After undergoing multiple spine surgeries himself, Joel Proskewitz founded the SpineXchange to offer educational materials for others who are dealing with back surgery or general back pain. On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Lakhia sits in the hot seat as he is interviewed by expert guest Joel for the SpineXchange. Joel and Dr. Lakhia cover advice on many different aspects of back care. Both Joel and Dr. Lakhia found a passion for spinal care and education through personal experiences. For Dr...
Jan 04, 2024•32 min•Ep. 75
Even with their in-depth medical training, doctors can brush off accidents and deny the possibility of a lumbar issue. It’s not until the pain persists or worsens that they come to terms with the possibility of having a longer-term injury. Doctors can even experience a sense of shame about having a spine problem while being a spine expert. On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia invites his colleague and friend Dr. Joseph Cheatle, a neurosurgeon at Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Ass...
Nov 13, 2023•35 min•Ep. 74
What happens when the doctor becomes the patient? In the first episode in this new series, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia discusses personal back care journeys with some of his esteemed colleagues. On this episode, he talks with Lindsey Howard, PA-C, a physician assistant in the physiatry department at Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Care. Her spine care journey began with scoliosis. When she was 12, she was diagnosed with scoliosis during a routine school screening for the condition. Her spinal curve was 40...
Oct 30, 2023•24 min•Ep. 73
As non-urgent medical procedures slowed during the height of COVID in 2020, some docs faced a lot of stress. Vince Rossi, MD, took advantage of his more-open schedule to get an MBA. So, why did Dr. Rossi want to pursue another degree after becoming a successful neurosurgeon? He wanted to better understand the health care system in which he works, believing that knowing the business world would benefit both his patients and his practice. That desire to benefit his patients led him to do a year of...
Oct 10, 2023•37 min•Ep. 72
You get hurt, and your instinct is to blame the injury itself, right? For Dr. Elizabeth Yurth, it’s a much broader picture than just the injury. While Dr. Yurth got her start in orthopedics and sports medicine, she took a pivot about 15 years into her career. She started looking at ways to keep patients out of her office, rather than coming back in. “I was patching people back together, throwing them back in the fire, and they're back a month later,” she says of her patients. “So I started to as...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 71
As a holistic nutritionist, as well as a health and wellness coach, Heather Wolcott understands concerns about all-or-nothing lifestyles and dietary changes. Instead, Heather believes in promoting a well-rounded lifestyle — and understanding that nothing is forever. On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and his guest, functional health coach Heather Wolcott, talk about nutrition and its effect on health, wellness, and even pain. Much of their discussion focuses around food eliminat...
Aug 09, 2023•39 min•Ep. 70
Nutritional supplements are a recurring topic in discussions between doctors and patients. Many people incorporate supplements into the daily routine when they are looking to enhance their well-being or cure an ailment. But how do you know if you’re using the right nutritional supplements? On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and Dr. Tod Cooperman, MD discuss how to choose effective supplements, and what factors you should consider when looking to add supplements to your diet. Dr....
Jul 27, 2023•34 min•Ep. 69
Despite its limited range of movement, the sacroiliac joint is prone to instability and is often a source of back pain in patients. On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and Tanner Holden, PT from Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates discuss the SI joint itself, some common causes of SI joint pain, and what the latest science has to offer for management. Patients can experience SI joint pain during or after pregnancy, pain from the joint itself, or autoimmune pain. However, d...
Jul 14, 2023•39 min•Ep. 68
If your back has been hurting and you haven’t been able to find relief, or you have chronic recurrent arthritic pain, it may be time to explore new options. On this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia hosts a solo episode to reframe how patients should be thinking about osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease. He proposes that patients move away from thinking of these conditions as the inevitable result of wear and tear, and instead look at them through the lens of metabolic dysfunc...
Jun 21, 2023•37 min•Ep. 67
We all feel invincible sometimes, even as we age. Our minds do a great job of remembering how active and agile we were in our 20s and 30s. Even if we maintain an active lifestyle into our 50s and 60s, there are silent diseases that could be lurking in the background. Whether we feel it or not, osteoporosis can sneak up on us, so it’s important to be proactive. Dr. Stephanie Plummer, a physiatrist at Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates, joins Back Talk Doc host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia to share...
