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Blog Archive

2023 Nighborhood FAVE Jul 28th, 2023

Sun City West, AZ - NovaSpine Pain Institute has been named to the winning list of Nextdoor’s 2023 Neighborhood Faves, the only annual awards where neighbors vote to celebrate their favorite local businesses.  “Neighbors know best, and Nextdoor’s Neighborhood Faves are the only annual awards celebrating the businesses that are...

2022 Neighborhood Favorite! Aug 23rd, 2022

Sun City West, AZ- NovaSpine Pain Institute has been named to the winning list of Nextdoor’s 6th annualNeighborhood Favorites, an awards program recognizing local businesses committed to helping theirneighborhoods thrive. Winners of the 2022 Neighborhood Favorites were determined based on the numberof neighbor recommendations a local business receives on Nextdoor...

Please join us in welcoming Dr. John Paul Malayil to NovaSpine Pain Institute! Jun 10th, 2021

NovaSpine Pain Institute is proud to introduce Dr. John Paul Malayil, MD who is joining our team this summer. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Dr. Malayil was awarded a Board of Governor’s Scholarship and was accepted into an accelerated combined Bachelor’s of Science and Medical School program straight out of high...

Food For Thought – The Main Course Aug 27th, 2020

Today’s blog is intended to be on the fun side. From my previous blogs we now know that gluten can be linked to inflammation which leads to pain. Research has shown that diet and exercise should be an integral part of any pain management regimen, especially as we age. Eating...

Are You Missing Face to Face Appointments? Aug 4th, 2020

Do you miss seeing your provider face to face? With the COVID pandemic NovaSpine has adapted Telehealth appointments in an attempt to keep patients safe in their homes during this time. We strongly believe that during this time our patients are much safer at home and medication refills and injection...

Expectations Of Medications Jul 31st, 2020

I have often heard patients tell me that their pain medication is not working because they still have pain. My answer is always the same. Contrary to what the TV ads would like you to believe, there is no medication that will completely take your pain away. The most you...

Diversion Therapy Jul 31st, 2020

Did you know that you can control some of your pain as simply as changing what you are doing? It is called Diversion Therapy. Diversion Therapy is the act of switching your focus onto something else. Yes the pain will still be there but your focus will be on something...

Immediate Release VS Extended Release Medications Jul 31st, 2020

In my career I have always been amazed when I talk to patients about their medications and they tell me they are taking “a green one and a yellow one and 2 blue ones at night.”  Some will also be taking medications that they know the name of but have no...

Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolus- Are you at risk? Jul 29th, 2020

This topic has come to the forefront in my life recently and in doing so, it is a great reminder of things we should all be doing. With the ongoing COVID pandemic, many of us are spending more time in our homes and it can be easy to also spend...

Tolerance/Physical Dependence vs Addiction Jul 23rd, 2020

We hear this statement a lot; I don’t want to get addicted from my pain medications? So let’s clarify: Addiction is a change in a person’s behavior caused by a biochemical change in the brain caused by continued substance abuse; the compulsive use of a drug/medication despite its consequences; good,...

What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet? Jul 20th, 2020

Proper disposal of unused prescription drugs can help prevent accidental overdose and opioid abuse and misuse. According to a 2017 review of multiple studies, 92% of people prescribed opioids did not use the entire prescription, and 3 out of 4 people did not store unused opioids in a locked cabinet....

Living with Chronic Pain Jun 18th, 2020

Often I hear the same comment, “nobody understands the pain that I am in every single day.” How do you explain chronic pain to someone who has never experienced it? It’s difficult to comprehend. Most people have experienced pain at one time or another, sometimes even severe pain.  The difference however,...

Weight Loss- The Struggle is Real Jun 15th, 2020

So you put in all that hard work, you lost all that weight, and then "It came back with a vengeance!"  Sound familiar?  Been there, done that?  Well, you are in good company.     After achieving all that hard-earned weight loss, why do so many people struggle only to...

Food for Thought. Ready for your second course?? Jun 12th, 2020

Ready for your second course?? A common misnomer; a person who has a gluten intolerance/sensitivity has celiac disease. Wrong; this is an inaccurate assumption. To keep it simple: Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder. If a person that has celiac disease consumes gluten their immune system will step up to...

Computer Ergonomics 101 to Reduce Pain and Strain Jun 4th, 2020

Facebook and Facetime and Doxy, oh my!  Quarantine or no quarantine, there is no doubt that we are all spending more time staring at our computer screens.  Is all this sitting and staring at your screen contributing to your pain levels?  It's quite possible. Due to all this screen time...

Food for Thought Jun 2nd, 2020

You may have heard, but there is a lot of discussion nowadays about the relationship between food and chronic pain. We’ve all heard it at one time or another; you are what you eat, right! Well, did you know that eating certain foods can cause inflammation in your body? And...

Chronic Pain and Exercise: The Direct Relationship Jun 1st, 2020

As a pain provider, one of the most common questions I get is if patients should/could/can exercise when pain is present. The answer would be YES! Exercise CAN be implemented as part of a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to assist patients with their pain.    The caveat to the YES is...

Do I need a Multivitamin? May 28th, 2020

I'm sure you've heard the arguments that can range from "It's good 'insurance'!" to "It's just expensive pee!" or "I bet Dr Baker takes one!"    So what do you do?   Even if you decide to try a multivitamin, where do you start?  Do you want a tablet, powder,...

