Recurrent Back Pain

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What is recurrent back pain?

Back pain is the discomfort experienced by patients in any of the regions of the back (lower, middle, upper) which may be acute or chronic. Depending on the cause, the pain may also affect the limbs, and may manifest additional symptoms such as paresthesia, and weakness in the extremities.  Recurrent back pain is that discomfort in the back which manifests in cycles, typically characterized by pain episodes manifesting every after a few months of pain-free intervals.

What causes recurrent back pain?

There are many structures in the back – the vertebral column and its supporting structures, the spinal cord and the surrounding nerves, the visceral organs of the endocrine and digestive systems, the muscles and ligaments of the back, which support the torso, enable humans to stand upright, and carry out essential functions. All of these structures are susceptible to infection, irritation, as well as normal wearing out due to constant use. Consequently, conditions affecting any of all these structures may activate pain sensors responsible for manifesting recurrent back pain symptoms. These conditions vary in severity, from simple positional matters to more severe spinal cord irritation and cancer. Some of the common causes of recurrent back pain include:

  • physical strain (e.g. sitting or lifting positions)
  • disc degeneration
  • spinal fracture
  • alignment problems (e.g. scoliosis)
  • malignant growth
  • spinal arthritis
  • referred pain from visceral organ disorders

How can recurrent back pain be treated?

A wide variety of treatment modalities are available to patients with recurrent back pain. Depending on the primary cause, you may be put on a treatment plan that includes physical therapy, lifestyle changes, medications, interventional treatments, or surgery, as necessary. If you experience recurrent back pain, it is advisable to talk to your doctor about it, so a complete evaluation may be done and an appropriate treatment plan given as applicable. So how do we go about treating back pain? Some of the options include:

  • physical therapy – physical manipulations including massage and stretches that aim to help ease muscle and alignment strain
  • chiropractic care – physical manipulations focused on improving spinal alignment and on strengthening structures of the back
  • anti-inflammatory drugs – oral medication that deals with pain-causing irritation in either the joints, nerves, or the internal organs proximate to the back
  • pain relief medication – oral medication that interrupts normal pain signaling so as to minimize recurrent back pain
  • thermal therapy – the use of hot or cold compress to ease strain and relax the structures in the back
  • nerve stimulations – electrical manipulations that disrupt the normal signaling in the nerves of the back so as to prevent them from communicating too much pain
  • spinal injections – nerve blocks and epidural injections aimed to also minimize pain by interrupting the nerves through direct delivery of anesthetic and steroidal agents
  • spinal surgery – corrective invasive procedures that improve support in the back, as in replacing support structures for worn out tissue in spinal discs

Where can I find a doctor for recurrent back pain?

Whatever the cause is, recurrent back pain can keep you from your daily functions. Do you need a doctor who knows how to treat back pain really well? Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a pain management specialist practicing in Los Angeles, may just be the doctor you need. Dr. Li’s unparalleled experience in treating patients with recurrent back pain over the last decade, as well as his double-board certification and training guarantees you only the best care for your back. Call his L.A. clinic at (626) 538 – 8950 today for your appointment, so you can get back to being pain-free!

Auto Accident Injury Doctor

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What are auto accident injury doctors?

With the growing numbers of automobiles now being used by people over the world come a similarly growing number of vehicular accidents. These usually involve collisions of one vehicle to a multiple of other participants such as other cars, road structures, trees, animals, or people, potentially resulting to damage to property, varying degrees of injuries, and even a loss of life. Auto accident injury doctors are physicians who specialize in treating patients who have sustained injuries from auto accidents. Generally, all injuries from auto accidents such as broken bones and punctured internal organs can be treated by all doctors, auto accident injury doctor or not. Due to the med-legal dealings accompanying treatment, however, most patients are referred to auto accident injury doctors for comprehensive care. Auto accident injury doctors come from many medical disciplines including anesthesiology, sugery, orthopaedics, internal medicine, chiropractic care, and physical therapy.

What do auto accident injury doctors treat?

