cracking your back relieves pressure between the spinal discs, which is not related to bone growth. Growth occurs in the epiphyseal plate in the long bones. Injuries are Rare When Cracking Your Back It is rare for an injury, such as a slipped disc, to occur from back cracking. You should exercise caution when cracking your back if you have an existing disc or vertebrae injury. Excessive back cracking may exacerbate your symptoms and worsen your pain. Should You Crack Your Back Every Day? Back cracking multiple times a day might not be the healthiest option. Signs of a back condition that requires treatment includes chronic pain or discomfort before and after spinal manipulation. Instead, consider doing gentle stretches that help improve your strength, flexibility, and posture. While cracking your back every day may not cause any injury, it might be a sign of a more severe back condition. If you find yourself needing relief multiple times a day, you should figure out the underlying cause. You can do this by completing our free Pain Assessment Tool. Then, discover treatment options through our Treatment Finder. Are There Times I Should Not Crack My Back? There are instances where you should not crack your back. If you are recovering from an injury, have a disc issue, or have pain or swelling, cracking your back might worsen your pain or condition. Additionally, it takes about 20 minutes for a joint to be ready to crack again. Do not crack the same area during this time as it can strain the ligaments. Additionally, you should avoid cracking your back if you have: Osteoporosis Spinal cancer High risk of stroke Neckbone

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Can Shoveling Hurt My Back?

The Northeast sees its fair share of snow between October and April, making shoveling an unavoidable part of winter. Many people start dreading the soreness and back pain flurries bring. However, if you take a few precautions, you can minimize aching muscles and avoid throwing out your back. If you feel back pain for a few days after shoveling snow, you might want to seek medical attention. You could be suffering from a back injury. If you are still experiencing back pain from shoveling snow this past winter, contact NJ Spine & Orthopedic. Our board-certified back doctors know how to treat various back conditions and help you get back to the life you enjoyed before your pain. Common Injuries from Shoveling Snow Most snow-related injuries result from overworking your muscles or slipping on ice. Regardless of the cause, it is no surprise that back injuries are common in the winter months. The repeated movement is strenuous on the back, causing injuries such as: Lower back pain or strain: Poor posture contributes significantly to lower back pain or strains. It causes your weaker muscles to do more work and overstretches the spine’s ligaments. Always shovel with your back straight and push the snow whenever possible. If you must lift, use your knees. Herniated discs: When your spine moves out of alignment or pinches a nerve, a disc can bulge or herniate. To prevent this, keep your knees perpendicular to the snow you want to lift and pivot or walk toward where you want to dispose of it. Avoid throwing snow over your shoulder or to the side. You are more likely to throw your back out this way. Fractures, torn ligaments, and bruising: If you fall onto the pavement, you may fracture or bruise your backbone. You might also tear the connective tissue around your spine. Wear snow boots that have good treads to increase your traction. It is also a good idea to spread rock salt before shoveling to reduce the chances of a fall. Muscular back pain: Cramped, overtired, and spasming muscles are common when it is cold since low temperatures restrict blood flow. Muscular back pain can occur in your lower or upper back and shoulders. Maintain proper form when shoveling so you do not agitate these muscles, and stretch before you go out to increase blood flow. While technically not an injury, sciatica pain may be exacerbated when shoveling snow as a result of a herniated disc or muscle spasm. Cold weather puts you at a greater risk of muscle sprains, and sudden movements can worsen your sciatica. How to Prevent Injuries When Shoveling There are steps you should take to avoid an injury from shoveling. For starters, try shoveling later in the day. Spinal discs naturally swell in the morning, and muscles are stiff since you were not active throughout the night. You also have a slower reaction time in the morning, which can increase your risk of falling. While it might be tempting to shovel

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5 Pool Exercises That Can Alleviate Back Pain

Dealing with back pain can be a debilitating struggle, and whether you’re in treatment or trying to manage symptoms at home, water exercises can be a powerful therapeutic tool in your kit. It’s always crucial to check with your physician to make sure your condition and treatment is compatible with certain kinds of exercise, but if you get the go ahead, hopping in the pool can become a valuable part of your recovery process. With pool workouts, less load-bearing stress is placed on your back, unlike walking, jogging, or lifting weights. Pool exercises will put little to no compression on your spine, allowing you to work out without worsening back problems. The resistance added to your movements by the water is great for improving functional strength, flexibility and especially cardio health. While there are any number of workouts you could incorporate into your routine, here are five of the top exercises to get your back feeling limber and fresh. It’s easy to start feeling like the next Michael Phelps when you get in the water, but remember, gentle workouts and stretches are the surest way to get better. If pain continues to worsen even after trying these techniques, consider contacting the specialists at NJ Spine and Orthopedic today. Kick Board Balance The kick board is a great tool, and this exercise will help you build a strong base in your lower back for stability. Consider trying the following: Sit on the board in a shallower end of the pool and gain balance there Keep your spine at a straight angle, sitting up straight up using your abdominal muscles for balance for 60 seconds In between sets, be sure to rest. With this exercise and others, the risk of injury due to loss of form increases as you fatigue. By resting between sets, you allow for that all-important recovery to take place so you can execute your next set with proper form. Superman Stretch This stretch is perfect to limber up your lower back, easing out all the muscles in a relatively weightless environment and allowing the burdened parts of your spine to loosen up. Try these steps: Hold onto the edge of the pool with both hands and your shoulders kept wide Lift your legs up behind you and allow them to float to the surface If this puts strain on your neck, you can allow your head to rest in the water and come up for breaths. Walking Water walking is a low-impact cardio exercise that can also help strengthen muscle groups that you use everyday when walking around. It’s generally an easy way to get some cardio in the pool, and will leave you feeling steadier and lighter on your feet on solid ground. The extra resistance of walking in water allows you to challenge and strengthen your muscles in ways you may not be able to with a land-based routine. It also helps you burn more calories, which can aid in weight loss. Leg Lifts This exercise

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