Integrative Care for Headache Pain

Headache has been a bane of humankind for centuries and one of the most common conditions that affects the nervous system. The universally accepted premise is that pain sensitive components of the head and neck are what elicit headache.[1] It is estimated that 47% of adults will experience a headache at least once within the next year.[2]

In 1988, the International Headache Society (IHS) devised a uniform system for classifying headaches which has unequivocally aided headache research. However, the clinical application of this system is limited due to its length, intricate detail, contradictory elements, and lack of real-world observation and data.[3] In fact the World Health Organization admits that many people have their headaches inaccurately diagnosed by their health-care provider.[1] An understandable fact when primary care physicians (PCP) only receive an average of four hours of instruction on headache disorders while in medical school.[1]
This statistic in no way indicates incompetence, just inadequate training with regard to headache. A comprehensible fact given the other more fatal pathologies a PCP must learn about on an intricate level.

This does, however, lead one to theorize that the prescribed drug treatments utilized to combat headache pain may be improperly applied due to the many coinciding aspects of migraine and tension-type [4] headaches. Therefore these analgesics provide no lasting relief to the patient and out of their frustration to feel better easily leads to the development of a medication-overuse headache (MOH).[5]

An integrative approach to headache pain is the most logical way to manage this epidemic given the reasons and biologic elements that contribute to it. According to the research, especially in the case of migraine and tension-type headaches, this may be the most successful strategy to help patients overcome their headache pain.

Since the principal causative factor of headache is spine related, wouldn’t it make sense to have a physician who is specifically trained in spine related disorders be the hub of the diagnostic, management and treatment of headache pain. The doctors at Life in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness are trained Primary Spine Practitioners who can deferentially diagnosis, rule out serious pathology, and provide evidence-based management for the majority of headache patients while also integrating that care with their already established healthcare providers.

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[1] Swenson, Rand and Grunnet-Nilsson, N. 2005. The Management of Headache. In: Haldeman, Scott, et        al, eds. Principles and Practice of Chiropractic. New York: McGraw-Hill, pp. 999-1011

[2] "Headache Disorders." WHO. Ed. WHO Media Center. World Health Organization,
         Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

[3] McKenzie, Robin, Stephen May. The Cervical & Thoracic Spine – Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy.
            Raumati Beach: Spinal Publications New Zealand Ltd, 2006. Print.

[4] Most common type of primary headache. Its mechanism may be stress-related or associated with musculoskeletal problems in the neck. [World Health Organization]

[5] Most common type of secondary headache. [World Health Organization]

An Alternative to Pharmacologic Treatment of Headache Pain - Making the Case for Primary Spine Practitioner Care

Discusses that hazards of over the counter/prescription medication use for the treatment of headache pain and offers a drug-free and evidence-based alternative that may help you overcome your headaches ALL TOGETHER. This video provides research that substantially makes the case for Primary Spine Practitioner treatment of headache pain.

Preventing Shoulder Injury

The human shoulder is designed to provide a great deal of mobility. 

It can assume up to as many as 1,600 positions. However, in order to provide this function it is dependent upon an integrated system of ligaments, muscles, and tendons for support.

Very similar to a golf ball sitting on a tee, the rounded end of the upper arm moves within the scooped out socket of the shoulder blade. But, unlike the golf ball, the head of the arm must remain in a confined space and still move freely. Pain occurs when excessive demands are placed on the stabilizing structures (muscles, ligaments, joint capsule) of the shoulder, especially when placed at higher angles of flexion (forward elevation >90°) and/or extremeabduction (sideward elevation). Studies have shown that shoulder pain in the general population of some countries has been reported to be as high as 50%.

