Back Talk Doc

Even with their in-depth medical training, doctors can brush off accidents and deny the possibility of a lumbar issue. It’s not until the pain persists or worsens that they come to terms with the possibility of having a longer-term injury. 

Doctors can even experience a sense of shame about having a spine problem while being a spine expert. 

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia invites his colleague and friend Dr. Joseph Cheatle, a neurosurgeon at Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, to discuss the personal challenges that he has faced with low back pain. 

Dr. Cheatle’s injury occurred following a skiing accident where they were hit by another skier. Initially, he brushed off the incident, but over time, he began experiencing increasing discomfort in his back and buttocks. As the pain worsened, he realized the challenge of diagnosing his own condition.

Even after finally seeking professional help with his injury, which included physical therapy and an MRI, Dr. Cheatle was still not entirely upfront with his own family. But they noticed changes in his behavior, including staying in his car longer after arriving home from work because it hurt to get up, and having to excuse himself to go lay down. 

Ultimately it was conservative therapies, including spinal injections, that helped Dr. Cheatle reduce his pain and begin to recover. It was at this point that he was able to reintegrate exercise into his life with the help of physical therapy. 

The experience has made him a better doctor, allowing him to provide more meaningful support and encouragement to patients during the healing process. He emphasizes that the emotional aspect of recovery is often as challenging as the physical.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Joseph Cheatle, MD

What he does:As a board-certified neurosurgeon at Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates, Dr. Cheatle, provides adult neurosurgical care. His clinical special interests include treating brain tumors, degenerative spinal disorders, transsphenoidal surgery, and spinal cord stimulation.

Company: Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“I'm a better doctor, for sure. And what I mean by that is that I can sympathize and not empathize.”

Connect:Website 

⚓ Anchor Points ⚓

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode 

⚕️ Episode Insights ⚕️

[04:28] Brushing off an injury: Dr. Cheatle shares how he was involved in a skiing accident that he originally brushed off — before realizing it could be something more serious. 

[08:45] Discovering new humility: Dealing with an injury of his own made Dr. Cheatle more compassionate towards his patients, as he could more directly relate to the pain they were feeling.

[10:14]Asking for help:After attempting to deal with the injury on his own, Dr. Cheatle sought our professional assistance for his recovery including physical therapy and an MRI. 

[11:16] Phenomenal physical therapists:For those looking to learn more about physical therapy and neck pain, Dr. Lakhia mentions additional podcast episodes on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and neck pain. 

[12:51] Did you get a piercing?:Dr. Cheatle and Dr. Lakhia discuss battlefield acupuncture, which uses small needles that can resemble ear studs. You can learn more in Episode 65 of Back Talk Doc on Battlefield Acupuncture for Pain with John Howard.

[15:03] Practice what you preach:The doctors discuss why non-operative care can be the right choice for people and why in his case, Dr. Cheatle decided to opt for conservative therapies first. 

[18:07] Finding relief:A series of spinal injections administered by Dr. Lakhia did end up providing some relief. Dr. Cheatle shares his experience being on the patient side of the procedure for the first time. 

[23:58] Building strength through pain:Reintegrating exercise into your routine is an important part of recovery from an injury. A healthy way to do so is discussed in more detail in another episode on Back Pain and the Sacroiliac Joint with Tanner Holden, PT.

[28:27] Addressing the questions:Dr. Cheatle and Dr. Lakhia address questions from the audience, including what can be done to address severe pain, how to treat recurrent pain after surgery, and why pain can flare up in the morning. 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Empathy and Compassion: The Journey from Spine Patient to Provider with Physician Assistant Lindsay Howard

👉Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 

👉Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

👀Check us out on the 15 Best Back Pain Podcasts list!

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

What happens when the doctor becomes the patient? In the first episode in this new series, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia discusses personal back care journeys with some of his esteemed colleagues.

On this episode, he talks with Lindsey Howard, PA-C, a physician assistant in the physiatry department at Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Care. Her spine care journey began with scoliosis. 

When she was 12, she was diagnosed with scoliosis during a routine school screening for the condition. Her spinal curve was 40 degrees and quickly progressed to 72 degrees. Her doctor recommended surgery or, he told her parents, she likely wouldn’t live past age 30.

She hadn’t experienced much pain, only discomfort, from her scoliosis, but she remembers some of her post-op pain clearly. It’s helped her become more empathetic with patients.  

“The resident was trying to peel off the bandage on my back — that was very painful,” she said. “So now when I remove bandages, I'm very, very sensitive to that for patients.” 

Thankfully, surgery allowed her to get back to a sporty lifestyle and allowed her to be a cheerleader in high school. And the experience as a whole inspired her to work in medicine. 

Originally, her plan was to go to medical school, with the goal of helping other girls who suffered from similar issues. But she ended up becoming a physician assistant because she liked to spend more time with patients in their care transitions. 

Tune in to this episode of Back Talk Doc to hear more of Lindsey’s story with scoliosis and how she uses that difficult experience to be a better care provider today.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Lindsey Howard, MPAS, PA-C

What she does:Lindsey has been a physician assistant with Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates since she graduated in 2013. She works in the physiatry department with Drs. Wiercisiewski and Sumich. 

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates 

Words of wisdom:“The main reason I got into this is because I don't want anybody to ever feel [alone]. I think whenever you go through a major illness or any major medical issue, you can sometimes feel really alone.” 

Connect:Website |  LinkedIn

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Talking Artificial Disc and Facet Replacement Surgery with Dr. Vince Rossi. 

👉 Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 

👉 Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only).

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

👀 Check us out on the 15 Best Back Pain Podcasts list!

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

As non-urgent medical procedures slowed during the height of COVID in 2020, some docs faced a lot of stress. Vince Rossi, MD, took advantage of his more-open schedule to get an MBA. 

So, why did Dr. Rossi want to pursue another degree after becoming a successful neurosurgeon? He wanted to better understand the health care system in which he works, believing that knowing the business world would benefit both his patients and his practice. That desire to benefit his patients led him to do a year of his residency in Australia. He was able to see a higher volume of arthroplasty procedures in a shorter period of time. 

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and his guest, Dr. Vince Rossi, talk about artificial disc and facet replacement surgery. Dr. Rossi is a minimally invasive spine surgeon at Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates (CNSA). 

Dr. Rossi’s entire philosophy surrounds improving the lives of his patients — from understanding the business and back end of things to ensuring each one of his patients has explored all conservative treatments before even considering spine surgery. 

“If there's a reasonable option for any sort of interventional procedure or injections, then those are all the first first line treatment for that patient,” explains Dr. Rossi. “For me, the younger the patient is, the longer I make them wait before we talk about arthroplasty. Even if they've done six months of conservative treatments and they're a young, mid-20s-year-old, I want them to give their body as much chance as possible to heal that on its own.”

Tune into this episode of Back Talk Doc to hear Dr. Rossi discuss arthroplasty, his typical route for diagnosis, and what he would tell any potential patient about the pros and cons of this newer intervention. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Vince Rossi, MD, MBA

What he does:Dr. Rossi is a neurosurgeon practicing minimally invasive spine surgery at Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates (CNSA). He believes in using the least invasive methods to help patients reclaim their pain-free lives. Dr. Rossi focuses on motion preservation, specializing in non-fusion techniques such as endoscopic spine surgery and disc replacement.

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates (CNSA)

Words of wisdom:“When patients come to CNSA and get motion preservation options there, they're not just getting someone that knows how to implant these devices, they're getting an organization that really has [made] this technology available locally, nationally, and internationally.”

Connect:LinkedIn

⚓ Anchor Points ⚓

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode 

⚕️ Episode Insights ⚕️

[03:22] Bit of background:From his MBA to his rich family history in the medical field, to his residency in Australia, Dr. Rossi introduces himself and his history to listeners. 

[06:42] Diving in:Dr. Rossi gets into the episode’s main topic: arthroplasty. He provides an overview of what it is and explains why it is so relevant in the world of spinal care.

[09:23] Presentations and responses:Based on different types of pain presentations, Dr. Rossi shares how he might triage a patient based on their symptoms. 

[17:05] Before innovations:Prior to the emergence of arthroplasty options and still today, the standard of care for degenerative discs is physical therapy, over-the-counter pain medications, and lifestyle modification.

[20:54] Pros and cons:Dr. Rossi discusses some advantages and disadvantages of arthroplasty versus fusion, something he does with each of his patients. 

[27:12]  The brick and mortar:Just like hip and knee implants, lumbar arthroplasty devices have titanium and plates with a high polyethylene polymer core in the middle. Dr. Rossi breaks down what the device is made of, as well as what it looks like. 

[34:29] Maintenance:Dr. Rossi maintains a healthy back through proper lifting techniques and core strengthening exercises. As he reminds patients, maintenance is cheaper and easier than repair.  

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode An integrative approach to low back pain with Dr. Elizabeth Yurth

👉Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 

👉Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

👀Check us out on the 15 Best Back Pain Podcasts list! 

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

You get hurt, and your instinct is to blame the injury itself, right? For Dr. Elizabeth Yurth, it’s a much broader picture than just the injury. 

While Dr. Yurth got her start in orthopedics and sports medicine, she took a pivot about 15 years into her career. She started looking at ways to keep patients out of her office, rather than coming back in. 

“I was patching people back together, throwing them back in the fire, and they're back a month later,” she says of her patients. “So I started to ask, could we do better? Could we make people healthier? That way, they could actually heal more completely and they wouldn't keep coming back into my office.”

Rather than looking at just the injury, Dr. Yurth looks at the whole inflammation framework. And fortunately, she’s found that you don’t need expensive lab tests to figure out if your hormones are the source of your inflammation. Basic lab work, like CBC, metabolic panels, and glucose tests, can indicate whether hormones are off balance — and at a low cost. 

Her best advice to maintain health before you even hit the doctor’s office? Keep moving. It’s tempting to stop exercising when you’re injured, but something is better than nothing. Find the movement that works for you and stick to it. Why? Because your muscle acts like an organ, and building and stimulating muscle can help reduce pain. 

“Stop moving and you will die,” she says. “You’ve got to do something … you've got to move your muscles.”

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, hear some of Dr. Yurth’s top tips for staying out of the doctor’s office, such as identifying and minimizing sources of inflammation and treating your muscle as an organ.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Elizabeth (Betsy) Yurth, MD

What she does:An expert in orthopedics and spine care, Dr. Yurth is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Boulder Longevity Institute. She’s fellowship trained in anti-aging medicine, regenerative medicine, and cellular medicine, with over 500 hours of continued education in longevity, nutrition, epigenetics, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and regenerative orthopedic procedures. 

Company: Boulder Longevity Institute

Words of wisdom:“We have absolute certainty and absolute proof now that the cause of the degenerative disease is not the trauma. It’s the immune response to the trauma. If you can change that immune response, then you shouldn't see the trauma go on.”

Connect:LinkedIn | Instagram

Subscribe & Contact

👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Food Elimination and Pain with Heather Wolcott.

