Neck Pain

SCVNews.com | Monday COVID-19 Roundup: 28,369 Total SCV Cases; New Vaccination Sweepstakes Launched

Published

4 years ago

July 6, 2021

On Monday, Los Angeles County Public Health officials confirmed two new deaths and 284 new cases of COVID-19 countywide, with 28,369 total cases in the Santa Clarita Valley.

The number of cases and deaths are likely to reflect reporting delays over the weekend.

Public Health also confirmed 284 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 and more than 7,065,000 individuals have been tested, with 16% of people testing positive.

The following is a breakdown of data from the last seven days:

Monday, July 5

Daily new cases: 436*

Daily deaths: 2*

Daily positivity rate (7-day avg): n/a**

Daily hospitalizations: 284

Sunday, July 4

Daily new cases: 457*

Daily deaths: 4*

Daily positivity rate (7-day avg): 1.4%

Daily hospitalizations: 278

Saturday, July 3

Daily new cases: 644

Daily deaths: 7

Daily positivity rate (7-day avg): 1.4%

Daily hospitalizations: 275

Friday, July 2

Daily new cases: 549

Daily deaths: 5

Daily positivity rate (7-day avg): 1.4%

Daily hospitalizations: 280

Thursday, July 1

Daily new cases: 6

Daily deaths: 10

Daily positivity rate (7-day avg): 1.3%

Daily hospitalizations: 275

Wednesday, June 30

Daily new cases: 422

Daily deaths: 2

Daily positivity rate (7-day avg): 1.2%

Daily hospitalizations: 255

Tuesday, June 29

Daily new cases: 321

Daily deaths: 3

Daily positivity rate (7-day avg): 1.0%

Daily hospitalizations: 229

* Number reflects an undercount due to a lag from weekend reporting. ** Number not available today due to a delay in part of the data processing.

Vaccine Sweepstakes

Through next Thursday, July 8 at county-run vaccination sites, L.A. City sites, and St. John’s Well Child and Family Center sites, everyone 18 and older coming to get a vaccine will have an opportunity to win one of four packages of tickets and passes to botanical gardens in the area. Each prize package consists of one annual membership to the Huntington Botanical Gardens and one-day passes to Descanso Gardens, L.A. County Arboretum, and South Coast Botanic Garden. Official rules and participating site locations is online on the Los Angeles Vaccination Sweepstakes page.

California Monday Snapshot

NOTE: Data was not available for Monday, July 5, 2021.

California Department of Public Health confirmed Thursday 3,712,152 cases and 63,096 deaths to date. There are 1,090 confirmed hospitalizations and 300 ICU hospitalizations in the state.

Numbers may not represent true day-over-day change as reporting of test results can be delayed.
Note: Some counties are reporting backlogged cases due to data cleaning efforts. The number of backlogged cases varies by county and this is expected until July 2, 2021.

There were 1,698 newly recorded confirmed cases Wednesday.

The 7-day positivity rate is 1.4%.

There have been 69,687,332 tests conducted in California. This represents an increase of 81,601 during the prior 24-hour reporting period.

As of July 1, providers have reported administering a total of 41,707,555 vaccine doses statewide. The CDC reports that 48,200,435 doses have been delivered to entities within the state. Numbers do not represent true day-to-day change as reporting may be delayed. For more vaccination data, visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Data Dashboard.

Health Care Workers

As of June 30, local health departments have reported 113,103 confirmed positive cases in health care workers and 474 deaths statewide.

See more California information later in this report.

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Monday Update

NOTE: Data was not available for Monday, July 5, 2021.

As of Friday, July 2, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital had five cases pending, 12 patients hospitalized, a total of 1,255 patients treated and discharged since the pandemic began, and one additional deceased bringing the total up to 149 deaths since the pandemic began, hospital spokesman Patrick Moody confirmed.

The death reported Friday is the first in more than a month.

Privacy laws prohibit Henry Mayo from releasing the community of residence for patients who die at the hospital; residence info is reported by the L.A. County Public Health COVID-19 dashboard, which generally lags 48 hours behind.

Santa Clarita Valley Monday Update

As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the L.A. County Public Health COVID-19 dashboard confirmed 309 deaths among Santa Clarita Valley residents, with one new death reported Friday, July 2, at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital.

