Is The Web A Useful Resource for Medical Information?

December 8, 2014 / Thomas Cohn, MD

The web can be a very good place for information, but one has to be careful at which places they look for info. There are many commercial based sites that try to sell products based on your search criteria. Other sites are the equivalent of an infomercial for a medical practice or institution, while some may simply be a personal blog. Various organizations also sponsor sites, and some are very good, while others are pushing their philosophy toward a certain problem as the only true solution. The best sites seem to try to explain the science behind a problem and explain the variety of solutions available.

The sites that I have found the best are sponsored by the government or large medical organizations. For instance, the Mayo Clinic has a huge amount of information on a variety of topics. They write informational pages on various topics, like medical problems, the typical history, diagnostic studies that may be needed and treatment options. Other good places to look for factual information include insurance companies, health organizations, medical groups, and large universities. Many of these places have fact sheets available on topics of interest that are good reference material. The U.S. government also sponsors information, often from the National Institutes of Health, on a variety of issues.

Then there’s the gray area source of Wikipedia. Generally this source can is an excellent place for information and entries are written by top notch experts on a disease, however, it can be also written by someone who actually has no medical background and just decided to write an article for the site. The information found on this site should be verified with other sites and not be taken as a sole source of data.

The Internet and Chronic Pain

The internet can provide an excellent resource of information for the self motivated person. I have found it useful for baseline information about various pain conditions. I also use it as a resource for patients who want more information on certain topics, like exercises for low back pain. Youtube also has videos that demonstrate a variety of things from exercises to surgical procedures.

Cellphones have brought the internet to the palm of the hand. For a quick definition or piece of information it can be wonderful. Medical providers can find a variety of references for free that help make diagnoses, identify medications and there uses, and for dosing information. That said, reliable and free information in app form is hard to find. iPhone apps are a huge business, but I’ve found no beneficial free exercise apps for patients with chronic pain. There are some inexpensive apps for exercise, but read the reviews first to see if they are going to be helpful for your situation.

The internet is like the Wild West from long ago. There are many very good sites and areas to find educational information about a variety of conditions. The better sites are free and often sponsored by large medical institutions, such as the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins University, other not-for-profit organizations or the U.S. government. Some doctors are also prolific writers and work at trying to educate their patients through the web. Unfortunately, in the pain world, there are also some terrible sites that are forums to gripe about a condition, and the doctors who “know nothing.” The internet can often be a very good starting place for information. It is also a good place to develop questions such that you can have a good discussion with your doctor about what to do next in your management.

Texting May Be Causing Your Neck Pain

December 5, 2014 / Thomas Cohn, MD

As more and more people are becoming glued to their smartphones, medical professionals are warning people about a new condition called “text neck.”

If you’re at school or the breakroom at work it probably doesn’t take long to see more than a few individuals hunched over their cellphone. Responding to texts and sending that work email are important tasks, but you may be jeopardizing your neck health if you hunch your head down while typing away.

“It isn’t the best for our posture,” said Linda Scholl, a University of Utah physical therapist. “It’s not correct posture, but kind of leaning forward.”

Dr. Kenneth Hansraj, a spine surgeon in New York, coined the condition “text neck.” He says the condition is caused by tilting a your head down while staring at your smartphone. According to Dr. Hansraj, teens are especially at risk, as some teens have spent an additional 5,000 hours on their phone compared to older adults.

Scholl agrees, saying teens and colleges students are spending more time than ever buried in their smartphones.

“People are spending more time leaning forward, paying attention to what’s in front of them, instead of having their posture upright and looking at the world around them,” Scholl said.

Scholl noted that people have hunched their heads in the past – be it by reading books or working at their desks – but these activities rarely cause a person’s neck to be in a poor position for such a long duration.

