Back pain sufferers make up one of the 5 top reasons people come to see us for relief.  Some cases are acute, others chronic.  Some types the cause is understood.  Sometimes it is not and can’t be readily determined.

While there are many things that we can do individually to prevent or reduce back pain I thought I would focus on posture in today’s post because most of us put unnecessary strain on our low back because of poor posture.

If you have a sore neck or aching back you likely aren’t holding your body correctly.  To prevent poor posture you first have to become aware of how you are holding your head, shoulders, back and limbs.  It is with this awareness that you can then begin to self correct.  It can be useful to watch yourself in a mirror or have someone take pictures of you as you walk, stand, sit at your desk, work on your computer, sit in meetings etc.  Notice how you hold yourself.  Are you in good alignment or are you misaligned?

Which of these poses is most like you?

In addition to becoming aware of your posture in order to self correct here are some other tips:

1.  Change positions frequently.  This will keep you aware of your structure and prevent the slouching and slumping that comes from tired muscles.  If this is a new habit for you set an alarm to remind you.  Stretch, stand or walk for several minutes before sitting again at your desk.

2.  Keep your body in alignment when sitting or standing.  Distribute your weight evenly and keep your ears, shoulders and hips in a straight line.

3.  Be mindful of the ergonomics of your environment.  Take the time to properly set up your work station’s desk, chair, keyboard, computer screen, placement of phone and files, etc. to avoid undue strain on the spine.

4.  Build up the strength of your core.  Your core muscles are the foundation of good posture.  Pilates and yoga can be great for strengthening core.  Your fitness trainer or chiropractor can assist you with exercises to strengthen your core as well.

To your health -

Depending on the part of the country you live in spring has sprung or it is teasing you – here and gone…here and gone.  Not to worry – it will be here or slip right into summer soon!  For many, spring means shaking off the sedentary life of winter and heading outdoors for the amazing spring air, sunshine and being active.  It feels so great that there is a tendency to be over confident and you find yourself playing, moving, exercising at a higher intensity than your body is ready for…and this could turn into a mistake you regret.

Getting back into spring and summer play and exercise too aggressively or fast after a long hard winter is the reason there are many spring soft tissue injuries (injuries to your muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves). 

Use caution.  Avoid becoming a spectator instead of an active player with a good warm up plan and training routine.  Increase your training slowly. 

Here are a few additional tips:

·        Don’t exercise in pain – minor aches and pains are one thing.  Sharp, strong, or unusual pain that doesn’t go away is another.  It is a warning sign of injury.

·         Cross train – varying your workouts reduces the chance of overuse injuries

·         Play and train with others at your level of fitness.

Relax, play and enjoy the spring and summer season of movement~

And yet even though we see it ever day with our chronic pain patients I was stunned when I saw the facts.  I came across an article that was published in TIME entitled Viewpoint:  Are Doctors to Blame for Prescription-Drug Abuse?    My first inclination on seeing the title was to say “hell yea, at least partially, for sure!”  From my point of view far to many prescriptions are written every day of every year by doctors for painkillers.  Frankly, I’m not sure why they call them “pain killers” as not many of them really “kill” the pain – like dead-gone, no more pain.  Instead they just blunt the chronic pain, mask the real problem and leave behind a lot of adverse effects that then have people taking another medication to try to alleviate THAT problem.

As I began to read the article I had to drill down and research further because of the first statistic presented:  Since 1990, deaths in the U.S. from unintentional drug overdoses have increased by over 500%.  Most of this rise can be attributed to prescription pain killers which now kill more people than heroin and cocaine combined.  Over 500%!  This is horrific!  I gave Dr. Lathrop the article to read to comment on it and I kept exploring.  What is really going on?

I discovered this briefing document from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) published in November 2011 called Policy Impact:  Prescription Painkiller Overdoses.    THANK YOU CDC for shining a light on the problem!  The briefing starts out this way in describing “the issue”:

In a period of nine months, a tiny Kentucky county of fewer than 12,000 people sees a 53-year-old mother, her 35-year-old son, and seven others die by overdosing on pain medications obtained from pain clinics in Florida.1 In Utah, a 13-year-old fatally overdoses on oxycodone pills taken from a friend’s grandmother.2 A 20-year-old Boston man dies from an overdose of methadone, only a year after his friend also died from a prescription drug overdose.3 These are not isolated events. Drug overdose death rates in the United States have more than tripled since 1990 and have never been higher. In 2008, more than 36,000 people died from drug overdoses, and most of these deaths were caused by prescription drugs.4  

It goes on to point out that 100 people die from drug overdoses every day in the U.S.  And, the misuse and abuse of prescription painkillers was responsible for more than 475,000 emergency department visits in 2009, a number that nearly DOUBLED in just five years.

