Back Pain

Important Sleep for Stem Cells too

June 8, 2016Back Pain

Sleep is important for our body. With modest sleep deprivation it can be a struggle to function at our highest level and long term sleep deprivation, or disruption, can have significant health effects. It turns out that your sleep deprivation may also impact others…….if you are donating your hematopoietic stem cells.

Hematopoietic stem cells, also known as blood stem cells, are responsible for giving rise to the cells of our blood and immune system and are the key “ingredient” in bone marrow transplants, a cellular therapy that was pioneered over 50 years ago. The transplantation of bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cells is now routinely used to treat patients with blood cancers such as leukemia or lymphoma and disorders of the immune system. According to the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, approximately 24,000 patients world-wide are annually transplanted with donor blood stem cells.

There are many critical steps in a bone marrow or stem cell transplant between a donor and recipient (known as an allogenic transplant):

Bone marrow or stem cells from an immunologically matched donor are harvested.
The recipient’s immune system is “conditioned” to receive the donor cells.
Transplanted donor stem cells migrate to the bone marrow – the vascular space inside the bone and home to hematopoietic stem cells.
Donor stem cells engraft in the recipient bone marrow and begin to proliferate to generate the cells that enter the circulation and help restore the patient’s blood and immune system.
Even a partial failure in one of these steps can threaten the success of the transplant.

It turns out that sleep may also be a critical factor in transplant success. A team of scientists from California and Israel used mice to test the effect of sleep on stem cell transplantation. When mice were sleep-deprived, the ability of their stem cells to restore the blood and immune system of a recipient mouse was dramatically decreased. Not only were there fewer transplanted cells found in the circulation, but there were also fewer donor cells in the bone marrow of transplanted mice.

How does sleep deprivation affect hematopoietic stem cell function? Part of the answer appears to be that the “sleepy cells” were functionally impaired (sound familiar?). Hematopoietic stem cells from the sleep-deprived mice were shown to have genetic changes that inhibited their migration. When these genetic changes were experimentally corrected, the “sleepy cells” were able to migrate normally thus demonstrating that the genetic changes were important for stem cell migration.

Growth hormone may be another part of the answer. Known to be regulated by sleep, growth hormone was linked to the same genetic changes seen in the “sleepy” stem cells thus suggesting that growth hormone was the link between the lack of sleep and the genetic changes.

We all know from our own experience that sleep is important, but how it affects cell function is a fundamental question and the subject of ongoing scientific inquiry. This research adds an important new and underappreciated dimension to stem cell research and their clinical use

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We’re innovative leaders utilizing cutting-edge technologies such as musculoskeletal ultrasounds, PRP, stem cell treatment, and other innovative procedures. Michigan Sports & Spine Center is committed to resolving your pain, not simply masking it. We treat the whole body, not just the injury, and perform preventative treatment so your injury doesn’t come back. Our studies prove that Michigan Sports & Spine Center has patient success rates much higher than the national average. We treat everyone from high-profile athletes to your neighbor next door. Our primary focus is getting our patients back into the game of life!

BIOLOGY – An Ongoing Series – Part 1

May 23, 2016Back Pain

What Is Bone Marrow?

Bone marrow is the spongy tissue found in the center of bones. Its main job is to make blood cells that circulate in your body, which include immune cells that recognize foreign invaders and fight infection. Bone marrow is unique in that it contains a rich supply of a broad range of stem cells. The cells found in concentrated bone marrow aspirate (BMA) have been shown to support repair or growth of bone, cartilage, muscle, marrow, tendons, ligaments and connective tissue.

What Is Concentrated Bone Marrow?

Bone marrow is drawn (aspirated) using a procedure that is less invasive than an open bone graft. Bone marrow is commonly taken from the pelvis, but it may be taken from other sites as well. A sample of bone marrow is removed and then spun in a centrifuge to isolate and concentrate the stem cells, which creates concentrated bone marrow. The physician then delivers the concentrated bone marrow directly into the application site on your body.

