Heilman Center for Pain and Spine Care

05/05/2021

What’s Causing Your Back Pain? It Might Not Be What You Think
Everyone has a sore back at some point. When you have chronic back pain though, a day at the spa isn’t going to cut it when it comes to feeling better. And unfortunately, many patients find that getting answers about the cause of their pain is just as elusive as finding relief from it. Read More:

What's Causing Your Back Pain? It Might Not Be What You ThinkEveryone has a sore back at some point. A day of hard work in the yard, sleeping in an uncomfortable bed in a hotel on vacation, a few tense days in the office …

05/05/2021

Conquer Mild Back Pain with Regular Exercise.

Simple steps can make a big difference to reduce and even prevent mild back pain.

Resting is a common reaction to back pain, but movement is generally a better approach. Gentle activity loosens stiff muscles and improves blood flow, speeding the healing process. Exercise can strengthen the muscles of the back, stomach, and legs that support the spine. With pain, exercise may need to be slowed and adjusted. Start with short sessions and build up over time. Consider walking, biking, swimming, and stretching—avoiding any movements that twist the spine.

A physical therapist can help to develop an exercise plan for back health in a safe way. Depending on the cause and intensity of the pain, some exercises may not be recommended and can be harmful. Always ask a health care professional before doing any exercise for back pain.

04/28/2021

Ray gives his pain treatment two thumbs up! “My life is so much better, so much more enjoyable.”

It’s the little everyday things that Ray enjoys the most now that he is no longer confined to a chair. Ray’s favorite things are playing with his grandchildren, cooking dinner and mowing the lawn. An auto accident that crushed his spine kept him from enjoying those simple things for many years. Ray had multiple surgeries and ten spinal fusions. Even after the surgeries he was in excruciating pain and depended on his family for care. Over a 13 year period, he went to 7 different pain clinics. He got little relief. Doctors told him he would never walk again. Then Ray found the Heilman Center. The doctors there took a different approach. Now Ray’s pain is manageable. He’s regained his independence and is doing the simple things that mean so much to him.

Read the rest of Ray’s story: https://www.heilmancenter.com/rays-story/

04/21/2021

Pain specialists at the Heilman Center offer pill-free treatment options for pain. Indirect decompression is just one example.

This is a really simple procedure. When I woke up, I had absolutely no pain and I haven't had any pain since. --James B.

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces in and around the bones of the back, caused by normal aging changes in the spine. As spaces narrow, nerves can become pinched and painful.

Indirect decompression relieves pressure on pinched nerves in and around the spine caused by spinal stenosis. The pain specialist uses a tiny FDA-approved device to open up space in the spinal canal.

Every pain condition has multiple treatment options. Call 734-388-0642 to set up a consultation so you can get your life back!

04/15/2021

Center. Balloon Kyphoplasty is just one example.

I have a long history with this group of specialists and trust the care of my spine to them. --Vicki L.

Pain specialists use Balloon Kyphoplasty to treat spine fractures, including those caused by osteoporosis. Doctors use it to restore the proper shape to the affected vertebrae. They are then able to use a special type of cement to rebuild the vertebrae and restore proper function.

Every pain condition has multiple treatment options. Call 734-368-5297 to set up a consultation so you can get your life back!

04/06/2021

Relaxation helps reduce stress, and reducing stress reduces pain. Connecting with others is a great way to relax.

Connecting with others may helps many people manage chronic pain. Stress-free and relaxing social encounters help people feel more upbeat and take their minds off of pain.

Schedule small, enjoyable activities regularly:
 Call a friend or family member
 Invite a friend to coffee or lunch
 Send an encouraging note/email to someone who needs it
 Volunteer
 Gather with a few friends to play cards or games

04/01/2021

Reduce mild back pain with simple steps that can make a big difference.