And get this, more than 12 million people reported using prescription painkillers NONMEDICALLY in 2010, that is, using them without a prescription or for the feeling they cause.  What is up with that?  What have we come to as a nation of people?

Everyone of these figures appalls me for the waste of human life and all the potential contributions each of these people could make as well as the expense to our healthcare system.  For now I don’t know what to DO about the outrage I feel so I will leave you with this.  Perhaps you too will become outraged and take at least one step to make a difference here – because likely you or someone you know is affected by this epidemic.  I know I will take steps to make a difference – at a minimum with our patients each day at the clinic and as I sit with my feelings perhaps other bigger ways as well.

To your best health -

Kay Lathrop

Do you know that they say almost 80% of us will have neck pain at some point in our lifetime?  Really, that number is so high because neck pain can happen due to simple things like sleeping the wrong way one night or poor posture all the way up to serious injury or accident causes.  How many times have you tried to hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear and “felt it” later?

Because neck pain is so prevalent and I see so many patients with neck pain I thought I would share a little bit of information and some resources with you.  I see everything from “oh, when I woke up I couldn’t move” to whiplash and other cervical strains of the acute and chronic variety.  Lots of chronic neck pain or cervical strains seem to be people with a prior whiplash or injury that “healed fine at the time” and is showing up years later as an issue.  Apparently the soft tissue didn’t “heal fine” back then as now smaller things aggravate  or “kick up” a problem.

I recently wrote a case study about the journey of one of our patients who was still suffering from neck pain two years after being hit by a motor vehicle.  In the case I share a bit about his path to find answers as well as what we did once he arrived on our doorstep, along with the result obtained.  I hope you find this useful.

Some of the lessons from the case?  It is never too late.  There are options out there for you so stay open.  Your pain can be relieved.  You can return to life.

As well, I am confident that if patients like this one could have SCENAR therapy immediately after an injury they would avoid two years of chronic pain and searching for an answer.

As always feel free to call us at 858-571-6654 if we can answer your questions or if you would like a free consultation with me.

So, specifically what symptoms show up with neck or cervical issues?

The most common are:

• Neck pain alone or neck and shoulder pain

• Pain down the arms with or without numbness or tingling in the arms, hands or specific fingers

• Weakness in the arms which could lead to dropping things you can usually hold

• Headaches

Self-treating is probably fine if you have a “crook” in your neck from sleeping wrong or holding the phone between your shoulder and your ear.

If you have more severe symptoms ( pain, numbness, weakness, tingling) or if you find yourself taking more ibuprofen than recommended you should be consulting your primary care doctor for an evaluation.

If you have had an evaluation and you want to seek a non-drug solution or the other forms of therapy aren’t working let us know.

The sooner we see you the quicker your body will heal through the use of regenerative electrotherapy modalities.  Modalities like microcurrent therapy and the Russian developed SCENAR act as a catalyst to help your body achieve homeostasis and resolution of the underlying problem.

Read about the two year post accident cervical/thoracic recent case I mentioned here.  Let us know what you think.  We value dialogue.

I mentioned resources.  One that I like is Science Daily.  Up to the minute new information available.  WebMD can also be a good place to search for answers.  Be careful there though in that I believe there is more of a western medicine than fully integrated medicine approach there.

To your best health -

Dr. Peter Lathrop

We asked you to step into the possibility of being pain free in 2013.  Have you given it some thought?  Have you taken some action towards being chronic pain free?  Can you BELIEVE it’s possible to be free of chronic pain?

A friend of mine shared a story with me recently that I want to share with you.  Here it is:

An old man and his grandson were sitting on the front porch and the dog was howling.   The boy says “Paw, how come the dog’s a howlin’?” The old man says “cuz he’s settin’ on a nail.”    The boy asks “Why don’t he move?”    The old man says “Cuz it don’t hurt enough.”

