- Men's Health, Orthopedics, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogDo you suffer from back pain? Well, you’re not alone. About 90 percent of the population will experience lower back pain at some point. Symptoms can vary by cause, severity and duration, which can make treating back pain difficult. Symptoms of lower back pain can come on quickly, often unexpected. Back pain can interfere with sleep, work or even completing simple tasks like putting on your socks and shoes. Fortunately, in many cases back pain is due to a non-worrisome cause, even though the pain can feel intense and severe at times. Patients are often surprised to learn their pain could be due to a simple muscle strain or spasm, connective tissue inflammation, arthritis, or normal wear and tear of the structures in the spine. Even more surprising, it’s often difficult for doctors to identify the exact cause of pain. An X-ray and even an MRI can appear relatively normal despite severe pain, further clouding doctors’ understanding of back pain. If you experience back pain, don’t panic. Most episodes of low back pain will resolve within a few days, and 50 percent of people fully recover within two weeks. Here are some helpful tips to manage your symptoms: Keep moving. Staying in bed for more than 24 hours only prolongs your back pain. Walking and other low-impact movements can help your pain. While it may seem counter-intuitive, the more you move the better your back will feel. Just remember to not carry heavy objects, and lift everything with your legs, not your back. Use ice and heat over the site of your pain. Try alternating ice packs or heating pads—20 minutes at a time—to help reduce spasms and inflammation. Over-the-counter medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are more effective than acetaminophen. These non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Check with your doctor to make sure these medications are safe for you to take. If you’re not yet experiencing back pain now, there are a few things you can do to help prevent it in the future: Maintain a regular exercise schedule. Patients with a sedentary life style are at higher risk for back pain. Strengthening your core muscle groups—your back, stomach, glutes and thigh muscles—will help support the mechanical structures in your lower back and reduce your chances of having pain. Maintain a healthy body weight. Excess weight puts additional stress on your back. Avoid smoking and nicotine products. The chemicals from smoking and nicotine products constrict the tiny blood vessels that bring nutrients to the mechanical structures in your lower back. This can wear on the discs in your lower back and prevent healing after an injury. Avoid prolonged sitting at work. If you have a desk job, stand up and move around every 30 to 60 minutes. Author By Chad Patton, MD, medical director of Anne Arundel Medical Center’s Center for Spine Surgery and spine surgeon at AAMC Orthopedics. To reach his office, call 410-268-8862. Originally published May 2016. Last updated August 2018.
- OrthopedicsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogIf you’re a homeowner, it may seem as if your list of yard work never ends. Mowing, weeding, raking leaves and gardening are only a few of the common yard chores that take up both time and energy. But did you know your back and spine could be in danger of injury due to the high demands these chores put on your body? Here are some tips to help prevent back pain when you’re taking care of your yard: General Lifting Tips to Prevent Back Pain Squat or kneel when lifting light or heavy objects. Pull the object close to your body and then lift. The power should come from your legs, not your back. Maintain proper posture with a straight back by tightening your stomach muscles without holding your breath. Use smooth, not jerky, movements. Push instead of pull when possible. Leaf Raking Tips Use power from your arms and legs to pull the rake, not from your low back. Consider using a leaf vacuum or mowing your leaves instead of raking and sending them to the dump. Leaves are great free mulch for your winter garden and yard, or an excellent addition to your garden soil. Not only will you help save your back, but you’ll help the environment too. Squat or kneel on a foam knee pad to bag leaves. This will help you maintain good posture by keeping your back straight instead of bending at the waist. Don’t hold your breath when raking or lifting bags, inhale and exhale normally. Change position so you’re not always raking using one side of your body. Gardening Tips Kneel with a straight back and tight stomach muscles, while continuing to breathe normally. Move your body close to where you are weeding instead of reaching too far in front. Keep your body lined up straight with your work area to avoid twisting and pulling. Physical therapy can help with a wide range of injuries, increasing your mobility and decreasing your pain. Learn more about the techniques and services we offer at Luminis Health.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center has again been ranked among the top hospitals in the region by U.S. News & World Report. AAMC is ranked sixth on the list of Best Hospitals in Maryland. Maryland has about 70 hospitals, of which only 16 meet U.S. News’ standards and are ranked in the state. AAMC was also recognized as high performing for hip replacement, knee replacement, heart failure, and colon cancer surgery services. U.S. News & World Report’s rankings and ratings compared more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures and conditions. Regional rankings are determined by a hospital’s performance in the national rankings analysis and by its scores across nine procedure and condition areas. See the full ranking of Maryland hospitals. AAMC is consistently recognized for providing high-quality health care to the community in a variety of services. You can find recent awards and recognitions on our news page.
- Orthopedics, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogA small, hard rubber ball…long sticks…and the speed of soccer with the contact of hockey. Can you think of a more injury-inviting sport than lacrosse? Lacrosse continues to gain in popularity, making it one of the fastest growing team sports in the United States. U.S. Lacrosse, the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse, estimates nearly 772,000 athletes play the game nationwide. The more people who play, the more likely injuries will occur. These injuries are not all sustained during games. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), athletes are three to five times more likely to be injured in a game than in a practice. However, athletes are twice as likely to sustain injury in preseason practice versus regular season play. Most common injuries More than 50 percent: Lower extremities (hips down to toes) 25 percent: Upper extremities (shoulder to fingers) 15 percent: Head and neck Less than 10 percent: Trunk and back Ankle sprains, knee ligament or cartilage injuries, and concussions are the three most common lacrosse injuries. All of these injuries can sideline players and can even end a player’s season. Rules are changing While rules have been created to help protect athletes near the crease (area surrounding the goal on a lacrosse field), this is the typical “hot-spot” for injuries on the field. Preseason “no pad” practices also help decrease injuries. These practices condition players before contact occurs on the field to decrease the high preseason injury rate. Many programs can help decrease knee injury rates, especially in female athletes who are most prone to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. Injury prevention tips Get a sports physical exam from your physician. Train for strength and flexibility, both in and off season. Know the rules and play safe. Wear protective equipment properly and without modifications. Warm up and cool down…every time. Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated before, during and after exercise. Use proper techniques involved in the sport. Eat properly to allow for maximum performance and optimal recovery. Take off at least one day per week to allow the body to recover. Understand your body and limits. Don’t push through pain. We’re often taught to “play hard,” but the most important lesson is to play smart. Author By Benjamin Petre, MD, orthopedic surgeon with AAMC Orthopedics. Originally published March 22, 2016. Last updated Aug. 13, 2018.
- Senior CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThere are several immunizations recommended for adults. Some are specifically for older adults, to protect against diseases that can be more serious in seniors. Other vaccines may not have been available when you were younger. And adults with a higher-than-average risk for certain diseases may need additional vaccines. While immunizations protect you personally from diseases, they can also lower the risk of disease outbreaks in your community. This concept is sometimes referred to as “herd immunity.” Herd immunity protects people who cannot be vaccinated, such as babies who are still too young for certain shots or people with weak immune systems. See the chart below for recommendations for some of the most common vaccines. Then talk with your doctor about which immunizations you may need. Author Daniel Makas, DO, is a family medicine physician at AAMG River Family Physicians, with offices in St. Michaels and Easton. To reach him, call 410-820-7270. Originally published Sept. 16, 2016. Last updated Aug. 6, 2018. Save
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