👉Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 

👉Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

As a holistic nutritionist, as well as a health and wellness coach, Heather Wolcott understands concerns about all-or-nothing lifestyles and dietary changes. Instead, Heather believes in promoting a well-rounded lifestyle — and understanding that nothing is forever. 

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and his guest, functional health coach Heather Wolcott, talk about nutrition and its effect on health, wellness, and even pain. Much of their discussion focuses around food elimination diets.

Heather understands that the term “elimination diet” can be daunting for some people. But, she says, this form of lifestyle change is really just a tool to identify food sensitivities and intolerances that can cause brain fog, joint pain, rashes, anxiety, bloating, and fatigue. 

As with all things in wellness and nutrition, the key is balance. Even elimination dieting doesn’t have to last forever, says Heather. For some people, it may only last a couple of weeks. 

Everyone is different, and no two paths to health are the same. But Dr. Lakhia and Heather have both observed that certain foods seem to cause more problems than others. 

Tune in to learn how you might be able to improve your lifestyle by simply cutting certain foods. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Heather Wolcott

What she does:As a holistic nutritionist for more than 20 years, Heather has been helping clients improve their health and achieve their nutrition goals. She is a National Board Certified health and wellness coach and an ADAPT-Certified Functional Health Coach. 

Company: Heather Wolcott

Words of wisdom:“I love to really dial into nutrition because it's super complicated and complex when you get granular with it, but it doesn't have to be. I think people just need to be more educated.”

Connect:Website | Instagram

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Evaluating Supplement Quality with Dr. Tod Cooperman

👉Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 

👉Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com. 

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

Nutritional supplements are a recurring topic in discussions between doctors and patients. Many people incorporate supplements into the daily routine when they are looking to enhance their well-being or cure an ailment. But how do you know if you’re using the right nutritional supplements? 

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and Dr.Tod Cooperman, MD discuss how to choose effective supplements, and what factors you should consider when looking to add supplements to your diet. 

Dr. Cooperman is the president, founder, and editor-in-chief of ConsumerLab.com, which is dedicated to independent reviews of supplements. He pursued the testing and review of supplements after seeing the impact of the DSHEA act in the 1990s, which allowed companies to make claims about products that they previously weren’t able to, leading to an explosion of interest in the health supplement market.   

Understanding what goes into supplements can be a complex science in an industry that lacks FDA regulation. The team at ConsumerLab.com has set up detailed testing procedures at specialized labs to identify which products on the market are delivering on their claims. 

Despite a boom in popularity, Dr. Cooperman explains he’s not a fan of gummies because their dosage can be inaccurate due to the semi-liquid environment of the product. 

“There are not a lot of requirements from the FDA, but a product does have to have 100% of what it claims,” says Dr. Cooperman. “So companies don't want to produce a product that's going to fall below that; otherwise, they're in violation of the regulations. So they put in more.” 

Dr. Cooperman also shares insight into how to make an informed purchase, what to be wary of when shopping online for supplements, and what supplements he takes personally.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name: Dr. Tod Cooperman, MD

What he does:Dr. Tod Cooperman is a nationally recognized and respected researcher, writer, and speaker on consumer healthcare issues. Dr. Cooperman is a graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine, receiving his M.D. in 1987. He also received his Bachelor's degree from Boston University with a major in Medical Sciences and a minor in Economics. Recognizing a lack of quality standards and oversight in the U.S. dietary supplement industry, Dr. Cooperman founded ConsumerLab.com in 1999, guiding it to become the leading independent evaluator of dietary supplements and nutritional products.

Company: Consumer Lab

Words of wisdom:“Very rarely is there a situation where there are limits on contaminants. That’s left up to the manufacturer, so you’re at the mercy of the supplement company to do the right thing by you when you're buying a supplement. Some companies will cut corners or use simple methods, and others hold their products to a much higher standard.”

Connect:Website |  LinkedIn

Subscribe & Contact

👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Back Pain and the Sacroiliac Joint with Tanner Holden, PT.

👉 Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 

👉 Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

Despite its limited range of movement, the sacroiliac joint is prone to instability and is often a source of back pain in patients. 

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and Tanner Holden, PT from Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates discuss the SI joint itself, some common causes of SI joint pain, and what the latest science has to offer for management. 

Patients can experience SI joint pain during or after pregnancy, pain from the joint itself, or autoimmune pain. However, diagnosing SI joint pain is rarely straightforward because medical imaging is not typically helpful in diagnosing SI joint pain. The pain can present in unexpected places and is often best diagnosed with the help of pain provocation tests. 

Once diagnosed, patients can opt for regular pain-reducing injections for a quick solution. A more holistic treatment plan looks at patient goals and finds ways to improve movement over time. This may also include lifestyle modifications to remove the irritants or activities that cause the pain to flare up. Since SI joint pain sources vary from patient to patient, plans are customized to individual needs. 

Tanner believes that healthy movement, activity, and strength are key to living an active and pain-free life. He and Dr. Lakhia discuss how this approach puts the patient first and removes the need for unnecessary supports like braces and belts. Instead, a strength-based approach allows patients to take their care into their own hands, resulting in fewer medical visits.  

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Tanner Holden, PT, DPT, OCS, CSC

What he does:Tanner is a residency-trained Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist serving Charlotte and the surrounding area. He holds a board certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. 

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“We like to get people in and out and living their life.”

Connect:Website|  LinkedIn 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Rethinking Osteoarthritis and Degenerative Disc Disease.

👉 Take Dr. Lakhia’s 14 Day Challenge to get your health back on track. 

👉 Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

If your back has been hurting and you haven’t been able to find relief, or you have chronic recurrent arthritic pain, it may be time to explore new options. 

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia hosts a solo episode to reframe how patients should be thinking about osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. He proposes that patients move away from thinking of these conditions as the inevitable result of wear and tear, and instead look at them through the lens of metabolic dysfunction. 

Using a framework focusing on food and supplementation options, Dr. Lakhia discusses the connection between what we put in our bodies and the pain that we feel. 

Two of the biggest culprits for inflammation in the North American diet are gluten and dairy. Studies have shown that removing these from your diet can reduce back pain. Dr. Lakhia discusses the benefits of adding collagen, EGCG, melatonin, and a botanical nutrient combination that uses cannabidiol and a fatty acid known as palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). Each supplement is backed by research and has shown promise for treating back pain. 

“I think those are some really exciting options to consider beyond the typical thought process of just vitamin D, turmeric, and fish oil,” says Dr. Lakhia. For those interested in learning more, check out the 14 Day Challenge that is available on Dr. Lakhia’s website.  

💡 Your Host 💡

Name:Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia, DO

What he does:As a board-certified physiatrist and integrative medicine physician at Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates, Dr. Lakia specializes in nonsurgical approaches to spine and orthopedic conditions and offers a diverse range of innovative treatments for back pain, including acupuncture, spinal injections, and prescriptive exercise. Dr. Lakhia favors a conservative, holistic approach to spine care and understands the importance of getting to know each patient. He believes that listening to a patient without judgment is essential to finding the best course of treatment for back pain relief and a return to a normal life.

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“We know that patients and consumers nowadays are spending lots of time on the internet downloading, digesting information at a very, very rapid pace. So as clinicians, it's our duty to keep up as best we can with the evolving literature in the space.” 

Connect:Website | LinkedIn 

Subscribe & Contact

👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Bone and Spine Health With Dr. Stephanie Plummer.

👉Take Dr. Lakhia’s 14 Day Challenge to get your health back on track. 

👉Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

We all feel invincible sometimes, even as we age. Our minds do a great job of remembering how active and agile we were in our 20s and 30s. Even if we maintain an active lifestyle into our 50s and 60s, there are silent diseases that could be lurking in the background. Whether we feel it or not, osteoporosis can sneak up on us, so it’s important to be proactive.

Dr. Stephanie Plummer, a physiatrist at Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates, joins Back Talk Doc host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia to share how women — and men — can best support their bone health to avoid disease and injuries as they get older.

As an avid marathon runner, Dr. Plummer is quite active. But she emphasizes the importance of adding strength, flexibility, and balance work into our routines to help build bone density, as she’s done in her own workout regimen.

“The flexibility and balance component is huge, and I think is really overlooked,” she says. “It’s great if we build good bone density and bone structure. That’s important for helping to prevent fractures. But if your balance is poor — or you don’t have the mobility to be able to prevent falling in the first place — then you may still be at higher risk.”

Dr. Plummer and Dr. Lakhia also discuss the differences between osteoarthritis, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. They touch on hormonal influences as a reason why women are more likely to develop bone disease, as well as the role diet and sleep play in bone health.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Dr. Stephanie Plummer, DO

What she does:Dr. Plummer joined Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates as the first female physiatrist in 2021 & has been practicing physiatry in the Charlotte, NC area since 2013.

Company: Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates

Connect:LinkedIn

Subscribe & Contact

👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Battlefield Acupuncture for Pain with John Howard.

👉 Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6-week course to lower inflammation. 

👉 Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

Battlefield acupuncture, a form of ear acupuncture, is well-known in military medicine. It’s now making its way to the civilian population due to ease of use, minimal risk involved, and effectiveness in relieving pain.

John Howard, a clinician and academic, is a leading authority on this revolutionary technique. Upon earning his degree in acupuncture, he completed a five-year fellowship with the father of battlefield acupuncture himself, Dr. Richard Niemtzow. John joins Back Talk Doc host, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia, to discuss battlefield acupuncture’s history, how it works, as well as some of the programs he runs to help fellow clinicians learn and implement the technique.

Battlefield focuses on inserting needles into specific points in the ear to relieve pain. And with the low risk involved combined with high pain reduction rates, it’s a safe alternative to opioid use. “There's no contraindication with the medicine. You can’t say well, since you’re on this medication, I can’t give you this needle.” John says. “You don’t have to contact the pharmacy to see if there are any problems with this. It’s that simple.”

John and Dr. Lakhia also share examples of how the technique has relieved pain with their own patients, as well as discussing John’s upcoming book to help other clinicians implement battlefield and bring their patients a better quality of life.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:John Howard, LAc., Dipl. Ac

What he does:John is a clinician and academician, providing international lectures in acupuncture and auriculotherapy. He has authored five books and 21 articles on the subject.

Company: Battlefield Acupuncture Seminars

Words of wisdom: “It's really embryology at its finest. Have one of your members look at someone’s ear, or even look at their own ear in the mirror. It kind of looks like an inverted fetus in the womb. And you can go back to physics where the part contains the whole, where the specific parts on the ear contain specific parts of the body. And with the interaction of the cranial nerves, that's how the body balances out the pain and its processes. And that's the question everybody always asks. They always say, Well, how does battlefield work? And I say, Very well, thank you, and just go along with that.”

Connect:Website | LinkedIn

Subscribe & Contact

👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Pain, Function & Parkinson's with Sam Schroeder, PT

👉 Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6-week course to lower inflammation. 