The following is the community breakdown of the 309 SCV residents who have died, according to the L.A. County dashboard:
The following is the community breakdown of the 309 SCV residents who have died, according to the L.A. County dashboard:

266 in Santa Clarita

17 in Castaic (**revised from 18)

6 in Acton

6 in Stevenson Ranch

4 in unincorporated Canyon Country

3 in Agua Dulce

1 in unincorporated Bouquet Canyon

1 in Elizabeth Lake

1 in Lake Hughes

1 in Newhall

1 in unincorporated Saugus/Canyon Country

1 in Valencia

1 in Val Verde

covid-19 roundup tuesday march 23

Of the 28,369 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported to Public Health for the SCV to date, the community breakdown is as follows:

* City of Santa Clarita: 20,770

* Castaic: 3,777 (incl. Pitchess Detention Center & North County Correctional Facility*)

* Stevenson Ranch: 1,183

* Canyon Country (unincorporated portion): 857

* Acton: 499

* Val Verde: 340

* Agua Dulce: 291

* Valencia (unincorporated portion west of I-5): 201

* Saugus (unincorporated portion): 133

* Elizabeth Lake: 82/p>

* Newhall (Unincorporated portion): 69

* Bouquet Canyon: 49

* Lake Hughes: 42

* Saugus/Canyon Country: 40

* Sand Canyon: 18

* San Francisquito/Bouquet Canyon: 15

* Placerita Canyon: 3

*Note: The county is unable to break out separate numbers for Castaic and PDC/NCCF because the county uses geotagging software that cannot be changed at this time, according to officials. Click here for the LASD COVID-19 dashboard.

L.A. County Vaccine Update

Public Health continues to build an extensive network with pharmacies, federally qualified health centers, hospitals, health clinics, and community vaccination sites, including these large-capacity sites:

* Dodger Stadium (operated by the city of Los Angeles)

* College of the Canyons, 26455 Rockwell Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

* Palmdale Oasis Park Recreation Center, 3850 E Ave S, Palmdale, CA 93550

* California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles 90032 (operated by FEMA)

There are now three new vaccination locations at Ted Watkins Memorial Park in L.A., Norwalk Arts and Sports Complex and the Senior Citizens Center in Commerce. No appointments are needed and both the Pfizer and the J&J vaccines will be available.

Visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish) to learn how to make an appointment at vaccination sites. If you don’t have internet access, can’t use a computer, or you’re over 65, you can call 1-833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment. Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

L.A. County Public Health’s Reopening Protocols, COVID-19 Surveillance Interactive Dashboard, Roadmap to Recovery, Recovery Dashboard, and additional things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community are on the Public Health website, www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.

covid-19 roundup

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Each week, the California Department of Public Health updates the number of cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) reported in the state.

As of June 21 there have been 543 cases of MIS-C have been reported statewide.

MIS-C is a rare inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19 that can damage multiple organ systems. MIS-C can require hospitalization and be life-threatening.

Parents should be aware of the signs and symptoms of MIS-C including fever that does not go away, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, or feeling tired.

Although very rare, COVID-19 cases among children can sometimes result a few weeks later in very serious illness known as Multi-symptom Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

Vaccine Eligibility Update

As of May 13, vaccination appointments for individuals aged 12+ can be made by visiting myturn.ca.gov. The consent of a parent or legal guardian may be needed for those between the ages of 12 and 17 to receive a vaccination. For more information on the vaccine effort, visit Vaccinate All 58.

Tracking COVID-19 in California

* State Dashboard – Daily COVID-19 data

* County Map – Local data

* Data and Tools – Models and dashboards for researchers, scientists, and the public

* COVID-19 Race & Ethnicity Data – Weekly updated Race & Ethnicity data

* Cases and Deaths by Age Group – Weekly updated Deaths by Age Group data

* Health Equity Dashboard – See how COVID-19 highlights existing inequities in health

* Tracking Variants – Data on the variants California is currently monitoring

* Safe Schools for All Hub – Information about safe in-person instruction

* School Districts Reopening Map – data on public schools and reported outbreaks

California Testing & Turnaround Time

The testing turnaround time dashboardreports how long California patients are waiting for COVID-19 test results.

During the week of June 13 to June 19, the average time patients waited for test results was under one day.

During this same time period, 88% of patients received test results in one day and 97% received them within two days.

Protect Yourself and Your Family: Your Actions Save Lives

Protect yourself, family, friends, and community by following these prevention measures:

* Getting vaccinated when it’s your turn. Californians age 16+ are eligible to make an appointment.

* Avoiding non-essential travel, and practicing self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival if you leave the state.

* Keeping interactions limited to people who live in your household.

* Wearing a cloth face mask when out in public.

* Washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.

* Avoiding touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

* Covering a cough or sneeze with your sleeve or disposable tissue. Wash your hands afterward.

* Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

* Staying away from work, school, or other people if you become sick with respiratory symptoms like fever and cough.