We are like that.  If our pain doesn’t hurt “enough” to truly STOP us the activities, stresses, and pressures of daily life take precedent over taking care of ourselves.  We are “comfortable” and any change in our routine or patterns is uncomfortable so really focusing on the goal “be pain free in 2013″ or any other related health goal, making a plan and taking new action doesn’t happen.  We like to be in our comfort zone or perhaps better termed our “familiar zone.”    As human beings we are so conditioned this way that we stay the way we are even when we are uncomfortable with our chronic pain.  It doesn’t hurt enough.

Well I am here to remind you or tell you that even those low levels of chronic pain that aren’t stopping you dead in your tracks and yet they are slowing you down, keeping you from doing some of the things you want in life – those levels of pain keep you from being who you are really meant to be.

One of my favorite quotes in this arena is:

Pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly … and if left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place.  – Wm. Paul Young

Have you forgotten you could fly?  Are you stuck in your familiar zone?  It’s not too late to do something about it.  One small action and then another.

You know, to really hold onto your goals and to make real change requires having a bigger WHY.  What do you really want in your life that you don’t have now, perhaps because of the chronic pain?  Spend time with that question.  Write it down in a journal or just on a piece of paper.  Reflect.  Write down what comes to mind.  Pick it up and put it down until you have it all out.  Let the “what I REALLY want” pull you forward.  You will get off the nail.

Let us know if you need help.  We believe in you.

To your best health -

Dr. Peter and Kay Lathrop

Why don’t my doctors know about SCENAR for Chronic Pain?

The simple answer is they haven’t received the education yet. 

What are some of the reasons for that?  I can think of a few.

1. The diffusion of innovation theory – and the stage of market penetration in the U.S. of the SCENAR device.
2. The way medicine as well as specifically pain medicine is practiced in the U.S. along with embedded referral patterns and habits along with health insurance influences
3. The medical technology firm(s) not marketing nearly as heavily to physicians OR consumers about their products – like SCENAR, as pharmaceutical companies who use every medium and millions of dollars to get their message across not only to doctors but also to you.

In an earlier post about the SCENAR I shared that RITM OKB ZAO received their 510(k) FDA clearance in 2010.  The SCENAR is thus a Class II Medical Device.  This was just three years ago.  The U.S. market is still in early stages of adoption of the SCENAR.  In Russia, where the SCENAR was developed, it has been in use for 20 years and is widely accepted.

And let’s face it, the practice of medicine is quite different country to country.  In Russia, physicians use the SCENAR device daily to treat not only pain and soft tissue injuries, but also internal disorders – it is a tool used regularly to help the human body to heal.  There is a lot of data available on their work.

Here in the U.S. a physician practice is different.    Most primary care physicians – family practice, internal medicine, and orthopedic surgeons who see trauma, fractures, etc. don’t generally receive continuing medical education on these types of chronic pain medical technology advances.  Those that do are actively seeking it out or they are specializing in or certified in pain management.

Also, a physician would not actively deliver treatment to a patient.  Patients are prescribed medications by their doctor or they are referred to a pain clinic, physical therapy, or other specialists for care when they have an acute pain (recent or new) or chronic pain or soft tissue injury issue.

I know and understand that those referral practice patterns are embedded habits.  If those practitioners receiving the patients for care are not taking on the LATEST in effective technology it won’t be available to you.  Your doctor may need to seek out new referral partners.

I am an innovator and early adoptor.  I want to know what new and discover if it effective for my patients.  I am always seeking alliance and referral partners in order to help my patients.  It is key.

What can I say about medical technology vs pharmaceutical company marketing to physicians and consumers? 

Just that I know it is considerably less, unless perhaps you are talking about the global medical technology leaders like J & J, Medtronic, Inc., St. Jude, Boston Scientific, 3M, etc.

The smaller non-invasive medical instrument developers don’t have the same kind of resources.  As you know, the bigger companies are more and more marketing not only to doctors but also directly to you, the consumer.  How do you feel about that?  I remember when I saw my first TV commercial for a total hip replacement.  Couldn’t believe it!

In the case of chronic illness, including pain and pain management, you have the pharmaceutical companies with their frequent, consistent, drug messages.  This is NOT to say that all pain medicine is bad.  There is considerable evidence though that pain medicines are over-prescribed in the U.S.  I do have an issue with that, again because there are other answers for chronic pain.

Here is some data about what doctors think about Industry Marketing as a whole.  It’s a snapshot.

What do YOU think?  That’s what matters.

Your health – your decision

No matter what your doctor now knows, you are now becoming more informed.  What will you do?