Auto accident injuries differ in nature, location, and severity among different cases, depending on the amount of trauma sustained. Injuries range from mild concussions to severely damaged limbs and spinal injuries. A few of the common injuries treated by auto accident injury doctors include:

  • Facial injuries  – damage to facial tissue and organs such as the eyes, facial muscles, and the jaw due to fast-flying debris lodging into the face
  • head injuries – possibly life-threatening brain injury and concussions resulting from direct impact sustained by the head
  • spine and neck injuries – impairment to the neck or the spinal cord as in the case of disc injuries and whiplash from neck or back trauma
  • internal organ injuries – damage to visceral organs typically caused by debris such as broken bones, or pieces of broken objects puncturing soft tissue
  • limb injuries – compression damage to bone and muscle which may necessitate amputations of one or two of the limbs
  • psychological injuries – psychological trauma from surviving the accident or losing loved ones

What are the services offered by auto accident injury doctors?

Auto accident injury doctors provide comprehensive care for patients from emergency care to rehabilitation.  Auto accident injury doctors facilitate a patient’s holistic physical and legal recovery from the accident. Regardless of the severity of your case, an auto accident injury doctor will be able to help you. If you have survived and auto accident, some of the injuries may not manifest immediately. Thus, seeking the care of an auto accident injury doctor for thorough evaluation would always prove beneficial. Specifically, some of the services offered by auto accident injury doctors would include the following:

  • Emergency care – while some treatments are initially carried out by emergency healthcare providers, more serious treatments like brain surgery are handled by auto accident injury doctors. They care for patient’s immediate accident-related needs.
  • Rehabilitative care – auto accident injuries tend to leave behind disabilities such as partial or complete paralysis even after the immediate dangers are taken care of. Auto accident injury doctors also help patients through rehabilitation in order for them to regain functional capacity, as in cases of rehabilitating damaged limbs or paralyzed body sections due to spinal injury
  • Med-legal care – auto accident injury doctors are specially trained and certified to evaluate patients’ conditions and provide legally recognized assessment of damage and injury necessary for settling insurance claims or in some cases, lawsuits.

Where can I find a good auto accident injury doctor in Los Angeles?

Have you found your life halted by an auto accident? Do you need auto accident injury care? Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a certified Independent Medical Examiner and auto accident injury doctor, may be able to help you. With so many years of auto accident injury care experience, multiple certifications, and a patient-centered treatment approach, Dr. Li can surely provide excellent care that suits your needs. Call his Los Angeles clinic at (626) 538 – 8950 for your appointment today, and see your life get back on track!

Sciatica Los Angeles

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What is the Sciatic nerve?

Humans are able to feel and move the different parts of the body partly through the function of the nerve network that links the brain and spinal cord to the most extreme ends of the limbs. The sciatic nerve is a member of that neural network responsible for bringing sensation, reflex responses, and strength specifically to the legs. Formed by the merging of two lumbar nerves and three sacral spine nerves, the sciatic nerve is the biggest nerve in entire body, running the termination of the spinal cord to the pelvic area, and down to the thighs, calves, and toes on both legs.

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica is a medical condition where patients experience pain due to sciatic nerve irritation, inflammation, or compression. The pain is characterized by sharp or stabbing discomfort occurring mostly on just one of the legs, accompanied by leg weakness or numbness, walking, standing, or sitting difficulties, and lower back pain. Pain intensity as well as the location of affected areas typically differ among patients, depending on the location of nerve compression or irritation, such as in the sciatic nerve itself, its nerve roots, or its tributaries. Regardless of differing manifestations, sciatica may result in movement difficulties in patients, as well as functional inability, and a decrease in the quality of life.

What causes Sciatica?

Pain is a manifestation of the body’s response to internal injury or dysfunction. Like in most medical conditions, pain occur only as symptom of tissue damage or irritation. Due to the length covered by the sciatic nerve, it is susceptible to compression or inflammation in so many points, such as the junctions and passages through the spine. Some of the common conditions leading to sciatica may include the following:

  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Lumbar herniated discs
  • Isthmic spondylolisthesis
  • Cauda equine syndrome
  • Spinal stenosis
  • Piriformis syndrome
  • Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
  • Nerve infections
  • Pregnancy
  • Muscle strain

What treatments are available for patients with sciatica in Los Angeles?

