Dr. Cady's Blog

Diagnosis Hypnosis:

Why Your Pain Diagnosis May Not Help You Get Better

Many people receive a diagnosis in order to determine the appropriate treatment for their pain or many other conditions. But first of all, what is a diagnosis? If you look at the Merriam-Webster dictionary it would be this:

1. The art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms.
2. Investigation or analysis of the cause or nature of a condition, situation, or problem.

In the world of pain, you are trying to determine the cause/nature/disease based upon signs and symptoms. On rare occasion, a pain diagnosis can be life-threatening with what are commonly called “red flag” symptoms. These may include the inability to control your bowel or bladder or severe abdominal pain. These rare issues may be indicative of the life-threatening or life-altering issues such as severe compression of your spinal cord/nerve roots or bleeding from an aortic aneurysm (largest artery).

But let’s assume...

Anyone who follows basketball, the Golden State Warriors, or Steve Kerr in particular is keenly aware of the challenges Kerr has had with his low back pain in 2015 and his unresolved post-surgical cerebrospinal fluid leak complication. Ultimately his pain went from his back to his head and beyond.

Kerr’s story reminds us of the profound impact that chronic pain can have on one’s entire life, even if you are the head coach of one of the most profitable NBA teams in the country. And the realization that a “simple” surgery has its real risks was felt intimately by Kerr and those close to him.

As a consequence, Kerr told the Washington Post, “I can tell you if you’re listening out there, stay away from back surgery. I can say that from the bottom of my heart. Rehab, rehab, rehab. Don’t let anyone get in there.”

As much as surgeons will cringe at the above statement, the truth is that there is a higher risk when it comes to surgery as...

With over 20 years of psychology research, Tamar Pincus holds a PhD (University College London), as well as Masters degrees in experimental research methods in psychology (UCL), and epidemiology (Cambridge University). Her videos are great for medical professionals or those who suffer from pain:

Hear and/or watch the interview with Dr. Cady here:

http://www.drjoetatta.com/live-the-antipain-lifestyle-with-dr-melissa-cady/

Dr. Vikas Agarwal has added a MDT (Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy) certification (aka McKenzie Method) to his skill set. MDT is typically pursued by other health professionals especially physical therapists.

During a recent trip Down Under, I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Mark Laslett, a highly regarded and skilled physiotherapist south of Christchurch, New Zealand near the Rangitata River.

You can find out more about Dr. Laslett here: https://www.facebook.com/Dr-Mark-Laslett-840670342719483

I learned not only some of his views of pain, especially low back pain, but also how to fish for Kahawai fish!

We were positioned where the Rangitata River meets the Pacific Ocean. Such amazing views...here is a video put together by Dr. Laslett himself:

Omaha Lifestyles 50+ Magazine published an article, "Paindemic; Challenging the Way We Treat Pain."

Digital version here (see page 13):

http://www.omahalifestyles.com/wp-content/archives/Aug_16/Issue.html#p=12

Our train of thought on how we treat chronic disease is absolutely misdirected in the world of traditional American medicine.

Bravo on Dr. Rangan Chatterjee’s delivery of this critical message:

If you don’t think pain and its treatment is an issue, then look no further than many of the patients and celebrities (e.g. Heath Ledger, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Andy Irons, Prince Rogers Nelson) who have died from addressing their pain with opioids. From 1999 to 2014, more than 165,000 people have died from opioid overdose, which in many instances is a combination of opioids, benzodiazepines, and/or alcohol.

 Unintentional overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental death that has now surpassed motor vehicle accidents.

And although there is a huge surge of illegal production and distribution of opioids in the form of carfentanil, heroin, and others, there is no doubt that a massive influx of opioids into medicine cabinets are due to physicians writing the prescriptions. (See DEA Warning about carfentanil posted on 9/23/2016 at https://www.dea.gov/divisions/hq/2016/hq092216.shtml)

Opioids not only can lead to death; but, they can generate misuse, abuse, and...