* Staying home except for essential needs/activities following local and state public health guidelines when patronizing approved businesses. To the extent that sectors are re-opened, Californians may leave their homes to work at, patronize, or otherwise engage with those businesses, establishments or activities.

* Getting tested if you believe you’ve been exposed. Free, confidential testing is available statewide.

* Adding your phone to the fight by signing up for COVID-19 exposure notifications from CA Notify.

* Answering the call if a contact tracer from the CA COVID Team or local health department tries to connect.

* Following guidance from public health officials.

California COVID-19 Data and Tools

A wide range of data and analysis guides California’s response to COVID-19. The state is making the data and its analytical tools available to researchers, scientists and the public at covid19.ca.gov.

* The Statewide COVID-19 Dashboard

* The California COVID-19 Assessment Tool (CalCAT)

* State Cases and Deaths Associated with COVID-19 by Age Group

* COVID-19 Race & Ethnicity Data

* COVID-19 Hospital Data and Case Statistics

* View additional datasets at the California Open Data Portal (including Testing Data, PPE Logistics Data, Hospital Data, Homeless Impact and more)

Consolidated guidance is available on the California Department of Public Health’s Guidance webpage.

* * * * *

Always check with trusted sources for the latest accurate information about novel coronavirus (COVID-19):

* Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

* California Department of Public Health

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

* Spanish

* World Health Organization

* Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Dashboard

L.A. County residents can also call 2-1-1.

* * * * *

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AmericanChiro

We understand how important it is to choose a chiropractor that is right for you. It is our belief that educating our patients is a very important part of the success we see in our offices.

Neck Pain

Re: Chronic Pain: Management focuses on the individual, not the pain.

Published

2 years ago

July 17, 2023

AmericanChiro

Dear Editor

Chronic pain management focuses on the individual, not the pain.

I am very pleased with the review by Kang and colleagues [1]. I write as a spinal pain specialist whose patients had an average episode duration of pain pain of 2.5 years [2] for low back pain and 1.3 years for neck pain [3]. These studies confirm that Kang et. al. noted the significant extent of spinal and extraspinal pain, sleep disturbance, and psychological distress. I also recognize the ‘heartsinks’ who have seen many consultants for a variety of complaints, and those with hypersensitivity. I do accept that some patients need further investigations, but it can be done in a way that does not cause further anxiety. To ensure that intensive rehabilitation is not contraindicated. By showing a genuine interest in the family, job and interests of the individual, you can begin to build confidence and hope for the clinical path being recommended.

The review ignores trauma’s effects on some people, causing their pain to begin, and for others, a major factor. Thirteen percent of patients with neck pain who presented to my clinics had a traumatic origin with a missed break and significant psychological comorbidity. Subsequently, it became clear that post-traumatic distress (PTPD), [a term used because post-traumatic stress may require specialist knowledge for diagnosis] can be present in rheumatological practices [4] and with the increasing influx of refugees in the UK [5], more patients are being diagnosed with PTPD. This can have major effects on families [5]. PTPD is commonly seen in medicolegal situations where accidents have caused major destruction to the lives of individuals and their families, including divorce [6]; and is often associated mood disturbances [6].

Kang et. al. correctly mention that sleep disorders are important in the management chronic pain [1], however, two important aspects of a’sleep story’ must be identified. It is important to ask the individual what they are thinking about when they lie awake in bed at night. This may provide clues as to social or family stress. Second, you should ask about their nightmares and dreams, especially if they are unpleasant. These often involve reliving trauma or accidents. When asked about nightmares, people who deny any unpleasant memories during direct questioning may reveal clues. The presence of PTPD can be important because it opens up therapeutic opportunities with psychological support and medications.

My experience in rehabilitation medicine over the years has taught me that to fully assist our disadvantaged clients, social issues must be resolved before psychological issues, and psychological issues must be resolved before physical issues!

References

1. Kang Y et. al., Chronic Pain: Definitions and Diagnosis. BMJ (Clinical Research ed. ), 2023. 381: p. e076036.

2. Frank A. et al. A cross-sectional study of the clinical and psychosocial features of low back injury and the resulting work handicap: Use of the Quebec Task Force Classification. Int J Clin Pract, 2000; 54(10) p. 639-644.

3. Frank A, De Souza L and Frank C. Neck Pain and Disability: A Cross-sectional Survey of the Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Neck Pain Seen in a Rheumatology Clinic. Int J Clin Pract 2005; 59(doi: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2004.00237.x): p. 173-182.

4. McCarthy J. and Frank A. Posttraumatic psychological distress can present in rheumatology. BMJ 2002. 325(27 July): p. 221-221.