Will you bring information on SCENAR into your next doctor visit when you discuss your chronic pain or a new prescription is written or an old one refilled?

Will you ask for a referral to explore the chronic pain management or treatment options available to you?

Will you simply call and schedule your no charge consultation to learn more directly from one of the experts in the regenerative electrotherapy field?  I don’t say that lightly.  I have been in the field over 30 years.  I know something.

As a consumer in our insurance health care system you may or may not be able to see who you want as you are searching for solutions online because you believe there MUST be something out there.

Of course one can always see who they want, it just sometimes means stepping outside the game.

Are you someone really believing and searching for a solution to your chronic pain problem and will you step out of the game the way its being played in your life?  Are you tired enough, sick enough of the chronic pain or injury problem to take action?

Some Answers

Educate physicians that advances in medical technology are occurring regularly and there are other options to chronic pain medications and traditional physical therapy.

Share with them what you are learning about the SCENAR.  Suggest they consult with me – I will gladly take their call and provide them information to make an informed decision.  I will simply then ask them to try something new.  Send some patients to me and let’s work together to solve the problem – whenever that is possible.

To your best health –

Dr. Peter Lathrop

After our initial consultation he commenced S.C.E.N.A.R treatment.  We also got a MRI early on.  Upon receiving the MRI results his doctor recommended surgery.  He had a small posterior, superior labral tear in his shoulder.

A decision point:  surgery or S.C.E.N.A.R Therapy?

The patient’s belief system said surgery is a LAST resort.  His words.  He was determined to exhaust all other options first.  After doing his homework and discussing the option of S.C.E.N.A.R with me he decided to give S.C.E.N.A.R. therapy a good try.  From his perspective the worst that would happen was that if it didn’t help him heal he could still have the surgery.  He was skeptical and yet hopeful and living his values.

I was more than hopeful.  I was confident.  Not overly confident, just confident.  I have read the research, the case studies, been through the trainings and more importantly I have had many, many positive patient experiences with S.C.E.N.A.R therapy as well as other regenerative electrotherapies.  I have been in the field of electromedicine and regenerative electrotherapies for over 30 years.

We got a second MRI after significant improvements were achieved.  There was no evidence of the labral tear on the second MRI.  The patient underwent a bit of physical therapy and resumed all aspects of playing baseball – achieving his goal.

If you or someone you know has a surgery recommendation for a soft tissue injury, suggest a second opinion and share this case study.  Depending on the size, type and location of the tear or injury we may be able to help the body to heal itself with regenerative electrotherapies and avoid the expense, trauma, and rehab time of surgery.  We do a no charge consultation.  Call 858-571-6654.

To your best health -

Dr. Peter H. Lathrop, Ph.D

Would that be a big declaration for you to step into as the New Year approaches?  Could it really be one of your New Year’s Resolutions?

As you read it, “I will be pain free in 2013″ what did your brain immediately say?  Did it say “impossible or not possible?”  Did it say “I’ve tried everything and nothing works.  It won’t happen. “  Or, “they tell me it is just something I have to live with.”

If you BELIEVE that it isn’t possible it won’t be.  We get what we expect.  When we believe that something isn’t possible we stop looking for what could make it possible.  We stop looking for answers or solutions. We stop believing there is something out there.

Now, it is understandable that you would lose hope or not believe it is possible when the “industry” talks about pain MANAGEMENT.  What does “pain management” imply?  Doesn’t it imply that you have to live with it – live with the pain?  After all, the definition of management is:  The process of dealing with or controlling things or people.   That doesn’t sound like “getting rid of” pain to us.  That doesn’t sound like “pain free” or eliminating pain.

This is one reason why we don’t call ourselves a pain management clinic.  We are a pain treatment and soft tissue injury repair center.  As we focus on the “repair” or healing of your soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves) the pain does go away as a by product of that healing.  It takes advanced medical technologies and experience to do so.  We don’t prescribe pills.  We don’t do surgery.  We make sure your body is in alignment (through our partner chiropractors) and then we help the body heal its tissue – starting at a cellular level.

We have former successful “pain free” patients tell us all the time “I refer people to the clinic all the time and yet they seem stuck.  They don’t seem to believe it could help them.  What can I do?”