👉 Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

For those living with Parkinson's, back pain and stiffness can be some of the most frustrating symptoms of the neurological disorder. Luckily, with cutting edge physical therapy programs like LSVT BIG®, those living with Parkinson’s can combat the slowing and smallness of movements associated with the disease. 

Samantha Schroder, DPT, a physical therapist based in Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine’s Charlotte office is certified in the approach. She joins Back Talk Doc host, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia, to discuss how the program reorganizes nerve networks in the brain to improve functioning.  

The program focuses on big movements, which yield significant improvements in patients committed to the regimen. Samantha explains, “[We] get them to move really big. While it might seem super exaggerated when we act it out, when [the patient] acts it out, it's essentially going to be normal movement because they're starting from a place that's smaller. Having them do things that feel really exaggerated to them is going to look normal to us, and that's one of the main parts of the program.” 

In addition to explaining the science behind the program, Samantha shares exercises that patients can do to improve their posture and decrease back pain, also noting the benefits of integrating diaphragmatic breathing into the routine.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Samantha Schroeder, DPT

What she does:Samantha Shroeder, DPT, is a licensed physical therapist living in Charlotte, NC. She has extensive experience in treating neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions, with specific interest in Parkinson’s Disease. Samantha is certified in treating Parkinson’s using the LSVT BIG® method.

Company:  Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine

Words of wisdom:"I fell into Parkinson’s because, during my clinical rotations, I noticed that it was more common than I had realized. It's the second most common neurological disease in the U.S., and people with Parkinson's can experience moderate to severe functional deficits. I believe that there is a significant role for physical therapy in treating Parkinson's, and that's where my interests stem from."

Connect: LinkedIn | LSVT BIG® Promotion

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Back Surgery Revisions with Patrick Jowdy, MD

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

In this special episode, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia offers listeners a guided meditation session to help manage daily pain levels.

Dr. Lakhia emphasizes the importance of deep breathing as a powerful tool to connect with the present moment and promote relaxation. This episode is especially helpful for those struggling with pain who are looking for natural ways to manage their symptoms.

This meditation is meant to be listened to in a quiet, comfortable environment, perhaps seated in a comfortable chair or laying down comfortably. Do not listen to this meditation if you are operating machinery, a vehicle, or in any situation that could be harmful. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia

What he does: In addition to hosting Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia is a board-certified physiatrist who cares for patients at the Ballantyne and Rock Hill offices of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates. As a physiatrist, he specializes in non-surgical approaches to spine and orthopedic conditions and offers a diverse range of innovative treatments for back pain, including acupuncture, spinal injections, and prescriptive exercise.

Company: Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates

Connect:Website |  LinkedIn 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Back Surgery Revisions with Patrick Jowdy, MD

👉Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 

👉Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com. 

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

During medical school, Dr. Patrick Jowdy was drawn to neurology and neurosurgery because of the challenges of the pathology and the importance of the work in improving patients’ lives. It was seeing the patients doing well post-op that finalized his interest in neurosurgery.

In this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia talks with colleague Dr. Jowdy, now a neurosurgeon at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, about how he treats patients who may need second low back surgeries. 

“Whenever anybody presents with [recurring] issues, the main thing that you need to really tease out is what the history is and what's really bothering them,” says Dr. Jowdy. “Sometimes there could be problems from an error in judgment and not really technique. That's why it's really important to identify what the problem is to begin with.” 

In addition to discussing treatment options for second, or revision, spinal surgeries, Dr. Jowdy also offers guidance on how back pain sufferers can try to avoid needing a second surgery. Tune in to hear how surgeons approach patients who present recurrent back pain after surgery and tips for maintaining a healthy spine. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Patrick Jowdy, MD

What he does:As a neurosurgeon at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, Dr. Jowdy offers personalized care to his patients by using minimally invasive techniques and complex procedures to treat spine and brain pathologies.

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom: “What I tell patients after the operation is, there is a defect that the disc herniated through in the first place. The best chance you can give it to heal is to take it easy for a couple of weeks after the surgery. So I tell them, no heavy lifting, no bending, no twisting, just to give your back a rest in the weeks that come after the surgery just to reduce the chance that more discs can re-herniate.”

Connect:Website | LinkedIn 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Conquer Pain With Virtual Reality. 

👉Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 

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🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.

It was more than 13 years ago that a veterinarian introduced Dr. Gregory Lutz to platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Dr. Lutz had a lame horse suffering from a tendon injury. With the help of a portable ultrasound, the veterinary physician drew the horse's blood, spun it in a centrifuge, and injected it into the tendon, right there in the stall. Within a few weeks, the horse was running around like a pony. That inspired Dr. Lutz to research this treatment for his own patients. 

With more than 30 years of clinical experience under his belt, Dr. Lutz has proven himself to be a driving force in today’s regenerative medicine movement. He has co-authored more than 60 scientific publications on the topic of PRP and continues to research the power of this treatment to improve outcomes.

“We have to share research, speak openly about our findings, report the good and the bad and the ugly, so that people are aware of the risks, and see if we can keep moving this forward,” says Dr. Lutz. “It's been a very exciting journey to finally find something that I think has staying power.” 

In this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and Dr. Lutz discuss PRP treatments for low back pain and Dr. Lutz’s new book.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Gregory Lutz, MD

What he does:Dr. Lutz is the founder of the Regenerative SportsCare Institute, Physiatrist-in-Chief Emeritus at New York City's Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and a Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Nationally known for his work and writing on platelet-rich plasma treatments for disc injuries, Dr. Lutz just authored a new book, Heal Your Disc, End Your Pain: How Regenerative Medicine Can Save Your Spine.

Company: Regenerative SportsCare Institute

Words of wisdom:“There's some merit to that thought that if we intervene early with a structured healing treatment, you might prevent some of the degenerative changes that occur with the spine that most likely would result in more aggressive treatment like surgery.”

Connect:Website | LinkedIn

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Conquer Pain With Virtual Reality.

👉Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 

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🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go tobacktalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

When we think of virtual reality, we usually think about its most obvious uses: gaming, socializing, or even shopping. 

But researchers and doctors are also experimenting with VR in the healthcare field. Harvard MedTech has found that VR has unique properties that help the brain address pain and return to homeostasis in a holistic way. 

In the Vx Therapy program, clinicians work alongside VR to help guide anyone from surgical patients to hospice patients and veterans toward relief from their pain. 

Using a biopsychosocial approach, practitioners there have found that creating acute distractions during a VR therapy session leads to pain relief that lasts hours, the equivalent of a pharmacological option like painkillers. That activity also encourages neuroplasticity and has helped patients achieve long-term relief and even sleep improvement.

“We're tapping into the human brain in a way that we've never really been able to do before,” says Gerry Stanley, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Harvard MedTech. “We always treated it with drugs, we would treat it with injections, we would do different things, but now we're leaning into the brain's natural ability to find homeostasis and heal itself.”

In this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia sat down with Dr. Stanley to discuss Harvard MedTech’s Vx Therapy program, why VR therapy works, and how it can revolutionize medicine as we know it.  

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Dr. Gerry Stanley 

What he does:As Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Harvard MedTech, Dr. Stanely leads the company’s tech and VR solutions to help combat the opioid epidemic and mental health crisis in the United States. He is also a consultant and business leader providing guidance to healthy systems on healthcare solutions.

Company: Harvard MedTech 

Words of wisdom:“If we treat people holistically, we give them a tool to engage them biopsychosocially — look at the savings on the backend for the carriers. Look at the happiness of the patients […] That’s the holy grail.”

Connect:Website |  LinkedIn

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Hip vs. Back pain with Dr. Puneet Aggarwal

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🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com. 

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go tobacktalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

One of the more challenging conditions for doctors to diagnose whether pain is originating in the hip or back. In this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and his guest, Dr. Puneet Aggarwal, MD, troubleshoot different patient symptoms and explore how they would treat them.

Dr. Aggarwal is the director of Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute of Sports Medicine, where he specializes in non-surgical treatments for the spine and interventional pain medicine. 

Dr. Lakhia and Dr. Aggarwal discuss multiple scenarios and treatment methods for a patient presenting hip and back pain. They run through different ways of identifying the root cause of the pain, how they would go about treating it, and the multiple options for patients who need more help. 

And for patients dealing with ongoing pain, Dr. Aggarwal stresses the importance of stretching and strengthening to maintain flexibility in your joints and muscles. 

From tight IT bands to testing pain on the stairs to SI joint pain and steroid injections, the two doctors cover the full gambit of hip and back pain. They provide tips for physicians to diagnose pain issues, and also help patients assess their own pain. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Puneet Aggarwal, MD

What he does:As the director of Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute of Sports Medicine and division chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Aggarwal specializes in non-surgical spinal treatments and interventional pain medicine.

Company: Spine First - Atrium Health

Words of wisdom:“I think maintaining strength, but also maintaining flexibility at the same time is the key.” 

Connect: Website

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Grief Connects Us with Jodi Stern, MD 

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https://www.drlakhia.com/apply

 🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com. 

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go tobacktalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

When his younger sister, Victoria, died from leukemia, Dr. Joseph Stern stepped out of his white coat, becoming more than a physician. He was a patient’s loved one — his sister’s caretaker and advocate.

In this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia talks with Dr. Stern about how his experience with his sister led him to reexamine what it means to be a physician, which he chronicles for readers in his book Grief Connects Us: A Neurosurgeon’s Lessons on Love, Loss, and Compassion. 

“I saw, as if for the first time: what it was like to be a patient and what it's like to be a patient's family member. It really had a tremendous impact on me personally in terms of my relationship with her and family, but also how I take care of patients and the whole notion of passion in medicine,” says Dr. Stern. “I realized that, in many ways, I had never really been as empathetic as I needed to be or as compassionate, and hadn't really understood what it was like to be a patient [going] through this kind of illness.”

Dr. Stern explains how physicians can become better doctors by practicing more patience, understanding, empathy, and compassion. He references multiple resources, in addition to his own book, so listeners can learn more about the power of connection between patient and physician. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Joseph Stern, MD

What he does:Dr. Stern is a neurosurgeon, author, and inventor. He is a partner at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates and practices neurosurgery at the Moses H. Cone Hospital. 

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“Have patience and the ability to listen — not being hurried — being present and listening and appreciating the [patient’s] experience is of vital importance. It makes you a better doctor, but it also takes your care to a whole different level in terms of the relationship you establish with a patient and family members.”

Connect:Website|LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram  

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode 2022 Gift List For Back Pain2022 Gift List For Back Pain.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

Holiday shopping season is upon us, and there’s something out there for everyone. Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia reflects on the guests that decked the halls of Back Talk Doc in 2022 and compiled a list of the top ten gifts for people with back pain. 

The list is inspired by discussions with guests, including Dr. David Schecter and Esther Gokhale, and addresses a range of prices and applications. Finding the perfect gift is tough, so Back Talk’s top ten list helps strike the balance of something that lights up your loved ones’ faces while not depleting your budget or inflicting more back tension. 

Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia’s Top Ten List 

10. Think Away Your Pain by Dr. David Schechter

 9. Desert Tortoise Botanicals Trauma Pain Salve

 8. Dr. Eric Goodman’s Foundation Training App

 7. Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery Service

 6. 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back by Esther Gokhale

 5. Back Mechanic by Dr. Stuart McGill 

 4. Crossover Symmetry Padded Bands

 3. Ear Seeds

 2. Thermophore Heating Pad

 1. The Back Talk Book by Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia 

Bring enlightenment into friends’ and families’ spines and homes this holiday season and start 2023 with habits that are guaranteed to ease any back pain or stress. Listen to this episode of Back Talk for the top ten gifts people with back pain can’t wait to receive this year. 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Back Pain Relief with Spinal Cord Stimulation

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com. 

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

Physicians strive to find ways for their patients to live healthy, active lifestyles, and that is what attracted Dr. Dave Eichman to the specialty of spinal cord stimulation. 

In this episode of Back Talk, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and his guest, Dr. Eichman, cover what makes a patient a good candidate for the treatment, what to expect from it, and some potential pitfalls. 

“The unique ability to test the device before committing can help patients feel more confident in their choice. “[Once] you've had the surgery done, there's no going back. But with the stimulator, there's a five-to-seven day trial period where you come in, like you're gonna have an injection performed,” Dr. Eichman says while explaining a unique aspect of this treatment. “You just get to try it out, see if you can walk further, stand longer, sleep better, use less pain medicine. Are you comfortable with it?” 

The technology behind spinal cord stimulation has made significant progress since it first became available almost 50 years ago. In the past ten years alone there have been major improvements in the therapeutic modality of the device, so patients have more choices in what the treatment feels like to them. The devices are also now MRI-friendly, giving patients more imaging choices than they traditionally had if they had chosen to pursue this treatment. 

Tune in to this episode of Back Talk to hear how spinal cord stimulation can improve the lives of patients living with recurring nerve pain. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Dave Eichman, MD

What he does:As a clinician, Dr. Eichman enjoys caring for patients by using critical thinking, patience, and perseverance. He specializes in pain management with a special interest in spinal cord stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, MILD procedure, and Botox for migraines.

Company:Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“My interest has been in trying to make people's lives as bearable as possible. There are a lot of people that, unfortunately, are dealing with conditions that make it difficult for them to function throughout their day. So I've developed an interest in trying to make their lives better.”

Connect:Website | LinkedIn

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode A Guided Meditation For Pain: Creating A Safe Space.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

If you’re listening to Back Talk Doc, you or someone you know is probably dealing with some type of pain. 

Chronic pain can be very hard to handle, but many times when we create a mental image of our suffering, we tend to aggravate this pain, thus increasing it. This mental image leads to negativity on a conscious and subconscious level associated with your pain.

Today, give your body a safe place to deal with pain. Join us on a guided meditation that will teach techniques to change the mental image that has been created from this pain, and transform it to a peaceful association with pleasant visualizations that create a warmer bonding between you and your body’s sensations. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name: Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia

What he does: In addition to hosting Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia is a board-certified physiatrist who cares for patients at the Ballantyne and Rock Hill offices of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates. As a physiatrist, he specializes in non-surgical approaches to spine and orthopedic conditions and offers a diverse range of innovative treatments for back pain, including acupuncture, spinal injections, and prescriptive exercise.

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

Connect:Website |  LinkedIn 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Reduce Your Back Pain Frequency with Dr. Carol McMakin.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

It is never too late to chase after a dream or make a difference in other people’s lives. Dr. Carolyn McMakin, DC is a testament to that. After deciding to pursue her lifelong goal at the age of 40, Dr. McMakin enrolled in pre-med courses and the University of Western States Chiropractic College. Upon graduation, Dr. McMakin opened her own practice and by 1996 began treating patients with a list of frequencies first documented in the 1920s. 

This work led her to present her results at the American Back Society National Meeting and subsequently publish the first 50 cases of neck pain treatment in 1998. To say her work has been monumental and influential in the medical world is an understatement. 

Dr. McMakin is the leading expert on frequency specific microcurrent (FSM). In fact, she discovered a specific treatment that could eradicate a patient’s pain caused by fibromyalgia as a result of spinal trauma. Not only did she discover a reproducible treatment, but one that could help a patient feel relief within just an hour. 

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia talks with Dr. McMakin about FSM and her work introducing it to physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, and practitioners all over the world.  

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Carolyn McMakin, DC

What she does:Dr. Carolyn McMakin is the leading expert in FSM. She is a published author, teacher, and practicing chiropractor. 

Company:The FSM Clinic and Training Center

Words of wisdom:“Do what you love and love what you do and everything else you need will follow. That’s it: Follow your passion.” 

Connect:Website|  LinkedIn 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Neuropathy and Its Many Facets with Dr. Ki Jung.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com. 

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

Have you ever sat in one position too long and had your foot fall asleep? And when you stood up, you felt a prickling or tingling that was almost painful? Or have you ever rolled over in the middle of the night and found your hand was numb? Each of these occurrences are considered positive symptoms of neuropathy — they are the presence of an abnormal sensation.

What exactly is neuropathy and what causes it? On this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia is joined by one of the newer partners at Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates, neurologist Ki S. Jung, MD to discuss neuropathy. Dr. Jung is newer to the practice, but not new to neurology as he offers over 18 years of expertise and is well-established in the community as a subject matter expert in his field. 

Dr. Jung walks listeners through a few examples of the various symptoms that bring patients to his office, as well as how to rule out the most common causes of neuropathy and test for sensory modalities to potential medications. He also discusses alternative technologies for pain management and relief.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Ki S. Jung, MD

What he does:As a board-certified and fellowship-trained neurologist, Dr. Jung performs on-site neuro-diagnostic testing and has over 18 years experience diagnosing and treating disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, and other issues of the nervous system.

Company: Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“Our bodies, we have to treat them right. And you need fuel. That's what food does, but make sure that fuel is super unleaded. Make sure you get rid of all the bad stuff and just supply your body with the good stuff. So good nutrition, adequate hydration, get some exercise in, and rest.” 

Connect:Website 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Botanicals and Back Pain with John Slattery

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com. 

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

Could a couple of drops of an herb tincture enable someone who underwent open heart surgery to feel her chest for the first time in four years? Could it help you mitigate and prevent back pain?

In our society, it’s easy to think that the most complex, advanced medicine is the best cure for any and all pain. And yet, a powerful tool for pain treatment could be an overlooked plant growing in your backyard. In this episode, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and his guest John Slattery of Desert Tortoise Botanicals dive into herbalism and its potential. 

Botanical medicine has held a key role in medicine since ancient times. Herbalists and indigenous people have preserved wisdom on medicinal plants and how to use them, and they are reviving awareness about botanical medicine.

“In the way that the nature of a plant resonates with the nature of an individual, it can allow for opening and release in their physical tissue as the consequence of where that resonance meets, such that a healing experience can be facilitated within their physical body,” says John. “That may sound a little bit metaphysical, and it is, but it's also observable.”

Listen to this episode of Back Talk Doc to learn all about botanical medicine and how it can help you treat back pain and other ailments. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:John Slattery 

What he does:John is a bioregional herbalist, forager, and author. Inspired by his desire to improve the accessibility of botanical medicine, he founded Desert Tortoise Botanicals, a company that sells products made from sustainably foraged herbs. 

Company: Desert Tortoise Botanicals

Discount Code:Back Talk Doc listeners are eligible to receive 10% off their first purchase from Desert Tortoise Botanicals. 

Words of wisdom:“Because the body and the mind are inextricably linked, the so-called placebo effect is actually extremely powerful, meaning that how we hold our mind in wave form within our body consolidates into particle form into the tissue.” 

Connect:Website|Instagram | YouTube

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode The Vagus-Trigeminal-Pain Connection with Sharik Peck, PT.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

Imagine relearning how to walk — and learn — in your senior year of high school. For this episode’s guest, Sharik Peck, that was reality. 

Mr. Peck’s battle with chronic pain began when he was only two years old. As a young child, he fractured his second cervical vertebrae. Years later, he crushed multiple spinal vertebrae in his thoracic region. Finally, he experienced a vertebral artery dissection that forced him to relearn how to walk and learn. Instead of allowing his injuries and pain to defeat him, Mr. Peck used them as inspiration. His goal was simple: Help others who experience life-altering events and chronic pain.

With this aim in mind, Mr. Peck became a physical therapist and earned his master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. Later, he realized that he wanted to increase accessibility to chronic pain treatment by creating a device that anyone could use. This resulted in Rezzimax. 

Rezzimax is a handheld device that helps decrease chronic pain by recalibrating your body’s nervous system using vibration frequencies. 

To understand why this is effective, first, you must understand the relationship between the vagus nerve and trigeminal nerve. The vagus nerve is in charge of keeping your nervous system healthy and happy whereas the trigeminal nerve is integral to your fight or flight response. Mr. Peck likens these two nerves to the two ends of a seesaw. For your body to work well, they need to be balanced. 

By moving Rezzimax to areas of the body where you can reach your trigeminal nerve and changing frequencies, you calm down the trigeminal nerve so that your vagus nerve can better function, thus decreasing pain. 

Access a 20% coupon to purchase Rezzimax today. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name: Sharik Peck

What he does:After being a physical therapist for 28 years and receiving his master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling, Mr. Peck invented the Rezzimax to treat chronic pain by targeting the vagus nerve. 

Company: Rezzimax 

Words of wisdom:“The vagus nerve’s entire job is to get the nervous system healthy, happy, sleeping well, in great relationships with others, and creating families. … One of the main nerves that is responsible for the fight or flight response in the nervous system is the trigeminal nerve. ….The relationship between the trigeminal nerve and the vagus nerve is a delicate seesaw. In order to get that vagus tone improved, we've got to get that trigeminal tone to calm itself down.”

Connect:Website |  LinkedIn 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Back to the Basics: Reducing Back Pain Through Healthy Eating

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atCNSA.com.

Back pain can feel impossible to control. However, there are things that you can do to reduce pain. In this episode, Back Talk Doc host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia empowers listeners to reduce back pain through mindful eating and nutrition. 

As Dr. Lakhia explains, “It's important that we zoom out and ask ourselves, what's really going on with our food and our diet?” 

By mastering the basics of healthy eating, you can reduce inflammation levels and consequently decrease pain levels. But with the many diets out there, all claiming to be the best, it’s challenging to sort fact from fad. 

That’s why in this episode, Dr. Lakhia teaches you the building blocks of healthy eating rather than talking about a specific diet. Once you understand the necessary components of healthy eating, you can modify your diet to account for any special dietary needs.

Dr. Lakhia provides the listener with five key steps to healthy eating to decrease back pain. These steps may seem simple, but if you can “adopt these basic recommendations, a lot of your health situations will improve. Pain should go down, and you'll feel better,” says Lakhia. Listen to this episode to learn more about each step and the scientific evidence behind them.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia 

What he does:In addition to hosting Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia is a board-certified physiatrist who cares for patients at the Ballantyne and Rock Hill offices of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates. As a physiatrist, he specializes in non-surgical approaches to spine and orthopedic conditions and offers a diverse range of innovative treatments for back pain, including acupuncture, spinal injections, and prescriptive exercise. 

