Computer Program Can Tell When You're Faking Pain

computer can detect fake pain in the neckAnyone reading this blog is unlikely to be faking their neck pain but those who are may soon be found out by a computer than can detect fake expressions of pain better than people can. Insurance companies are sure to be on board with this newly developed piece of software that carefully analyses facial expressions to determine if a person is responding to actual pain or simply pretending. Read more

Managing Chronic Neck Pain through Improved Fitness

chronic neck pain and fitnessPeople with chronic neck pain could better manage their condition by improving their overall physical fitness, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. The authors of this study also recommended that physicians assess their patients’ levels of anxiety and depression, in addition to physical fitness, when working out how best to manage chronic neck pain. Read more

Top Tips for Healthy Posture to Avoid Neck Pain

top tips for poor posture and neck pain preventionOur increasingly sedentary lifestyles and tendency to spend time in front of a computer screen, TV screen, or looking down at a smartphone or tablet PC is wreaking havoc with our spinal health. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the UK, a million working days were lost last year alone due to back pain and/or neck pain and this sets to get even worse unless we sit up and pay attention. Read more

Testing for Severe Osteoarthritis… Before it Develops?

neck pain osteoarthritisNew research suggests that testing for three specific biomarkers in the blood could predict who will go on to develop severe osteoarthritis, a potential cause of neck pain. Osteoarthritis is a condition that tends to arise later in life after wear and tear on the joints but up until now there was no blood test to let patients know their possible risk of the disease, making preventative efforts hard to promote. Read more

Laminectomy and Fusion for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

laminectomy for cervical spondylotic myelopathyCervical spondylotic myelopathy accounts for the majority of cases of spinal cord dysfunction in older adults. This common cause of neck pain results from degenerative changes in the cervical spine, including age-related damage to the joints, discs, ligaments, and connective tissue in the neck, that results in spinal cord compression. The treatment for this condition will depend on the extent of the degeneration and symptoms but typically involves laminectomy and spinal fusion. Read more

Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma as a Cause of Neck Pain and Spinal Cord Compression

neck pain hodgkins lymphoma spinal cord compressionThere are so many common causes of neck pain, most of which are non-life threatening, that few stop to consider that a pain in the neck could have a cancerous root.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the cervical spine can be a cause of spinal cord compression and neck pain but these serious underlying causes may be overlooked, especially in the elderly where weakness and falls are attributed to other conditions. Read more