We say, start by sharing with them that advancements in medical technology occur daily just like advancements in your computer and smartphone technology.  And ask them, have you tried the newest technologies?  Ask them to just check it out.  “Have you ever heard of S.C.E.N.A.R?  Have you ever tried it?  No, what have you got to lose?”  Ask them to take the time, for themselves as well as those that love them.  Tell them – “you might just start believing again- like I did.”

You want to BELIEVE something is possible and keep looking for a solution so you SEE it when it comes or so you HEAR your friend, family member or colleague when they share ideas with you – know matter what the idea is.  BELIEVE  in possibilities in 2013 and be open to what comes.  Say YES when someone suggests you look at something you haven’t heard of or haven’t tried.  Make an appointment for the free consultation we offer.  Get curious.  Explore. Say “yes!” and you just may be able to become pain free in 2013.

Think of the increased physical exertion of walking while shopping, carrying loads of packages, decorating the house inside and out, running after or playing with children, or lugging luggage around airports and rental cars – all of this and more can put an extra toll on your body and cause more back pain.  We can count our blessings here in San Diego that at least we don’t have to shovel snow!  Snow shoveling is a common trigger for increased back pain with our friends and family in other parts of the country.

The emotional stress of the holidays can also contribute to your triggered back pain problem.

We all know that holiday time can be enjoyable AND stressful.    For you perhaps it is managing the family gatherings and all the “interpersonal interplay.”    I know, that’s a nice way of putting it huh?  Some of it is joyful.  And some of it isn’t, let’s face it.   And either way it can can feel like a burden, even though you don’t want it to feel that way.  That “burden” gets transferred to your back and you feel more pain.

Or perhaps you are alone for the holidays.  Not many people truly want to be alone for the holidays.  I know some of you don’t mind – you have “healed” from past family holiday fiascoes.  Yet for those that don’t want to be alone those feelings again get transferred to your back.

All of this physical and emotional exertion and stress quite likely means you aren’t sleeping well either.  Poor quality sleep, tossing and turning, is just another trigger for a back pain flare up.

Recommendations for holiday back pain flare up

1.  Spread the responsibility around the family for all that needs to be done.

Here’s just a couple of examples to get you started.  So, we are half way through the holidays and all the decorations are up because you did a lot of the work.  Now is the time to ask for help.  People want to be asked, they want to help.  Who can take them down and put them away?  Who can go to the store for you and take those returns back?

2.  Take the time to do your prescribed stretching and low back exercises or get to your yoga class.  Don’t use the excuse “I don’t have time.”  We ALL have time.  It is what we decide to do with it that matters.

3.  Take a meditation or relaxation time out.  It relaxes the mind and the body and releases the tension in your back.

4.  Start your New Year’s resolution early and seek the advise of a certified personal trainer who can set you up with a daily resistance training program to strengthen your core muscles.  If you live in San Diego check out Sandra Blackie.  Dr. Lathrop has personally worked out with her and can personally recommend her program.

5.  Examine your outlook on life.  See if there is something there for you to change.  Keep everything in perspective.  Count your blessings.

6.  Get a massage or an AromaTouch treatment.  Call us to schedule with Loran (massage) or Barbara (AromaTouch) at 858-571-6654.  You will be glad you did.  $25 off coupons available for AromaTouch massage sessions.

7.  Get a good nights sleep.  If your usual practices aren’t working we love using essential oils – Serenity by doTERRA is a favorite of ours.  Put some in a diffuser and let it run at night for a fantastic night of sleep.

8.  Stay well-hydrated.  The best way to do that is to drink Kangen water.  Eat as alkaline as possible as well.  (I know it’s hard during the holidays – do your best for you.)

9.  And yes, if the pain keeps you from truly enjoying the holidays call us.  We are here:  858-571-6654.   A SCENAR treatment or two might be all you need.  If you get the machine leave a message.  We are enjoying the holidays too and yet we will get back to you!

Happy holidays!

Dr. Peter and Kay Lathrop

Another question I get is “what type of pain or injury condition do you see most often?”   We looked at the answer to this question closely very recently as we are writing some case studies.

Here are the top 5 biggest groups of painful, injured conditions we have seen over the past year:

1.  Shoulders – rotator cuff injuries

2.  Herniated discs/Sciatica

3. Whiplash/Cervical Strains

4. Low back pain

5. Ankle sprains

More to come…if you know of anyone with a sports or worker related injury in the top 5 let them know about us would you?  We get them better – 2 to 3 times faster than conventional medicine or physical therapy with a study to prove it.