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“If you're aware of who you are when you come to the table to eat and how you feel, it literally can translate into better health or, conversely, create increased levels of inflammation in your body.”

Connect:Website|  LinkedIn 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Releasing Pain and Trauma with David Berceli, PhD

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

In a bomb shelter under attack in the Middle East, Dr. David Berceli, PhD observed what would become the foundation for much of his work. As mortar shells assaulted the shelter’s exterior, David observed as young children shook in terror and adults sat, stoic and unmoving. 

“We train ourselves out of these endogenous rhythmic movements of the human body that actually are designed to help us reduce stress or release trauma,” David observed. “By trembling, those two year olds were actually healthier than the adults who simply froze that mechanism and didn't allow their body to discharge the excited [energy] that was being created by the mortar shells.”

This was the match that lit the flame for David, who then decided to dedicate his life to helping people deal with trauma, specifically in mass quantities. This led to the creation of the Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®), a series of exercises that stimulate the body to release deep muscular patterns of stress, tension, and trauma. This system of exercises initiates the body’s natural reflex mechanism of shaking or vibrating to release tension and calm the nervous system. 

In this episode, Dr. Lakhia and Dr. David Berceli discuss all things trauma and how to release that through the body’s natural response to trauma and stress. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:David Berceli, PhD

What he does:As an international author, presenter, and trainer in the area of trauma intervention, stress reduction, and resiliency and recovery training, David specializes in recovery with large populations. He is the creator of a revolutionary set of tension and trauma release exercises and the author of three books about releasing tension through therapeutic body tremors.

Company: TRE® for All, Inc.

Words of wisdom:“The tremor mechanism does not just heal what's going on in you now; it actually goes back in time inside your body to find those patterns that you completely learn to live with, or forgot you even had, or didn't even know you had. And it can undo all those patterns to bring your body to this present moment in its healthiest pulsating state that it can achieve.”

Connect:LinkedIn

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode, Back Pain Relief with Foundation Training.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

Sometimes, the greatest struggles can bring forth the greatest innovations. 

That is certainly true for Dr. Eric Goodman, DC, the founder of Foundation Training. As a young man in chiropractic school, his severe back pain from multiple disc herniations became unbearable.

“I had about a year left of chiropractic school when my back got bad to the point that I was like, ‘I don't want to be a chiropractor,’” Dr. Goodman tells Dr. Lakhia. “Driving hurt, standing hurt, sitting hurt, and laying hurt. You're just out of options.” 

It was in experimenting with his own pain in motion that he was able to develop Foundation Training, a combination of exercises and breathing techniques that helps with anything from basic daily movements to athletics.

Josh Brigham became a devotee of Foundation Training from his own spinal issues. Now a trainer and owner of Adapt CLT, he uses Foundation Training to bring others the same relief he’s experienced. 

He says a video about decompression breathing that he saw at his first Foundation Training event changed how he thought about breath. “It was just real easy to make that concept live inside of you,” Josh said. “And that's how it was introduced to me. And it never went away.” 

In this episode, Dr. Lakhia, Dr. Goodman, and Josh discuss all things Foundation Training — how to get started, and why changing how you bend and breathe can change your pain. 

💡 Featured Experts 💡

Name:Dr. Eric Goodman, DC

What he does:As a trained (but not practicing) chiropractor, Dr. Goodman used his education as a springboard to understanding how to strengthen the spine. He developed his series of Foundation Training exercises as a way for people to take their spine health into their own hands. 

Company: Foundation Training

Words of wisdom:“The ability to understand what your body is doing, as it's doing it, is probably the most important skill of chronic pain relief through lifetimes.”

Connect:LinkedIn | Foundation Training Streaming| Instagram | YouTube

Name:Josh Brigham

What he does:Josh found Foundation Training following a cervical spine injury that was treated with an artificial disc replacement. He now trains others in restoring their own spinal health at his Charlotte-based Adapt CLT. 

Company: Adapt CLT

Words of wisdom:“We want people to move and to do the things that they enjoy, whatever that movement looks like. But if you're not doing it connected, you're not going to be doing it well.” 

Connect:LinkedIn | Instagram

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode, Back Pain Relief Through Posture and Movement, With Esther Gokhale. 

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

Regenerative medicine has great potential. It empowers the body’s own healing mechanisms to cure injuries that would normally require surgery or other invasive measures.

In this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Peter Bailey discusses his work in regenerative spinal care. 

Research on regenerative spinal care is steadily progressing, despite a lack of funding. Most companies fund research into drugs rather than regenerative medicine, so progress has taken time and dedication. In spinal care, regenerative treatments can improve patient pain. For this to be effective, the cause of the pain must be accurately diagnosed to ensure that the proper treatment plan and target area are selected. 

Regenerative spinal care is best at targeting disc pain in ways that physical therapy and surgery cannot. “The disc is the largest structure in the body that does not have its own blood supply,” said Dr. Bailey. “When we injure a disc, it doesn't heal up very well. It creates an environment that, over time, predisposes the disc to further degenerate.” 

Dr. Bailey primarily treats disc pain with platelet-rich plasma. In this method, platelets from the patient’s body are injected into the spine. Platelets are the body’s first responders to injury. By giving the injured area more platelets, the body’s healing responses are increased enough that the spinal injury can be healed well. 

Regenerative medicine on its own is not enough. Dr. Bailey recommends accompanying the treatment with physical therapy and exercise to prevent re-injury of the spine.

Excited to learn more? Tune in to this episode of Back Talk Doc to discover more about regenerative spinal care. 

Read the Full Show Notes on our websiteBackTalkDoc.com.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Dr. Peter Bailey

What he does:As a physiatrist at Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, Dr. Bailey is pioneering the field of regenerative spine care.

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“If you have a patient who is younger to middle age, who has kind of a bad-looking disc, a surgeon doesn't really want to operate on that. Surgical outcomes for axial back pain are not that great. So it’s a great tool to have for that segment of the population that offers hope for the management of back pain, when it seems like other options aren't available. As far as the future goes, it's definitely going to be critical.”

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Back Pain Relief Through Posture and Movement, With Esther Gokhale.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

For Dr. Stuart McGill, surgery should be the last resort.

In fact, for many patients who don’t properly address their pain, surgery is, at best, a temporary option. Consider this: following a disc hernia procedure, many patients, including those Dr. McGill sees, usually fall back into old habits and run the risk of re-injuring their damaged spine. “So you are going to have to change the way that you move [and] become more efficient in purposefully stimulating the adaption that you need in your body to become robust again,” he says.

The problem, Dr. McGill says, is that most orthopaedists don’t do a full exam of the whole patient to find the source of the pain. That can take two to three hours. 

“The assessment, if it's thorough enough, will always give you the answer,” says Dr. McGill. And that answer is rarely putting a patient under the knife. Other solutions, which can often include long-term therapies, will get to the source of the pain and lead to long-term healing “95% of the time,” he says.

Dr. McGill knows what he’s talking about: he has literally written the book on the mechanics of back pain, how to assess it, and published award-winning research on spine biomechanics. Also, as a distinguished Professor Emeritus at University of Waterloo, he is considered one of the world’s leading biomechanists.

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. McGill joined Dr. Lakhia with special guest Dr. John Lesher, MD, MPH, of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates to talk all about spine biomechanics: from the benefits of a technique experts refer to as “virtual surgery,” to the mechanics of strengthening exercises for back pain. 

Read the Full Show Notes on our websiteBackTalkDoc.com.



💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Dr. Stuart McGill, PhD

What he does:Dr. Stuart McGill is one of the world’s most renowned spine biomechanists. He is a distinguished Professor Emeritus of spine biomechanics at the University of Waterloo, where he published over 200 peer-reviewed papers and award-winning research in the field of low back biomechanics. He is also the author of several books, the most recent being Back Mechanic (2015).

Company: BackFitPro 

Words of wisdom:“The way to stay pain-free is, one day a week, rest. Don't do anything. That's the day that your body adapts. So all the stimulation that you've done all week long, let it adapt.”

Connect:Website | Twitter

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Back Pain Relief Through Posture and Movement, with Esther Gokhale.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app. 

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

What if back-pain relief was just a few steps away? Esther Gokhale’s work with posture and movement finds that just changing the way you sit, stand, lie down, and walk can eliminate your back pain. 

Esther grew up in India helping her mom treat orphaned babies and she studied biochemistry at college. Later, she became a licensed acupuncturist. So when her own pain and herniated disc issues emerged, it motivated Esther to study how people move. 

“There were some seeds already sown in my brain that ‘there's something going on with people who live close to the ground that makes sense and that works.’ And so when this horrible thing happened to me, it resonated for me to study techniques that changed the way you use your body,” Esther says.

Esther developed and trademarked the Gokhale Method, an eight-step plan to adjust your back’s curvature and movement from an S or C-shaped curve to a J-shaped curve. Esther found this technique by studying the common thread between ancient cultures and today’s primal cultures:

“If you go to your museums and you look at the Greek statues, they're doing exactly what these Ubong guys are doing, they look the same. And so why would that be? Well, the simplest explanation is that it is natural. That's why they converge on the same form. And we in modern times have just lost our way.”

In this episode, Dr. Lakhia and Esther talk through modern and ancestral movements, and what you can do right now to start moving more primally and, ultimately, relieve your back pain.

Read the Full Show Notes on our websiteBackTalkDoc.com. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Esther Gokhale

What she does:Esther used her crippling back pain during her first pregnancy to propel her interest in vanquishing back pain for all. Her Gokhale Method focuses on using posture and movement to bring the body back to a state of pain-free living. 

Company: Gokhale Method Institute, Inc.

Words of wisdom:“You often develop your passions in response to some humongous challenge that you're faced with. And if you manage to be successful in getting past that, you have acquired a lot of knowledge, skill, and insights.”

Connect:LinkedIn | Book 

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode, Power of Compounding.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

Dr. David Schechter didn’t always buy into the idea of the mind-body pain connection. As a medical student, he relied on conventional and traditional approaches to pain management.

But that was before he developed knee pain that felt almost impossible to resolve. He tried mechanical therapy and strengthening exercises as is typically recommended, but nothing seemed to work. So he approached an NYU physiatrist for help: Dr. John Sarno, who became one of America’s most famous back pain doctors.

Dr. Sarno told Dr. Schechter that his pain was psychosomatic. “That really threw me for a loop,” Dr. Schechter said. “It was not what I was expecting to hear.” 

But it worked. And Dr. Sarno’s theory of Tension Myositis Syndrome, or TMS — that the mind creates pain in order to suppress traumatic events or subconscious thoughts and feelings — has been supported by independent research showing how the brain reacts differently to chronic and acute pain.

