Just like a major city, the human body is full of major landmarks. One such landmark is the Anterior Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS). While this boney prominence is not the Empire State Building by any means, it is a very useful reference point for measuring and positioning. As part of the pelvic rim, the ASIS [...]
Everyone has heard of a disc herniation, but not everyone has heard of a Schmorl node. These nodes have nothing to do with tasty Smores; but it is helpful to think about Smores. In fact, a Schmorl node is a type of disc herniation. The spine is comprised of multiple boney blocks called vertebral bodies [...]
Remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms gave us a great opportunity to arrange the appliances and the cabinetry with my bad back in mind. The result from this major project is that I can do more housework with less pain. First of all, the upper cupboards were lowered a few inches so that most items can [...]
Your back is like a bank account. Pain means that you owe money. If you write acheck without enough money in the “account”, the check is bad because your account is overdrawn. You have to make deposits throughout the day to keep money in the bank and stay out of pain.
Here is alist of potential [...]
What provides spinal stability? Three factors contribute to spinal stability: passive structures (bones, ligaments, disc), active structures (muscles) and neural control. These three factors form an interdependent triangle. Without one side, the triangle is incomplete and the spine is unstable. For example, Dr. Panjabi from Yale University found that the spine devoid of all musculature [...]
The disc acts to distribute loads mainly from vertical and sheer forces, much the same way an air mattress would distribute your load if you laid on it. What happens if the air mattress deflates? Ouch, you eventually hit the ground below. The intervertabral disc is not made out of air, but it is made [...]
Because we are all in a state of decline and the elder population is the largest growing demographic population, aging has become a hot topic. Hospitals and clinics are trying to figure out how best to care for the elderly. This article exams the nature of aging and its impact on healthcare. Even if “old [...]
Nothing is more inspirational than reading a survivor story. Awaken the survivor in you by getting inspired by this story about a 10 year old that was the sole survivor of a plane crash and his plight to return to the site 26 years later on two artificial legs. Talk about resiliency.
Emotional Trek to the [...]
Suffering comes in all shapes and forms, but is particularly present at the end of life. I have always said that a doctor has three great privileges: delivering a child, saving a life, and being present for death. We can all learn something from the last stage of life. This article is a must read [...]