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BIOLOGY – An Ongoing Series – Part 2

May 23, 2016Back Pain

What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)?

PRP is plasma with a higher concentration of platelets than what is typically found in blood. Although blood is mainly a liquid (plasma), it also contains small solid components: red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets. Platelets are best known for their importance in clotting blood. In addition, platelets contain proteins called growth factors, which are important in the healing of injuries.

The concentration of platelets—and, thereby, the concentration of growth factors—is significantly increased in PRP as compared to regular plasma. PRP may help optimize the conditions for healing.

During the past several years, much has been written about PRP and its potential effectiveness in the treatment of injuries, such as ligament sprains or chronic tendon injuries. As the name suggests, PRP is simply the concentrated platelets and growth factors from a patient’s own blood.

How Is PRP Obtained?

To obtain PRP, blood is first drawn from a patient. The blood is then spun in a centrifuge where the platelets are separated from other blood components in order to increase their concentration. The concentrated platelets are then re-suspended in a fraction of the plasma after the centrifugation process.

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BIOLOGY – An Ongoing Series – Part 3

May 23, 2016Back Pain

What Is Adipose Tissue?

Adipose tissue, or fat, is an anatomical term for loose connective tissue composed of fat cells (adipocytes). Its main role is to store energy in the form of fat; it also cushions and insulates your body.

Adipose tissue provides a 3-D scaffold rich in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MSCs are stem cells found throughout the body at all stages of development and are believed to be responsible for growth, wound healing and replacing cells that are lost through the daily wear and tear because this material must be aborbed back into the body.

Adipose tissue is the body’s richest source of MSCs and provides two distinct advantages over other sources of stem cells:

Adipose-derived MSCs can be easily harvested by liposuction under local anesthesia.
It is possible to acquire a large number of cells from any type of fat tissue in the body.45,46

What Is a Fat-Grafting Procedure?

A fat-grafting procedure, or autologous (obtained from your own body) fat transplant, transfers tissue from areas in which you have excess fat—such as the thighs or belly—and injects it into areas that may be lacking in volume or in need of repair.

The quality of adipose graft material is an important consideration prior to any fat-graft procedure. One of the drawbacks of traditional fat-grafting procedures is the loss of graft volume post-transplant. The presence of excess fluid, oils and lipids contributes to graft volume loss, because this fluid must be resorbed by the body. Studies indicate that highly refined graft material may result in improved clinical outcomes.

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Walking to Ease Low Back Pain

March 7, 2016Back Pain

Relief from back pain could be as simple as taking a stroll in the park. Literally!

Studies suggest that a simple regime of daily walking can help individuals with lower back pain. This is especially relevant for people who suffer from lower back pain and want to avoid medications.

When people walk actively, abdominal and back muscles work in much the same way as when they complete exercises that target these areas. And unlike muscle strengthening programs, which often call for specific equipment and can involve exercises that require expert supervision, walking is a simple activity that can be done alone.

A walking program has the additional advantage of encouraging patients to follow a healthier lifestyle overall. In terms of physical fitness, walking on a regular basis also makes people less likely to suffer typical aches and pains over their lifetime. Walking also lowers blood pressure, boosts brain and immune system functioning, and reduces stress.

So grab your sneakers and hit the road to a healthy life.

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Why is Exercise Important for Lower Back Pain?

December 7, 2015Back Pain

Exercise is such an important thing for all of us to be doing, especially for the lower back. Most of us with at some point in our lives experience some kind of lower back pain. Most of us can prevent a lot of it by taking the time to do exercises to help take the pressure off the back and keep the back strong and healthy. The trouble is getting people to do the exercises before they are in pain. An ounce of prevent goes a long was to alleviate problems with lower back pain.

The reason exercise for the lower back is so important is because the spine is like a mast on a ship. The mast has ropes attached to it, the ropes are attached to told the most in place so it doesn’t fall over. A mast can’t support it’s own weight with the ropes. it the same for the human spine. The spine relies on certain muscles that attach to it to take the pressure off it. If the muscles are weak or imbalanced, then the spine takes the extra pressure and begins to effect the discs and facet joints creating a lot of wear and tear on the spine.