It’s an idea that has unfortunately come with social stigma: patients who suffer from TMS worry that the pain is “all in their head.”

But psychosomatic pain is real, Dr. Schechter says, and understanding how our brain impacts our physical bodies is the first step to accurate treatment and recovery.

Dr. Schechter joins us on episode 44 of Back Talk Doc to discuss the research behind mind-body medicine and the mind-body methods that best help address pain. 

“It's a more effective way to treat a particular type of symptom, typically chronic pain,” he says. “And it's a better way to define it. If you make the correct diagnosis, you're more likely to move forward with the correct treatment program.”

Read the Full Show Notes on our websiteBackTalkDoc.com.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:David Schechter, MD

What he does:Dr. David Schechter is a physician in Culver City, California with a medical degree from New York University. He specializes in sports medicine with a particular focus on non-surgical approaches and mind-body medicine. Dr. Schechter is the author of several books including The MindBody Workbook.

Company: David Schechter, MD (private practice)

Words of wisdom:“If you're afraid of failure, if you're afraid to not get there those opportunities may not ever become available. So don't be afraid to fail. Try it, and if it doesn't work out, learn from it and move on. And do even better next time.”

Connect:LinkedIn

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode All About Radiofrequency Ablation for Spinal Arthritis with Dr. Stephanie Plummer.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app. 

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

Bryana Gregory works at a compounding pharmacy, an option that many physicians in traditional medical circles have never considered.

But compounding could be the key to recovery and better long-term health for some patients. Rather than seeking only to relieve pain, compounding pharmacists take a holistic approach to a patient’s health to create personalized treatments.

“It’s like back in the day, when we used to have apothecaries, and see doctors and pharmacists behind the counter mixing up medications that were customized for the patient,” Bryana says. “Compounding pharmacy is more of an individualized approach.”

Often, treatments for pain involve as little medication as possible, with compounding pharmacists opting instead for supplements that can replenish or rebalance the entire body.

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Lakhia talks with Bryana about what makes a good compounding pharmacist and how functional medicine can address pain.

We also talk about some popular treatments, including topicals like low-dose naltrexone, CBD, and even oxytocin, better known as “the love hormone.”

Read the Full Show Notes on our websiteBackTalkDoc.com.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Bryana Gregory, PharmD, RPh

What she does:Bryana is a pharmacist and physician liaison who is passionate about compounding pharmacy and personalizing options for her clients to help them maximize their health. She majored in kinesiology at the University of California, Davis and later earned a PharmD at Harding University. In between, she competed as a professional golfer.

Company: Physicians Preference Pharmacy

Words of wisdom:“I think that the best thing that a patient or just anybody can do for themselves is to self-educate, to be your own advocate.”

Connect:Website |LinkedIn | Facebook

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode CBD: Beyond the Hype with Matt Parks.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com. 

Have you ever been told you have “Uncle Arthur,” more commonly known as arthritis? This ailment affects so many that either you or someone you know likely has pain from arthritis. With so many ways for a back to hurt, how do you tell if your back hurts from arthritis?

Back pain from arthritis is a somewhat different affair than disc pain or structural pain. Instead of the pain radiating, it stays fairly localized to the facet joints, which Dr. Lakhia refers to as “the knuckles of the spine.”

Back Talk Doc guest Dr. Stephanie Plummer walks through a specialized treatment that she performs called a radiofrequency ablation that is used to treat arthritic back pain. In short, the procedure “burns” the nerve that is causing pain, disrupting the signal from the nerve to the brain with few side effects.

To determine whether an ablation will be beneficial, patients go through not one, but two injection procedures called medial branch blocks. These are short-term anesthetic treatments to see if the targeted area gets relief from numbing various nerves. If both treatments are effective, the patient and doctor can decide whether radiofrequency ablation is right for them.

“Despite all the positives, patients should know that the results are not permanent. Over time, the nerves do repair and come back together,” says Dr. Plummer. If successful, patients can expect six months to two years of relief from radiofrequency ablation.

Ready the Full Show Notes on our websiteBackTalkDoc.com

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Stephanie Plummer, DO

What she does:While she’s a new partner at Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine, Dr. Plummer has been a practicing interventional spine physiatrist since 2013. Dr. Plummer completed her osteopathic medical school training at the Osteopathic School in New Jersey, served as a resident at East Carolina University and worked as a fellow in interventional spine through the Orthopaedic Specialists of the Carolinas in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine

Words of wisdom:“My patients know that I talk a lot about core strength and core stability. I really think that that can't be underestimated and I don't know that any of us can ever be too strong in our core. I really try to make sure that I'm doing my job of keeping my core healthy by doing exercise for core strength and core stability a couple of times a week.”

Connect:Website

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode A Breakthrough Treatment for Low Back Pain

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates’ Dr. Andrew Sumich is one of a handful of physiatrists across the country participating in trials of Relievant Medsystems' revolutionary technology that can reduce long-term pain for patients with chronic low back pain: the Intracept Spine Procedure.

The secret to the procedure lies in new research, which deepens the medical understanding of spinal anatomy. While most patients experiencing low back pain are treated for discogenic pain, recent findings have revealed that pain can actually originate from vertebral endplates, the bones found on either side of the disc.

Intracept targets the basivertebral nerve in a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, which improves function and decreases pain, even in the long term — a differentiating factor from many other low back pain treatment options.

Dr. Sumich has worked with approximately 40 patients in FDA-approved trials and has seen remarkable results firsthand, claiming that many procedures have resulted in “a home run” for pain relief.

He shares when the procedure is a viable option for those experiencing chronic lower back pain, when other treatment options may be a better fit, and discusses the profile of an ideal candidate for the revolutionary procedure.

Tune in to episode #41 of Back Talk Doc with Dr. Sumich to learn about the nitty-gritty of this medical procedure and how it’s transforming patients’ lives by reducing low back pain.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Andrew Sumich, MD

What he does:Dr. Andrew Sumich is a member of the Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine team. He is a board certified physiatrist, specializing in interventional spine care.

Company:Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“Where we put medicine matters in terms of what's hurting or not.”

Connect:LinkedIn

⚓ Anchor Points ⚓

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode

★    There’s no one-size-fits-all for treating pain.There are many different causes for pain. Pain generation is an essential part of a medical diagnosis because it signals which treatment plans are most likely to benefit the patient. Not all pain indicates the same root cause, so while The Intracept Procedure may be a good fit for some candidates, it’s not a cure-all.

★    The Intracept Procedure targets vertebrogenic pain. Medical understanding of the spine continues to evolve. The role of endplates in the spine have just recently gained increased attention.

While most cases of chronic low back pain are treated as discogenic disorders, advanced and new understanding of the role of vertebral endplates has changed how to decrease pain for some patients. Vertebrogenic pain, unlike disc-oriented pain, is transmitted through the basivertebral nerve. The Intracept Procedure targets the nerve with a one-time ablation.

★ The results are “staggering.” Intracept’s parent company, Relievant Medsystems, has tracked results of the surgical procedure over a five-year period — a shockingly long time period for medical technology studies. The long-term efficacy of the procedure is unlike anything else that Dr. Sumich has seen in spine care. He’s also seen anecdotal evidence in the improved quality of life from the trial participants he’s treated.

⚕️ Episode Insights ⚕️

[00:00] Check out our sponsor:QxMD builds mobile solutions that drive evidence-based medicine and clinical practice.

[01:42] Introducing Dr. Sumich:Dr. Andrew Sumich returns to the podcast to talk about a novel technique to treat low back pain: the Intracept Spinal Procedures. Dr. Sumich previously discussed spinal injections on one of our most downloaded episodes of Back Talk Doc.

[03:59]A breakthrough for back pain:The Intracept Procedure is a recent advancement in helping with neuropathic pain. Dr. Sumich shares the development of the procedure and how the field’s understanding of spinal anatomy has evolved.

[05:54] Pain generators, explained:There are many different things that can cause back pain.  Identifying which spinal structure is the biggest source of pain is essential to determining a treatment plan.

[9:15] Parts of the spine:The vertebral endplate is the anatomical focus for intracept spinal procedures. The understanding of endplate anatomy and how endplate health influences pain is a recent evolution in neuropathic medicine.

[10:13] Procedural options for back pain:Dr. Sumich provides an overview of treatment options for patients experiencing lower back pain (without pain that travels down the legs). Many patients have similar symptoms, but need different treatment plans.

[18:54] New knowledge creates new solutions:Medical breakthroughs in better understanding discogenic pain have allowed doctors to develop new treatments that better target root causes to pain.

[22:39] Durable pain relief: Unlike lumbar facet joint ablation, which needs to be repeated, intracept spinal procedures do not need to be repeated and results in long-term relief.

[24:17] Profile of an ideal patient: Dr. Sumich discusses FDA-approved indications that qualify potential patients for the new procedure.

[28:37] Insurance coverage for new technology:As is often the case, health insurance agencies are hesitant to cover new procedures. Parent company, Relievant Medsystems, can be a resource for individuals looking to pursue the procedure, but needing help coordinating insurance coverage.

[30:03] When a procedure hits a homerun: Dr. Sumich has helped approximately 40 patients at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates since 2020. He is pleased with the success rates and patient feedback.

[31:36] When a lumbar fusion is the better bet: Sometimes a lumbar fusion is a better solution to back pain. This depends on the patient’s level of instability. In some circumstances, a lumbar fusion is a better option, especially for those with narrowing foramen. Intracept spinal procedures are better suited for those in the early stages of disc degeneration.

[35:35] The upsides and downsides: Dr. Sumich shares the benefits of the new technology and outlines potential risk factors.

[39:43] Yoga as a health tool: Morning yoga has become a regular part of Dr. Sumich’s well-being regimen during the pandemic. A personal favorite is “5 Sun Salutation As +Bs” on YouTube.

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode These Simple Exercises Will Keep Your Back Healthy With Jackson Bellis, DPT.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

As a CrossFit level 1 trainer with a 13-year physical therapy career and an interest in golf, running, skiing, and hiking, it’s fair to say that Dr. Jackson Bellis practices what he preaches when it comes to maintaining a healthy back.

Dr. Bellis is always challenging his own body and encouraging his patients to safely challenge their bodies to see what they can do.

“I really think we can make a big change in back health. And I think looking at the way we move, and the things that work and don't work, is a big piece of it,” he says.

Back health has everything to do with the way we move. Some of the most frequent patients who come into our offices are runners, golfers, and truck drivers.

And while their pain might have different causes, it all really comes down to movement, and a few go-to exercises can help almost any type of pain, Dr. Bellis tells us. It’s all about the hips, the abs, and the glutes.

Dr. Bellis shares actionable advice for how stretching and strength-training can serve as strategies to maintain and improve mobility.

Tune in to episode #40 of Back Talk Doc with Dr. Bellis to learn more about the tactics we should all be doing to help treat — and prevent — pain.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Jackson Bellis, DPT COMT

What he does:Dr. Bellis has been a physical therapist for 13 years, spending 10 of those years of service at Carolina Neurosurgery. He is also a certified orthopedic manual therapist (COMT) with experience in dry needling, selective functional movement assessment (SFMA), and titleist assessment. He enjoys CrossFit, running, golf, skiing, and hiking.

