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Co-founder of Company Behind Deadly 2012 Meningitis Outbreak Gets Up to 15 Years in Prison

Barry Cadden, co-founder of a specialty compounding pharmacy behind a deadly meningitis outbreak in 2012, has been handed a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years in Michigan for involuntary manslaughter.

On Tuesday, Cadden pleaded no contest to the charges against him, the Associated Press reported.

His sentence will be served concurrently with the 14 1/2-year sentence he is ...

Good News & Bad on Recovery From Lower Back Pain

Back pain is a double-edged sword.

In most cases, it disappears within about six weeks. But when it doesn't, low back pain is likely to bother you for the long haul, researchers warn.

"The good news is that most episodes of back pain recover, and this is the case even if you have already had back pain for a couple of months," said researcher

  • Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 22, 2024
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  • New Clues To Origins of Lower Back Pain

    Some people might be prone to low back pain because of specific cells contained in their spinal disks, a new study suggests.

    The research could explain why only certain people develop back pain due to the degeneration of their spinal discs, which are jelly-filled spacers that act as shock absorbers between the small bones of the vertebrae.

    “We've identified for the first time part...

    Fixing a Painful Joint Problem Won't Ease Mental Health Ills, Study Finds

    Blaming your ailing knees for feeling down?

    Unfortunately, even after physical pain eases, healing or fixing an injured joint often does not improve mental health, research shows.

    A new study found that anxiety symptoms only improved when a patient had major improvements in physical function.

    Depression, meanwhile, did not meaningfully improve even when the improvements to phy...

    Sciatica: What Is It, and How Can You Ease the Pain?

    If you have had a sharp pain shooting down one leg, you may be experiencing a condition called sciatica.

    Here is what you need to know about sciatica, including what it is, its causes, symptoms and treatments. Plus, learn about medications, self-care and stretches that may provide relief.

    What is sciatica?

  • Sue Benzuly, RN HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 26, 2023
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  • When Your Child Has Scoliosis: Symptoms & Treatments

    The future for a child diagnosed with scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine that typically occurs just before puberty, can feel uncertain.

    As a parent, you want answers to your questions about scoliosis and how it can affect your child's development. Here's what you need to know.

    What is scoliosis?

    Scoliosis is an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine. In some cases...

    Upper Back Pain: Causes and How to Treat It

    If you suffer from upper back pain, it's time to reclaim your comfort and regain control of your daily life. Relief from this debilitating condition is within reach.

    Here, you will learn about the causes of upper back pain and strategies to alleviate your discomfort.

    What is upper back pain?

    Imagine discomfort that takes residence between your shoulder blades,...

    You've Suffered Whiplash: Know the Symptoms & Treatments

    Whiplash — an often underestimated injury that can strike in the aftermath of a collision — inflicts injury and pain on its unsuspecting victims.

    If you find yourself grappling with the relentless effects of whiplash, you're not alone. Numerous legal websites estimate that at least 3 million Americans per year sustain whiplash injuries.

    Here's what you should know about a whipla...

    What Are Back Spasms, and Can They Be Treated?

    "Oh, my aching back!" Everyone has uttered these words at some point, in response to the sharp, sudden pain that comes with back spasms.

    This article will explore the causes of back spasms, their symptoms and, most importantly, effective treatments. Whether you're experiencing your first spasm or seeking ways to prevent future episodes, understanding the triggers and what to do is key.

    Getting Rid of Neck Pain: 6 Ways to Feel Better

    The phrase "pain in the neck" is a tongue-in-cheek way to describe annoying situations or people that test our patience, but for those who experience genuine neck pain, it's no laughing matter.

    Neck pain can be a debilitating condition that affects daily life and leaves sufferers longing for relief. This article will explore some practical strategies to alleviate neck pain and provide sel...

    The Most Common Back Surgeries, Explained

    Imagine a life where even the simplest movement becomes a painful endeavor.

    Back pain, a pervasive ailment affecting millions, can turn daily routines into exhausting and painful challenges. Back surgery emerges as a potential solution when conventional treatments fall short, offering hope for those trapped in chronic pain.

    What are the most common back surgery types, and how do the...

    Is Surgery for Sciatica Really Worth It?

    Sciatica can send searing, unrelenting pain down your legs, and surgery is often recommended if other less invasive measures fail to bring relief.

    Unfortunately, a new study review suggests that such operations likely only provide temporary results, with pain typically returning within a year.

    Sciatica is “characterized by pain going down the back of the leg, most often due to pre...

