Do you have lung problems? Are you a smoker? Do you have emphysema? Have you ever wondered what could happen if the surgeon accidentally punctures the trachea during a medical procedure? Read the information below to learn about the health implications of a tracheobronchial tear. What is a Tracheobronchial Tear? ● A tracheobronchial tear is…
When I first began my healthcare career in 2008, I worked on a Traumatic Brain Injury Rehab Unit at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, now Vidant Medical Center, in Greenville, NC. I can recall taking care of a patient that injured himself while performing skateboard tricks on a sidewalk without wearing a protective helmet. One day,…
Sternal fractures – Have you ever been in a motor vehicle accident (MVA), had a pedestrian accident, had CPR performed on you, speared in the chest while playing football? Did you have intense chest pain? Did you have difficulty breathing afterwards? If you said yes, then there was a strong possibility that you fractured your…
Osteoarthritis (OA) – In the summers, I spent time with my grandparents in South Carolina. If you live on the east coast, then you know that thunderstorms are prevalent in the summers. I will always remember my grandma complaining about her achy knees on a cloudless, sunny, hot humid day. Whenever her knees ached, she…
Sports Hernia (Athletic Pubalgia) – Do you play hockey, soccer, wrestle, ski, run, jump hurdles, or play football? During your activities, are you constantly changing directions or twisting your body? If so, you are likely to experience a sports hernia at some point in your athletic career. Read the information below to learn more. What…
Spondylosis and Spondylolisthesis – Do you have lower back pain that is worse when you stand? Do feel electrifying sensations rushing down your legs when you stand? Are your muscle spasms constant? Do you have significant muscle weakness? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then read about spondylosis, an injury that may…
Do you sit for extended periods of time so much that your groin feels stiff when you stand up? Are you a runner, a bicyclist, or a swimmer? Do you have a burning sensation in the upper front portion of your hip? Are you having a tough time moving your hip or walking quickly? Are…
SLAP Tear (Superior Labrum Anterior Posterior Tear) – Have you been experiencing popping, grinding, and shoulder pain while lifting heavy objects over your head? Has your shoulder been locking? If you answered yes to these questions, then you may have a SLAP Tear (Superior Labrum Anterior Posterior Tear). What is a Slap Tear? ● A…
The Opioid Epidemic – Have you ever been in a place or situation that seemed perfect in the beginning, but as time passed, you noticed red flags that caused you to question your choice? In March 2017, I thought that I had finally landed my career of choice as a pain management nurse practitioner. In…
Are you a ballet dancer, weightlifter, soccer player, or runner? Does your hip make a clicking sound while you walk? Do you have occasional stiffness in the front, side, or back of your hip? Do you have weakness in your legs? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may have snapping…
Do you have problems lifting or raising your arms above your head? Have you injured your shoulder throwing a ball or trying to prevent yourself from falling? Does your shoulder ache before and during a rainstorm, and when there’s colder weather? Shoulder pain can present itself in many ways. Read the details below if you…
Are you a painter, a weightlifter, a swimmer, a tennis player, a quarterback, or a baseball player? Whatever activities you pursue, are you having difficulty elevating your arms above your head? If you said yes, then you may have a shoulder impingement. For more information about shoulder impingement, please read the information below. Causes ●…
Shoulder Sprain (Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Separation) and Shoulder Strain – Have you ever injured your shoulder while playing a sport (swimming, tennis serves, throwing a baseball/softball/football) or trying to prevent yourself from falling? Was it difficult for you to raise your arm afterwards? Did your arm feel weak? If you said yes, then you may…
Do you have back pain? Do you have numbness and tingling sensations? Do you have muscle weakness? If you nodded your head to any of these questions, then you may have spinal stenosis. Read the details below for more details. Causes ● Spinal stenosis is caused by one or more posterior disc protrusions. Occurring anywhere…
What are bone fractures? ● Bone fractures are a medical emergency.● A fracture is a break in the bone that can be small or thin or pieces of the broken bone.● The severity of the fracture depends on the force that caused the break.● A small amount of force to the bone can cause the…
Do you spend prolonged hours hunched over your computer screen, your cell phone, a book? Does your neck constantly ache and feel stiff? If you answered yes, then you may be suffering from neck stiffness. For more information, read the details below. Causes ● Cervical lordosis (the straightening of the cervical spine)● Scoliosis (the curving…
Have you ever been in a car accident, collided with another person while playing a contact sport, or fallen from a high elevation? If you have, then you have probably sustained a concussion. What are cerebral contusions? ● Cerebral contusions are a form of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).● These contusions are bruising of the brain…
Have you ever rolled out of bed paralyzed by the pain that you felt in your lower back, and your only relief was when you took a hot shower? Do your joints ache right before it rains? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, then you may have arthritis. Read the details below…
