Head Conditions and Orthopedic Treatment.

At Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute we don’t just help treat patients with their back problems, we also educate on how proper back care can benefit many aspects of an individual’s life. One of the most common conditions people suffer from daily are migraines.

The traditional way of migraine treatment has been medications. However many people who suffer migraines find that conventional medicine and prescription drugs offer little relief from their condition, and many are turning to alternatives methods of treatment in order to manage and cure the pain. One such alternative is Orthopedic/chiropractic treatment.

Migraines usually begin in childhood or adolescence; Common symptoms include:

• Moderate to severe pain on one side of the head
• Pulsating or throbbing head pains
• Pain that worsens with physical activity
• Pain that interferes with regular activities
• Sensibility to light and sound

Back treatment focuses on aiding numerous health issues through massage, spinal manipulation and adjustment of the body’s soft tissues and joints, primarily in the back. Experts believe that some migraines originate in the spine. Often a misalignment of the vertebrae, or subluxation, can irritate the nerves that travel through the spine to the brain. This type of misalignment makes a person more prone to chemical imbalances in the brain. Restoring the vertebrae relieves the pressure against inflamed nerves and can in turn relieve the pain and make migraines disappear.

Studies have shown that spinal manipulation therapy may help treat migraine headaches and pains. 22% of people with migraines who have received back treatment or surgery reported a 90% reduction of occurrences. Also, 49% reported an important reduction of the pain intensity in their migraines.

What Orthopedic back treatment does is relieve some of the nerve irritation and, as a result, the blood vessels are less reactive to triggers. For migraines caused by subluxation, experts recommend gently stretching the neck, rolling and sudden movements should be avoided. To prevent subluxations, pay attention to your posture. If you sit for long periods in front of a computer, move your body around frequently and stretch.

If you or someone you know experiences any or all of the migraine symptoms described or you are interested in learning how back care may treat migraine headaches, contact our expert Florida orthopedic at Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute today  (http://www.seaspineortho.com/) or call  866-816-ORTHO to make an appointment.

Florida Orthopedic Taking Care of Your Feet

At Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute we are constantly educating our patients on the importance of taking care of their bodies. Some of the most common problems we encounter are joint and back complications. These problems can derive from many situations but the most common are due to unhealthy walking and running habits and not taking care of their feet.  People generally pay little attention to their feet since they are literally the furthest things from sight, however one must remember they are the foundation of our bodies.

Taking care of your feet isn’t just about looking good. When your feet don't get the attention they deserve, chronic problems can develop, not just on your feet, your back and joints may start bothering you and escalate to greater problems.

How do your feet affect your body? Think of a ball bouncing on a firm floor, the energy applied when it hits the ground makes it rebound. Same thing when we walk or run, the force applied through the body rebounds on the joints, bouncing back up through the legs, knees, hips and spine. The rebounding  effect lies in the arches of the feet, which support your spine.

Our feet determine the position of our knees, lower back, hip and shoulders. So, when our feet are tight and clenched, our whole body imitates this tension. If your feet are tired your body is tired. If your feet are out of alignment your whole body will be too. Our feet are the first indicator to reveal our general state of health with diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, neurological problems and circulatory problems.

One of the best ways to avoid trouble with your feet is to practice preventive care. Here at Sea Spine Orthopedic Institute we have a few suggestions that can improve your feet’s condition and help you avoid future complications: 

• Massage your feet, especially stretching and opening the toes, moving your feet in circles, bending the toes forward and backwards. 
• Keep your weight down by eating healthier, the less pressure on your feet the better.
• Exercise as much as you can, helps strengthen muscles and keep a healthy circulatory flow of blood to the feet.
• Wear soft, comfortable and supportive shoes that move with every step and provide good arch support.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing problems deriving from walking & running or pain caused from poor posture, please contact one of our many offices to set up an appointment.  Our highly qualified staff of nurses and surgeons would be more than happy to help you get back on your feet and back to a healthy active work lifestyle.

If you're looking for professional and experienced high-rated Florida orthopedic surgeons, contact SeaSpine Orthopedic Institute today at (http://www.seaspineortho.com/) or call  866-816-ORTHO.

Getting a Second Opinion

Going to see a doctor can be a very traumatic experience for many people, especially if it is followed by a negative diagnosis that requires some kind of surgery or treatment.  If you are anything like me you have always trusted your doctors and their opinions.  However, as I have learned not every doctor has all the answers and even though it does not always happen doctors can give the wrong diagnosis.  After all they are only human, just like the rest of us they can make mistakes.  In 1999 the Institute of Medicine conducted a survey that came up with results that between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die each year in hospitals from errors that could have been prevented.  The scary part is that does not include medical errors that kill patients once they leave the hospital. 

Not all diagnosis, however, require a second opinion.  Some diagnoses are conclusive. For example, a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test measures blood glucose in a person who has not eaten anything for at least 8 hours. This is the test they use detect diabetes and pre-diabetes in a person and does not require a second opinion because those tests are always conclusive. 

Where these conclusive diagnoses are few and far between what you really have to be mindful of are conclusions that are followed by an invasive surgery or some kind of aggressive treatment like chemotherapy.  Not only could these surgeries and treatments be dangerous themselves but they can cause complications on their own if not done properly.  

I find that peace of mind is reason enough for some people to get second opinions.  The surety of what you are diagnosed can always be in question, but sometimes getting that second opinion may help you accept your condition and move forward. 

The flip side of this debate is the fact that second opinions can be very costly.  Especially to those who do not have health insurance.  “The Commonwealth Fund Health Insurance Tracking Survey of U.S. Adults finds that one-quarter of adults ages 19 to 64 experienced a gap in their health insurance in 2011, with a majority remaining uninsured for one year or more.”  That is a lot of people without health insurance, and unfortunately a lot of people that do not have the luxury of getting second opinions.

Another reason not to get a second opinion might be that your doctor or specialist might be the best in their field, or what they tell you might make a lot of sense to you.  If you assumed you had specific allergies and you doctor confirms that, more than likely you would not seek a second opinion.  Maybe the treatment itself is minor and does not require a surgery.  If there would not be any side effects to the treatment would you consider the treatment more? Of course you would, but if it came down to cancer I bet you would most assuredly want a second opinion before you proceeded forward with any surgeries or chemo.

It is important to understand when you are in need of a second opinion.  Whether it be a minor or major diagnosis a second opinion could save your life, or be a total waste of time and money.  A second opinion will always be a personal preference.  As we get older and are faced with the eventual decline of health it is detrimental to understand these differences when making the choice of getting a second opinion.  After all when it comes to your own health what could be more important.


For more information on Sea Spine Orthopedics Institute please click on the link to visit our website.


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