Depending on the nature and intensity of symptoms, non-invasive or invasive medical procedures may be prescribed by specialists for patients with sciatica. But before any treatment may be administered, patients have to be comprehensively evaluated and diagnosed in order to determine the primary cause of sciatica. The reason for this is that while the pain may be temporarily relieved, some conditions require attention to the nerve itself or the spine, so as to prevent irreparable damage. So if you are experiencing pain due to sciatica, always seek the help of a licensed medical practitioner for proper diagnosis and optimal treatment plans. In some cases, pain management and treatment may require more than one treatment procedure, so patients may be asked to go a treatment plan that involves several modalities, such as pain medication in conjunction with physical therapy. Some of the treatment options for patients with sciatica may include the following:

  • Thermal therapy – such as the use of warm or cold packs for pain relief
  • Oral medication – including pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medication, or oral steroids, also for pain reduction
  • Steroid injections – involves the use of ant-inflammatory steroid medication delivered directly to the epidural space of the spine in close proximity to the irritated section
  • Chiropractic care – form of physical therapy which reduces strain on the sciatic nerve by improving spinal alignment
  • Acupuncture – insertion of fine needles in specific spots to stimulate blood flow along the length of the sciatic nerve
  • Exercise – use of certain stretches and light work out to strengthen and relax muscles around the sciatic nerve and ease compression
  • Surgery – open surgery involving the removal of damaged discs or foreign material causing irritation along the nerve

Where can I find a specialist for Sciatica in Los Angeles?

Is your sciatica depriving you of your life? Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a pain management specialist based in Los Angeles, may just be the doctor you need. Employing the latest developments in medical research, and his extensive experience in treating patients with sciatica, Dr. Li will not only be able to give you a comprehensive diagnosis, but could also provide the best pain management care around. Dr. Li believes in minimally invasive, patient-centered treatment, so you are assured that whatever your circumstances, you get treatment suited specifically to your needs. What’s the wait? Call his L.A. clinic today at (626) 538 – 8950 for an appointment! Don’t let pain stop you. Let Dr. Li help you stop the pain.

Auto Accident Injury Doctor

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What are auto accidents?

Cars have quickly become the primary means of transportation for a lot of people. But with so much traffic, accidents also become commonplace. Auto accidents are defined as unintentional collisions involving automobiles, either with another automobile, with stationary objects such as light posts, or with pedestrians or animals. The force of the collision can possibly result to varying degrees of physical injury, loss of property, and sometimes, loss of life.

What are auto accident injuries?

People who do survive vehicular accidents are usually left with injuries from different parts of the body. Depending on the intensity and nature of impact, patients may suffer from broken bones, facial injuries, internal organ damage, or even mangled body parts. In some cases the injuries also leave patients unable to regain the use of their injured limbs. Some of the common auto accident injuries include the following:

  • Head or brain injuries – trauma sustained by the head can result to varying degrees of damage to the brain, from mild concussion to life-threatening internal bleeding.
  • Facial injuries – typical injuries include cuts from flying debris such as broken glass resulting to loss of eyesight or facial muscle functions, dental, and jaw-related damage.
  • Neck and spinal cord injuries – also occurring in differing severity are injuries such as whiplash, spinal disc injury, and spinal cord damages
  • Internal organ injury – usually occurs as a result of broken bones or debris puncturing internal organs such as the lungs, liver, and kidneys
  • Psychological injury – auto accidents usually also affect the emotional and mental state of patients, especially in cases where loss of lives have to be endured by family members

What are the treatments for auto accident injuries?

Depending on the severity of the crash and the nature of the patients’ injuries, treatment may range from simple wound cleaning to more serious procedures such as surgery. While some of the sustained auto accident injuries are obvious from the onset, some damage would not manifest symptoms until it is too late. That being the case, patients who have been through an auto accident are usually immediately subjected to tests such as CT scans for a thorough evaluation of possible internal damage. Treatment is critical for the first 72 hours, so if any internal injuries have been sustained, patients may be recommended to undergo certain procedures (e.g. surgery) immediately. Some other forms of care include rehabilitation therapy to help patients regain functional capacity of the limbs or muscles injured or affected in the accident. Some of the treatments include:

  • Physical tending of lacerations, bruises, and concussions
  • Oral medication
  • Surgery
  • Interventional therapy
  • Chiropractic care
  • Physical therapy
  • Psychological therapy

What is an auto accident injury doctor?

Auto accident injury doctors are physicians who specializes on injury related auto accident trauma. They help patients with diagnosis, injury repair treatments, pain management, surgery, and rehabilitation.  Auto accident injury doctors come from a wide variety of disciplines such as orthopedics, internal medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, neurology, physical therapy, and chiropractic care. Auto accident injury doctors not only take care of immediate conditions, but also help patients with long term treatment and rehabilitation. Have you been through an auto accident recently? Don’t hesitate to seek an auto accident injury doctor to take care of you.

Where can I find a good auto accident injury doctor in Los Angeles?

