Samaritan Healthcare | The Samaritan | Fall 2018

Fall 2018 7 Whoa! In an upright neutral position, an adult head weighs 10 to 12 pounds. As the head tilts forward, greater force is put on the neck. At a 30-degree angle, it’s about 40 pounds. At 60 degrees, it increases to 60 pounds. TECH NECK = #OUCH Hunching over devices for hours can put a painful strain on your neck and back. Here’s a look at how a forward head position increases the force on the neck. HEADS UP! These tips canhelpprevent tech-neck pain: ■ Fix your posture. Aim to keep your neck in an upright position. ■ Take breaks. Get up and stretch frequently. ■ Set limits. Reduce the excess time you spend on smartphones, tablets, or laptops. Sources: North American Spine Society; Surgical Technology International ,Vol. 25 ARE YOU HURTING NOW? If you’re living with neck or back pain, talk with your primary care doctor. You can check out all our orthopaedic and physical therapy services at samaritanhealthcare.com . LOSE YOUR PAIN—GET YOUR LIFE BACK If you are ready to enjoy life without chronic pain and want to learn how to schedule an appointment with Austin Miner, CRNA, or Stephanie Moore, CRNA, ask your provider today if you may be a candidate for a referral to our nonsurgical Pain Management Clinic! Position Neutral 30 degrees 60 degrees Force on neck 10 to 12 lbs. 40 lbs. 60 lbs. care physician or a specialist. “If physical therapy or conservative pain treatments have not been successful in allevi- ating pain, your doctor may then refer you to the Pain Management Clinic for outpatient treatment,” says Moore. “We will then work with you to identify your primary pain genera- tor and create a treatment plan while working closely with your referring provider.” WHAT KINDS OF TREATMENTS ARE USED? Treatments offered at the outpatient pain management clinic range from state-of-the-art COOLIEF radio-frequency ablation to a wide variety of injections, such as epidural steroid injections, or injections to the hip and shoul- der joints. Most injections are performed under fluoroscopy or ultrasound guidance to improve accuracy and target location. The COOLIEF cooled radio-frequency treat- ment is a leading-edge, noninvasive option for those with chronic pain. COOLIEF’s state-of- the-art, minimally invasive outpatient procedure uses cooled radio-frequency energy near the nerves that are causing the pain. Water circulates through the COOLIEF device while the tis- sues are heated, enabling it to treat a larger area than similar types of radio-frequency systems. This allows the nerves that cause the pain to be specifically affected—without overheating the surrounding areas—and within a week or two, it can provide lasting pain relief. “The good news is that after being treated with COOLIEF, most patients can return to their daily lives in a few weeks,” says Miner. “Many patients experience 12 to 24 months of pain relief and improved function.” Other pain management treatments include injections of anesthetic medicine or steroids around inflamed nerves, tendons, joints, or muscles—depending on what your doctor chooses as the most effective treatment for your chronic pain issues.