Here are some ways to prevent you from becoming part of this statistic:

• Stretchand strengthen regularly. The stronger and more flexible the joints are, the more readily they will be able to withstand impact or repetitive forces.
• When lifting: face the object, keep the back as straight as possible, and use the legs for lifting power.
• Do not reach to place or retrieve heavy objects stored up high or behind other objects (i.e. briefcase/purse in the back seat of your car). Position your body carefully and use a stable platform/step stool for elevated objects.
• Do not “yank” on an object. Think about the task at hand and if too heavy or precarious, get help!
• For seated tasks, use a supportive chair, particularly one with adjustable arm rests and seat. Position the body so that your buttocks are back as far as possible, adjust the seat so that the hips and knees are maintained at 90°-110°, and adjust the arm rests so that the shoulder can hang naturally and the elbows are 90°-110° to the keyboard.
• Take posture breaks and stretch for 5-10 minutes every hour.
• Know when you need rest and relaxation during non-working hours and maintain good physical condition to avoid strains and sprains.

Preventing Back Injury

The spine is literally a mechanical device and when we sit, stand, lift, or bend it obeys the orders we give it and assumes the position we place it in. Ergonomics is the science of obtaining a correct match between the human body, work-related tasks, and work tools both at home and on the job. When we do not perform activities of daily living correctly, slow innocent changes occur to the support structures of our body. Physical warnings (i.e. pain) begin to intensify and become exacerbated by repetitive activities, sustained postures, and other factors such as bodily reaction/bending, reaching, or twisting. 

Low back pain is a predominant specter in our society and nearly 80% of adults will experience it at some point in their lives. Here are some tips that my just keep you from becoming part of this statisti

• Stretch and strengthen your back regularly.
• Utilize good posture at all times. This means keeping the ear lobe lined up with the shoulder, shoulder with the hip, and hip with the ankle.
• Use your body in ways that reduce stress on your back. GOOD BODY MECHANICS!!

      
       - Sitting:

• Don’t sit in the same position for more than an hour. Change positions every 30 minutes.
• If your job requires sitting, utilize an adjustable chair that maintains the normal curve of your back. If necessary use a lumbar pillow or roll for added support.
• Keep your feet flat on the floor or footrest.
• Keep the top of your computer screen at eye level.

     
       - Lifting

• The spine was designed with three curves that contribute to its strength and stability. Keeping your head level reduces stress on your back while lifting.
• Reduce the force on your spine by holding objects close to your body. Remember, whether you feel it or not, gravity is always there and holding a load away from the body can increase its weight by 10 TIMES!
• The neck was designed to turn and bend in multiple directions to allow us to take in life from all angles. However, the low back was not, so when lifting don’t twist, shuffle your feet to turn keeping your nose between your toes. 

Spine Health Program Overview

A compelling argument could be made that the most inefficient and ineffective area of health care is spine pain management. Nationally, direct costs of spine care have gone up six to eight times over the last 20 years accompanied by an even more dramatic increase in indirect costs (lost work days, decreased productivity). The bottom line: we are putting significantly more money into spine care, with worse outcomes.

The Spine Care Program offered by Lifetime Health Medical Group and Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is designed to address this issue. The program is based on a spine care pathway created by Spine Care Partners© and currently being implemented in hospital systems, ACOs and PCMHs as well as privately operated PCP and specialty groups.

The core of the program is an evidence-based, patient centered spine pathway based on a biopsychosocial model of care. Strong emphasis is put on patient choice, education and motivation in self-care. Educational websites, applications and specific self-care tools are being developed to support these patient directed efforts. Care is co-ordinated by a Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP), a licensed health care provider (i.e. physician, physical therapist, chiropractor, nurse practitioner). The PSP is trained in the pathway and necessary diagnostic, treatment and communication skill sets to effectively manage most cases by treating 85+% of spine patients and triage the rest to appropriate care.

PSPs are the hub of the diagnostic, management and treatment wheel. Relational care concepts create the infrastructure of the PSP/patient interactions, using validated psychosocial questionnaires and motivational interviewing techniques to more accurately access the ‘whole person’ impact of the spine condition and modify treatment and language used to motivate patients to fully participate in their own recovery and future management.