Are you needing an auto accident injury doctor? Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a pain management and auto accident injury doctor from Los Angeles, may be able to help you. Through more than a decade’s worth of experience working with patients with auto accident injuries, Dr. Li’s highly valued expertise and patient-centered, holistic treatment approach would ensure you get only the best of medical care. Dr. Li also happens to be a qualified Independent Medical Examiner, so you’ll have no trouble getting help for med-legal matters. What are you waiting for? Call his clinic now at (626) 538 – 8950 for an appointment. Life doesn’t have to stop at the accident. Let Dr. Li help you.

Spine Center for Chronic Pain Treatment

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What is the spine?

The spine is perhaps one of the most remarkable set of bones in the body. Alternately called the backbone, the spine is externally characterized by prominent grooves in the middle axis of the back humans. Anatomically, the spine is in fact a column of 33 distinct bones running along the dorsal length of the region just below the head to the lower pelvis, terminating at the tailbone. It is held in alignment by strong ligaments and muscles, and is divided into five sections, namely, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccyx segments. The structure of the spine maximizes its capacity to support three main functions – protection, structural support, and flexibility support. The spine’s most important function is that it protects the spinal cord, and several nerve roots from trauma. The spinal column is also responsible for straightening the torso area for balance and posture, as well as support for flexible motion such as bending down or nodding.

How is the spine involved in pain?

The spine supports many structures, all of which are prone to trauma, injury, irritation, or infection. This includes several major nerves that innervate the lower limbs, as well as the spinal cord. As such, pain felt in the back, around the buttocks, or up at the neck, may potentially involve the spine. Conditions causing spine-related pain range from column misalignment (e.g. scoliosis), to damaged spinal joints or support structures (e.g. herniated discs), and to spinal cord trauma or meningitis. Sustained discomfort in the back area may have to be brought to the attention of local spine centers, so that appropriate diagnosis can be made, and treatments administered to patients.

What are spine centers?

Spine centers are healthcare facilities specializing in spine-related conditions. Employing a wide spectrum of medical practitioners such as chiropractors, neurologists, surgeons, and orthopedics, spine centers provide centralized support for rehabilitation, treatment, and pain relief of conditions involving the spine, and its surrounding structures.

How can spine centers for chronic pain treatment help?

Patients typically seek out spine centers for chronic pain treatment. The reason for this is that spine centers employ different treatment modalities that help patients cope with chronic pain from their spine-related illnesses in conjunction with restorative care. Due to the functions of the spine, and the nature of its structure, patients suffering from spinal problems, especially chronic ones, often have to deal with pain that also limits their abilities to move, stand, or do work. In this way, intervention from spine centers for chronic pain treatment could help patients regain functional independence. In some cases, spine centers for chronic pain treatment help facilitate patients through physical rehabilitative therapy which would otherwise be impossible with the pain. As with other health problems, spine centers do chronic pain treatment firstly by employing diagnostic procedures (e.g. spinal imaging) to determine the exact location of the inflammation, or injury, as there are many possibilities with all the structures surrounding the spine. As the problem is diagnosed, several procedures may be recommended by spine centers for chronic pain treatment, including:

  • Epidural injections
  • Pain medication
  • Physical therapy
  • Chiropractic care
  • Spinal surgeries
  • Lifestyle changes
  • Neck or back bracing

Where can I find a spine center for chronic pain treatment in Los Angeles?

No matter the cause, spine-related diseases, and chronic pain could be a huge burden. However, no patient needs to carry all of it perpetually. Dr. Kevin Li, MD, from Advance Spine Care Pain Management Center in Los Angeles, would like to help you. Whether you have sustained spine-related injury or have agonizing pain, Dr. Li and his team at the Spine Center could provide you with accurate, comprehensive diagnosis, and individualized care that’s sure to get you up and running in no time. Dr. Li employs not only the latest medical technology, but also more than a decade’s worth of spinal pain care experience and specialized trainings, for only the best care for you. Don’t let your back keep you back any longer. Call his clinic at (626) 538 – 8950 today!

Headache Los Angeles

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What are headaches?

Headaches are broadly defined as any unpleasant sensation occurring in the head region. As with most pain cases, headaches manifest differently among patients, with some experiencing mild discomfort while others are barely able to get up from severe headache. The pain may be confined to a single spot or region, but it also may radiate across the entire head, sometimes even affecting the back of the eyes, as well as the back of the neck. Headaches may also come with increased noise and light sensitivity, as well as nausea, and a few other symptoms. In some patients, headaches may also be felt as a throbbing sensation, or sharp jabs. Millions of individuals from all walks of life suffer from headaches, in forms such as cluster headaches, rebound headaches, migraines, and such, and is deemed the most common of nervous system disorders.

