Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle. They can become so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over, or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist, or spine.

Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” When you look at a healthy bone under a microscope, it looks like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone. Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structure. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the removal of old bone.

About 54 million Americans have osteoporosis and low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis affects both men and women of all races. But white and Asian women, especially older women who are past menopause, are at a higher risk. Medications, healthy diet and weight-bearing exercise can help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones.

Osteoporosis may limit mobility, which often leads to feelings of isolation or depression. Breaking a bone is a serious complication of osteoporosis, especially with older patients. Roughly twenty percent of seniors who break a hip die within one year from either a complication related to the broken bone itself or the surgery to repair it.

Risk factors of Osteoporosis

There are several risk factors that can increase the likelihood that you’ll develop osteoporosis, including your age, race, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions and treatments. Some other risk factors that are out of your control include: gender, age, race, family history, and body frame size.

One of the most common causes of osteoporosis pain is a spinal compression fracture. Because the spine is involved with every move that we make, it is one of the most common places for injury. Sudden, severe back pain that gets worse when you are standing or walking with some relief when you lie down. Trouble twisting or bending your pain, loss of height, and an exaggerated curved spine, called kyphosis, are all symptoms of a spinal fracture.

There are a few treatments to help with the symptoms of osteoporosis such as medication, adding in exercise, and good nutrition. If you are experiencing spinal pain, there are many different procedures to help relieve spinal pain. Twin Cities Pain Clinic offers a variety of treatments plans that are individualized for each patient.

Resources

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/in-depth/osteoporosis-treatment/art-20046869

https://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/guide/osteoporosis-pain#1

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351968

https://www.nof.org/patients/what-is-osteoporosis/

If you have persistent back or neck pain, riding in a car for any period of time can be difficult. Riding in a car for an hour or more can be even more challenging. If you have a road trip or long car ride coming up, consider some of the following tips to make the trip as best as it can be.

Take frequent stops

Stopping often to walk around and stretch can help with your pain from sitting. Before even leaving the house, plan your trip out and how you want to take a break. You can plan it however feels comfortable for you. Whether that’s a five-minute break every hour or fifteen minutes every two hours. Incorporate these planned breaks into your road trip route.

When you do stop, move around. Sitting for long periods of time will stiffen up your muscles and lead to achiness and possible muscle spasm. Movement is important for everyone, but especially those with persistent pain. Movement stimulates blood circulation, which brings nutrients and oxygen to your muscles.

Hydrate and snack appropriately

Dehydration can increase pain, so keeping plenty of water on hand is important. If it’s hard to drink lots of water, opt for green tea or vitamin water with antioxidants that help with inflammation. Drinking pop or sugary drinks can add to inflammation, which can add to pain.

As much as it’s important to drink plenty of water, it’s important to eat foods that help your body as well. Eating anti-inflammatory foods is great for your chronic pain, as well as your waist line. Try to eat foods like cherries, watermelon, almonds, smoked salmon, and fresh veggies. It’s sometimes hard to find better food options at gas stations, but you can always pack a cooler ahead of time to help set yourself up for success.

Make your trip as smooth as possible

Bring some comfortable accessories along on your trip. Getting a seat cushion made for a car or a lumbar pillow can help support your back and spine. Try riding passenger for a long trip or if you have to drive, switching up driving shifts with one or more people will let you change up your sitting position and may help with a smoother ride. When driving make sure your seat and mirrors are in a comfortable position as well.

You want your seat close enough to the steering wheel that you don’t have to hunch your shoulders forward to reach the wheel, but you want to make sure you are not so close that your arms and elbows hug your body. The seat itself can also tilt forward or backwards. Tilting the seat forward helps preserve the curve in your lumbar spine (lower back). And tilting the seat back lifts your knees above your hips, which can relieve low back pain.  You also want to make sure your mirrors are at a good level. You want to be able to look into your side and rear-view mirrors with a level chin. Having your chin tilted for too long can result in neck pain.

You shouldn’t just try to ease pain on road trips. Working on strengthening your core and exercising frequently can help try to ease pain in the long run. Click to read more on how exercise and stretching can help ease pain.

If you have more questions or need more help regarding your pain, please call 952-841-2345

Resources:

http://www.holisticpain.com/back-pain-road-trips/

https://www.spine-health.com/blog/7-tips-alleviate-back-pain-your-road-trips

Twin Cities Pain Clinic is excited to help meet the growing need for comprehensive pain management. We understand that when you are in pain, convenience is key. In pursuit of our mission, we are happy to provide excellent care, in a new comfortable location. Our new office location will proudly serve Woodbury and the surrounding communities by continuing to offer the most advanced treatment options.

Twin Cities Pain Clinic first expanded to Woodbury in 2014 with a clinic location on Commerce Dr. To better serve our patients, we have moved from our old office on Commerce Dr to 683 Bielenberg Dr. #103. The new office opened to patients on March 4th, 2019.

Click here to see a map.

