July 15, 2020

People Die When Hospital Bed Shortages Force Patients Out

WEDNESDAY, June 17, 2020 -- When patients are pushed out of the hospital after hip surgery to make room for others, the odds of dying increase, according to a recent study from Norway.

When beds are in short supply, patients are forced out, researchers say. Fridays, the day before holidays and times when hospitals are overbooked are prime times for patients to be discharged, they report.

July 14, 2020

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

WEDNESDAY, July 1 , 2020 -- 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.

July 12, 2020

In Many Cases, Hip Replacement Also Eases Back Pain

THURSDAY, July 9, 2020 -- 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.

June 18, 2020

Which Surgery Works Best for Lower Back Pain?

TUESDAY, June 16, 2020 -- 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.

June 4, 2020

As Postponed Surgeries Resume, Can U.S. Hospitals Handle the Strain?

MONDAY, June 1, 2020 -- For months, the coronavirus pandemic forced hospitals to delay elective surgeries as doctors turned their attention to treating COVID-19 patients, but the spigots on non-urgent procedures are about to reopen.

Unfortunately, two new reports from Johns Hopkins University researchers suggest that hospitals will be stretched to the limit by the oncoming surge of rescheduled surgeries.

May 28, 2020

A New Hip or Knee Can Do a Marriage Good, Study Finds

WEDNESDAY, May 27, 2020 -- After people have a hip or knee replacement surgery, doctors expect these patients will get relief from joint pain, get around easier and once again enjoy the activities they love.

Now, a new study shows that patients' partners -- and thereby their marriage -- also reaped the benefits of the surgery.