What causes headaches?

There are many reasons individual patients experience headaches. There are headaches classified as primary, the headache being the foremost health condition, and not caused by any other underlying disorder. Primary headaches are described to originate from overactive, or oversensitive pain receptors in the head which react to some of the brain’s chemical activities, or to occurrences on structures surrounding the skull such as the blood vessels and muscles. The exact mechanism of primary headaches are still not well understood, but the pain is nonetheless possibly debilitating. Physicians thus resort to observing triggers, and factors (e.g. dietary, weather, or lifestyle) that bring about headache attacks in individuals in order to help them prevent the actual attacks. Some of the common examples of primary headaches, with varying severity and duration, include migraines, cluster headaches, tension headaches, and chronic daily headaches.

Aside from primary headaches, there are also secondary ones, characterized by pain in the head caused by illnesses, diseases or injuries. The head contains many structures, such as the eyes, the brain, sinuses, teeth, and the ears. It is also in close proximity to very sensitive structures such as the spinal cord. All of these parts are susceptible to damage due to trauma, infections and inflammations, which may affect the head and bring about headache attacks. Secondary headaches could thus come from one of the structures in the head, or the spinal cord, ranging from simple cases such as headaches due to eye refraction errors to headaches from trigeminal neuralgia or meningitis.

How are headaches treated?

Headaches may originate from simple, acute causes, but may also indicate life-threatening illnesses. That being the case, consulting with a headache specialist would be beneficial, or even necessary, especially for patients who suddenly developed severe headaches, have seen an increase in frequency or severity of headache attacks, or have recently sustained head trauma. Headache specialists are medical practitioners who guide patients as they go through tests and evaluations for comprehensive diagnosis of their headaches, as well as in tailoring treatments for specific cases. Some of the treatment methods used for headaches include the following on the list:

  • Lifestyle or dietary changes
  • Pain relief medication
  • Anti-depressants or opiods
  • Acupuncture
  • Physical therapy
  • Cranial nerve stimulations

Where can I find a specialist for my headache in Los Angeles?

Are your headaches keeping you from functioning? Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a specialist on headaches in Los Angeles, may just be the doctor you need. With his exemplary training, more than a decade’s worth of experience in pain care, and his use of latest medical technology, he will be able to provide you with an in-depth diagnosis of the cause of your headaches, as well as recommend a treatment plan that will let you gain control of the pain, no matter the severity or frequency. Dr. Li’s holistic, individualized care guarantees only the best care for you. Call his L.A. clinic today at (626) 538 – 8950 to set an appointment, and take back your life again!

Pain Management Therapy

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What is pain?

Pain is a very familiar sensation for most people. It is typically defined by dictionaries as some physical ill feeling related to tissue injury or bodily dysfunction. Pain is in fact, more than the discomfort. It is the mechanism by which the brain keeps the body from harm, by making an individual aware of potential risks, or by preventing more damage to injured tissue as it is in the process of healing. Pain thus arises from a lot of different cases as a symptom of infections, injuries, or diseases. It may manifest on short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) with intensities ranging from mild tingles to severe, debilitating aches. Pain can originate from different organs and tissues, such as that caused by inflamed spinal nerves, stomach ulcers, or damaged tendons on limbs. No matter the cause, pain, especially chronic cases, can prevent a person from living a normal life, or from fulfilling individual responsibilities.

What causes pain?

Pain is the symptom. It is the body’s means of warning the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord, of present or potential injury in peripheral tissues and organs. It involves a delicate mechanism of injury or disease response, as well as signal exchanges, in order to generate the pain as the sensation we feel. So what conditions cause pain? Almost every part of the body is capable of sustaining injuries or irritations, and so pain could come from everywhere. Here is a list of common sources of pain experienced by patients:

  • Injuries to muscles, ligaments or tendons
  • Skin aberrations (e.g. cuts and burns)
  • Organ inflammation (e.g. appendicitis)
  • Nerve impingement or irritations (e.g. sciatica)
  • Migraines and headaches
  • Various infections (e.g. sore throat)
  • Chronic health conditions (e.g. heart attack, cancer)
  • Bone or joint degradation (e.g. herniated discs, arthritis)
  • Medication side effects (e.g. neuropathy from chemotherapy drugs)

What is pain management therapy?