    Nerve 'Pulse' Therapy May Help Ease Sciatica

    People suffering from sciatica gain lasting relief from a procedure that uses a fine needle to heat nerve roots near the spine, a new clinical trial shows.

    The minimally invasive procedure, called pulsed radiofrequency (RF), provided superior pain reduction and disability improvement out to one year for patients with sciatica, according to findings published March 28 in the journal

    Cell Injections Show Promise Against Chronic Back Pain

    An injection that relieves low back pain by helping damaged spinal discs regenerate appears to have sustained benefits, new clinical trial data show.

    Most patients who received an injection of VIA Disc received back pain relief that lasted at least three years, said lead researcher Dr. D...

    His Debilitating Back Pain Lasted Decades, Until a New Implant Changed Everything

    After living with disabling low back pain for nearly 30 years, Dennis Bassett, 64, finally has a new lease on life.

    The Hempstead, N.Y., native injured his back in the 1980s when helping a friend. He tried everything to relieve his back pain, from self-medication, acupuncture, and chiropractor work to steroid injections, physical therapy and exercise.

    “My back only got worse,” r...

    Adele Tells Fans She Suffers From Sciatica

    The Grammy-winning singer Adele told a crowd at her New Year's Eve concert that “really bad sciatica” is causing her to wobble on stage.

    The award-winning singer first talked about her chronic back problems in a 2021 interview with The Face.

    "I slipped my first disk when I was 15 from sneezing," she said. "I was in bed and I sneezed and my fifth one flew out. In Januar...

    Acupuncture Might Ease Back Pain During Pregnancy

    Many women experience back pain during pregnancy and a new study review suggests an ancient treatment can help.

    Acupuncture provided significant relief of lower back and pelvic pain, according to an analysis of 10 trials from various parts of the world. The findings were published Nov. 21 in BMJ Open.

    "Acupuncture significantly improved pain, functional status, and quality ...

    Flakes Are Falling Again: Here's the Safe Way to Shovel Snow

    Shoveling snow is a strenuous workout that poses risks for people with heart conditions.

    “We have to think of shoveling snow as a pretty significant exertion, like an exercise,” said Dr. Donald Ford, chair of family medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio. “So if you're go...

    For Back Pain, Earlier Is Better for Physical Therapy

    When people have backaches bad enough to send them to the doctor, prompt physical therapy may be a wise choice, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that when those patients had "early" PT -- within a couple weeks of seeing a doctor -- they were less likely to need other, often pricey, types of medical care.

    Over the next month to year, they were less likely to see a specialist o...

    Aching Backs in Seniors: An Expert's Guide to Pain Meds

    Back and neck pain are often an unfortunate part of aging, but older adults can safely find relief with various medications, a new research review concludes.

    The review of 138 clinical trials breaks down the evidence on medication options for seniors with

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 8, 2022
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  • Injected 'Hydrogel' May Be New Option Against Back Pain

    Like fixing a flat on the roadside, a new injectable hydrogel is showing promise as a remedy for worn-down spinal discs -- pumping them back up and relieving chronic back pain.

    The gel, with the brand name Hydrafil, is injected directly into worn discs using X-rays to guide the needle, said lead researcher Dr. Douglas Beall, chi...

    NSAIDS, Steroids for Back Pain: Is Too Much of Them a Bad Thing?

    Persistent use of steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen to treat acute lower back pain may actually turn it into a chronic condition, a new study warns.

    However, some experts who expressed concerns about the study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine

    Arthritis? Back Pain? Medical Pot May Help You Avoid Opioid Painkillers

    Medical marijuana could be a viable alternative to opioid painkillers for people dealing with arthritis or chronic back pain, two new studies show.

    Many patients prescribed opioids for their chronic pain wound up taking fewer painkillers -- or stopping them altogether -- after doctors ce...

    Looking to Neanderthals to Explain Today's Lower Back Pain

    A comparison of Neanderthal and modern human spines suggests lifestyle habits of 21st century people lie behind widespread back pain, researchers say.

    Anthropologists focused on the spine's curvature, which is partly influenced by wedging, or angling, of vertebrae and the softer discs between vertebrae.

    "

    FDA OKs Virtual Reality System to Ease Back Pain

    A 3-D virtual reality system to treat back pain was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday.

    The EaseVRx system is a prescription device for at-home use that combines cognitive behavioral therapy and other behavioral methods to treat patients 18 and older with chronic lower back pain.

    "Millions of adults in the United States are living with chronic lower back pa...

    One Downside to Space Travel: Back Pain

    You can ride a rocket into space to escape Earth, but one thing you might not escape is back pain.

