Recent tragic events have stimulated intense dialogue regarding the use of prescription drugs. Whether you are in the office break room, at the community pool, or in your living room watching CNN or Fox News, this topic seems to seep into the conversation.  Listening to these conversations and observing the media coverage made me reflect on conversations I have had with patients over the years.

I cannot tell you how many times I have asked an LSI patient if they took the prescribed medications after surgery, only to hear them say, "I don't want to take these pain pills because I am afraid I will get hooked on them." While I am certainly not an expert on prescription drug addiction, I strongly believe that using these drugs for the prescribed purpose and adhering to the instructed dosage significantly decreases the likelihood of addiction.
 
Fortunately, due to the minimal invasive nature of LSI's procedures, some patients do not require pain medication, and as such, there is no consequence for failing to take the pain medications.  However, in the event that you are experiencing residual pain from any surgical procedure, there is generally no harm in taking prescribed pain medication, as instructed by your physician.
  
Certainly, the preliminary details surrounding recent events raise additional concerns regarding personal responsibility and professional ethics. In my opinion, individuals cannot renounce personal responsibility, nor can we absolve physicians of professional and ethical responsibility. Therefore, combating this problem requires collective effort.  So, I implore individuals and physicians alike - do the right thing!

Today's post features Dr. Mark Flood, D.O, a valuable member of our medical expert team. Along with Drs. Michael Weiss and Kevin Luke, Dr. Flood currently operates in our Scottsdale, AZ facility, providing exceptional spine care to our patients on the West Coast. Please feel free to submit any additional questions about Dr. Flood by clicking on the Post Comment tab.

    * Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery
    * Fellowship Trained in Spine Surgery
    * Fellowship Trained in Scoliosis & Pediatric Orthopedic
      Surgery
    * Member of the American Osteopathic Board of
      Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Mark Flood joined the LSI team of talented surgeons in 2008. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in1987 at National College of Chiropractic and later received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1989 at said institution. Dr. Flood then attended the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, where he received his Doctor of Osteopathy degree in 1993. He then completed an accredited orthopedic surgery residency at Midwestern University, which included core rotations in pediatric orthopedics at the Wyler's Children's Hospital and joint reconstruction at Weiss Memorial Hospital, both at the University of Chicago, as well as hand surgery at the University of Hawaii's John Burns School of Medicine.

In addition to completing the traditional medical internship and orthopedic surgery residency, Dr. Flood also completed an accredited Spine Surgery fellowship at Southern Illinois University and an accredited Scoliosis & Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. During his fellowship at Southern Illinois University, Dr. Flood received comprehensive training in surgical and conservative treatment of spinal disorders, covering degenerative disorders, acute spinal injuries, pediatric and adult spinal deformity and tumors, whereas, he received training in all areas of pediatric spine & scoliosis at Baylor College of Medicine and the Houston Shriner's Hospital.

Dr. Flood's extensive training laid a solid foundation for a successful practice as an orthopedic spine surgeon. In 1999 Dr. Flood embarked upon his first solo practice at the Spine and Orthopedic Specialists of Texas, where he provided comprehensive spine surgery treatment for the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine. By 2003, Dr. Flood expanded the scope of his practice, embarking upon his second solo practice at Arboretum Spine and Orthopedics in Austin, Texas. During this time, he practiced general orthopedic surgery, providing an exhaustive complement of services, ranging from minimally invasive spine surgery to revision/ reconstructive surgery of the spine.

In 2006, Dr. Flood merged two of his areas of expertise and became the Director and a founding member of the Center for Spinal Disorders and Pediatric Orthopedics in Mesa, Arizona. In this capacity, Dr. Flood performed a wide range of spine surgery services involving deformity, degeneration, trauma and revision/reconstructive surgery of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spines for patients of all ages, as well as pediatric orthopedic surgery with a focus on spinal deformity and trauma. During this time, Dr. Flood also served as the Director for the Pediatric Orthopedic Division of Banner Children's Hospital in Mesa, Arizona.

