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....
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...
You may have heard that drinking water is better than drinking soda (I hope!). More than likely you have heard the "rule" of drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day more than once. (That rule has since changed, but I'll get to that later.) The paradox many of us suffer...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 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,...
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...
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,...
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...
An estimated 67 million Americans are unpaid caregivers who spend about 20 hours a week taking care of a sick or disabled person – usually a child, partner or parent. Most of them (66%) are women and how much they do depends on the condition of the person they’re...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
There’s an unmistakable link between stress, food and pain. In fact, there are a couple of links.
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...