    Back pain could turn out to be a major problem for the growing number of space travelers, and learning more about it could also benefit Earth-bound back patients, researchers say.

    Low gravity, the physical stress of riding in a rocket and nutritional changes may all contribute to back ...

    Special Therapy Brings Relief to Patients With Chronic Back Pain

    Many people with long-term back pain have tried physical therapy and medication, to no avail. A new study suggests they might "unlearn" their discomfort in weeks -- using psychological therapy.

    "For a long time, we have thought that chronic pain is due primarily to problems in the body, and most treatments to date have targeted that," said Yoni Ashar, who led the study while earning his P...

    Watch Their Backs -- Don't Overload Those Schoolbags

    After more than a year at home, children are heading back to classrooms across the country. But they're also toting heavy bags on their backs again.

    A backpack that fits properly -- and is not overloaded with binders and books -- will help prevent injury.

    "With a focus on getting back in the classroom and returning to 'normal,' it's easy to overlook possible injuries caused by ...

    Could Electrode 'Pulses' Cut Back, Leg Pain Without Drugs?

    A new approach to spinal cord stimulation may drastically reduce chronic back pain, a small pilot study suggests.

    The study, of 20 patients with stubborn low back pain, tested the effects of implanting electrodes near the spinal cord to stimulate it with "ultra-low" frequency electrical pulses.

    After two weeks, 90% of the patients were reporting at least an 80% reduction in their pa...

    One Activity Causes 4 Out of 5 Sports-Linked Spinal Injuries

    Football and other contact sports get a lot of attention for their injury hazards. But for most adults, bike riding is the biggest back-breaker, a new study suggests.

    Of more than 12,000 sports-related spinal injuries among U.S. adults, researchers found that a full 81% were due to bicycling mishaps. The injuries mostly included vertebral fractures, often in the neck but also in the middl...

    More Than Half of Americans Plagued by Back, Leg Pain

    There's much Americans may disagree on, but many share one thing in common: chronic pain.

    More than half of U.S. adults suffer from pain, with backs and legs the most common sources, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

    Overall, the investigators found that nearly 59% of American men and wo...

    No Evidence Muscle Relaxants Can Ease Low Back Pain

    Although tens of millions of Americans turn to muscle relaxants for lower back pain relief, a new Australian review finds little evidence that such drugs actually work.

    That's the conclusion of a deep-dive into 31 prior investigations, which collectively enlisted more than 6,500 lower back pain patients. Enrolled patients had been treating lower back pain with a wide range of 18 different...

    Biggest Reason Teens Injure Their Spines: Not Wearing Seat Belts

    Two-thirds of spinal fractures suffered by American children and teens occur in car crashes when they aren't wearing seat belts, a new study finds.

    Researchers analyzed data on more than 34,500 U.S. patients younger than 18 who suffered spinal fractures between 2009 and 2014. Teens aged 15 to 17 accounted for about 63% of the spinal fractures, two-thirds of which occurred in motor vehicle...

    What Exercise Regimen Works Best to Ease Lower Back Pain?

    Chronic lower back pain can make the most routine tasks difficult. But a new study suggests patients can learn new, practical and less painful ways to move through individualized "motor skills training," or MST.

    A two-year study of nearly 150 patients found that MST appears to better relieve disability from lower back pain than a more common but less-tailored exercise regimen broadly focu...

    Neurologists Much Tougher to Find in Rural America

    A shortage of neurologists in rural parts of the United States means that people in those areas are less likely to receive specialized care for conditions such as stroke, dementia and back pain, a new study claims.

    "Neurologists in the United States are not evenly spread out, which affects whether patients can see a neurologist for certain conditions like dementia and stroke," said study ...

    'Tough Guy' Mentality Keeps Athletes in Denial About Pain

    A culture of toughness and resilience is encouraged among elite college rowers, but it can keep them from reporting injuries, a new study finds.

    There's an overall myth among athletes that admitting pain is a sign of weakness and failure, the researchers said.

    Irish and Australian rowers in this study felt compromised by lower back pain, which is common in the sport, the st...

    In Many Cases, Hip Replacement Also Eases Back Pain

    If you have a bad hip and lower back pain, a new study suggests that hip replacement surgery may solve both issues at once.

    Researchers at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City focused on 500 patients who underwent hip replacement surgery and followed up with them one year after the operation.

    Over 40% reported pain in their lower back prior to hip surgery. ...

    Muscle Relaxants for Back Pain Are Soaring: Are They Safe?

