Doctor Column

Low Back Pain Diagnosis and Treatment June 15, 2023 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Low back pain (LBP) is common, costly, and treatable. It’s a common reason patients visit their family doctor, a common cause of disability, and costs Americans billions of dollars annually to manage this condition. Accurate diagnoses, and proper treatments are keys to successful outcomes. Low Back Pain — Red Flags, Symptoms, and Causes June 5, 2023 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Years ago, a colleague of mine was removing leaves from a rain gutter, slipped off the ladder, fell, and landed on his back. He was rushed to the hospital complaining of excruciating lower back pain. The ED physician took his medical history, and noted the physical examination was normal except for hypersensitivity in the lumbar- sacral region (lower back). Fibromyalgia Lady Gaga’s Invisible Pain March 5, 2021 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Millions heard Lady Gaga sing the national anthem at Joseph Biden, Jr’s presidential inauguration on January 20, 2021 in Washington D. C. However, how many realized she has been struggling with a disorder that has long frustrated patients and doctors? Pain 101 — The Basics: How Can We Make Sense of Pain? October 25, 2020 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Pain tells us that there’s something’s wrong in the body. It has a peculiar way of speaking to us. Whether we complain about a mild headache or the intense, agonizing pain of a fractured thigh bone, it seems to say: “Listen up. It’s for your own good. There may be something terribly wrong going on in the body and you better act quickly to correct the problem.” What You Need to Know About Knee Pain? What If It’s Not Arthritis? September 25, 2020 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD People of all ages have experienced knee pain that varies from being a nuisance to incapacitating agony. We need healthy knees to walk, run, stand or jump. When injury or disease triggers knee pain, it’s critical to get pain relief, the right diagnosis and treatment as well as information on how to prevent future problems. To help understand knee pain or knee problems, it’s useful to be familiar with the knee joint. “Pain-Speak” — One Crucial Way How the Body Communicates With Us September 15, 2020 Joseph R. Anticaglia, MD Pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. It’s the most common reason people make an appointment to see their doctor. More than 25 million Americans live with chronic pain and one in every four Americans have suffered from pain that lasts longer than 24 hours.