5. Frank A. Refugee status: a yellow-flag in managing back pain. BMJ 2007;334(13 Jan): p.58-58.

6. Frank A. Psychiatric effects of road traffic accidents: often disabling, and not recognised (letter). BMJ 1993, 307(13th Nov): p.1283.

AmericanChiro

We understand how important it is to choose a chiropractor that is right for you. It is our belief that educating our patients is a very important part of the success we see in our offices.

Neck Pain

Landmark Trial: Opioids No Better Than Placebo for Back Pain

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2023

AmericanChiro

The first randomized controlled study testing the efficacy of a short course opioids for acute nonspecific neck/low back pain suggests that opioids do not relieve acute neck or low back pain in the short-term and can lead to worse outcomes over the long-term.

After 6 weeks there was no significant difference between the pain scores of patients taking opioids and those who took a placebo. After one year, the pain scores of patients who received placebos were slightly lower. After 1 year, opioid users were also at a higher risk of opioid abuse.

Senior author Christine Lin, Ph.D., from the University of Sydney told Medscape Medical News that this is a “landmark trial” with “practice changing” results.

Lin explained that “we did not have any good evidence before this trial on whether opioids are effective for acute neck or low back pain, but opioids are one of the most commonly prescribed medicines for these conditions.”

Lin stated that based on these results “opioids shouldn’t be recommended at any time for acute neck and low back pain,”

The results of the OPAL study have been published online in The Lancet on June 28.

Rigorous Test

The trial was conducted at 157 primary care and emergency departments in Australia, with 347 adults who experienced low back pain or neck pain for 12 weeks or less.

They were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive guideline-recommended care (reassurance and advice to stay active) plus an opioid (oxycodone up to 20 mg daily) or identical placebo for up to 6 weeks. Naloxone is given to prevent opioid-induced constipation, and to improve blinding.

The primary outcome was the pain severity at six weeks, as measured by the pain severity subscale (10-point scale) of the Brief Pain Inventory.

After 6 weeks of opioid therapy, there was no difference between placebo and opioid therapy in terms of pain relief or functional improvement.

The mean pain score was 2.78 for the opioid group at 6 weeks, compared to 2.25 for the placebo group. (Adjusted median difference, 0.53, 95% CI -0.00 – 1.07, P=.051). At 1 year, the mean pain scores of the placebo group were lower than those of the opioid group (1.8 and 2.4).

The risk of opioid misuse was doubled at 1 year for patients randomly assigned to receive opioid therapy during 6 weeks as compared to those randomly assigned to receive placebo during 6 weeks.

At 1 year, the Current Opioid Use Measure (COMM), a scale that measures current drug-related behavior, indicated that 24 (20%) patients from 123 patients who received opioids, were at risk for misuse. This was compared to 13 (10%) patients from 128 patients in a placebo group ( p =.049). The COMM is a widely-used measure of current aberrant drug related behavior among chronic pain patients who are prescribed opioid therapy.

Results Raise “Serious Questions”

Lin told Medscape Medical News that “I think the findings of the research will need to be distributed to doctors and patients so they receive the latest evidence on opioids.”

“We must reassure doctors and their patients that the majority of people with acute neck and low back pain recover well over time (normally within 6 weeks). Therefore, management is simple – stay active, avoid bed rest and, if needed, use a heat pack to relieve short term pain. Consider anti-inflammatory drugs if drugs are needed,” Lin added.

The authors of the linked comment state that the OPAL trial raises serious questions regarding the use of opioids for acute neck and low back pain.

Mark Sullivan, MD PhD, and Jane Ballantyne MD, from the University of Washington in Seattle, note that clinical guidelines recommend opioids to patients with acute neck and back pain when other drugs fail or are contraindicated.

As many as two thirds of patients may receive an opioid for back or neck pain. Sullivan and Ballantyne say that it is time to reexamine these guidelines.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health (University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health) and SafeWork SA funded the OPAL study. The authors of the study have not disclosed any relevant financial relationships. Sullivan and Ballantyne have served as board members of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (unpaid), and paid consultants for opioid litigation.

Lancet. Online published June 28, 2023. Abstract

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AmericanChiro

We understand how important it is to choose a chiropractor that is right for you. It is our belief that educating our patients is a very important part of the success we see in our offices.

Neck Pain

‘I tried acupuncture for back and neck pain even though I’m afraid of needles–and it’s literally the only thing that’s ever worked’

Published

2 years ago

July 15, 2023

AmericanChiro

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AmericanChiro

We understand how important it is to choose a chiropractor that is right for you. It is our belief that educating our patients is a very important part of the success we see in our offices.