Alleviating Back Pain While Decorating for the Holidays

Alleviating Back Pain While Decorating for the Holidays

The holiday season brings joy, laughter and celebration, but along with it comes tasks that cause additional stress and worsening chronic pain. Holiday decorating, for example, can cause some people to become overwhelmed, which often intensifies their symptoms.

At Gateway Spine and Pain Physicians, our goal is to provide you with simple, helpful tips to get you through the holiday season and allow you to begin the New Year feeling great.

1. Lift Correctly

Holiday decorating usually entails getting boxes from an attic or basement and hauling them to the main level. These boxes can get quite heavy after accumulating decorations year after year, so you need to focus on lifting properly in order to not damager your back or any fragile decorations. When lifting boxes, be sure to keep your back straight, utilize your abdominal muscles, and lift from your legs.

2. Always Use a Ladder

Although you may be able to stand on your toes and reach in order to hang a decoration, it is often safer to utilize a ladder or a stepladder instead of overstretching and risking getting back pain or neck pain.

Another helpful tip: use your ladder safely.  Before climbing up those stairs, ask yourself if your balance is good enough to stand on a ladder. If you decide it is, make sure that the ladder is stable and have someone hold the base to prevent it from tipping over. If changing positions laterally, be sure to move the ladder instead of trying to reach. Not only can reaching out put strain on your muscles, but it can also cause your ladder to tip over.

3. Make accommodations for decorating high and low surfaces.

If you’re decorating a surface lower than you can comfortably reach while standing, sit on a chair or stool if possible so you aren’t bending as often. For higher surfaces, consider placing the box of decorations on a table or chair so you are not constantly bending over to grab items. Again, always be sure to use proper lifting techniques.

4. Make it a family activity.

If the whole family helps out, the projects will get done quicker and you won’t be putting as much stress on yourself. For higher decorations, have one person stand on the ladder while another hands them the decorations. Getting help from the whole family also allows everyone the opportunity to take breaks and to switch activities so no one is stuck sitting or standing the entire time.

For additional information regarding Gateway Spine and Pain Physicians, please visit gatewaypain.com or call (630) 226-1130.

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Holiday Shopping and Alleviating Back Pain

Holiday Shopping and Alleviating Back Pain

Don’t Shop Until You Drop

Some patients have complained that they don’t know what hurts worse, how light their wallet gets during the holidays or the aches and pains associated with shopping. We may not be able to help you with your wallet, however we can give you some tips to avoid pain while shopping.

1. Dress Appropriately

Before you leave your house be sure you are wearing loose, comfortable clothing and supportive shoes. The type of shoe you choose drastically impacts your posture, therefore you should stray away from high heels or flip flops and consider tennis shoes instead. Also, be sure to leave your large bulky purses at home and opt for something smaller like a wristlet or cross-body bag. Heavy purses add extra stress to your muscles and cause you to shift your posture in order to compensate for the extra weight. If you must carry a lot of items, consider utilizing a back pack which will distribute the weight more evenly across your shoulders.

2. Pack Healthy Snacks

While you are at home, pack nutritious snacks that will help you keep energized and allow you to avoid the long lines at the food court. Fast food often leaves people feeling lethargic, so consider avoiding it altogether and opt for healthier options instead. Examples of snacks you could pack are almonds, dried fruit, string cheese, pumpkin seeds or an apple! Also, be sure to take time to drink water throughout the day so you can stay hydrated and feeling great.

3. Rest

Shopping for the holidays can be an all-day affair, so be sure to take breaks to sit down and relax. Consider taking a 10 minute break every couple hours to rest your feet and stretch. This is the perfect time to look over your shopping list and cross off items you already purchased.

4. Consider shopping online

Now that so many stores are offering online shopping, often you can find equal or better prices online than you can in the physical stores. Not only does this allow you to shop from the comfort of your own home, but it also alleviates the stress of going to the mall and carrying around all of your packages. Be sure to sign up for each stores email alerts in order to receive any coupons, free shipping, and discounts they may have.

For additional information regarding Gateway Spine and Pain Physicians, please visit gatewaypain.com or call (630) 226-1130.

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Gateway Spine & Pain Physicians earns AAAASF accreditation for patient safety

Gateway Spine & Pain Physicians earns AAAASF accreditation for patient safety

Bolingbrook, IL — Gateway Spine & Pain Physicians in Bolingbrook, IL has demonstrated its commitment to patient safety by gaining accreditation from the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). AAAASF is celebrating its 35th year of promoting the highest quality patient safety in the ambulatory surgery setting (office-based or outpatient), as well as rehabilitation and outpatient therapy agencies and rural health clinics.

AAAASF requires 100 percent compliance with all accreditation standards and does not offer partial accreditation. If a facility fails to meet any standard, it must correct the deficiency or risk denial or loss of accreditation.

“Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated team, we are very excited to receive AAAASF accreditation for our office based procedure suite. By achieving this benchmark, we ensure the highest level of care and safety within the comfort and convenience of an office setting,” stated founder and President of Gateway Spine & Pain Physicians, Dr. John Hong, M.D.

To earn its accreditation, Gateway Spine and Pain Physicians passed inspection on hundreds of important criteria concerning patient safety. AAAASF facility inspectors are board certified medical specialists trained to perform a thorough and complete facility inspection. AAAASF facility inspectors follow a regimented procedure to inspect an outpatient surgery facility in the following categories:

  •  General Environment
  •  Operating Room Environment, Policy and Procedures
  •  Recovery Room Environment, Policy and Procedures
  •  General Safety in the Facility
  •  Blood and Medications
  •  Medical Records
  •  Quality Assessment and Quality Improvement
  •  Personnel
  •  Anesthesia

“The AAAASF accreditation reflects a level of safety provided by a hospital setting, but at a fraction of the cost and with greater time efficiency.  We hope this adds another level of comfort and reassurance to our patients when choosing us for their care at a time of their greatest discomfort,” stated Dr. Nitin Malhotra, M.D.

Gateway Spine & Pain Physicians is a comprehensive pain management practice serving the greater Chicago region since 2007.  The physicians at Gateway are double board certified, fellowship trained pain specialists that provide individualized, compassionate care.  Their goal is to provide a level of care that exceeds expectations, accurately diagnosing and treating pain quickly and effectively to restore quality of life and functionality.  Gateway Spine & Pain Physicans has offices in Bolingbrook, Hinsdale, and Downers Grove.

For additional information regarding Gateway Spine and Pain Physicians, please visit gatewaypain.com or call (630) 226-1130.

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