    Back pain plagues many Americans, and new research shows that doctors are doling out muscle relaxant prescriptions to treat the pain -- often along with an opioid painkiller.

    Experts worry that muscle relaxants may not help much and could cause troubling side effects, especially in older patients.

    The study found the rate of long-term prescriptions for muscle relaxants to tr...

    Drug Might Relieve Low Back Pain in Whole New Way

    A new nonopioid pain reliever could be welcome news for people who have difficult-to-treat back pain.

    Tanezumab is what's called a monoclonal antibody. And it might offer extended relief from chronic lower back pain, a large, new study finds. However, a serious side effect remains a concern.

    Tanezumab works differently from other treatments, as it blocks nerve growth factor,...

    Working From Home?  Posture, Ergonomics Can Make It Safe

    If you're working from home because of the coronavirus pandemic and expect to keep doing so, you need to be sure your work station is set up properly, an orthopedic specialist says.

    You also need to take regular breaks to move around, according to Terrence McGee, a physical therapist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

    In an office, many people have ...

    Which Surgery Works Best for Lower Back Pain?

    Patients with lower back problems often worry about how much time they'll need to recover if they have surgery. A new study finds similar results for two common minimally invasive spine procedures.

    Surgery may be recommended for degenerative conditions of the lower spine, such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis.

    Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York Ci...

    Shovel That Snow, but Spare Your Back

    Almost everyone gets stuck shoveling snow at some point during the winter. To prevent back pain and strain, one spinal expert has some advice.

    Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Srinivasu Kusuma, from the University of Chicago Medicine Medical Group, noted it's all in the precautions you take before you tackle your snow-covered driveway.

    • Decide if it's safe to shovel. If y...

    'Smartphone Slouching' More Serious Than It Sounds

    The health risks that spring from poor posture while using mobile devices don't concern many Americans, a new survey finds.

    But maybe it should.

    Poor posture can lead to health issues such as chronic pain in the back, neck and knees, circulation problems, heartburn and digestive problems, according to researchers from the Orlando Health system in Florida.

    American ...

    Building a Better Backpack

    A well-organized backpack helps ensure that your child has everything needed for school. Problems start when it becomes overloaded. Lugging around a heavy pack can lead to bad posture, back pain and worse.

    The problem is so pervasive that the American Occupational Therapy Association created National School Backpack Awareness Day. It's held every September to share ideas to keep kids ...

    1 in 4 American Workers Struggles With Back Pain

    If your back aches while on the job, you have plenty of company: New research shows that nearly 40 million American workers suffer from chronic lower back pain.

    In all, that's more than a quarter of the workforce reporting lower back pain severe enough to affect their ability to work. As striking as these findings are, the researchers believe that many more workers suffer from lower b...

    Step-by-Step Exercises for a Stronger Back

    Are you neglecting or even unaware of the muscles in your back? If so, you're putting yourself at risk.

    The trapezius is the diamond-shaped muscle that runs from neck to middle back and from shoulder to shoulder across the back. The latissimus dorsi -- or "lats" -- are the large back muscles that run from either side of the spine to your waist.

    Here are two strength-trainin...

    Stretches to Strengthen Your Core

    Ever had a bad spasm from bending down to pick up your child or tie your shoes?

    Keeping your core muscles -- the workhorses that stabilize your spine -- flexible with a stretching routine can help prevent this common occurrence and protect your back in general.

    The Pelvic Tilt targets your lower back and your abdominals. Lie on your back with knees bent and feet abou...

    One-Third of U.S. Kids Have Back Pain, Study Says

    As American kids pack on the pounds, the number of those with back pain is on the rise.

    One in three between the ages of 10 and 18 said they had backaches in the past year, according to a survey of about 3,700 youngsters. The incidence rose along with kids' age and weight and was higher among those who play competitive sports.

    Though many people probably associate back pain ...

    Expert Panel Says Two Back Pain Procedures May Be Useless

    Injecting cement into broken vertebrae to stabilize an osteoporosis-related spinal fracture does little to reduce pain and disability, a new report says.

    Two surgeries are used for these types of fractures: vertebroplasty, in which medical grade cement is injected into broken vertebrae to fuse the fragments together; and balloon kyphoplasty, where a balloon is inserted into a compress...

    4 Exercises for a Better Back

    To strengthen your back -- the most commonly injured part of the body -- it's important to condition both the muscles in it and the ones that support it, notably the abs.

    Here are four moves to boost back fitness:

    For the bird dog, start on your hands and knees. Tighten your abs and simultaneously lift your right arm and your left leg until they're in line with your back. Ke...