Pain management therapy is the branch of medicine which specializes on pain reduction. Pain management therapy may involve use of drugs, physical therapy, surgery, interventional therapy and even other alternative medical care methods to reduce pain, ultimately allowing patients to resume life. Pain management therapy seeks not only to treat pain, but also to determine the problem’s exact source so as to also be able to include treatment of underlying conditions in the treatment scheme.

How is pain management therapy done?

Pain management therapy is carried out by specially-trained medical practitioners from various fields such as anesthesiology, neurology, surgery, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and other medical support disciplines. Pain management therapy is commenced by diagnosis, in order to comprehensively treat patients. Doctors evaluate individual cases based on medical history, pain manifestations, as well as physical, histological, and chemical parameters of the patients’ body. This is done by conducting patient interviews, as well as recommending patients to diagnostic imaging, and chemical tests. Afterwards, treatment plans are designed to suit individual needs and preferences of patients, from medication doses, to alternative, surgical, or interventional procedures, handed out by a single doctor or a team of practitioners. Some of the more specific procedures used in pain management therapy are:

  • Oral pain medications (e.g. opiods, anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving drugs)
  • Injectable pain medication (e.g. steroids for inflamed nerves)
  • Nerve stimulations (e.g. spinal cord electrical stimulation)
  • Surgery (e.g. insertion of support structures for herniated discs)
  • Physical therapy (e.g. for strained muscles)
  • Acupuncture
  • Lifestyle or psychological counselling

Where can I find a pain management therapy specialist?

Pain management therapy is an option hugely available to patients in pain. It would allow you to gain control of everything that agonizes you, if not completely, at least to an extent at which you could remain functionally independent, and to an extent at which enjoyment of life is not impossible. Are you needing a pain management therapy specialist to help you along the way? Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a pain management therapy specialist stationed in Los Angeles, will be able to help you. He has more than a decade of extensive experience in pain management care for differing conditions, in addition to his exemplary training, and double-board certifications. Dr. Li also believes in patient-centered, comprehensive care, so treatment plans will always be for your best, whatever your circumstance. Call his clinic at (626) 538 – 8950 today for an appointment, and start your journey to mastering pain!

Physical Therapy Los Angeles

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What is physical therapy?

Physical therapy is a non-invasive form of medical care that seeks to treat medical conditions such as musculoskeletal injuries through mechanical and physical manipulations. Depending on the nature of an illness, injury, or disability, treatments may take the form of massage, soft stretches, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, thermal therapy, and many more. Whatever the treatment form is, the goal is to restore and maintain an individual’s functional capacity, as well as the ability to move, without resorting to surgery. Physical therapy is employed not only to minimize pain and strain presently felt by patients, but also to strengthen the body naturally so as to prevent future reinjury. It is deemed as a more long-term solution to a variety of conditions, as its effects usually last way beyond other treatment forms for pain management.

How is physical therapy done?

Physical therapy are usually carried out by licensed practitioners with training in physical therapy, called physical therapists (PTs). As with any other disease or injury, care starts with diagnosis, determined through physical, neurological and historical evaluations. Physical therapists may also recommend patients to go through imaging tests for an in-depth understanding of the condition, and the physical circumstances of the individual. Physical therapy treatment plans are then developed, employing established techniques that help patients reacquire mobility and function, and reduce symptomatic pain. Physical therapists usually also teach patients some of the light workouts and stretches for them to continuously be able to do at home, as well as orienting them to choices that would promote a sufficiently active lifestyle that could also benefit them from their respective conditions.

What is physical therapy usually used for?

Physical therapy in Los Angeles is recommended to patients from all ages, from children with inborn musculoskeletal disability, to older patients recovering from stroke or vehicular accidents. Physical therapy also has several specialized fields such as cardiopulmonary, orthopaedic, and neurological care, and could thus be used for an incredibly wide variety of cases. Physical therapy, being mechanical, is also usually given to patients in conjunction with other forms of treatment such as nerve blocks, and pain management care. Some of the more specific types of physical therapy are listed below:

