Pain in the neck and low back affects more than half the population of the USA at some point in life. In Japan it is worse. Neck and shoulder pain alone, referred to as katakori in Japanese, has prevalence rates as high as 83%, varying significantly based on occupation: i.e. nursing-68%, office workers 63%, engineers 53%, and represents the most common physical complaint in Japanese women.

January 27, 2012 - 5:04pm — Posted by Dr. Norman Marcus

Two days ago I reported on a study that showed we are frequently doing a disservice to patients in inappropriately ordering imaging studies such as MRIs. Yesterday I saw a patient who could be the poster person for the study. This patient had an injury one year ago when a fall onto the buttock produced lasting severe pain. The pain doesn’t radiate-it is only in a discrete area on the buttock. She felt a tender sensation when the area was pressed. 

January 6, 2012 - 7:56am — Posted by Dr. Norman Marcus

Low back pain (LBP) studies repeatedly show that most incidents of LBP are self-limiting and that most patients will be better in 1-2 months. In addition it has been shown that those patients do worse who receive early evaluations and treatments that suggest that they may have a serious abnormality. The problem is that most imaging studies such as x-rays, MRIs and CT scans will show something that could be interpreted as abnormal but will frequently occur in patients with no complaints of pain.

January 4, 2012 - 3:53pm — Posted by Dr. Norman Marcus