Category: Health

Middle back pain

Middle back pain is a condition that many people suffer from.  And while lower back pain seems to be the number one complaint, middle back pain (mid thoracic or mid scapular pain) is a very real concern for some people.

What is middle back pain?

If you experience pain anywhere between the bottom of your neck and the top of your rib cage, this page is referred to as middle back pain.

Before we take a look at what causes middle back pain, let’s do a quick recap on what the middle back is comprised of:

• There are 12 vertebrae in the middle back, which are attached to the rib cage
• Muscles and ligaments which hold everything together
• Discs that act as shock absorbers between each of the vertebrae

WHAT CAUSES MIDDLE BACK PAIN?

There are many causes of middle back pain.  The most common causes include the following:

• Posture problems – slouching is very detrimental to the health of your entire body
• Repetitive use – any time you do something repetitively, it can cause you to suffer middle back pain
• Over use – if you’ve strained the muscles in your back or rib cage, middle back pain is often the result. Or is you have been sick with a cough and using a lot of your chest and back muscles, this can also be an overuse injury.
• Injury – any time you experience an injury to any of the bones, muscles or ligaments within the middle back, pain can be the result
• Osteoarthritis – this condition occurs when there is a breakdown of the cartilage that helps cushion the joints. Without this cushioning, you may experience middle back pain.
• Ankylosing spondylitis – a form of spinal arthritis
• Spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the open spaces within the spine
• Nerve-related problems – other nerve problems such as sciatica can cause middle back pain
• Fibromyalgia – widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness
• Osteoporosis – bone loss

How chiropractic helps those that suffer from middle back pain

Middle back pain can come on suddenly after an injury, or occur because of poor posture and chronic spinal misalignment. Chiropractic care can help reduce middle back pain, strengthen surrounding muscles and improve your posture. You aren’t prescribed medication by a chiropractor, and it is a form of therapy that can be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment. When you are experiencing middle back pain, a consultation with a chiropractor may lead to a significant improvement of your symptoms.

Spinal Adjustments and Back Pain

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes chiropractic as one of the most common complementary treatment options for better health used by both adults and children in the United States. The goal of adjustments is to get the spine into alignment, making it easier for the body to function. When the spine is aligned, the muscles, ligaments and tendons supporting the spine are less strained. As adjustments are done over time, the spine becomes better aligned overall and is able to maintain the alignment for longer periods of time.

Stretching and Middle Back Pain

Chiropractic is more than just spinal adjustments. You will talk with your chiropractor about stretching techniques to help improve flexibility and reduce pain. When your muscles are tight, the blood flow to the muscles is limited. By stretching your muscles, blood flow to the area resumes. Your muscle tissue is able to heal once you stretch the muscles well, allowing you to improve your overall posture and pain level.

Chiropractic Over Time

In the beginning stages of your treatment, you will visit a chiropractor several times a week. This is to get your spine used to being in alignment and to assess your condition on a consistent basis. As you heal, you will be taught ways to strengthen your back muscles to keep your spine in good alignment. Many patients visit a chiropractor for several months in order to deal with an acute situation, gradually decreasing to monthly visits for maintenance appointments.

Chiropractic as a Natural Approach

Back pain isn’t always an easy situation to remedy. Consequently, seeking professional help from a chiropractor is a natural approach and a wonderful first step to obtaining a solution. Furthermore, chiropractic isn’t going to interfere with other treatments. You can still be prescribed pain medication, go to acupuncture, or get a massage and still receive care from a chiropractor. If you are looking for ways to deal with middle back pain that don’t involve medication, chiropractic is an excellent option.

Through a series of chiropractic adjustments, your chiropractor will help restore the alignment of your spine. Hot or cold therapy may be used to reduce inflammation or improve circulation. Stretching is done to improve muscle flexibility and circulation. If an area of your spine is compressed and is causing you pain, decompression techniques may be used to reduce compression in the area. Chiropractic is a natural approach that will address pain and give your body the tools it needs to heal. When you are tired of middle back pain and want relief, it’s time to see how chiropractic can help

How do you reduce your risk of developing middle back pain?

While you may suffer from other pre-existing conditions that can cause middle back pain, that are out of your control, there are most definitely things you can do to reduce your risk of suffering from middle back pain.

If you slouch at work, focus on sitting up straight with your shoulders back and engage your core.  Ensure that you have an ergonomic workstation that will be conducive to proper posture.

Go easy on activities that involve repetitive motion.  It’s ok to do these activities once in a while, but if you do things repetitively day after day, you are very likely to develop middle back pain.