  • Electrotherapy and wound management – employs the use of regulated electric currents to stimulate nerves and muscles as treatment of some form of paralysis, as well as to stimulate accelerated wound healing.
  • Neurological physical therapy – therapy given to patients with nerve-related conditions (e.g. multiple sclerosis, brain injury, ALS) affecting mobility in order to retard loss of muscular function
  • Geriatric physical therapy – treatment care for patients who are suffering from musculoskeletal, or nerve-related degeneration and conditions due to aging.
  • Integumentary physical therapy – a form of intervention focusing on the rehabilitating skin tissue, as in wound and burn care
  • Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation – therapy for heart or lung-related conditions including post-surgical recovery
  • Pediatric physical therapy – physical therapy for rehabilitating children with birth defects affecting muscle function which aims to improve motor skills, build strength, and acquire balance
  • Sports-related therapy – care usually given to athletes who sustained injuries from playing, as well as a preventive measure to strengthen core muscles frequently used in a specific sport
  • Orthopedic physical therapy – a mostly out-patient care which supplements orthopedic treatments (e.g. surgery) for musculoskeletal injuries to help patients recover motor function
  • Physical therapy for palliative care – care given to cancer patients to help them maintain a certain amount of functional independence even as they deal with debilitating symptoms

Where can I get physical therapy in Los Angeles?

Physical therapy has a wide variety of specializations which may be able to help you, whatever your condition. The best course of action would be to approach your doctor regarding possible physical therapy options. Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a pain management physician from Los Angeles, could help. He employs the latest technology and set of practices, including physical therapy to help patients get through their pain. Dr. Li’s multiple certifications and pervasive experience in pain management would guarantee you the best of care. Why don’t you get in touch with his clinic today at (626) 538 – 8950 to set an appointment? A doctor who believes in holistic, patient-centered care is always best. After all, pain doesn’t have to be your life. What are you waiting for?

Natural Pain Management

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What is pain management?

At some point in life, most people would experience pain, either due to illness, injury, or their body’s wear and tear, which may prevent them from having a life. Pain management is a form of healthcare which specifically helps patients get through this stage. Bringing together several disciplines such as physical therapy, anesthesiology, surgery, chiropractic care, and neurology, pain management seeks to lessen pain and treat its causes and bring back the patient’s capacity to function.

How is pain management done?

Pain management starts with the comprehensive diagnosis of a patient’s condition. In order to do this, doctors first evaluate a patient’s medical history, as well as conduct physical and neurological tests. From these data, healthcare providers are able to get a general idea as to what the pain may be attributed to. Consequently, patients may also be asked to undergo imaging tests such as X-rays, PET scans, and MRI scans for further diagnostic validation. Upon obtaining a clear understanding of the condition, physicians may prescribe pain medications, recommend rehabilitative or interventional therapies, or endorse patients for surgery, depending on the underlying cause and severity of the pain.

What is natural pain management?

Natural pain management is the practice of pain management without including medications, described as being drug-free. Natural pain management is founded on the principle of stimulating the body’s natural restorative capacities as being more preferential than artificially, or chemically induced measures. The treatment focuses on more basic roots of pain such as malnutrition, lack of sleep, and stress, and thus may include lifestyle-related adjustments. Natural pain management also utilizes treatment modalities similarly used in conventional pain management schemes, such as chiropractic care and physical therapy, in addition to using alternative medicines.

What are natural pain management treatments?

Depending on individual patients’ conditions, different treatments may be administered. Natural pain management usually requires more patient participation in the healing process (due to necessitating more personal measures such as dietary changes) compared to conventional pain management, but it is still good to approach a trained physician regarding possible natural pain management options before deciding to do so. The reason for this is that some natural pain management treatment such as certain herbal products interfere with usual medication, or that some conditions require more drastic measures such as surgery to avoid permanent tissue damage. In the interest of understanding all your options, natural pain management treatments involve one or more of the following:

  • Chiropractic treatment – a type of care which deals with treating neuromuscular problems, usually including mechanical spinal adjustments or manipulations.
  • Physical therapy – form of treatment which also involves mechanical manipulations of muscles and joints, but instead focuses on massages, stretches and exercises to correct or ease tissue strain
  • Acupuncture – ancient Chinese treatment method involving pricking certain points in the body with thin needles in order to improve the flow of energy across the body.
  • Herbal remedy – the medicinal use of plant matter to treat a variety of pain-causing illnesses and conditions, commonly in the form of raw plants, tonics, or extracts.
  • Nutritional counselling – an natural pain management approach to care which seeks to identify an individual’s dietary deficiencies or excesses (e.g. high sugar intake) which possibly worsen existing medical conditions in order to recommend personal measures to correct them through healthier food choices
  • Lifestyle counselling – as part of the idea of holistic treatment, patients may be encouraged by physicians to make significant lifestyle changes (e.g. leaving a job that is too physically stressful) so as to provide the body with more resources with which to repair itself (e.g. sleep)

Where can I get natural pain management care?