Another unique element of the program is the use of a multidisciplinary team of spine care providers to provide fast, effective quality patient care. The team seamlessly interacts to deliver a virtual value add, process driven model of spine care. Team members are identified through data, experience and peer recommendation. As “fast track” providers, they ensure pre-screened patients access to services within one-two business days, allowing quicker access to second level providers than can be acquired through a typical PCP/specialist interaction. This, in turn, allows ‘teachable moments’ between PSPs and PCPs, outline alternative and evidence based options to early or non-evidence based use of surgeons, injections, imaging and opioids. Evidence-supported shared decision making tools are discussed with patients with each pathway provider encountered. These concepts are supported by employer and community based public spine health initiatives, when possible.

Our spine program quality goals are aimed at better value through optimizing patient provider match, invoking process to the full spectrum of spine care (adding efficiencies via pathway adherence), and identifying psychosocial issues or early signs of perpetuating factors. We then align patient specific resources to address these early indicators of possible chronicity. We are early in our program, but our 'fast track' neurosurgeons enjoy the higher quality surgical patients they are seeing. We feel the timing of surgical intervention is often sub-optimal (too early, too late...) and these front end efficiencies help to right size the timing and the care.

Using data collection tools to examine episodes of care will allow us to monitor cost shifting and overall spine care costs. Strict outcome and patient satisfaction data will allow us to derive value measures to the individual practitioner or provider group level. Quality of life data and spinal registries are on the horizon.

We are evolving the program to a community-wide Spine Care Program to improve clinical outcomes (function, quality of life), the patient experience (patient satisfaction, patient directed outcome measures), and guide appropriate utilization of healthcare resources related to spine care (high value care).

For questions, research articles, or additional information, please contact: Brian Justice brian.justice@excellus.com

Primary Spine Practitioner

The Primary Spine Practitioner (PSP) is, in my humble opinion, the evolution of the chiropractic profession. Over the last 100+ years every field of medicine has striven to make itself better in order to provide individuals seeking treatment the most evidence based care possible within their specialty. The days of the vertebral subluxation complex are over, the chiropractic profession needs to move beyond its 1895 mindset and embrace the concepts developed by the pioneers at Spine Care Partners.

My sincere thanks to Dr. Donald Murphy for his tireless effort in the advancement of our profession via his research and presentation of the facts to those who find chiropractic medicine harmful to the public. Also to doctors, Brian Justice and John Ventura for their community based diligence promoting our profession’s evolutionary change.

I would encourage every chiropractor to embrace this change and move beyond his or her own professional idiosyncrasies because you are in business for only one reason, your patients, and that is what being a PSP is all about!

Good News Regarding Back Pain

Eugene Carragee, MD (et al), Chief of the Surgical Division at Stanford Hospital and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Stanford University Medical Center published the findings of a five year observational study in the Nov-Dec 2006 edition of The Spine Journal. The study involved 200 subjects who had no lifetime history of Low Back Pain (LBP) but were at high risk for new LBP episodes. At the outset of the study each subject was given a physical exam and underwent both x-ray and MRI studies. Subjects were assessed every six months for five years via a detailed phone interview and those experiencing any new severe LBP underwent new MRI studies within 6-12 weeks of the onset of their symptoms. All subsequent MRIs were then compared to those taken at the outset of the study. Carragee, et al made the following conclusions:

• Individuals who experience minor trauma (motor vehicle collision, minor fall, lifting injury, etc.) are at NO increased risk for long term problems as long as the injury is rehabbed properly

• Degenerative changes exhibited on MRI DOES NOT increase the risk for long term problems

• Individuals with a “heavy job” are likely to experience persistent, minor LBP but they ARE NOT at increased risk for significant LBP or disability, especially if they do not have high fear beliefs regarding their job duties.

• The vast majority of patients experiencing low back injury exhibit NO CHANGE on MRI

- Essential Messages

• We want to overcome pain not “get rid of it”

• DON’T avoid activity; activity IS GOOD

• LBP although inconvenient and at times very painful can be OVERCOME

• Return to work IS therapy

            ~ You don’t get better in order to go back to work. You go back to work in order to get better!

            ~ Some pain upon returning to activity IS NORMAL