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“One thing my patients always say is, I did not realize how tight I was. I did not realize how weak I was. If we never really get to the point where we're trying to see what our body can and can't do, we may not be enjoying it to the fullest.”

Connect:LinkedIn ⼁Website

⚓ Anchor Points ⚓

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode 

★    Think backwards.When trying to figure out the source of pain and how to treat it, it can help to think backwards and treat with opposite movements. For example, if someone has pain from bending forward, laying down in an extended position can help take pressure off the nerve. Treatment can be active, “like on the ground in a cobra position” or passive. “It’s a way to test out and find out Hey, this was a disc."

★    It’s all in the hips. “Everything in life is through the hips,” Dr. Bellis tells us. Understanding how the hips work can also help us understand what causes pain, and figure out the right treatments. Learning how to properly bend at the hips and use the hips during exercise can keep your back healthy and prevent injury. How to use your hips to bend (VIDEO)

★    The bridge and plank are key to a healthy back. Whether it’s lower back pain, seated pain, walking pain, or pain from bending over, Dr. Bellis swears by these two exercises that activate the glutes and the abdominals. Doing it correctly can help control the neutral position of the spine. “I have never had a person come in here with back pain who could activate their abdominals and activate their glutes,” he says.

⚕️ Episode Insights ⚕️

[00:00] Check out our sponsor: QxMD builds mobile solutions that drive evidence-based medicine and clinical practice.

[01:38] Introducing Jackson:Today’s guest is our very own Jackson Bellis, a physical therapist and manager at Carolina Neurosurgery’s Matthews office who has been with us for 10 years.

[03:12]Flexion-sensitive disc pain:We open our Q&A with Dr. Bellis with a common condition that can lead to a herniated disc: radiculopathy, or the type of back pain that comes from bending over.

[06:10] Restoring confidence:Figuring out what went wrong in the first place is step one in physical therapy for patients with herniated discs, and the first step toward building the confidence to bend again. All that power, Dr. Bellis says, comes from the hips.

[7:34] How to hinge:Dr. Bellis discusses common hip faults and how to properly use our hips to bend.

[8:44] Think opposites:One tactic that can help identify a disc herniation and reduce pain is working in opposites: extending the body in the opposite direction in which the pain occurred, making sure to work slowly and gently. Dr. Bellis gives us some at-home tips.

[12:01] Staying on the course:With constant twisting and rotating, golfing may be one of the hardest activities on your back. Dr. Bellis tells us how using the hips and upper back can keep golfers healthy. Back Talk Doc discusses golf rehabilitation in-depth in a prior episode with Dr. Graham Claytor.

[13:46] Standing pain:The causes of lower back pain when standing or walking usually comes from spending too much time in a hyperextended position. Treatment differs from patient to patient. We discussed spinal stenosis with Joe Cheadle on episode 16 of Back Talk Doc.

[18:37] Sitting pain: Carolina Neurosurgery often sees truck drivers coming in with increased back pain. Sources and treatment of that pain can differ, from pelvis imbalance to a disc issue.

[23:10] SI joint pain (or Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction): Treatments as simple as daily leg extensions can help relieve sacroiliac joint pain, the pain from the joints where the hip bones and the sacrum meet.

[27:24] Keep the glutes active:Dr. Bellis shares his go-to glute exercises and explains how they can help the back, from relieving SI joint pain to strain from golfing.

[29:54] Essential exercises: Dr. Bellis recommends two exercises for anyone and everyone, with or without pain: the bridge and the plank. These exercises can lead to greater control of the spine. “Like we talked about, where does the power come from? Power comes from the hips.”

[32:51] The great hamstring debate: Is stretching our hamstrings really necessary? It depends on who you are and the type of activity you do every day. “When I'm meeting my average person to learn how to bend over [to load] the dishwasher, I can get that person to learn how to hip hinge pain-free without necessarily having to stretch their hamstrings.”

[35:58] Words of wisdom: Dr. Bellis shares his advice on challenging your body and paying attention to previous injuries.

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Fact or Fiction: the Truth About Lumbar Spinal Injections.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

Lumbar spinal injections can help reduce back and leg pain and are a highly requested treatment at our offices.

But there are also plenty of misconceptions about them.

Can epidurals be a first-line treatment for low back pain? How well can they help us determine a source of pain? Can injections heal discs?

We brought on Dr. Joseph Zuhosky, who recently joined our team at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, to get answers to these questions and more. Along the way, we hope to alleviate some myths and points of confusion about spinal injections.

Joe gives us his recommendations for when – and how – to treat pain with epidurals, explaining how they can not only help treat pain, but also help narrow down a pain’s source and identify further treatment.

“​​I think there definitely is a role for epidural steroid injections in identifying pain generators. And if it doesn't give our patient long-term, effective relief that they can live with, it helps our surgical partners to determine that it is, indeed, a level that we can reliably operate on.”

Toward the end of this episode, we also hear more about Joe’s personal experiences with disc herniations and how he’s been able to recommend exercises based on his own experience with the workout group he co-founded.

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name:Joseph P. Zuhosky, MD

What he does:Before joining us recently as a physician at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, Dr. Zuhosky went to medical school at The Ohio State University. He did his residency at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center and completed a fellowship, training in sports and spine rehab, at the Illinois SPINE & Sportscare Centers, Ltd. in Bloomingdale, Illinois.

Company:Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom:“I don't think we should take all the credit for healing the disc … it's a thought of managing it going forward because even when the pain isn't there, you still have a weak area of your body that you're going to have to compensate for going forward.”

Connect:Website

⚓ Anchor Points ⚓

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode

★    Injections are more than just a band-aid.Some patients worry that getting a spinal injection will only be a temporary fix for their pain. But it actually does a lot more than that, as long as the injections are used appropriately. While pain relief may only be temporary, an injection can tell us more about where the pain comes from and gives us clues on further ways to treat the patient.

★    A ‘series of three’ injections can limit treatment options. The ‘series of three’ injections myth stems from a research study on sciatica originally published in 1960, but further research found this treatment is only effective two times out of three. Since doctors can only give a limited number of injections within a period of time, this method can also rule out other treatment options that offer quicker relief.

★ An epidural is only one part of treatment. While a shot can relieve pain, it can’t actually heal a damaged disc. Instead, the epidural steroid reduces the swelling and inflammation that causes pain, getting the patient through the acute stage while Mother Nature does the rest of the work.

⚕️ Episode Insights ⚕️

[00:00] Check out our sponsor:QxMD builds mobile solutions that drive evidence-based medicine and clinical practice.

[01:59]Meet Dr. Joe:Joseph Zuhosky is the newest member of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates. Before joining us, he did his residency at the Rehab Institute of Chicago at Northwestern University and a fellowship in sports and spine rehab in Bloomingdale, Illinois.

[04:05] From pediatrics to orthopedics:Dr.Zuhosky talks about his varied interests as a medical student, beginning in pediatrics and eventually landing in spine health.

[06:32] Fact or fiction:Lumbar spinal injections are a type of corticosteroid that can reduce inflammation and alleviate back pain in the back and leg. We clarify some misconceptions about the injections.

[07:33] Low back pain:Though a lot of patients seek lumbar spinal injections for low back pain, epidurals generally have a low success rate among this population.

[10:59] Specificity:An injection can be helpful in determining a source of pain and ways to treat it, as long as the injection is done appropriately.

[15:02] Series of three:Originally introduced in a 1960 paper, the ‘series of three’ injection treatment strategy is a myth: Since the number of injections that can be given to a patient is limited, this practice could limit further treatment options.

[18:49] Discs:The steroid injection does not necessarily “heal” a disc, but it does reduce the inflammation and pain caused by a herniated disc and can help patients through the acute healing phase.

[22:18] Spinal stenosis: There are advantages to using lumbar epidural injections to treat spinal stenosis, but to suggest that they can heal this condition is misleading. Spinal stenosis was discussed on a previous episode with Dr. Joe Cheatle.

[26:38] Center or side: A transforaminal epidural – or when the epidural is injected directly to the nerve root rather than off-center – tends to have a slightly higher response rate.

[34:22] Personal experience:Dr.Zuhosky has personally experienced both lumbar and cervical hernias. He recommends a workout group with branches across the country called F3 that has helped with his lower back pain.

[40:15] Hamstring exercises: Dr.Zuhosky tells us more about hamstring stretches that won’t aggravate the back.

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🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

Health care has been a constant presence in Matt Parks’s life for much longer than most people.

His mother is an ER nurse. His older brother was born with a rare condition and was often hospitalized as a child. And as a college baseball player, Matt started taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to cope with a shoulder injury.

He became dependent on the medications and started to experience migraines. He also developed depression when his parents divorced, which he still struggles with.

By 2019, having been Vice President and Sales Manager at Williams Medical Supply Inc. for over a decade, Matt was a veteran of the medical supply industry. Conversations with people in his field who had looked into cannabidiol — better known as CBD — and customers who had used it, convinced him that the majority of CBD products were ineffective.

This inspired him to see if he could come up with something better. He had three main areas of improvement. He wanted to create a hemp-derived topical CBD cream that he could verify did not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. He also wanted to build a company that was directly accessible to customers who had questions, and a brand that didn’t traffic in the usual hype.

That year, he founded One Less CBD — as in “one less pill to take.”

Listen to this episode of Back Talk Doc to find out what CBD is and isn’t, how to choose a CBD product, and to hear about Matt’s journey from patient to employee to entrepreneur.

💡 Featured Experts 💡

Name:Matt Parks

What he does:Before founding One Less CBD in 2019 and leading the business as CEO, Matt was Vice President and Sales Manager at Williams Medical Supply Inc for over a decade.

Company:One Less CBD

Words of wisdom:“[CBD is] not going to regrow cartilage. What we see is a daily topical application to help people become more mobile, become more active and create a better overall lifestyle, and stop reaching for two or three Aleve every single day, and apply something that is more plant-derived and natural.”

Connect:LinkedIn

⚓ Anchor Points ⚓

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode

★    CBD is thought to help reduce inflammation by assisting your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).Endocannabinoids are anti-inflammatory molecules produced by your body. However, certain enzymes interrupt the ECS process, and absorb endocannabinoids, reducing the system’s effectiveness. “The whole idea behind CBD is, let's introduce more cannabinoids, block out some of those enzymes, and actually let the body do some natural healing,” Matt says.

★    Hemp-derived and marijuana-derived CBD are different. Both hemp and marijuana are types of cannabis plants. The key legal difference is that marijuana contains more than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive component that causes users to experience a high, and less CBD than hemp. Hemp contains 0.3% THC or less. It’s important that CBD consumers know that the topical they’re using does not contain more than 0.3% THC, because if it does, they could fail a drug test.