Your feet get you from point A to point B, but as you walk I’m sure most of you don’t even notice how you walk. What you might not be aware of, is that your feet can play a significant role in your pain. The way you walk and stand can impact your whole body.

According to Dr. Positano, director of the Non-Surgical Foot and Ankle Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery, “The foot is the foundation of the body. If the foundation is not sound, it could have a deleterious effect on the joints above the foot and ankle, namely the knee and the hip.” If you feel unbalanced, your shoes will likely be uneven. If your shoes are uneven, this can eventually cause weakness in your ankles, knees, and hips, making them vulnerable to injury.

Where you feel your pain is almost always never where your pain originates from. A lot of the times, pain will travel up the body. Indeed, the stabbing, throbbing, aching in your low back, hip, or knee could be a symptom, not the cause, of your discomfort. Many people don’t realize it, but how you stand and walk can play a key role in your pain.

Any problem with the foot or ankle can result in a compromised posture or gait which can lead to knee or hip pain.

Examples of foot problems that can lead to poor posture and irregular walking patterns

• Plantar fasciitis, which can lead to chronic heel pain and/or arch pain
• Nerve pain or numbness in the foot, (neuromas and tarsal tunnel syndrome)
• Bunions and bunionettes (big-toe versus little-toe side, respectively)
• Excessive foot pronation (rolling in) or supination (rolling out)

Some people's feet automatically go into a V shape when standing or walking. In this instance, the whole structure of your body is somewhat off balance, or “out of alignment.” Focus on standing and walking with proper alignment. This can help ease some of the back, knee, or hip pain you're feeling.

Changing how you walk may feel strange at first, but over time it will feel more normal. Make an effort to “square” your feet with your knees and walk with your toes pointing straight ahead. This is how to keep your body aligned, reducing your chances of injury to the low back and other parts of your body. The foot is the foundation of the body, and the way you walk can affect just about everything.

Resources

https://www.ipfh.org/media-press/features/low-back-pain-your-feet-could-be-the-culprit

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170919181533.htm

https://www.orthofeet.com/blogs/news/how-your-feet-impact-knee-and-hip-pain

Meet Crystal, Medical Assistant at Twin Cities Pain Clinic. Crystal was nominated by her fellow staff members for always going out of her way to help patients in any way she can. This winter she has helped brush snow off of patients cars and is always so kind to the patients she helps. Crystal always treats her patients with the utmost care and respect. Your hard work and compassion does not go unnoticed. Thank you for all you do, Crystal!

What is your position / What are your daily responsibilities?

I am a Medical Assistant at Twin Cities Pain Clinic. My responsibilities include rooming the patients, taking their vitals, collecting specimens and a variety of other medical tasks.

How long have you been with TCPC?

I have been with TCPC for about 8 months and truly enjoy it.

What are some of your hobbies?

Some of my hobbies include playing outside with my kids, reading new books with them and baking. I love water parks and the beach when it's warm outside.

What is your favorite thing about working at TCPC?

My favorite thing about working at TCPC is the patient care. I love getting to know my patients and enjoy seeing them improve. The environment is great as well. I absolutely love my co-workers and how well we all work together. 

Twin Cities Pain Clinic has been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune. This great award wouldn't be possible without our amazing staff members. Your hard work does not go unnoticed.

Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) stimulation is a type of therapy that provides relief from chronic neuropathic pain or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Neuropathic pain results from damage to or malfunction of nerves, which send pain signals to the brain. The peripheral nervous system includes all the nerves that lead to and from the spinal cord. If the nerves are injured, neuropathic pain may develop. Chronic neuropathic pain can be challenging to treat because it is often difficult to pinpoint the location and source of nerve damage.

Click here to learn more about neuropathic pain.

What is the dorsal root ganglion?

The dorsal root ganglion is a bundle of nerve cell bodies in the posterior region of various vertebrae along the spinal column. The primary function of the dorsal root ganglion is to transmit information regarding your senses. As such, the dorsal root ganglion carries sensory signals from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system, which includes your spinal cord and brain.

DRG Stimulation

DRG stimulation consists of electrical leads and an implantable pulse generator. A physician threads the electrical leads into the epidural space, where the DRG lies. Each lead contains electrode surfaces that are placed over the DRG. A pulse generator is implanted in either the upper buttock/low back, or into the abdominal wall. In the period after surgery the leads can be programmed to give stimulation based on the pain pattern. Patients go home with a small hand-held controller that switches between stimulation settings.

DRG stimulation is similar to traditional spinal cord stimulation (SCS), with one very important difference. Rather than placing leads in a general region of the spinal cord, DRG stimulation targets the specific regions of the spinal cord that are transmitting the pain and shuts down those painful signals directly by placing the leads over the DRG’s.

To learn more about DRG stimulation click here.

Resources

https://columbiapain.org/drg-stimulation/

http://www.ladneurosurgery.com/dorsal-root-ganglion-neuromodulation.html