A “too soft” bed can also contribute to mid thoracic back pain!

At home treatment

Along with your ‘homework’ of performing the stretching exercises listed above, you should allow your body to get lots of rest.  During sleep, the body does all sorts of things to recuperate, regenerate and restore.

Using a combination of heat and ice will help to reduce the inflammation causes by muscles strains, and will also loosen tight muscles, to allow for better overall functioning of the middle back.

Lifestyle changes

If you do things like sports or other activities that involve repetitive motion, it may be time to give it a rest until your back is fully healed.  If you’re not able to give up the activity entirely, for example, if you

are addicted to golf, try reducing the amount of time you spend doing the activity.  Even a slight change can be helpful.

If you work at a desk job, be sure that you practice good posture.  As well, it might benefit you to have an ergonomics specialist visit your office to give you advice and information about how to make your work station more ‘user friendly’ and less conducive to causing posture issues that lead to middle back pain. You may also speak with your Chiropractor regarding recommending a stand-up desk as that puts much less stress on your mid thoracic and low back!

Tips For Post-Plastic Surgery Care

Now a days, a lot of plastic surgery procedures are less invasive. But plastic surgery is still surgery – and even relatively simple procedures like facelifts often require recovery and healing periods

Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions To The “T”

Potential side-effects are most likely to occur immediately after your operation. Because of this, it is very important to follow all of your surgeon’s post-operative instructions. You will be supplied with a comprehensive packet of post-operative instructions. Be sure to follow these instructions to ensure a healthy recovery and eliminate potential risks. Never hesitate to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about your recovery process.

Get Your Support System Ready

Not only will you need assistance after your surgery but you will also need a caretaker to take you to and from your procedure as you will not be able to drive. Also, you’re probably going to be out of commission for at least a week after a plastic surgery procedure. Inform your family and friends about your upcoming surgery, and make sure that you have a support system in place – people who can help you cook, clean, and do other tasks since you may be limited in the amount of activity allowed during your recovery period. The first 2-3 days after surgery will be the most difficult as you may experience uncomfortable soreness. It’s best to have someone in your home to take care of you during this time.

Be Ready To Take Time Off Of Work

You’re probably going to have to take a week or two off of work after your procedure. This means you may have to plan your cosmetic surgery around your available vacation days.

Relax And Keep Yourself Occupied

When you’re recovering from plastic surgery, it’s important that you limit activity and relax. Let the healing process take place. If you try to rush things, recovery may take longer. Keep yourself occupied. Check a few books out from the library or download a few on your Kindle. Find a few new shows to watch on Netflix or Hulu – this time is a great chance for you to relax and take things easy for a little while.

Things to Consider Before Having Plastic Surgery

Plastic and cosmetic surgery has substantially grown in popularity over the last few years, with the number of procedures increasing from 14 million to 23 million globally since 2010. People decide to have cosmetic surgery for many different reasons and the reasons are very personal. Appearances are one part of the story but not the whole tale. Often, it’s more about confidence and self-esteem. This is true for people in all age groups, but Millennials are having plastic surgery at fairly young ages, and their reasons for doing so may not be the same as for older people.

Am I Healthy Enough to Have Plastic Surgery?

Before considering plastic surgery, ask yourself if you’re healthy enough (most people are great candidates for plastic surgery in terms of health) and get your BIMC plastic surgeon to give you a thorough assessment (you will need to disclose your entire medical history). Remember, your BIMC plastic surgeon cannot provide an accurate assessment if you hide health problems. It’s important to note that certain health issues may prevent you from having plastic surgery.

What Are You Hoping to Gain from Your Surgery?

Obviously, an improvement in your facial features or the contour of a particular area of your body is expected. Perhaps you may even gain a boost in self-esteem. If you are expecting anything more than that, you should know the limitations of your procedure.

What Kind of Results Can You Expect from Plastic Surgery?

Your BIMC plastic surgeon can only control what happens inside the operating room. No matter how great a job your plastic surgeon does, it will not guarantee a job promotion, a relationship, or an improved social life or social status. Plastic surgery will not cure depression or eating disorders.

Are There Alternatives to Undergoing Plastic Surgery?

This is important to know because plastic surgery is not without risks. Could you improve your diet? Could you move your body a little bit more and get more exercise? If you’ve given other alternatives an honest try, then plastic surgery may be a good alternative for you. Not having surgery at all is also an alternative.

Things Plastic Surgeons Won’t Tell You

Plastic surgery before and after photos may be alluring, but before you consider going under the knife, here are the secrets you need to know.

