One of my good friends and fellow pain management specialists was recently featuring in an inspirational article about how she dealt with pain when weight lifting:

Liza Reichenberger knows about pain.   Suffering from chronic and severe pain secondary to familial osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, she has “a horrid neck” with a large herniated disc and multiple bone spurs causing her daily pain – especially in the morning as she struggles to move upon awakening.  Three different spine surgeons have recommended cervical decompression and fusion.  Their advice?  Stop exercising.  Yea, sure.

You don’t tell “Herculiza,” the greatest natural female bodybuilder of all time, to stop working out.  But, like most people, Reichenberger did what she was told and followed her doctor’s advice.  She stopped all upper body weight training for 6 months. Big mistake.

Read the full article on Examiner.com — Local bodybuilding legend helps patients conquer pain

 

Tomorrow (Saturday April 8th, 2011), I will be attending my business partner and friend Liza Reichenberger’s open house for her new startup pain management company ‘spORTHOcare’. Liza is also known as “Herculiza”, the world famous all-natural body builder and winner of WNBF’s Universe 2008. Liza has been lifting weights for decades and continues to compete in competitions on the side as she builds her company.

 

Stop by for snacks and refreshments!

Feel free to stop by to take a look at Liza’s gym, offices, and meet the famous body builder herself. Both of us will be there to answer any questions you have about spORTHOcare and pain management in general. Hope to see you there!

 

Learn more about Liza:

Liza Reichenberger knows about pain. Suffering from chronic and severe pain secondary to familial osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, she has “a horrid neck” with a large herniated disc and multiple bone spurs causing her daily pain – especially in the morning as she struggles to move upon awakening. Three different spine surgeons have recommended cervical decompression and fusion. Their advice? Stop exercising. Yea, sure.

You don’t tell “Herculiza,” the greatest natural female bodybuilder of all time, to stop working out. But, like most people, Reichenberger did what she was told and followed her doctor’s advice. She stopped all upper body weight training for 6 months. Big mistake.

“I completely fell apart!” she says. “The pain became even worse.” When she returned to the gym and resumed her zero-impact conditioning and resistance program, her pain subsided dramatically.

 

Read the rest of the article “Local bodybuilding legend helps patients conquer pain”

Herculiza on Facebook

The San Francisco Chronicle recently interviewed one of my patients and myself to gain a perspective on how many doctors are "scared to death to prescribe [medicine] stronger than ibuprofen 800mg", given concerns about drug misuse. The article discusses the balancing act between the lack of access to pain physicians and the way most patients can be functional despite pain medication. Here is an excerpt of one of my quotes:

"I have colleagues who are board certified in pain who will not write significant pain medication for treatment. Many of them are feeling overwhelmed and scared," said Dr. Moshe Lewis, a pain management specialist with California Pacific Medical Center who has treated Reia. "Most of the patients I see, probably 90 percent, have legitimate pain. The challenge is figuring out who's who."

Read the entire article on SFGate.com

Keep moving!

Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Class
Sequoia YMCA
1445 Hudson Street
Redwood City, CA 94601
(650) 368-4168

Pool heated to 86 degrees

Classes:
Monday 9-10am
Tuesday 10-11am
Wednesday 9-10am
Thursday 10-11am
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Fees:
$15 per class or
$59 monthly + one time fee of $80 for people under age 65
$51 monthly + one time fee of $70 for people over age 65

**Monthly fee entitles you to participate in all YMCA classes offered at this location including tai chi and balance classes.  Memberships are from month to month.

Contact the YMCA to take a tour and have an orientation.
Also, you can have a 4-class “trial pass” so that you can try the classes and decide if you would like to participate in them without committing to the membership fee.