Complementary to his successful career, Dr. Flood continuously engages scientific research.
Over the span of his career, he has co-authored several scientific papers, including: - Analysis of in situ Fusion with and without Instrumentation for Congenital Scoliosis: Houston Shriners Hospital Experience & Progressive Kyphotic Deformity from Thoracic Fracture- Dislocation Associated with Sterno-Manubrial Fracture Dislocation: A Case Report and Literature Review. Dr.Flood presented one of his most recent papers, Risk  Factors for Continued Progression of Congenital Scoliosis after Surgical Intervention, at the 2007 Annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Other professional affiliations include: - North American Spine Society, American Osteopathic Association and the Arizona Orthopedic Society.

Recently, I had the pleasure of participating in the Clay Walker Band against MS Charity Golf Tournament at the beautiful Pebble Beach Resort in California. After he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1996, multi-platinum recording artist, Clay Walker, established the Band against MS, a not-for-profit public charity to assist persons living with the disease. Guided by a firm determination to overcome obstacles, Clay has fought the disease, while building an incredible career and raising money for this worthy cause. To find out more about Clay Walker's band against MS and the MS Charity Golf Tournament, go to http://www.bandagainstms.org/.

I was invited to participate in this event by Chris Sullivan, founder and chairman of the board of Outback Steakhouse. Chris is truly one of the most charitable persons on this earth. Even though I am certain that he wouldn't want me to mention the fact that Chris donated $3 million of his personal funds to the Flight 93 Memorial Fund. Chris contribution goes beyond financial donations and investment of personal time. His dedication to the community at large, unwavering loyalty to friends, employees and partners has consistently benefited numerous individuals from all walks of life. Chris's exemplary character has definitely influenced others to walk the walk.

Speaking of walking the walk, I could not complete this post without commending another outstanding individual. You have probably seen him on Comedy Central and laughed hysterically at his candid humor, so Jeff Foxworthy is no stranger to the public.  However, what the general public may not know is that he is an extremely kind and giving individual. Jeff performed at the awards banquet for Bands against MS, donating his time to this worthy cause.
 
During the event, Clay Walker relayed the events that led to Jeff's performance, which I will share. Over ten years ago, his band performed at a Jeff Foxworthy cause. At that time, Jeff told Clay, "If you ever need anything, call me." However, this was before Jeff became the mega star that he is today. So, during the planning phase of this most recent event, Clay was reluctant to call on Jeff, but when you know people who are affected with MS, you will be relentless in your efforts to help.

To Clay's amazement, when he called, Jeff did not hesitate to say yes! I wanted to mention this because in this era of greed, profits and celebrity worship, bad behavior seems to be amplified and even glorified, while good deeds are often overlooked. I think this is an uplifting story and I hope you will help to spread the word about Jeff Foxworthy - the good guy.
 
Overall, the event was a huge success. Thanks to Clay Walker, Chris Sullivan, Jeff Foxworthy and the Pebble Beach company. I would also like to thank my golf partners, 1985 Indianapolis 500 Champion Danny Sullivan and the funniest good golfer I have ever played with, Davis Sezna, for suffering through watching me play golf for three days.

On a more serious note, I learned that Clay Walker's MS is in remission. He is a lucky guy. Others are not so lucky. Clay believes he contracted MS through a spinal cord injury he sustained while performing live in the Canadian Rockies. While talking to him at the event, he informed me that he believes MS is brought on by a virus that affects the neurological system.
 
As you may know, I have a passion for helping people with spinal conditions, so this caught my attention and I hope to offer support to Clay and his fight against this disease that burdens so many persons. I am sure that many of us have heard the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Individuals like Clay Walker have demonstrated that this is not just a cliché; rather, it is an attainable ideal, one to which I hope that we will all strive.