Build a Strong Core
Most of us do not get enough exercise in our daily activities to keep muscles strong and healthy. Setting up an intentional exercise program can help. Building a strong core helps prevent back pain in several ways.
• Strengthening the muscles that support the lower back improves posture and reduces strain on the spine.
• Keeping muscles and ligaments flexible increases range of motion and improves back function.
• Movement increases blood flow and nutrients to the tissues of the back, reducing stiffness that can lead to back pain.

A physical therapist can help develop an individual core strengthening program. Check with a healthcare provider prior to starting an exercise program.

03/30/2021

Reduce mild back pain with simple steps that can make a big difference.

Alternate Cold and Heat
Cold and heat can be an effective combination. Cold reduces swelling and inflammation and heat helps relax muscles—many people can benefit from both.

Heat therapy works well for muscle pain and stiffness. It works by increasing circulation and blood flow. Even a slight increase in temperature can soothe discomfort, increase muscle flexibility, relax and soothe muscles and heal damaged tissue. Warm, rather than hot temperatures are safer. Small heating pad, heated gel packs or a hot water bottle work well for a small painful area. Saunas or a hot bath can treat the entire body.

Cold therapy is often best for acute injuries or pains which have associated inflammation and swelling. Cold therapy works by both reducing blood flow to a particular area, lessening inflammation and swelling, and by temporarily reducing nerve activity. Cold therapy can include ice packs or frozen gel packs, coolant sprays, ice massage, or cold baths or showers. Limit exposure time to cold therapy.

Check with your doctor before starting hot or cold therapy as they may be inappropriate for those with certain health conditions.

03/25/2021

Relaxation helps reduce stress, and reducing stress helps reduce pain. For many people, prayer is a powerful relaxation tool.

Prayer is very personal. It is the act of reaching out to God or a higher power. According to a 2005 USA TODAY poll, more than half of those polled said they used prayer to control pain. Of those, 90% said it worked well, and 51% said it worked very well.

03/18/2021

Now that she is pain free, Ellen is “back to my cheerful self!”

Ellen is once again going on long walks, often with a fishing pole in hand. For a long time Ellen’s activities were limited by a constant pain level of 8-10. The pain medication she was prescribed left her feeling “funky” and “lazy.” She didn’t feel like doing much of anything. The Heilman Center pain specialists treated the herniated disc causing her pain with injections. Now, Ellen is enjoying life without the medication. You’ll have to hurry if you want to catch her; she doesn’t sit still long.

Read the rest of Ellen’s story: https://www.heilmancenter.com/ellens-story/

03/16/2021

Reduce mild back pain with simple steps that can make a big difference.

Conquer Mild Back Pain By Adapting and Pacing.
It’s important to know and respect the limitations of one’s body. If a specific activity makes the pain worse, try to avoid it to keep the underlying condition from getting worse. Simple adaptations can help:
• make extra trips when carrying groceries
• take breaks when mowing the lawn
• get help to lift heavier objects
• avoid activities that twist the spine
• alternate heavier tasks with lighter tasks
• plan in regular relaxation periods and breaks—even when you’re feeling good
• strive to get plenty of sleep each night

If pain persists and limits work or leisure, it is time to consult a pain specialist, but sometimes, putting some of these simple steps into action may be all that is needed.

03/11/2021

The Heilman Center specializes in treating complex pain conditions using minor, outpatient procedures. Spinal cord stimulators are just one example.

I had the Stimulator for pain put in, and we got the setting right. As long as I don’t over-do it, I’m doing good. –Lillian T.

When you’re in pain, nerves that signal pain to the brain become hyperactive. Electrical stimulation calms down and resets the nerve signals. In place of the pain signal, your brain gets the message that the pain is reduced or even gone.

Stimulators can help for those who have pain that was not relieved with more conservative therapies such as physical therapy or injections. These treatment options can provide relief for those who have pain remaining after back surgery and those looking for pill-free pain relief.

Every pain condition has multiple, minimally invasive treatment options. Call 734-388-0642 to set up a consultation so you can get your life back!