By exercising, the muscles get strong and aligned and support the spine making everyday activities less harmful on the spine. With just 15 minutes of exercise on a daily basis the muscles will remain strong and aligned. It’s not too late to start either. The 15 minutes of exercise daily will help retrain weak or imbalanced muscles.

For tips on the right types of exercises for you, visit the CORE Sports Fitness Facebook page.

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Choosing the Right Doctor for Back Pain Treatment

October 20, 2015Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common medical complaints, so family doctors see a lot of back pain patients. But if four to six weeks of painkillers and exercise therapy doesn’t help a patient, it may be time for a specialist. Getting relief for your back and/or chronic pain means connecting with the right medical professionals and being honest and open about your pain.

Between orthopedic surgeons, chiropractors, physiatrists, and neurosurgeons, it’s hard to know which doctor can best treat your pain. Each approaches treatment from a different perspective.

No treatment is guaranteed to give relief, so your choice will depend in part on your attitude toward the body and medicine—and your doctor’s own philosophy.

CHIROPRACTOR

Be sure to choose a chiropractor who holds a board certification and is state licensed. Like osteopaths, chiropractors favor physical manipulation of the body, and chiropractic treatment focuses on manipulation of the spine. Be aware that some practitioners make greater claims about what they can cure than others. Choose a chiropractor who is honest about your chances of improvement.

PHYSIATRISTS

Physiatrists are DOs or MDs who specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R). They have a four-year residency after medical school that is different from the orthopedist, spine surgeon, or neurosurgeon. They are not surgeons and are given a comprehensive education in spinal disorders. These doctors can specialize in nonsurgical treatment of the back. Many perform EMGs that are electrical nerve diagnostic tests to help understand the source of nerve pain. Others have taken fellowships in interventional spinal injections to complement their treatment programs. These physicians are a good choice for initial treatment.

It’s a fairly new specialty. The field started in the 1940s out of returning vets from World War II and a lot of the injuries they sustained. It is an entire area of medicine specializing in evaluating and treating brain injury, spine injury, and amputees.

Today physiatrists often have broad practices, but some concentrate on one area such as pediatrics, sports medicine, geriatric medicine, or brain injury.

SURGEONS

By definition, surgeons focus on more invasive treatments. Both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons perform spine surgery. Most people think that neurosurgeons are “brain surgeons” but in fact they perform the majority of their operations on the spine. Becoming a neurosurgeon requires six to seven years in residency, as opposed to the four to five for orthopedists, and neurosurgeons tend to specialize in more delicate cases—that involve areas like the lining of the spinal canal—than orthopedic surgeons.

WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

The advice of a trusted family doctor is a logical place to start your journey. Once a serious problem has been ruled out, back pain treatment is often a collaborative course of treatment. Make sure your general practitioner understands the range of caregivers and the variety of approaches, and start shopping.

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Steroid Injections Do Help Patients Relieve Lower Back Pain

October 19, 2015Back Pain

It’s been all over the news for the past couple weeks: steroid injections don’t help with back pain. As a physician who utilizes this type of treatment for pain relief in some patients with back pain, I had to share my patients’ experiences, as they contradict the latest news.

Though the main message was that steroid injections don’t help with pain, these are some of the findings reported in the study .

• There were many people who did experience relief, if only temporarily.

• In several instances, injections helped reduce pain while waiting for scheduled surgery.

• There was also indication that a series of 3 to 4 shots provided the most relief, while anything more than that had little effect or even made pain worse.

These facts seem to point to the conclusion that the injections work for some patients. But, that’s not the conclusion they came to in the study.

The patients at Michigan Sports and Spine Center who undergo this procedure are reporting pain relief that is allowing them to get to their normal lives and return to work. A patient we saw in our office last week praises the benefits of the steroid injections. She first came to us about 10 years ago with chronic low back pain. After exhausting other options, she tried a series of steroid injections (done under fluoroscopy) and was able to move onto physical therapy and functioned well for 10 years. She is having other back issues now, but still those steroid injections kept her active and healthy for 10 years.