I had a patient who wanted a brow lift because she thought she looked grumpy all the time

I sent her for a brow wax instead. It took 15 minutes, she looked great, and she saved herself $5,000. I’ve also seen patients get results similar to eyelid lifts with over-the-counter firming serums and eyelid-lift creams. The results are temporary, but they do work to reduce lines and puffiness

It drives me crazy when parents call from the emergency room because their kid got a scratch on his face

It’s not going to look any different if I sew it up instead of the ER doctor; it’s probably just going to cost you a lot more money. Unless the injury is severe, you don’t need a plastic surgeon for every cut and scrape.

If I’ve invested $200,000 to buy a laser machine, that’s probably what I’m going to recommend, even though another type of treatment may be cheaper

Make sure you ask if there is an alternative, such as a chemical peel, that might work just as well or better.

We have a secret weapon we can use when things go wrong: leeches

By restoring blood flow and secreting a chemical that prevents blood clots, leeches can help salvage a breast lift gone bad or a reattached finger that’s about to die. It sounds gross, but reconstructive plastic surgeons use them routinely.

Things That Make a Good Plastic Surgery Expert Witness

The role of a plastic surgery expert witness is not a simple one. There are several components required in order to perform this role well. With every word being scrutinized, there is a great amount of pressure resting on the shoulders of expert witnesses, not to mention the added pressure of being addressed – and accountable – in a court of law.In this brief article, we will outline three things which make a good plastic surgery expert witness. When choosing your next expert witness, it might be prudent to ensure the plastic surgery expert witness you choose has these qualities

A strong plastic surgery medical background and qualifications

This is perhaps obvious, but it’s important that a plastic surgery expert witness demonstrate that s/he is indeed an ‘expert.’ This is best proven in the form of qualifications, in particular, being Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. A Board Certification indicates that the surgeon has met high standards in this specialty.

Experience

It’s important that plastic surgery expert witnesses have experience in two areas. First, in their medical specialty. In addition to having certifications, having many years of experience performing plastic surgery, writing Independent Medical Evaluations, and reviewing cases are all things which help to make a good expert witness. Second, experience of being a plastic surgery expert witness also greatly helps. It stands to reason – the more you do something, the better you get. The same applies to being a plastic surgery witness. Plastic surgeons who have served as an expert witness many times – over many years – become more adept to fulfilling their role in an objective and effective manner.

Knowledge and use of a code of ethics for plastic surgery expert witnesses

put together a code of ethics which aims to provide a guide for expert witnesses and how they should behave in an ethical way. This code of ethics is effectively a set of criteria which allows plastic surgery expert witnesses to consistently perform their duties in an ethical and moral way. For example, it offers clear guidelines with regards to performing the role in an objective way. Furthermore, it also covers other areas as confidentiality. In short, by choosing a plastic surgery expert witness who uses a code of ethics, it gives you added reassurance that ethics and professionalism will be adhered to at all times.

About the Author

This expert witness plastic surgeon – is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons

Cosmetic Surgery and Procedures

What are cosmetic surgery and procedures?

Cosmetic surgery and procedures change, restore, or enhance your appearance. There are many reasons for wanting to change or enhance your looks. If you have had burns or other injuries, were born with a birth defect, or want to change parts of your body for other reasons, you may choose to have a cosmetic surgery or procedure.

What are the general types of cosmetic surgery and procedures?

Cosmetic surgery commonly includes:

Reconstructive surgery. This is typically done to improve a visible scar, skin condition, or malformed body part caused by an injury, a surgery, a disease, or a birth defect. These problems can affect your day-to-day life, including your job, your relationships, and your self-esteem.

Elective cosmetic surgery. Being unhappy with something about your appearance—such as a large nose, small breasts, wrinkles, or fat around your belly or hips—is a common reason for choosing to have cosmetic surgery. These kinds of things don’t bother everyone who has them. But for some people, these things can affect their self-image or confidence. Cosmetic surgery is one way to address them.

Nonsurgical cosmetic procedures include:

Botox injections.

Fat deposit removal, either with injectable deoxycholic acid (Kybella) or by freezing fat cells below the surface of the skin with a handheld device (CoolSculpting).

Filler injections, which include soft tissue fillers.

Laser hair removal.

Laser resurfacing to improve acne scars.

Sclerotherapy injections for small varicose veins and spider veins.

Teeth whitening.

Why are these surgeries and procedures done?

For most of us, our physical appearance affects how we see ourselves and how others see us. The size, shape, and look of our bodies may affect how we feel about ourselves and even how we live our lives.