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
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. BF
I talk about the lack of awareness to the alternative approaches in the spine surgeon world and the treatment of chronic pain. BF
I have a patient who is a muscular 43 y/o welder. He injured his back on the job about four years ago. After undergoing a laminectomy for low back pain, his pain actually increased. When I first saw him a couple of years ago, his complaint was unrelenting low back … Read More
Florence, Italy My wife lived in Florence, Italy from 1983 to 1990. She is fluent in Italian and some of her best friends live in Italy. We go back every year to spend time with our friends and enjoy the Italian culture. In 2009, I took three weeks off to … Read More
The danger of falling into the “abyss” is that it makes chronic pain patients more vulnerable to the suggestion of surgery, which is often unnecessary. Along with the possibility of surgery comes the risk of catastrophe. Here are a few examples. The cases of these patients are not unusual. A … Read More
Doctors are trained to “fix” Chronic pain patients often feel a lack of compassion from the health care community. Physicians, as a group, tend not to take time to listen to patients. Our training emphasizes taking action – in the form of prescribing treatments – instead of listening. Medical school … Read More
It is well documented in several studies that the chance of ever returning to work dramatically decreases the longer a person is off from work. Dr. Gordon Waddell showed in the 1980’s that if a worker is off from work for a year, the chance of ever returning to work is … Read More
There are two pathways that put you into the role of a victim. “Perceived wrong” Truly victimized With the first pathway, an event occurs in which you perceive that you have been wronged. However, it is a perception that is based on your “story” of how the events “invaded your … Read More
This story about how anger can affect the perception of pain involves one of my patients who had a complication from a revision spine fusion. Mike was a 52 year-old respiratory therapist who was very active–the man ran marathons. Years after an initial spine fusion at L5-S1 at age 30, … Read More