★    Consider who’s selling you CBD. If you have a question about the CBD you just bought, it’s not a given that you’ll be able to connect with a real person or even find legitimate information on the product’s website. And while CBD is legal, there’s no regulatory body for the industry yet. Get it from a naturopath or chiropractor rather than, say, a gas station or convenience store.

⚕️ Episode Insights ⚕️

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode

[00:00] Mobile-based solutions for clinical practice:Check out our sponsor, QxMD, which builds mobile solutions that drive evidence-based medicine in clinical practice.

[01:44] Meet Matt: Matt Parks is the founder and CEO of One Less CBD. As a college baseball player, Matt injured his shoulder, and began taking NSAIDs to cope. He became dependent on the medications, which led to migraines.

[6:04] Unimpressed:Working in the medical supply industry after college, Matt interacted regularly with consumers dealing with painful conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. They were underwhelmed by CBD products. Matt was inspired him to come up with a superior product.

[10:34] Opening the floodgates:The 2018 Farm Bill took CBD off the Schedule I narcotics list, which sparked the CBD craze. But there wasn’t any regulatory framework to ensure quality control.

[16:29] Blocking the blockers:The endocannabinoid system (ECS) reduces inflammation in our bodies by releasing cannabinoids, but these cannabinoids are sometimes intercepted by enzymes that absorb enough of them to prevent the ECS’s therapeutic effects. CBD products are designed to block some of these enzymes so healing can occur.

[18:30] A supplement, not a cureall:Matt describes his CBD as a topical application to help people become more active and mobile, while avoiding the stomach damage that can result from taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen or aspirin. The name One Less CBD refers to taking one less pill. 

[22:08] The goal:Everything One Less sources is made in the U.S. Matt and his team found a supplier who could provide them with 99.99% pure CBD. It was important that there was no THC in their product, so that customers would not experience side effects or fail drug screenings.

[28:06] Full disclosure:A transparent CBD company should provide contact information, indicate whether its products have been tested by an independent third-party, and list where its CBD is available for purchase.

[33:54] The future of CBD:CBD is still trending upward despite a decline during COVID-19 — and Matt predicts that it hasn’t peaked yet.

[36:01] Worth a look:Matt recommends the Original Strength fitness program and the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear.

[39:34] Special offer:Get a free travel jar of One Less CBD Topical Inflammation Cream. Just pay $4.95 for shipping.

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode A Neurological Approach to Treating Pain.

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visitBackTalkDoc.com. 

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

Being told your pain is only in your head is maddening when it’s your back that hurts. But is there more truth to this statement than we have long believed?

NeuFit founder Garrett Salpeter says that pain is sometimes not an accurate depiction of the extent of an injury, but rather an overreaction by your nervous system.

At NeuFit, Garrett draws on his background in engineering and neuroscience to help athletes and other patients recover from injury, develop sustainable fitness regimens, and improve their overall health.

Garrett joins this episode of Back Talk Doc to explain why his unusual approach to treatment acknowledges the structural focus of traditional pain management, but operates within a neurological framework.

“There is this very important common thread… from early-stage rehabilitation all the way through general fitness and elite athletic performance, and that is the nervous system,” Garrett says. “It controls so many things about us: How we heal and recover from injuries, how our muscles work and move, whether we experience pain or not.”

Garrett also created a new muscle stimulation device, the Neubie, that combines the alternating current traditionally used in these devices with direct current, to maximize relief. In addition to using it with patients, he relies on it to optimize his own workouts.

Listen to this episode of Back Talk Doc to explore the intersection of neuroscience, engineering and physiology, and how it can offer a holistic approach to treating pain.

💡 Featured Experts 💡

Name:Garrett Salpeter

What he does:Garrett has studied engineering and neuroscience. From this unique vantage point, he leads neuromuscular therapy provider NeuFit, which is dedicated to treating athletes and patients, helping them reach their fitness goals and heal from injuries. He also hosts The NeuFit Undercurrent Podcast and is the author of “The NeuFit Method: Unleash the Power of the Nervous System for Faster Healing and Optimal Performance.”

Company:NeuFit

Words of wisdom:“If someone comes in because they ‘threw out their back’ …  in that really acute spasm-like state, a lot of times there’s some minor insult or something like that, but the reason that they’re in such pain and they’re so debilitated is because of the neurological overreaction.”

Connect:LinkedIn

⚓ Anchor Points ⚓

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode

★    Examining your pain within a neurological framework offers advantages over a traditional approach.The traditional approach to treating pain tends to lean heavily on structural explanations: If your back hurts, there must be something physically wrong with it. Instead, focusing on your body’s response to an insult as a neurological overreaction that creates pain (without discounting the possibility of a structural issue) may be more effective.

★    The body’s protective responses to stimuli are necessary, but often an overcorrection. When Garrett and his team identify a defensive neurological reaction to an insult, they are careful not to eliminate it completely, because it serves a purpose.  Yet the response is often too far-reaching. Many times, this has to do with bad habits that a patient has developed in the way they move their bodies, so treatment is usually more a matter of recalibrating the response than getting rid of it.

★    When it comes to muscle stimulation, direct current is worth a second look.Direct current fell out of favor among pain specialists decades ago. Despite its therapeutic effectiveness, it burned and stung the skin. To address this and harness direct current’s power, Garrett developed the Neubie, a device whose proprietary waveform feature uses alternating anddirect current.

⚕️ Episode Insights ⚕️

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode

[00:00] Mobile-based solutions for clinical practice:Check out our sponsor, QxMD, which builds mobile solutions that drive evidence-based medicine in clinical practice.

[02:01] Meet Garrett: Garrett Salpeter is the author of “The NeuFit Method: Unleash the Power of the Nervous System for Faster Healing and Optimal Performance.” He founded neuromuscular therapy provider NeuFit, and also hosts The NeuFit Undercurrent Podcast.

[04:59] The common thread: From general rehab patients to elite athletes, the nervous system is the key differentiator when it comes to controlling how we recover, move, think and feel. It controls our muscles, hormones and pain responses.

[6:10] Tip of the iceberg:Often when a patient comes in complaining of an acute injury, the real reason for their pain, even if they have suffered some minor injury, is the nervous system’s overreaction to it, e.g. a back spasm.

[6:59] A different paradigm: Instead of focusing on the affected structures, Garrett and his team focus on the neurological responses to injuries. They do this by identifying where the brain and nervous system are activating those responses, and stimulating those areas to reset, recalibrate and reeducate the response patterns.

[9:02] First things first:This is a different framework but not a substitute for considering real physiological issues. Before investigating a patient’s neurological responses, NeuFit checks to make sure there’s nothing structurally wrong with them.

[11:32] Root causes:When patients experience pain from certain types of movements or extensions, it’s often because certain muscles are shut down or inhibited.

[13:01] The strength within: By measuring and mapping pain and then focusing on root causes, NeuFit helps people tap into muscle they already have but are preventing themselves from activating.

[13:57] Hyperfocus:In addition to manual muscle testing, NeuFit uses electrodes that send direct currents to identify the protective responses the patient is exhibiting.

[18:49] Next-level muscle stimulation:NeuFit’s proprietary device, the Neubie, uses direct current stimulation to communicate with the nervous system precisely and efficiently, and alternating current to provide comfort during muscle stimulation.

[25:37] Balancing it out: NeuFit’s treatment process determines how much of the body’s neurological response is necessary, and how much is an overreaction to a perceived danger. 

[27:54] More function than form:Garrett has seen people make more progress by emphasizing function over structure.

[31:05] Sweeter dreams:Using the Neubie in conjunction with his workout regimen, Garrett has significantly improved his quality of sleep.

[37:08]  What he’s reading:Garrett recommends “Head Strong” and “Super Human” by Dave Asprey.

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👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode The Art and Science of Trigger Point Treatments.

For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

We have addressed numerous aspects of low back pain from surgical angles to medications, nutrition, and injections on the podcast, but an increasing number of patients are also suffering from mid-back pain or “thoracic pain.”

On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia is joined by Dr. Scott Otis, a physiatrist at the Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, to discuss thoracic back pain. Dr. Otis attended medical school at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and completed his internship at Riverside Hospital in Columbus. Dr. Otis is currently affiliated with the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehab. An expert in electro-diagnostic medicine and interventional spine care, Dr. Otis works out of the main office in Charlotte.

Dr. Otis reveals why thoracic back pain is so challenging to diagnose, any pain experienced in that area of the body are often compensatory issues from neck or low back issues or referral pain from neck and low back issues that present as thoracic spine pain. (4:45) He also discusses non-spinal issues that cause pain and abnormalities, including GI issues, pulmonary and heart ailments, and liver disease. (07:34) The Doctors also cover other ailments including “White Collar Disease” (09:35), poor body posture, and how poor ergonomics in furniture lead to upper back pain. (09:18)

Dr. Otis also examines the methods physiatrists employ to evaluate back pain and stress the importance of ruling out non-spinal causes before arriving at a proper diagnosis. (10:30) Thoracic back pain treatment includes self-care, physical therapy, and in a few extreme cases, surgical intervention. (13:05)

 More topics discussed on this episode include:

If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode A Pain in the Neck (and Back!): How Technology, Stress, and Genetics are Leading to Aches and Pains With Dr. Sameer Vemuri

For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com.

 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

 Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website atcarolinaneurosurgery.com.

It’s pretty common to have your posture be significantly affected by a spine condition. Whether you’ve had congenital scoliosis as a child or went through an accident that caused the deformity, it’s important to have an understanding of these so you know your options are towards recovery.

In this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia speaks with Dr. Matt McGirt, a partner doctor at the Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates. Dr. McGirt dives deep into spinal deformities that occur in adults, including complex spines and scoliosis. He discusses the types of scoliosis that develops in children, and once it stabilizes, as they grow older. The main thing to check for as an adult is the pelvic-spine-shoulder alignment, making sure that any malalignment does not progress over time.

He also lists down the various symptoms that signal a worsening spinal deformity, including more muscle strain and stress around the spine area. Conservative care is always the first option, where your quality of life is improved first, including doing minor outpatient procedures. It’s only when there’s a severe loss of quality of life such as reduced lung capacity that spinal surgery becomes an option, which Dr. McGirt gives a brief overview on.

Before things take a turn for the worse, you can help yourself by doing activities such as building core strength and flexibility, stretching, and losing weight.

Dr. McGirt suggests adopting healthy habits like cultivating relationships, developing hobbies and doing breathwork, to improve your overall health and well-being.

Key moments in the episode

Links mentioned in the episode

Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at carolinaneurosurgery.com.

Here onBack Talk Docyou’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about back pain and spine health. Brought to you byCarolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, where providing personalized, highly-skilled, and compassionate spine care has been our specialty for over 75 years. And now, it’s time to understand the cause of back pain and learn about options to get you back on track!

If you'd like to learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back issues, go toBackTalkDoc.com. We look forward to having you join us for more insights about back pain and spine health on the next episode of Back Talk Doc. Additional information is also available at: CarolinaNeuroSurgery.com.

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