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Laurie Stradling, writer for BrandForge

5 treatments for adult scoliosis

If you struggle from chronic pain from adult scoliosis, don’t despair. Here are five treatments that can combat the wear and tear to your back and spine, while delivering pain relief that can last for weeks — or months — at a time. Sacroiliac joint injections Up to one-third of people suffering from chronic low back […]
5 years ago
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Katie Nielsen, writer for BrandForge

The difference between men and women when it comes to pain

Pain perception differs depending on gender, experts have found. Research studies have compared pain reporting between men and women, analyzed prescription drug practices by doctors and observed differences in pain tolerance in laboratory animals. Chief among the results is the indication that women feel pain more acutely than men do but are better at seeking […]
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

Top reasons for shoulder and arm pain

A shooting pain in your arm or a twinge in the shoulder can slow you down. Sometimes, the pain is minimal and transitory, but the discomfort can build with use and time, making it difficult to move about and accomplish everyday tasks. We tend to disregard pain if it doesn’t limit our ability to live […]
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

Top pain treatments for the first 72 hours after an auto accident

Last year in Arizona, there were more than 120,000 auto accidents, and 30 percent of those resulted in injury, according to Arizona Department of Transportation. This means that one person was injured every nine minutes over the course of the year. If you’ve been in an auto accident, the first 72 hours can be the […]
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

Three ways to prevent a herniated disc

Taking care of our bodies for the long-term is an investment. As we age, it's common to become more fragile, less flexible and more prone to injury. But injury does not have to be inevitable.
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

3 unexpected reasons you have neck pain

Your neck handles the widest range of motion of any other part of your spine. As a result, it can be more susceptible to pain and overexertion that can lead to nerve damage and joint degeneration.
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

Back Pain vs. Sciatica: how can you tell?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, ‘approximately 80 percent of adults experience low back pain at some point in their lifetimes.’ Although there are many risk factors and causes, ‘sciatica’ is one of the top types of pain people experience. Sciatica is also one of the most misunderstood back conditions because patients often […]
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

5 ways to ease bad knees

It might seem surprising that daily life activities can wreak the most havoc on your knees. Whether it’s general wear-and-tear as a result of aging or an acute injury from an overzealous hike, chronic knee pain can keep you on the sidelines of an active lifestyle. Every year, there are roughly 700,000 knee replacement surgeries […]
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

3 types of back pain and when to see a doctor

It’s not a coincidence that when we encourage people to “grow a backbone” that it’s synonymous with being firm and resolute. Our back is quite literally the support system for our bodies but it’s often the last thing considered when it comes to health and wellbeing. Good posture, deliberate exercise, and intentional lifestyle choices can […]
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

Top trends in chronic pain management

Approximately 76.2 million, or 1-in-4 Americans, have suffered from chronic pain that lasts longer than 24 hours, while millions more suffer from acute pain, according to the American Center for Health Statistics. With the recent opioid crisis in Arizona, the quest for safe, legitimate pain solutions are needed more than ever. According to Drugabuse.gov, the national […]
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

The real deal on spine surgery and recovery

There are a number of options to consider when creating your back pain treatment plan, ranging in scope from injections to spine surgery.
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

5 reasons joint pain is worse in the winter

Many people move to Arizona to get out of the cold weather. Long winters and icy conditions can certainly make it harder to manage arthritis symptoms. If you suffer from chronic joint pain and find that even Arizona winters are challenging, you’re not alone. Fortunately, you can take steps to combat the seasonal joint blues. […]
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

4 easy solutions for neck pain relief

Don’t let neck pain ruin your holiday enjoyment. Here are some solutions to find relief right away.
6 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

Holiday hacks for chronic back pain

For people with chronic back pain, the added stress of accomplishing a holiday to-do list can overshadow the pleasure of the season. Holiday decorating mishaps may be funny in the movies but thousands of people sustain holiday-related back injuries and many of those injuries can be prevented with a few simple solutions. Here are a […]
7 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

5 alternatives to total knee replacement surgery

According to the Arthritis Foundation, 1 in 2 adults will develop symptoms of knee osteoarthritis — a breakdown of cartilage or the cushions between bones — during their lives. Osteoarthritis causes pain, swelling and stiffness, and affects people of all ages. If you experience osteoarthritis or have severe knee pain or long-lasting swelling or inflammation that limits your […]
7 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

When pain management turns into addiction

From professional athletes dealing with aftereffects of concussions and injuries to grandparents recovering from surgery, anyone who watches the news today knows opioid addiction is not limited to celebrities and the homeless. It’s a national epidemic affecting every age and socioeconomic group. In June of 2017, Governor Ducey declared a state of emergency in Arizona […]
7 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

Arthritis symptoms and solutions you simply can’t ignore

Most people think arthritis is an ailment that causes joint pain in older people. While that is accurate for some forms of the disease, the Arthritis Foundation counts more than 100 types of arthritis, including some better known by names like fibromyalgia, lupus, gout, tendonitis, spinal stenosis and more. In its various forms, arthritis affects more than […]
7 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

4 reasons you could be losing sleep

Most people take sleep seriously. Getting short-changed in shuteye can leave us cranky, groggy and generally unpleasant to be around. For some unfortunate patients, lack of adequate sleep is a problem that occurs night after night — sometimes for many years. Whatever the cause, chronic sleep deprivation is linked to many serious health conditions. “Without […]
7 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

Six tips for pain free travel

Summer is the season for travel. Whether going on a full-fledged vacation or simply visiting loved ones, most people take one or more trips every summer. For people dealing with chronic pain, the prospect of travel can be concerning or even frightening. With a little planning, you can still enjoy the experiences and adventures of […]
7 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

How to find relief for chronic joint pain

Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic cause of painful joints. It affects about 27 million Americans, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Sometimes called degenerative joint disease or wear-and-tear arthritis, it is associated most often with the elderly, but it can strike patients of any age. While osteoarthritis can affect any joint, it occurs most often in […]
7 years ago
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DR. ALEX BIGHAM, DC NOVOCUR PAIN MANAGEMENT

5 Surprising things causing back pain

If you are among the tens of millions of people who suffer from back pain, it’s likely you’ve already sought treatment at some point. If your pain came back (or perhaps never went away), it’s possible your back pain could be the result of an unexpected source. While back pain is frequently caused by an […]
7 years ago
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DR. ALEX BIGHAM, DC NOVOCUR PAIN MANAGEMENT

Tech-related injuries your parents never experienced

Our modern world is ruled by technology. Twenty years ago, few people imagined that telephones would serve as portable computers or that text messages would largely replace conversation for a new generation. Just as most people could not foresee the explosive growth of smartphones and tablets, they likely did not anticipate these devices as catalysts […]
7 years ago
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DR. ALEX BIGHAM, DC NOVOCUR PAIN MANAGEMENT

Migraine myths that keep patients from effective treatments

Few medical maladies are as complex and misunderstood as migraine headaches. Even though there has been a lot of research, definitive answers about the causes and effective treatment of migraines are elusive. Migraines are more severe and serious than regular headaches. Read this article to learn some of the ways migraines are different. Unfortunately, even many medical […]
7 years ago
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Dr. Alex Bigham, DC Novocur Pain Management

Failed back surgery: New hope for patients living in pain

Severe lower back pain is one of the most common ailments reported by adults in the U.S. According to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 25 percent of respondents reported experiencing back pain in the prior three months. Many patients suffering from chronic back pain turn to surgery for […]
7 years ago