Text Neck Pain

Scholl went on to discuss just how much pressure you can put on your neck by tilting it forward. According to her, the human head weights about 12 pounds, and the farther forward you lean, the more weight is placed on the cervical spine. Once your tilt reaches 60 degrees, “you have about 60 pounds worth of pressure going through your spine. So that soft tissue has to hold the weight of the head in this forward position.”

In addition to neck issues, poor head position can lead to other side effects like reduced lung capacity, neurological problems and heart disease.

Preventing Text Neck

Text neck is a serious problem, but it can be prevented pretty easily. Follow these tips to avoid neck problems while texting.

Mentally note where your neck location is every time you use your phone. When using your phone, try to keep it out in front of you. If it’s in your lap, you’re going to need to lean forward to use it.

Regularly stretch and exercise your neck. Rotate your shoulders and neck at regular intervals.

Don’t be glued to your cell phone. Sure, sometimes it’s very necessary to be on your phone, but the more you’re on it, the more likely you are to subconsciously slip into a poor posture.

If you suffer from neck pain, take a close look at your cell phone use. You may be doing harm without even realizing it!

Related source: Deseret News

Smoking Increases Risk of Chronic Back Pain

December 2, 2014 / Thomas Cohn, MD

A new study conducted at Northwestern University found further evidence that smokers are at an increased risk for developing chronic back pain.

While medical experts have known for a while that smoking increases a person’s risk of chronic back pain, this study examines why that’s the case. Researchers were keen to learn more about the link between back pain and smoking as back pain affects more than 80 percent of the population at some point in their life. According to the folks at the American Chiropractic Association, back pain is the number one reason for missed work and the second most common reason for doctor’s visits.

Smoking Study

For their study, researchers examined 160 individuals who had developed subacute back pain, which is defined as back pain lasting between 1-3 months. In addition, researchers analyzed 32 participants with chronic back pain – back pain for more than five years – and 35 people with no symptoms of back pain. Patients were asked to complete a health and wellness questionnaire once a year for a period of five years, and they also underwent MRI brain scans to analyze brain activity in the nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex. These areas play a role in a person’s addictive behavior and motivated learning.

Without getting too technical, researchers say there is a crucial connection between these two areas of the brain. The stronger the connection between the too, the less resilient a person is to chronic pain. According to researchers, smokers had a stronger connection between these two areas of the brain compared to non-smokers, meaning smokers were more likely to develop chronic pain. In fact, researchers suggest that a smoker is three times more likely to develop chronic back pain than a non-smoker.

But there is good news. Dr. Bogdan Petre said the connection between the nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex can be decreased by kicking the habit.

“We saw a dramatic drop in this circuit’s activity in smokers who – of their own will – quit smoking during the study,” said Petre. “So when they stopped smoking, their vulnerability to chronic pain also decreased.”

Petre concluded that his team’s findings are only further evidence that smokers are putting themselves at risk for chronic back pain.

“We conclude that smoking increases risk of transitioning to chronic back pain, an effect mediated by corticostriatal circuitry involved in addictive behavior and motivated learning.”

Insurance Coverage and Pain Management

November 26, 2014December 3, 2014 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Every time someone goes to the doctor, they want to know if the visit and treatment is covered by insurance. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to that question. In the distant past, care was much simpler and each visit with your family doctor had a small set cost that covered everything preformed.

Today it is a complex financial industry with thousands of players each getting paid, from the insurance industry, to the medical suppliers, to the manufacturers of every widget and needle to lastly, the physician.

The cost of everything gets itemized and factored into the cost of each visit and treatment. The insurance industry and Medicare have complex formulas to figure out how much every service is worth and what can be charged. Unlike going to an auto mechanic who tells you the cost of the parts and labor, the medical industry is very different. A physician can determine how much it will cost in order to provide a service, but each insurance company decides how much they are willing to pay on their end, and the doctor is stuck with that amount. Rarely is a medical service fully reimbursed to the provider; often it is at 30-40 cents on the dollar.

Am I Covered?

