Some tasks should be done once per year like spring house cleaning or closet cleaning. Reorganizing and regrouping the clutter that accumulates over the year is necessary to avoiding a heap of chaos. The same can be said for the medicine cabinet. Medicines accumulate over time and that can lead to a potentially dangerous situation; [...]

Any doctor who prescribes opiate painkillers is required by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to monitor for inappropriate use of the prescription drugs. Prescription drug abuse is a very big problem in this world and prescribing doctors should feel morally obligated to make sure the drugs he/she prescribes are not doing any harm. Patients should [...]

The biggest hurdles to adequate pain control with medications are the side effects. Wouldn’t be nice to have a chronic pain treatment that did not have you “backed up and barfing“? Hypnosis treatment is an alternative treatment (not a cure) for chronic pain without all those nasty side effects. Recently, I interviewed a local expert [...]

Hypnosis for the management of pain is an effective, yet underutilized, alternative treatment. By learning the techniques of self-hypnosis, a patient can experience these benefits.
1. Reduction of overall pain intensity: Hypnosis has not proven to be a cure for chronic pain, but has consistently given patients some control over pain intensity.
2. Ability to manage breakthrough pain: Chronic [...]

Warning this book may change your life and change your mind. Readers of this book may experience an uplifted, optimistic mood. Readers of this book may be prone to smile and laugh more often. Common side effects from optimism include: happiness, euphoria, cheerfulness, giddiness, confidence, boldness, and gleefulness. If you experience any of these side [...]

What happens when you take Tylenol Arthritis for joint pain, Excedrin for a headache, and NyQuil for a cold? Disaster happens; all of these products contain Tylenol (Acetaminophen, a.k.a. APAP) which is toxic in high quantities. The milligrams can add up over a 24 hour period of time. Those who do not read the labels [...]

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 [...]

What do thoracic outlet syndrome, fibromyalgia, low back pain, and whiplash pain all have in common? All of these types of pain are more likely in women. Even when faced with this fact, the male dominated world of medical research seems to be reluctant to explain the gender-bias tendency of pain. Usually, the reports acknowledge [...]

The holiday season can be so romantic. However, those with pain find it difficult to feel sensual and romantic no matter what time of year it is. For those couples who are looking to rekindle the fire, now is a great time to start a dialogue about sex. Partnerships cannot work without good communication and [...]

Time for holiday shopping and wish lists. As suggestions, I wanted to list a few of my favorite things. All of these make great gifts to improve spine health and make living more comfortable.

The Perfect Chair (www.humantouch.com): A zero-gravity oasis
La Fuma Chair (www.amazon.com):  Portable comfort for every location
Body Pillow (www.relaxtheback.com): Keeps the shoulders aligned
Knee Spacer [...]