Simple Exercises To Prevent Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CPS) is a condition of stiffness, aching, and burning sensations particularly in the hands and wrist. The pain can also occur randomly, even reaching the arm. Contrary to popular belief that CPS can be acquired through manual office work, there are actually different ways, such as hereditary and pre-existing medical conditions, the condition can be acquired. The good news is, CPS can be prevented. Here are some simple exercises that can help:

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Shake the hands.

Shake the hands as if drying them after a wash. Do this for a minute or two to prevent the tension from settling in the hands and the fingers. However, don’t be too harsh when doing this exercise. Be gentle to the hands and make sure that the tension is released before going back to work.

”Spider” pushups.

Start by putting the hands together as if in prayer. Then, spread fingers far apart but keep the palms together. This stretch prevents the median nerve from being irritated. One can do this exercise multiple times a day to ensure that the muscles and the nerves are being cared for.

Fix posture.

This may sound simple but these activities are crucial to ensure that the wrists and the hands get a break. Having the wrong posture can put unnecessary weight in the hands, wrists, and arms, making them prone to CPS. Aligning the back and the spine can also relieve the stress that settled in the arms up to the fingers.

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To prevent this painful condition, a person has to be proactive in keeping the joints, bones, and muscles free from stress. At first this may seem to be a great effort but once these simple activities become a habit, the body will be stronger and healthier for it.

A pain management specialist, Dr. Melanie Novak uses a multidisciplinary approach to treating acute pain using injection treatments, medications, physical therapy, and behavior therapy. Visit this blog for more information on her practice.

Workout Injuries Gym Goers Should Be Aware Of

Having the right amount of exercise is essential in contributing to a person’s well-being. However, doing one wrong move or exercising too much can cause injuries. Oftentimes, people shrug off these injuries, but when they happen repetitively, it could lead to more serious conditions. Here are some of the workout injuries gym goers should be careful of:

Knee injuries: Too much running on the treadmill and jumping while using a rope might lead to knee injuries especially if the person’s movement is rushed. A person who is also overweight might need to do these exercises slower to prevent unnecessary strain on this part of the body.

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Shoulder injury: Most gym goers shrug off this injury thinking that painkillers and stretching exercises will make it go away. However, injuring the shoulders can be a serious matter. When the pain wouldn’t subside, it could mean a dislocated bone, fracture, torn ligaments, and even injuries to nerves.

Neck: Doing bench press and other upper body workouts with the wrong posture and movement could cause neck pain. When the lower back and the shoulders are not properly aligned, it could lead to strained neck muscles. When the upper body is not ready for the weight it will carry, the primary area that experiences the tension is the neck.

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To prevent these common injuries, maintaining the right posture and positions are critical. Those working out should also never skip warm-up and cool-down exercises to prepare their body for all the intense activities. “No pain, no gain” may work as a motivational statement, but a gym goer must know when to listen to the body when it needs to take a break from all the exercising.

Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D., provides her patients with the necessary medical procedure to address their pain needs and inform them of proper recovery discipline. For more information, visit this page to learn more about Dr. Novak’s practice.

Conquer Headaches With An Occipital Nerve Block Procedure

Chronic headaches and occipital neuralgia can be draining conditions.They can strike and disturb a person while he or she is going about the usual daily routine. They can disrupt sleep and make a person irritable.The discomfort can sometimes be difficult to endure. Having an occipital nerve block procedure for this kind of headache can bring relief.

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An occipital nerve block is usually done with steroids and anesthetics by injecting the greater and lower occipital nerve. This commonly outpatient procedure requires a patient to be awake. Because it requires an injection, the patient may feel pain at the back of the head where it is administered. For many, this is the only side effect of the procedure. The purpose of this procedure is to block the pain signal or to reduce the inflammation in the occipital nerves.

Depending on the case, some patients require several procedures before they can experience relief from chronic headaches. The first time usually confirms that the pain is indeed coming from the targeted part, and the succeeding ones help manage the pain. Most doctors don’t recommend getting more than three injections in less than a six-month period because the procedure employs steroids and anesthetics which could be harmful when frequently administered.

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The effects of this treatment can last between a week’s time to a few months. To prevent complications, patients must guarantee that they are not allergic to the medication. The safest way is to employ the supervision of a pain management specialist for the procedure.

