Health

Advanced Treatment Options for Lower Back Pain in New Jersey

Published

2 years ago

June 25, 2021

Lower back pain may limit your mobility, productivity, and happiness in life. The pain may result from spinal stenosis, herniated disc, radiculopathy, or muscle strain. Samwell Institute for Pain Management offers treatment for lower back pain in Livingston, NJ, and Colonia, NJ, through a fully personalized treatment plan.

Types of Lower Back Pain

Back pain may differ in terms of the affected areas and source of pain. Common types of back pain include;

Muscle strain

In case of muscle strain and severe pain in the lower back, contact your provider for immediate medical attention. If left unchecked, muscle strain may develop into a serious condition limiting your mobility. Samwell Institute for Pain Management offers comprehensive treatment to address problems and challenges linked to damage on your vertebrae or ligaments.

Sciatica

Sciatica is associated with conditions affecting your sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve stretches from your lower back into the leg. You may experience persistent pain shooting down the leg(s), burning, or tingling in the leg or lower back. Damaging your sciatic nerve increases your chances of suffering from sciatica, hence the need for immediate medical attention.

Radiculopathy

Pinched nerve/radiculopathy occurs when the root(s) of a spinal nerve succumbs to pressure by a bulging disc, herniated disc, and other problems affecting the base of your spine. Radiculopathy may cause a sharp pain that comes and goes. The unexpected sharp pain in your lower back manifests when sneezing, coughing, or making sudden movements.

Spinal stenosis

As a result of spinal stenosis, nerve parts traveling through the spine grow narrow. Constriction of nerves compresses affected nerves and may cause numbness, pain, and tingling sensations. In case of spinal stenosis, your doctor may need to conduct comprehensive tests for osteoarthritis.

Herniated disc

A herniated disc is a condition that happens following damage to your vertebrae. Herniated discs oozing gel-like components may mean that your vertebrae are grinding together painfully.

You should seek immediate medical attention to avert the development of more serious complications, limited mobility, and productivity at work.

Treatment for Lower Back Pain

Samwell Institute for Pain Management customizes your treatment based on the causes of your pain, response to treatment, medical history, and family history of lower back pain.

Your treatment options may include;

Spinal cord stimulation is administered to block lower back pain sensations
Spinal cord stimulator. Your specialist at Samwell Institute for Pain Management may recommend the trial procedure to modify specific nerve signals.
Superion® InterSpinous Spacer (Vertiflex) is mostly recommended for addressing spinal stenosis.
Acupuncture
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Microdiscectomy with annuloplasty is a minimally invasive surgical option for herniated discs.
Platelet-rich plasma is administered at Samwell Institute for Pain Management for tissue healing.
Radiofrequency neurotomy of lumbar facets for facet joint pain

At Samwell Institute for Pain Management, Dr. Shah designs a pain relief treatment plan to deliver the best possible relief for lower back pain and related conditions.

Avoiding Future Lower Back Pain

Dr. Shah considers the specifics of your condition to determine the best strengthening exercise, recovery routine, and safety equipment for sporting activities.

If you need treatment for lower back pain in New Jersey, contact Samwell Institute for Pain Management through the online booking tool or over the phone.

Health

How to Help Your Child if You Think They Might Have Autism

Published

18 hours ago

February 3, 2023

Michelle Langton

Do you suspect your child might have autism, but you’re not sure? While only a professional diagnosis can tell you for sure, there are many ways you can support your child while you get a diagnosis and create a plan.

Here are some of the best ways to support a child you think might have autism.

Try a variety of therapies

While you’re in the process of getting a formal diagnosis, start trying different therapies with your child to see if anything resonates with your child. Every child with autism is different, so what works for one person may not work for another. There are several types of therapy you can try that are low-cost or free, including play therapy, speech therapy, floortime, ABA therapy, and more.

Although your child will need a formal Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis to get ABA therapy, it’s worth noting that once you have a diagnosis, you can get in-home therapy, which will make things easier on you and your child. Organizations like Golden Care Therapy in New Jersey will send an ABA therapist to your home to work with your child in their own environment. Getting in-home therapy will reduce the stress your child may feel from being in a new and unfamiliar place.

The more therapies you try, the better chance you have of getting a head start in supporting your child, whether or not they get diagnosed with autism.

Get your child some sensory toys

Kids with autism need to stim, which is just a fancy way of saying they need something to stimulate their senses in a way that allows them to mitigate and disburse the sensory overload they’re feeling. Without toys, kids will find ways to stim using just their bodies and their surroundings, but toys can be extremely helpful and less damaging depending on your child.

Every child is different, so it might take a bit to find toys they like. However, you can find some excellent suggestions from The Aspie World on YouTube. Some toys spin, squish, make noise, or are a series of magnets that can be reshaped. If your child is already fixated on certain types of toys, try to find something that matches their existing interest. For example, if they like soft textures, find some plush toys with a velvety-smooth texture. Try all types of toys to see if they help your child.

Seek a professional diagnosis

Getting a professional diagnosis is the best way you can support your child when you think they might have autism. Once you have a diagnosis, that opens the door to getting services that will help them immensely. Not just while they’re young, but it will help them in their adult life, too. For example, if your child moves out on their own, and they struggle with self-care and household chores, they’ll need a professional diagnosis to get in-home services from the state.

A professional diagnosis will tell you if your child is on the autism spectrum, or if they have a different disorder. Depending on the therapist you choose, they’ll likely be able to diagnose your child with any relevant comorbidities, which are common with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Learn about autism

Next to getting your child professionally diagnosed, learning about autism will help you support your child in many ways. There are many misconceptions about autism that can make it hard to spot the signs of autism. One of the best people to learn from is Tony Attwood. He’s considered the leading expert on Autism Spectrum Disorder and is extremely knowledgeable.

One of the most important things you can learn from Attwood is how to spot Autism in girls. For various reasons, it’s harder to spot autism in girls and some girls don’t get diagnosed until they’re in their 40s. Attwood gave an excellent talk about Asperger’s in girls back in 2015, and you’ll learn a lot from this speech.

Although Attwood’s speech focuses on Asperger’s, it is part of the autism spectrum. As a diagnosis, Asperger’s has been officially merged into the diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

Support your child in every way you can

When you suspect your child might have autism, it’s important to support them in every way possible. While you’re seeking a professional diagnosis, start trying simple solutions, like play therapy and toys for stimming. See how they respond. Once you get a diagnosis, your child’s therapist will suggest next steps to help your child long-term.