The first question on coverage is whether you have medical insurance. Every person now can qualify for insurance and there are a variety of plans available. Total cost and coverage are the remaining issues. The benefit of the Affordable Care Act (nicknamed Obamacare) is now everyone can get medical insurance and no one can be denied. Unfortunately, that means everyone needs to understand the insurance they have purchased, and realize every service provided is set by the coverage that you bought. Most physicians try to work with the patient and insurance to determine the best option in management of any medical problem. To stay in business, most physicians must have specialists in their offices to make sure they have the necessary prior authorizations in order to see and treat an individual.

The insurance industry has set a guideline that a service should be covered if it is deemed medically necessary. The amount of coverage depends on the individual plan, deductibles and co-payments required. Furthermore, the service may need to be approved by a primary physician in addition to the ordering physician, and it may need special approval by an insurance company’s medical expert.

Wait, What?

At this point, most people are totally confused and are concerned about the cost of seeing a doctor. If you have a problem that is not going away, then you should always start with your primary physician. A good history and physical exam should tell most physicians what is wrong and the treatment that will solve 90 percent or more of the problems without expensive intervention. If the problem does not resolve, then involving the next level of experts, tests and treatments may be necessary. Obtaining referrals, checking for authorizations and determining your copays and deductibles are now issues. Both your referring doctor and specialists can help explain the particular costs that may occur if you contact their business offices.

If you have insurance, the cost of your medical care is dependent on the insurance coverage, especially the amount each visit costs due to the deductible amount and copay required. Each insurance company sets a reimbursement rate for every conceivable medical service provided. The answer to how much anything will cost you can only come from a physician’s billing office and your insurance company. Unfortunately this is not a simple answer. If you ask a physician how much it will cost you, they will have no idea since they get paid at the whim of each and every insurance payer at different rates for the same services.

Doctor Ratings and the Importance of Communication

November 24, 2014 / Thomas Cohn, MD

Everyone wishes to have the best doctor available. In Minnesota there are multiple rating services available that score doctors, however, which rating systems are the best? Some services rate doctors on their compliance to medical guidelines such as those established for asthma and diabetes. Other services monitor the cost of a physician’s per patient billing to the insurance company, while others are patient reviews. The real question is, what will make you happy with your choice of physician?

Important qualities in a doctor includes their knowledge, skill, understanding of a patient’s condition and their communication skills. Almost every physician will have a good basic set of knowledge about any medical condition that they treat. In any profession, from car mechanics to teachers, 90 percent of the practitioners are good and 10 percent are exceptional and have a special talent in that field. Skill level is similar; most physicians have good techniques, but some just know the small things that make all the difference when doing any procedure, and are just better than others.

Understanding a patient’s condition is somewhat complex. First, a doctor must be prepared. This includes reviewing a patient’s medical record and knowing their history. This is ongoing, and the doc should know this information at each visit. Medical records are helpful, but personal notes may be needed in addition to fill gaps. Experience is also important, as is continuing to grow in their skill by attending conferences and seminars on a regular basis.

Doctor-Patient Communication

Communication between the doctor and patient is critical in quality of care. Most important is that communication is not one directional. To treat a patient, a doctor needs to know what is wrong, what are the symptoms, and what is actually working correctly. Since doctors often have limited time with each patient, they will need to guide the conversation to obtain the relevant information. Being honest is also extremely important. There are often multiple sources to confirm data, and if the information provided is not truthful, a doctor will likely be guarded in their care. Patients also need to ask questions about their condition and be open about their recovery.

Ratings of doctors are of limited value. The final rating that matters is how well you communicate with your doctor and whether or not you trust his ability and knowledge. Sometimes, you can find the right physician without any trouble. Other times, word of mouth and information from friends who know the practitioner is critical. Ratings on the web may be inaccurate or forums for the unhappy patient. No physician will be perfect, but finding the right physician may be a matter of how well both you and the physician communicate with each other.