Core Muscles- Necessary? May 25th, 2020

You've heard it before, "You need to work on your core muscles!" Having a strong core doesn't mean you have to have SIX-PACK ABS.   The core consists of the muscles of your midsection.  The core muscles are your foundation and function as the body's stabilizer.  Not only does your...

Face Masks 101 May 17th, 2020

Save a life – Save your life With all of the uncertainties and daily changes in the world; sadly face masks have become a way of life for all of us; a staple so to speak. Here at NovaSpine, we have seen the creativity and generosity of so many people...

How many steps do I really need? May 11th, 2020

Did you ever wonder if taking 10,000 steps can actually lead to better health? A recent study by Lee et al. (2019) suggest that taking 10,000 steps per day will not necessarily make you healthier or live longer. In a group of 16,741 women with an average age of 72,...

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Mar 19th, 2020

  At NovaSpine Pain Institute, we are committed to complying with and exceeding all of the recommendations that have been made by the various governing boards as a means of preventing the spread of COVID 19.  We have amped up our cleaning and thoroughly clean each treatment room and patient care area...

Benefits of Physical Activity in Those Affected by Chronic Pain and Arthritis Feb 16th, 2020

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Often chronic pain can be sited as the reason many people fail to exercise routinely. Lack of exercise can make joints stiff and painful and decreases the strength of the muscle and tissues surrounding joints. Studies demonstrate improvement in chronic...

Kyphoplasty- Compression Fracture Treatment Feb 12th, 2020

A compression fracture is a fracture of a vertebrae where the bone collapses on itself, many times causing height loss and severe pain.   The most common cause of compression fracture is osteoporosis but trauma can cause these fractures as well.  NovaSpine offers a procedure known as Kyphoplasty to help with the severe pain...

Although women are four times more likely to get osteoporosis, it can effect men as well. Feb 3rd, 2020

Osteoporosis (porous bone) is a condition where the density and quality of the bone is reduced.  Bones become fragile and the risk for fracture is greatly increased.  Loss of bone occurs silently and progressively and often there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs.  Many times that comes in the form of...

Monitoring Testosterone while taking Opioids Jan 20th, 2020

Did you know that taking an opioid medication on a regular basis can suppress gonadal hormone production which may result in low Testosterone levels? Symptoms of low Testosterone include, low sex drive, decreased muscle mass/increased fat deposit, decreased energy, changes in mood/mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty sleeping. Low Testosterone levels...

Q: I am responsible with my opioid medication, why do I need Narcan? Oct 10th, 2019

A: That is a great question.  Narcan/Naloxone is the antidote medication given if an overdose of an opioid medication is suspected.  Overdose symptoms include extreme drowsiness, decreased level of consciousness and slowed shallow breathing.  Accidental overdose can happen to anyone.  There are many factors that contribute to accidental overdose.   One that...

The Psychological Impact of Chronic Pain. Oct 10th, 2019

Depression- Dealing with pain day after day can lead to hopelessness and depression.  If the depression is ignored, it can magnify and make physical and emotional recovery more difficult. Anxiety and Stress- People suffering from chronic pain can become anxious, even in lower pain times, anticipating the return of the pain....

Answering Fibromyalgia Oct 10th, 2019

There was a question asked among one of our viewers regarding Fibromyalgia.  The topic is a very vast one so this will be an overview of the condition and some of the treatment methods utilized at NovaSpine Pain Institute. The definition of Fibromyalgia - a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by...

Your Primary Care doctor has referred you to pain management…now what? Oct 10th, 2019

Your Primary Care doctor has referred you to pain management…now what? What can you expect? What conditions are treated in pain management? Is pain management just medication? What if I do not like to take medication? These and perhaps many more questions are going through your head after receiving your...

Chronic Knee Pain Oct 10th, 2019

An estimated 12.1 percent of the U.S. population (nearly 21 million Americans) age 25 and older have osteoarthritis and knee joints are where this can commonly be seen. If you have chronic knee pain that seems to be getting worse over the years you are not alone. It’s estimated that...

Herniated Disc: What does this mean? What do I do? Oct 10th, 2019

I have been told I have a herniated disc, what does that mean and what can be done?” A herniated disc is a spine condition that occurs when the gel-like center of a disc ruptures through a weak area in the tough outer wall.  This condition is also commonly called a slipped disc or ruptured...

Cannabidiol (CBD) Oct 10th, 2019

It is almost difficult to pick up a newspaper or magazine today without seeing three letters, C B D.  What exactly is it and what are some important things to think about before purchasing and trying CBD oil? Cannabidiol (CBD) is the active ingredient in cannabis, derived from the hemp plant...

Sciatica: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments Oct 9th, 2019

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, sciatica affects only one side of your body. Learn more about Sciatica Pain and how to manage it from Dr. David Morales.If you feel like...

Back Pain Getting You Down? Oct 9th, 2019

“My low back is killing me!!”  Sound familiar?  Have you said these exact words recently?  Studies show that nearly 80% of all Americans will have low back pain at some point in their life.  Sometimes you know exactly why you have the pain such as lifting something heavy or years of heavy lifting at...