Mental Health Every injured worker should have access to some level of mental health support. I work with a veteran pain psychologist who is wonderful. 90% of her practice is caring for my patients. If she feels it is necessary, she will refer a patient to one of several psychiatrists … Read More
A few weeks ago, I sent the roundtable a short article I put together called “Ability and Motivation.” These are the two key ingredients necessary to create true change. My point was that the current state of the worker’s comp system destroys both of these attributes. The only logical choice … Read More
I talk about how powerful the DOCC Project can be and how it can break down the doors of years of chronic pain. Through patient’s stories, the DOCC project is showing that pain free is not only possible, it’s probable. For more on this, check out Reversing Chronic Pain with … Read More
Compassion—First and foremost I am on a much-needed vacation this week in Italy. From 1980 until 1990, my wife lived in Florence. We have many friends in Italy we like to visit as much as we can. It is a unique opportunity for me in that she is fluent in … Read More
I talk about the importance about finding the “source” of the pain and the implications of the “real” success rates of most spine operations. This clip takes a closer look into back fusions and the research behind them. Learn more about this in my post, “Surgical Results Overly Optimistic.” Aching … Read More
I was in clinic today and a new patient cancelled. I had the chance to spend some extra time with Lisa, a patient that I am just beginning to get to know. We had a long discussion about the DOCC Project. Although she was initially resistant to the DOCC Project, … Read More
I specialize in Spinal Deformity and salvage operations. In this video, I talk about the cost of unnecessary surgeries and the emotional toll that is can have on patients. It’s something I’ve written about in The “Catastrophe Index.” BF
From my perspective, life in the worker’s comp system for my patients has never been more difficult. The improvement in overall numbers belies the daily struggles of my patients who are admittedly an unusual group. Many of them have been referred to me after “failed surgery” or have been in … Read More
I discuss how the DOCC Project model organizes all of the concepts of one’s pain into an understandable format and identifies certain tools that are variably to help one take back control of their life and overcome chronic pain. BF
Fixing the problems with the worker’s comp system is critical. However, the system is unwieldy and we are not going to change it anytime soon. We know extremely well what needs to happen to enable a worker to move smoothly through the system. One of my physiatrist colleagues felt so … Read More