In general, epidural steroid injections are a low risk, useful, non-surgical tool to combat lower back pain and sciatica (radicular pain) caused by inflammation. A conservative analysis of patient outcomes suggests that at least 50% of patients will experience pain relief, although the exact degree of relief enjoyed depends on a number of factors. Their relative safety and efficacy makes epidural steroid injections an integral part of the non-surgical treatment of low back and radicular pain.

A broad statement that steroid injections to not work for low back pain can hinder decision making in those living with low back pain. With any procedure, a patient should research and fully understand all of the options available and then make the best choice for them with input from their physician. Success rates are different for each individual, so a broad, blanket statement that a procedure doesn’t work is wrong.

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Symptoms of Whiplash

October 8, 2015Back Pain

Have you or someone you know been involved in a motor vehicle collision? One of the most common injuries from a car crash is the damaging effect of whiplash. Whiplash occurs when a sudden, jarring movement of the head is sustained backward, forward or even to the side. Whiplash destabilizes the spine and causes severe pain.

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

Headache caused by neck problems is called cervicogenic or neck-related headache. It may be caused by injury to an upper cervical disc, facet joint or higher joints called the atlanto-occipital or atlanto-axial joints. Cervicogenic headache can also make migraines worse.

Arm pain and heaviness may be caused by nerve compression from a herniated disc, which is easy for your health care professional to diagnose. More commonly, arm pain is “referred” from other parts of the neck. “Referred pain” is pain that is felt at a place away from the injured areas but not resulting from pressure on a nerve. Pain between the shoulder blades is usually a type of referred pain.

Low back pain is occasionally seen and is quite common after whiplash and may be caused by injury to the discs, facet joints of the low back or sacroiliac joints.

Difficulties with concentration or memory can be attributed to the pain itself, medications you are taking for the pain, depression or mild brain injury. You might also experience irritability and depression.

Sleep disturbance can be a result of pain or depression. Other symptoms might include blurry vision, ringing in the ears, tingling in the face and fatigue.

Care should be sought immediately after an automobile accident since allowing the effects of whiplash to go untreated can induce long-term pain. The seriousness of the physical effects of an accident is not always known or felt immediately following. It can take days, weeks or even months for major symptoms to show up, which is why care is essential to maintaining the health of a spine that has been through a trauma.

Early care and treatment means full healing and recovery is quickly realized. Even a car crash that is seemingly minor with limited damage to the car itself can cause serious injury to the driver and passengers. Be aware and seek treatment if you’re having any symptoms.

If you have whiplash …

A spine care specialist can help relieve the pain of whiplash and regain range of motion. Follow your health care professional’s instructions carefully.
Remain active and do the exercises that you are taught to improve your posture and reduce the strain on your neck.
Remember that, with proper care and patience, you are likely to recover from whiplash.

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3 Simple Exercises for Better Posture

September 25, 2015Back Pain

Good posture will do more to keep you looking youthful as the years go by than a face-lift or botox. The benefits of maintaining your bone health can prevent the stooped posture that seems to go hand in hand with old age. You can prevent the rounding of the spine often caused by osteoporosis and the destruction of vertebrae in the upper and middle spine.

These are just a few simple moves you can do daily to help your posture.

Move 1: Shoulder Rolls: Stand or sit in a comfortable position. As you inhale, raise your shoulders and shoulder blades to your ears. On the exhale, pull your shoulder blades down and together. Repeat 5 to 10 times.

Move 2: Standing Side Bend: Touch your left hand to the side of your head. Ground both feet and guide your head to the right until you feel a stretch along the left side of your body and shoulder. Take three to five breaths. Switch sides.

Move 3: Chest Release: Raise your arms out to your side to just below shoulder height with palms facing forward. Exhale as you slowly rotate both hands at the wrists so your fingers point slightly behind you. Take three to five breaths.

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