FEEL BETTER BLOG

What’s All the Rage About Red Light Therapy?

What’s All the Rage About Red Light Therapy?

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, natural and non-invasive therapies are capturing increasing attention and red light therapy stands out as a fascinating contender. With research suggesting its potential to tackle a range of issues from accelerating wound...

Cracked, Not Broken: Demystifying Vertebral Fractures

Cracked, Not Broken: Demystifying Vertebral Fractures

The term "broken back" conjures images of a dramatic spinal snap, but the reality is often less dire – and much more treatable. While it can be incredibly painful and limiting, a "broken back" typically refers to a fractured vertebra, not a complete spinal cord tear....

How Safe is Steroid Treatment for Pain During COVID-19?

How Safe is Steroid Treatment for Pain During COVID-19?

Here at Integrative Pain Specialists (IPS), patients have asked how safe taking oral steroids or steroid injections is during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve fielded this question at least a dozen times in the past month alone. This is an especially important concern in...

Low Back Pain: More Than Meets the Eye

Low Back Pain: More Than Meets the Eye

Did you know that low back pain is one of the most common causes of disability in America and responsible for billions of dollars in lost productivity each year? Despite the prevalence of low back pain and the huge burden it imparts upon society, many are uncertain of...

Lucky Red Beans and Rice

Lucky Red Beans and Rice

If you started the New Year with a bowl of Hoppin John, you're on the right track. Those black-eyed peas - and most beans for that matter - are chock full of protein and help reduce inflammation. They're so good for you, the Arthritis Foundation recommends eating at...

Heart-healthy Peanut Butter Pumpkin-spiced Oatmeal

Heart-healthy Peanut Butter Pumpkin-spiced Oatmeal

Pumpkin seeds contain both Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.  Both of these fats are considered essential because our bodies can not make them, therefore we have to consume them in our diet.  Omega 3s and 6s regulate our body's response to inflammation making...

Anti-Inflammatory Red Apple Broccoli Salad

Anti-Inflammatory Red Apple Broccoli Salad

The skins of red apples and purple onions contain the antioxidant anthocyanins that help reduce inflammation.  Broccoli is a great source of antioxidants too but specifically sulforaphane which has awesome anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to keep that...

Wellness vs. dieting in pain management

Wellness vs. dieting in pain management

When you’re in pain, the last thing you want is for your doctor to tell you that it would get better if you just lost weight. In fact, weight is a leading reason why people in pain (and people in general) don’t go to the doctor – they don’t want to be harassed about...

Traveling? Add ‘stop, think, stretch’ to your itinerary

Traveling? Add ‘stop, think, stretch’ to your itinerary

According to the National Institutes of Health, pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined and pain is cited as the most common reason Americans access the health care system. Debilitating, disabling pain leaves you unable to work, to...

Stopping migraines before they start

Stopping migraines before they start

A migraine isn’t just a bad headache; it’s a specific type of headache that comes with severe throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head – or sometimes both sides. Migraines are often accompanied by nausea or vomiting and they’re made worse by light or noise. A...

The vicious cycle between pain and depression

The vicious cycle between pain and depression

There is a well-documented link between pain and depression that can make both of them harder to treat if they’re not dealt with quickly. Pain causes depression and depression causes pain in a vicious cycle that can get worse over time. Pain causes depression It’s not...

Fibromyalgia: examining invisible pain

Fibromyalgia: examining invisible pain

Fibromyalgia is a poorly understood pain disorder, which makes it difficult and frustrating to treat.  Fibromyalgia falls under a group of disorders known as Central Sensitization Syndromes. This means that while the pain itself is felt in the musculoskeletal system,...

What to do before you have back surgery

What to do before you have back surgery

People tend to view pain management as a last-resort option after surgery. This is a mistake, especially when it concerns back pain.  We tell the primary care physicians and specialists we work with that we’d really like them to refer patients to us as soon as...

Pain-Free Morning Parfait

Pain-Free Morning Parfait

1/2c. plain Greek yogurt (for the vitamin d and calcium to strengthen bones) 1 tbsp almond butter (calcium, protein, magnesium, alpha linolenic acid to help with inflammation) 1/2c. blueberries (anthocyanins to help prevent gout) Optional: chia seeds for omega 3s,...

Hydrating Watermelon Cherry Salad

Hydrating Watermelon Cherry Salad

2 cups cubed watermelon (contains 92% water) 1/4 cup mint leaves torn (mint has methol which helps relax muscles) 1 cup cherries, pitted and halved (cherries contain quercetin which helps fight inflammation) Mix all ingredients together and serve chilled. Cayla...

Treating pain without narcotics

Treating pain without narcotics

When you’re in pain, you just want it to stop as quickly as possible. We’ve all been there at some point. For me, it was a car crash that left me with severe pain in my lower back and shoulder. My father – a physician himself – recommended I see an osteopathic...

Acute vs chronic pain – what’s the difference?

Acute vs chronic pain – what’s the difference?

As we age, we all get back pain at some point. So how do you know when it’s time to see a doctor about it? The answer is usually “right away.” Many people think that pain clinics are only for chronic pain but the truth is, if you see a doctor when your pain is acute,...

Every day stretches for back pain relief

Every day stretches for back pain relief

The human back is a tricky thing; it’s both incredibly strong and also incredibly easy to hurt.  Back pain is the number one type of pain that we treat at Integrative Pain Specialists and that’s not just at our practice; it’s everywhere. Back pain is not only the...

The X Factor in your Recovery is: YOU

The X Factor in your Recovery is: YOU

Doctors, therapists and nutritionists can do a lot to ease your pain, but there’s only one person who can take your treatment all the way. That’s right, it’s you. As a licensed physical therapist for Integrative Pain Specialists, I work every day with patients who are...

Low Stress Cashew Crusted Baked Salmon

Low Stress Cashew Crusted Baked Salmon

Fatty fish such as salmon and artic char provide healthy Omega 3s that help with stress on the body by balancing out our hormones and help reduce inflammation. Salmon also contains magnesium which will help fight against headaches and fatigue.  Cashews provide...