In March of this year, I wrote a post, in which I shared with you the 50 things I love. My hope was that you would get a chuckle or two from a light-hearted post. During that time, there was a lot of bad news circulating, especially about the financial crisis and the toll that it had taken on a number of folks. Over the past few weeks, a somber mood has been lingering in the wake of several tragedies. So, today, I compiled a list of my 50 pet peeves, hoping that it will break up the cloud of sadness and bring about a couple smiles. Enjoy!

1.    Paralysis from over-analysis
2.    Driver cruising below the speed limit in the left lane
3.    Kids wearing their pants so low, you can actually see their under garments
4.    Pessimism
5.    Large, chaotic  areas
6.    Closed MRIs ( I'm a little claustrophobic)
7.    Tardiness
8.    Chicken liver
9.    Awaking from a wonderful dream
10.    Faithlessness
11.    Sinus headaches and allergies
12.    My ADD
13.    People who are discourteous to airline employees due to circumstances beyond their control
14.    Insincerity
15.    Child abuse
16.    Inefficient road systems (Did someone say Tampa?)
17.    Intolerance
18.    Animal abuse
19.    People who lack integrity
20.    Athletes' use of steroids
21.    People who wander aimlessly through malls
22.    Servitude
23.    Complicated remote controls
24.    Waking up at 5:10 am every morning ( I wish I could sleep in every once in a while)
25.    Dimly lit restaurants
26.    Middle seats on airplanes
27.    Colonoscopies (Every 5 years after age 50! Are you kidding?)
28.    Rude talking heads on cable TV
29.    Laziness
30.    People who text while driving
31.    Overbearing fragrances
32.    Littering
33.    Cowardice
34.    Zoos ( I don't fancy seeing animals behind bars)
35.    Clutter
36.    Spam emails
37.    Indiscipline
38.    Sales calls from telemarketers
39.    Road construction during peak traffic hours
40.    Exploitation of children and the elderly
41.    Long legal contracts when a handshake would suffice
42.    Unfair business practices
43.    Male ego
44.     Waiting in a doctor's office way beyond a scheduled appointment
45.    Talking in movie theaters when a film is in progress
46.    Shirt collars without stays
47.    Stopping at a crowded gas station when time is of the essence
48.    Prolonged cell phone conversations in public areas
49.    Sarcasm
50.    Having to tell people in pain that they are not candidates for our procedures

Q:  Does a family history of osteoporosis increase my chances of developing spinal complications?

A: It may. Let's start off by defining the term "osteoporosis". "Osteoporosis" literally means "porous bones." This condition occurs when bones begin to lose some of their essential elements, the most important of which is calcium. Over time, bone mass decreases. As a result, bones lose their strength, become fragile, and break easily. In extreme cases, even a sneeze or a sudden movement may be enough to break a bone.

Osteoporosis is a serious health problem, affecting approximately 28 million people in the United States and is responsible for about 1.5 million fractures (broken bones) each year. The most common locations where breaks occur are the hip, spine, and wrist. Hip and spine injuries are the most serious, often requiring hospitalization and major surgery. They may also lead to other serious consequences, including permanent disability and death.

Contributing Factors

While a decrease in bone mass is a normal part of aging, there are certain factors that increase a person's risk for osteoporosis. These factors include:

• Gender- Women are more likely to have osteoporosis than men. Women commonly lose 30 to 50% of their bone mass over their lifetimes, while men lose about 20 to 35%.

• Race- Caucasian and Asian women are at somewhat higher risk for osteoporosis than are African American and Hispanic women.

• Body structure- Individuals with smaller, thinner bones are at higher risk for osteoporosis.

• Early menopause- Women who experience menopause earlier start losing bone mass earlier.

•  Lifestyle- Alcohol consumption and tobacco use are thought to increase risk for osteoporosis. Lack of exercise may have the same effect.

• Diet- Two important nutrients needed for bone formation are protein and calcium. A diet low in either of these nutrients may lead to osteoporosis.