Are you considering to get natural pain management care? Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a Los Angeles-based pain management specialist, may be of help to you. His wide experience in treating patients with varying conditions over the last decade guarantees the best natural pain management care could be yours, from diagnosis, to treatment. Dr. Li’s holistic, patient-centered approach would also mean you get treatments specifically suited to your needs and circumstances. So what are you waiting for? Get in touch with his clinic today at (626) 538 – 8950 for an appointment! Let him take care of you, and watch your pain go away!

Back Specialist Los Angeles

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What’s in the back?

The back, also known as the dorsal region, is one of the most remarkable regions of the body. It is the area opposite the chest, and is bound by the shoulders and neck down to the buttocks. It contains a complex arrangement of bones, muscles, and nerves that allow humans to stand up straight and move about. The back is primarily defined by the spinal column, a series of vertebrae supporting the skull, enclosing the spinal cord. The back also contains several major muscles that allow a range of motions such as bending, as well as nerves that stem out from the spinal cord to innervate the limbs and the torso.

What is back pain?

Due to the range of motion and function of the back, all the tissues found therein could be irritated, worn down, and injured, thus bringing about back pain. Back pains are persistent discomfort felt by patients in the dorsal area. The back generally covers a large area, thus the pain may manifest only in certain sections such as the lower back or upper back, on specific spots such as somewhere along the spine, but in some cases does so on the entire region. The pain may be sharp or dull, of varying severity, and may be accompanied by tingling and numbness, as well as difficulty in standing straight, or sitting for long periods of time.

What causes back pain?

There are many possible reasons for the occurrence of back pain. It may be an acute discomfort brought about by simple reasons such as incorrect sitting or sleeping positions, but may also be chronic, caused by more serious illnesses. Some of the possible causes are:

  • Muscle strain
  • Spinal arthritis
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Disc degeneration
  • Spinal abnormalities (e.g. scoliosis)
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Back trauma
  • Bad posture
  • Kidney problem
  • Sciatica

What is a back specialist?

Pain is often a symptomatic discomfort, indicating an illness or injury, thus patients who experience persistent back pains are advised to see their back specialists. Back specialists are physicians who focus on the diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of back problems. Their practice is about helping patients get to the bottom of their back pain and recommend appropriate short and long-term solutions for individual conditions. They may be from different specializations such as chiropractors, neurologists, osteopathic physicians, surgeons, and physical therapists, all of whom have had special training for back pain management.

What can a back specialist do for you?

As common as back pain is, the vastness of the back area and the structures found there makes it difficult for general physicians to deal with the pain and treat its underlying causes in more chronic cases. Back specialists are therefore helpful in cases when diagnosis or treatment of back pain is already beyond general practice. There are also treatment procedures which require extensive experience as well as specialized trainings, and thus can only be done by back specialists. An example of this is would be spinal nerve blocks and decompression therapies. Care for back pain usually begins with diagnosis, where patients’ conditions are comprehensively evaluated, with back specialists employing physical, chemical, and medical imaging tests for an in depth understanding of the underlying causes, for determining the degree of damage. This is then followed by recommending individualized treatments, involving measures for pain relief, and to rehabilitate injured, strained, or inflamed tissue. Treatment may also involve preventive measure to avoid further injury or to retard spinal degeneration. Depending on your back specialists’ training, he or she may be able to provide you the following services:

  • Pain medications prescriptions
  • Chiropractic care
  • Bioelectric therapy
  • Nerve blocks
  • Spinal stimulation
  • Spinal decompression therapy
  • Surgery
  • Physical therapy

Where do you find a good back specialist?

Are you having difficulty living life because of your back problems? Dr. Kevin Li, MD, a physician specializing in advanced spine care and pain management, may be the back specialist in Los Angeles that you need. Having received excellent training in anesthesiology and spine care, as well as more than a decade of intensive pain management experience, he could give you the best diagnosis, as well as treatment for back pain tailored to your specific needs. Dr. Li believes in non-invasive therapy and holistic treatment approach, so you’ll be sure to get treated as a whole. Why don’t you give his clinic a call today at (626) 538 – 8950 for an appointment? Back pain doesn’t always have to hold you back.