special feature
Back Basics Back pain is a health complaint so common that the National Institutes of Health estimate it may have visited as many as 85 percent of adults in the United States at least once in a lifetime. The causes are many. Some of us may injure our backs with one bad lift of a heavy box. Age-related changes to the spine’s system of bones and cartilage bring their own type of pain.
Here are some ways to keep your back strong: t Know how to lift safely. Never bend over an object at the waist; lower your body by bending at the knees. Keep the object close to the body. t Good posture also helps to reduce strain on the spine. When sitting, tip weight forward on the pelvis instead of leaning back; draw chin back instead of jutting jaw forward. t Exercise in ways that strengthen your back muscles, warming up slowly before beginning. Developing core muscles also supports a strong back. t A supportive mattress and pillow you sleep on can be beneficial to spine health.
t Think about what kind of shoes you wear—and how you carry a purse or shoulder bag. Wearing high heels and carrying a heavy bag on the same shoulder can contribute to stress on the spine. t Alternate between sitting and standing during the day. t Maintain a healthy weight.
Treatments for back pain can include:
t Physiotherapy, including massage, whirlpool baths, ultrasound t Chiropractic care t Acupuncture t Posture adjustment t Surgery, including fusion, decompression, microdiscectomy For more information about orthopaedic spine care, visit stanfordhospital.org/spinecenter or phone 650.725.5905. Join us at http://stanfordhospital.org/socialmedia. Watch the new Stanford Hospital Health Notes television show on Comcast: channel 28 on Mondays at 8:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. and Fridays at 8:30 a.m.; channel 30 Saturdays at 10:30 p.m. It can also be viewed at www.youtube.com/stanfordhospital.
10 minutes,” said Pam Stark. “He pulled everything up on a computer and explained everything. He didn’t hold back. And he said, ‘Anytime you need to call me, you can call me.’ When we left there, I told Jerry, ‘He’s the guy.’ “
At 68, with significant spine issues, Stark did present a challenge, even for an experienced surgeon like Cheng, but Cheng was impressed with Stark’s spirit. “Because of his deformity, he could barely walk, even with a walker, but he was still a vibrant individual. You could see that he was very motivated to accomplish a lot more in his life, that he really wanted to get something done that would allow him to move on with his life.”
diagnosed in 6 although genetics surgery, restored to to enter the body em more reliable.
In Mr. Stark’s first surgery, Cheng avoided the traditional large incision approach along the spine and, instead, made just three small incisions along the side of his torso. Through these incisions, in a relatively
An active life restored
Cheng had estimated that it might take With steady devotion to his post-surgical physical therapy and regular Stark up to a exercise, Stark has regained such mobility that those who meet him now year to regain have a hard time believing the degree of his previous disability, he says. normal function, but at short three-hour process, he was seven months out, it’s hard able to remove Stark’s damaged to tell that anything was discs and replace them with synthetever wrong with Stark. He’s ic spacers. “With these minimally been completely disciplined invasive techniques, where we can about his physical therapy achieve the same amount of correcand has found delight in tion, minimize the amount of blood returning, with full vigor, loss and the amount of anesthesia— to a full life, right down to that really enhances recovery,” details like jeans. Before Cheng said. his surgery, the curvature in his spine was so extreme he couldn’t fasten a belt “I’m so glad I did it. It’s like a new around his waist and could life—and I feel good when I look in only wear sweat pants. the mirror now.” Once he was upright again, one of the first purchases – Jerry Stark, patient, he made was a new pair of Stanford Hospital & Clinics Levis. He also takes some
pride in showing off the before and after X-rays of his spine. “This one shows the extreme curvature of the spine,” he explains. “Everything was moving.” Then he holds up the after image. “This is when Dr. Cheng was finished. Here’s the new Jerry Stark.” He has a few kinks in his mobility yet to work out. “I’m still in pain at different times, doing different things,” he said, “but I’m so glad I did it. It’s like a new life—and I feel good when I look in the mirror now.”
Norbert von der Groeben
– Ivan Cheng, MD, orthopaedic surgeon, Stanford Hospital & Clinics
Norbert von der Groeben
“With these minimally invasive techniques, where we can achieve the same amount of correction, we can minimize the amount of blood loss and the amount of anesthesia really enhances recovery”
In a second procedure five days later, Cheng did use a large incision along Stark’s spine to place titanium screws and rods to complete the straightening and stabilization. Again, the procedure was relatively short—about five hours.
Pam Stark, Jerry Stark’s former wife, stepped up to help him through the surgery—and the interviews with doctors that preceeded it. After they met Ivan Cheng, MD, at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, Pam Stark was so impressed with Cheng’s forthrightness— and compassion—that she told Jerry Stark, “He’s the guy.”
Stanford Hospital & Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiovascular care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. It is currently ranked No. 17 on the U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” list and No. 1 in the San Jose Metropolitan area. Stanford Hospital & Clinics is internationally recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into the care of patients. The Stanford University Medical Center is comprised of three world renowned institutions: Stanford Hospital & Clinics, the Stanford University School of Medicine, the oldest medical school in the Western United States, and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, an adjacent pediatric teaching hospital providing general acute and tertiary care. For more information, visit stanfordhospital.org.
December 12, 2012
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