Dr. Fulghum’s Bare Back Facts

  1. As people age, back pain and loss of height may be due to thinning of the discs.
  2. A physical therapist does the greatest good for people with back pain by breaking bad habits of posture and poor movement patterns.
  3. When anti-inflammatory medicines, muscles relaxers, walking and/or exercises are instituted immediately, episodes of back pain due to a sprained muscle usually lasts no longer than six weeks.
  4. A sprained back and ruptured disc may produce similar symptoms, but the sprain usually heals within six weeks.
  5. Ruptured, slipped and herniated discs are the same things.
  6. A patient with a ruptured disc in the neck or back may have a normal spinal X-ray but will usually have an abnormal MRI scan.
  7. A ruptured disc or bone spur requires surgery only if the severe pain and weakness persists despite conservative measures such as medication, exercise and steroid injections.
  8. Very few people with ruptured discs require surgery.
  9. Sitting increases pressure in the lower back discs five times more than standing does.
  10. The first back operation is the most important.
  11. After lumbar disc surgery, most people return to their former level of activity within six weeks.
  12. People who smoke usually have back pain for longer periods.
  13. Women are not the only ones to get osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is preventable in both men and women when diagnosis is made early enough.

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Below is a letter from a Prevail Program Coordinator:

Dear Carolina Back:

This letter is to inform you of the positive experience that I had in coordinating with your clinical team.

Written information regarding the injured worker’s progress in the Prevail Program was sent in a timely manner. Allowing me to participate by telephone in the team's weekly meetings when they discussed this patient was invaluable. That allowed me to give feedback and make suggestions as she continued in the program.

I appreciate the fact that the clinical team acted on my suggestions and adjusted the treatment plan accordingly. I especially appreciated Dr. Catherine Duncan’s openness to exploring medication issues that I raised. This lead to mutual exchange for the benefit of the patient and I felt that it was collegial. Dr. Duncan set the tone for the entire clinical team and their willingness to share information and respond to my questions.

Thank you again for your assistance and your effective treatment for the injured worker.

Barbara Sage, MSW, LCSW
Care Coordinator
Professional Dynamics, Inc.