A pain management physician, Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D. employs a multidisciplinary approach to treating acute pain using injection treatments, medications, physical therapy, and behavior therapy. More articles on pain management can be accessed on this page.

Understanding Pain Among Elderly Patients

Most people accept the fact that with aging comes aches, pains, and other health woes. What is unfortunate however is the reality that many senior folks “are often either untreated or undertreated for pain” as Thomas A. Cavalieri, D.O., pointed out in this article. Dr. Cavalieri noted that there is a host of barriers to effective pain management among the elderly, including proper assessment of pain by physicians.

It is common for many older folks just to dismiss any discomfort as a normal part of aging. It is, after all, what they have learned through the years and most probably saw in their parents. Such mindset, however, can exacerbate their pain, leading to more health woes in the long run.

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What many healthcare providers champion these days is a better understanding of the onset of pain among the elderly. For instance, the prevalence of persistent pain among geriatric patients increases with age. Chronic geriatric pain is defined as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.” And about 50 percent of older adults at home and up to 80 percent of geriatric patients in healthcare facilities are suffering from chronic pain, severely impacting their quality of life.

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With a better understanding of the occurrence of pain among older adults plus a thorough assessment of all syndromes and the patient’s medical history, healthcare providers can craft a more effective pain management and treatment plan for the elderly.

Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D., uses a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of chronic pain. Visit this website for more on Dr. Novak’s practice.

Still Hurts: Headaches After Traumatic Brain Injury

Almost everyone has had a headache. Young or old, no one is spared from that notorious head pain or pressure.

And while a good night’s rest or a hearty meal can banish a headache, there is a type of head pain that persists. People who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) report of headaches after treatment. And while post-TBI headaches are expected, research on their frequency or progression and impact on daily living is scarce.

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A recent study by Dr. Sylvia M. Lucas of the University of Washington Medical Center hopes to shed light on post-traumatic headache. Findings show that among the 316 patients with prior moderate to severe TBI, “38 percent reported new or worse headache, with 37 percent reporting the same at three months, 33 percent at six months, 34 percent at 12 months, and 35 percent at 60 months.”

Migraine-like pain is how 59 percent of the patients described their post-TBI headache. And as researchers followed up with respondents over a period of five years, they found that the average head pain remained high. Patients also reported that their post-injury headache affected their overall well-being. Mean Head Impact Test-6 scores of respondents, in fact, ranged from 57. 1 at three months to 56.5 at 60 months. As for the frequency of their headaches, 50 percent of the respondents reported daily or weekly head pain three months after their injury. The percentage of respondents, though, who still experienced a regular headache 60 months after their injury, dropped to 36 percent.

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While some people may treat these post-TBI headaches as an ill effect of their injury, it is still best to consult with their physician if the pain lingers and worsens over time.

More discussions on headache and its many forms can be accessed on this Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D. blog.

Exposing the Connection Between Chronic Pain and Insomnia

There is an intrinsic and deeply rooted connection between chronic pain and sleep. The latest health surveys estimate that around 20 percent of Americans suffer from chronic pain while 36 percent have had acute pain within the week. Combined, the figures comprise more than half of the adult population of America. Of this percentage, almost all of the participants reported having sleep disturbances or varying degrees of insomnia.

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This is worrisome for many health professionals. Pain management reposes on the management of stress and poor health conditions. Lack of sleep – or the absence of restful sleep – is linked to an increase in stress and poor health. Those who cannot sleep typically have weaker immune systems, making pain treatment more difficult. Another medical study suggests that, on average, patients with chronic pain have a 42-minute sleep debt and acute pain sufferers have a 14-minute sleep debt.

Lack of sleep has a domino effect on the pain cycle. Patients afflicted with acute or chronic pain are likely to have sleep problem, which would affect their daily functioning. The resulting debilitation further increases stress and risk of engaging in risky behaviors such as drinking or smoking. The effects of these behaviors further hinder treatment until pain becomes unmanageable.

Specialists recommend patients to immediately consult them during the early stages of pain and sleep disturbance. This makes treatment easier, with chances of recovery increasing over the short term.

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Have a happy and productive pain-free life with the assistance of Dr. Melanie Novak, a leading pain management specialist. To learn more about pain management findings, like this Facebook page.