Restoring the Bodily Mobility You Expect Without Surgery

range of motion

range of motion

Range of motion versus flexibility 

Range of motion and flexibility are two terms that are too often conflated. In reality, flexibility is indicative of good range of motion in a given joint. Without getting too pedantic, the general formula is that when flexibility is reduced, range of motion becomes limited. A good example of this is the elbow joint, which consists of both a pivot and a hinged joint. Both moving parts must exhibit “good” flexibility for the elbow to be considered as having full range of motion.

Regardless, the problem remains the same: reduced flexibility and limited range of motion are both likely to cause dysfunction and pain. At Relief Medical Group, we have a plan for restoring flexibility to your joints in order to help you live a life with a full range of motion. 

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Conservative Care First for Back Pain

conservative care

conservative care

What is your first line of treatment for back pain? 

When it comes to injury, whether it be acute or chronic, and the pain that comes with it, there are many options available to you for treatment. It is unfortunate that the norm in our society is for back pain sufferers to choose, or be guided to choose, pharmaceutical medication or surgery as their first method of treatment. The reality is that these aggressive forms of treatment are only absolutely necessary in a minority of cases and they come with zero guarantee of eliminating pain while also coming with a host of potentially debilitating side effects. 

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Acoustic Compression Helps Psychological Causes of ED

acoustic compression

acoustic compression

If your ED is psychological…

Many men suffering from recurrent ED are told that there is no physical cause for the dysfunction. Psychogenic dysfunction is the next most likely outcome- a mental block that is preventing you from achieving or sustaining an erection. While traditional ED medications such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis are all effective options for treating this type of psychological block, some men search for alternative treatments that don’t involve the laundry list of side effects and potential health risks that come with pharmaceutical medication.

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The Science of Erections

erections

erections

The anatomy of an erection

To begin with there are three types: 

  • Psychogenic: thoughts and nerve signals contribute to your erection
  • Reflexogenic: physical stimulation in which the signals don’t even reach the brain. 
  • Nocturnal: erections that occur without your knowing in the dead of night. 

However, they all essentially rely on the same mechanism of blood vessels in the penis. In this most basic of biological processes, arteries relax allowing blood to flow (at ~30 cm/second) into the shaft while the veins close up; about 130 ml of blood is required to maintain an erection. Pressure within the corpora cavernosa prevents the blood from flowing back out and thus you have an erection. Erectile dysfunction simply refers to some problem along the way that prevents you from achieving or maintaining an erection. 

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Are Opioids for Back Pain Management as Effective as we Thought?

opioid and back pain

opioid and back pain

Opioids versus conservative care for managing back pain

Because of their reputation as strong painkillers, opioids are often prescribed for the management of severe, chronically recurring back pain. But a new study by researchers at the University of Minnesota, information for which can be found here, is showing that we may want to think twice before using opioids to treat back pain. The study compares 240 veterans using opioids to manage back pain versus a group that was using non-opioid methods for controlling back pain. The study concluded that opioids do not offer a significant advantage in pain management, while also coming with a long list of side effects including the risk for addiction. 

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Falsehoods Regarding Self Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction

erectile dysfunction

erectile dysfunction

Supplements and herbal remedies for ED are often not the answer

Among the most common natural remedies identified as possibly helping men with erectile dysfunction, there is only meager evidence to suggest their efficacy. Furthermore, you run a gamut of risks while choosing what supplements to take, and in what quantities to take them. A frequent reason that leads men to seek self-treatment is the embarassment of seeking medical advice over such a problem. But we guarantee that going to the doctor is the most healthy way of going about things- erectile dysfunction is often a sign of other health problems, including heart disease and diabetes that should be examined by a health professional before proceeding with treatment. 

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Erectile Dysfunction and Psychological Stress

erectile dysfunction stress

erectile dysfunction stress

Many cases of penile dysfunction are not actually ED

In fact, it is important to differentiate whether an actual physical reason is preventing you from achieving an erection or if you simply have what is known as erectile dissatisfaction. This kind of ED means that gaining and maintaining erections may be more difficult but not impossible. Many men become frustrated and give up on trying to achieve an erection, without giving themselves the time or relaxation they need. Whether you have erectile dissatisfaction or erectile dysfunction, not being able to achieve an erection can take a serious psychological toll. 

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