Neurosurgeon describes 8 common myths about back pain
Back pain is common, but several myths about it persist. Meghan Murphy, M.D., a neurosurgeon at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, describes eight of them and provides the facts.
The future of spine surgery: healing backs without screws or metal implants
Metal rods, screws and bone grafts have long been the backbone of spinal fusion surgeries — a fix for fractured spines, worn-out discs or bones that refuse to heal on their own. The hardware works. But it’s also rigid and invasive, and often leaves patients with lingering pain, stiffness and the need for follow-up surgeries down the road. At the University of Missouri, a team of engineers is working on a new approach. In the Biomodulatory Materials Engineering Laboratory in the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, researchers led by Principal Investigator Bret Ulery are building a future where spines heal not through steel, but through biology — using tiny, bioactive materials made from therapeutic peptides to guide the body’s natural repair processes from the inside out.
Study supports acupuncture as a safe and effective treatment for chronic low back pain in older adults
According to a recent study, older Americans with chronic low back pain who received acupuncture had greater improvement in physical function and reduced pain than those who received usual medical care only, generally prescribed medications or physical therapy.
Steroids for back pain: Why they can be effective
Steroids, also known as corticosteroids, are synthetic hormones that can help reduce swelling and inflammation in the body, which may help improve back pain.
How to Sleep With Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain doesn’t take the night off, and if your sleep setup isn’t right, it can leave you tossing and turning instead of waking up rested. Researchers have long noted a link between lower back pain and sleep issues, and growing evidence suggests the two can actually make each other worse
Healthcare News
Useful Links
-
Orthopaedics at UCI Health — Irvine
19200 Jamboree Road
Suite 4100
Irvine, CA 92612 -
UCI Medical Center
101 The City Drive South
PavillionIII BLDG 29 A
Orange, CA 92868 -
UCI Health Orthopaedic &
Sports Medicine Center1640 Newport Blvd.
Suite 100
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 -
UCI Health - Laguna Hills
23961 Calle de la Magdalena,
Suite 200
Laguna Hills, CA 92653 -
UCI Health - Tustin
1451 Irvine Blvd.
Tustin, CA 92780