Daily Column

August 5, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My sister has been suffering with back pain for a very long time and her doctors haven’t been able to find out what the problem is. She’s had all kinds of testing and they’ve tried her on many different pain medications that haven’t done her any good. Now they are giving her morphine. Would a vibrating, reclining chair be the answer? Should I be concerned?

DEAR READER:
It might help if I knew how old your sister is and what other medical conditions, if any, she might have. Without that information, I have to start from square one. And yes, you should be concerned.

If your sister suffered any trauma, such as an automobile accident or major fall, she could have discogenic disease. A slipped or compressed disc can be extremely painful. Confirmation is made by an X-ray known as an MRI. There are numerous methods including balloon kyphoplasty for pain relief. [Read more...]

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Sunday Column

July 27, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I recently read your article about a lady who had disc problems. I had similar problems with pain and following an MRI was told I had vertebral compression fractures. I immediately saw a chiropractor who told me I was a good candidate for a procedure called “Balloon Kyphoplasty”. After the surgery I had immediate pain relief and I feel so much better. My life is back to normal. I highly recommend this to anyone else suffering from these fractures.

By the way, I am an 80-year-old female.

DEAR READER:
Balloon kyphoplasty is a relatively new procedure used to correct painful compression fractures of the vertebrae. These fractures are often the result of osteoporosis.

The procedure is done through a small incision near the vertebrae. A small, deflated orthopedic balloon is then guided into the fracture site where it is then inflated. [Read more...]

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