Complications

In addition to fracture of vertebrae in the spine, spinal stenosis may also result from osteoporosis. Spinal stenosis is a medical condition in which the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord and nerves. This is usually due to the natural process of spinal degeneration that occurs with aging. However, it can also be caused by spinal disc herniation, osteoporosis or a tumor. Spinal stenosis can affect either the cervical or lumbar vertebrae.

One can observe that osteoporosis and spinal stenosis can go hand to hand. Therefore, treatment should be directed at both conditions. At LSI, while we do not treat osteoporosis, endoscopic spine surgery is an excellent option for treating spinal stenosis.

Goals and Methods of Treatment for Osteoporosis

Since there is currently no cure for osteoporosis, the best recommendation is prevention. In the event that the condition is present, treatment should be pursued. Available treatment options for osteoporosis include:

• Drug therapy - several medications are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

• Surgery - In the event that pain is not relieved through medical management, surgery may be performed. This type of surgery is called percutaneous vertebroplasty and involves injecting bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA) into the body of the fractured vertebrae.

The main goals of treatment are to slow the progression of the disease, minimize the risks of complications that may cause pain or reduction in function, maximize mobility and reduce the risk of falls and fractures. If these goals are achieved, osteoporosis patients are able to enjoy a relatively active lifestyle.

Dr. John Spallino is a Medical Information Specialist at LSI. In this capacity, he facilitates patient education by conducting nationwide informational seminars, in addition to interpreting and analyzing radiographic imaging. To learn more about Dr. Spallino, click here.

LSI's Ask the doctor column is also featured in our monthly newsletter, The Spinal Column. To subscribe, click here.

You have all read my posts regarding the LSI's culture and the standards that we aim, not only to meet, but exceed. Being our prospective, current, and former patients,you have been instrumental in helping us to achieve our primary goal of providing superior patient care by constantly providing feedback. Undoubtedly, I feel a great sense of pride when our patients confirm that we are achieving our goal.

I have always encouraged my staff to treat everyone who walks through our doors like family and I am proud to see that this is not merely a concept, but the reality. So, please keep the feedback coming, and to all my staff - thank you! Please see the letter below that I received from Mr. Carl Beasley.

Bill,

I just wanted to give you an update and, more importantly, thank you and everyone I worked with at LSI.  
 
As you know, I didn't receive treatment at LSI.  That speaks volumes of the professional Doctors, Nurses and Staff at LSI.  After a new MRI of my lumbar, Dr. Scott and I reviewed the scan and went over the planned procedure.  During our long discussion, Dr. Scott recommended a second opinion.  What happened next is a testament to the LSI Mind Set.
 
Jackie scheduled an appointment for me with an orthopedic surgeon (not on the staff of LSI) for that same afternoon.  Cindy drove me to the appointment, stayed during the consult and returned me to my hotel.  Dr Gordon Holen was an excellent referral choice and reflects very well those with which LSI associates.  I elected to have "minimal invasive"
surgery with Dr. Holen.
 
Although I spent an evening in the hospital for observation, I walked out the next morning and, if not for the minor pain drug, would have driven to my hotel.  I'm recovering very well and can't believe I had "spine surgery" just Even with the change of Doctor and type of treatment, My LSI experience lasted 6 days instead of 5.  Amazing. 11 days ago. No pain meds, walking a mile a day, well on my way to getting my life back.
 
To those believing that medical treatment today is centered on monetary
reward, LSI didn't charge me 1 cent.  Nothing.    Honest caring in the
Best Interest of their Patient.  What a concept.   Truly a Model to be
emulated.  Please relay my story to those in need.
 
Bottom line.  Although I would rather have experienced LSI treatment, I
did receive the Best Treatment for me. Thank you Dr. Scott, Cindy,
Kelly, Jackie.   

Well Done Team LSI.
 
 
Warm regards,
 
Carl T. Beasley