By Matthew Nienberg, PA-C
Pain Management, Blanchard Valley Pain Management
In the world of modern medicine, where cutting-edge technology and innovative treatments often take center stage, it’s easy to overlook the fundamental principles that underpin healthcare. There is power in returning to the basics, where the foundations of compassionate care, thorough patient examinations, and patient education play a pivotal role in patients overcoming their chronic pain.
The Physical Examination
One of the core principles of our approach is the value of the physical examination. During every patient visit, a provider should take the time to lay hands on patients, using a blend of time-tested and specialized physical examinations. These hands-on assessments are invaluable in diagnosing common spine conditions and offering a window into the patient’s physical state.
Some of the common physical examinations include the following:
Heart & Vascular Specialists of Northwest Ohio, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, is extending its hours at Bluffton Hospital, 139 Garau St., to include full-day clinics twice a month.
Blanchard Valley Health System has announced a reduced need for performing traditional open-heart surgical procedures due to advances in medications, cardiovascular stenting and minimally invasive procedures.
By Andrius Giedraitis, MD
Blanchard Valley Pain Management
Spinal stenosis is a debilitating condition that affects many individuals, particularly as we age. Spinal stenosis involves the narrowing of spaces within the spine, causing compression onto the spinal cord and/or nerves coming from the spinal cord that go to muscles throughout your body. This narrowing can occur in most parts of the spine but is most common in the lower back (lumbar spine), where it can significantly impact a person's function and quality of life.
The spine consists of vertebrae (made of bone) stacked upon one another. These vertebrae have a hollow space that holds and protects the spinal cord and nerve roots called the spinal canal. In spinal stenosis, the open spaces between the vertebrae within the spine narrow, placing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.