May 31, 2023•36 min•Ep. 66
Battlefield acupuncture, a form of ear acupuncture, is well-known in military medicine. It’s now making its way to the civilian population due to ease of use, minimal risk involved, and effectiveness in relieving pain. John Howard, a clinician and academic, is a leading authority on this revolutionary technique. Upon earning his degree in acupuncture, he completed a five-year fellowship with the father of battlefield acupuncture himself, Dr. Richard Niemtzow. John joins Back Talk Doc host, Dr. S...
May 01, 2023•33 min•Ep. 65
For those living with Parkinson's, back pain and stiffness can be some of the most frustrating symptoms of the neurological disorder. Luckily, with cutting edge physical therapy programs like LSVT BIG®, those living with Parkinson’s can combat the slowing and smallness of movements associated with the disease. Samantha Schroder, DPT, a physical therapist based in Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine’s Charlotte office is certified in the approach. She joins Back Talk Doc host, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia, to d...
Apr 19, 2023•27 min•Ep. 64
In this special episode, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia offers listeners a guided meditation session to help manage daily pain levels. Dr. Lakhia emphasizes the importance of deep breathing as a powerful tool to connect with the present moment and promote relaxation. This episode is especially helpful for those struggling with pain who are looking for natural ways to manage their symptoms. This meditation is meant to be listened to in a quiet, comfortable environment, perhaps seated in a comfortable chair or...
Apr 03, 2023•14 min•Ep. 63
During medical school, Dr. Patrick Jowdy was drawn to neurology and neurosurgery because of the challenges of the pathology and the importance of the work in improving patients’ lives. It was seeing the patients doing well post-op that finalized his interest in neurosurgery. In this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia talks with colleague Dr. Jowdy, now a neurosurgeon at Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, about how he treats patients who may need second low back surgeries...
Mar 16, 2023•36 min•Ep. 62
It was more than 13 years ago that a veterinarian introduced Dr. Gregory Lutz to platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Dr. Lutz had a lame horse suffering from a tendon injury. With the help of a portable ultrasound, the veterinary physician drew the horse's blood, spun it in a centrifuge, and injected it into the tendon, right there in the stall. Within a few weeks, the horse was running around like a pony. That inspired Dr. Lutz to research this treatment for his own patients. With more than 30 years of...
Feb 28, 2023•38 min•Ep. 61
When we think of virtual reality, we usually think about its most obvious uses: gaming, socializing, or even shopping. But researchers and doctors are also experimenting with VR in the healthcare field. Harvard MedTech has found that VR has unique properties that help the brain address pain and return to homeostasis in a holistic way. In the Vx Therapy program, clinicians work alongside VR to help guide anyone from surgical patients to hospice patients and veterans toward relief from their pain....
Feb 17, 2023•33 min•Ep. 60
One of the more challenging conditions for doctors to diagnose whether pain is originating in the hip or back. In this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and his guest, Dr. Puneet Aggarwal, MD, troubleshoot different patient symptoms and explore how they would treat them. Dr. Aggarwal is the director of Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute of Sports Medicine, where he specializes in non-surgical treatments for the spine and interventional pain medicine. Dr. Lakhia and Dr. Aggarw...
Feb 07, 2023•34 min•Ep. 59
When his younger sister, Victoria, died from leukemia, Dr. Joseph Stern stepped out of his white coat, becoming more than a physician. He was a patient’s loved one — his sister’s caretaker and advocate. In this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia talks with Dr. Stern about how his experience with his sister led him to reexamine what it means to be a physician, which he chronicles for readers in his book Grief Connects Us: A Neurosurgeon’s Lessons on Love, Loss, and Compassion . “I s...
Jan 27, 2023•40 min•Ep. 58
Holiday shopping season is upon us, and there’s something out there for everyone. Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia reflects on the guests that decked the halls of Back Talk Doc in 2022 and compiled a list of the top ten gifts for people with back pain. The list is inspired by discussions with guests, including Dr. David Schecter and Esther Gokhale, and addresses a range of prices and applications. Finding the perfect gift is tough, so Back Talk’s top ten list helps strike the balance of something that lights u...
Dec 19, 2022•21 min•Ep. 57
Physicians strive to find ways for their patients to live healthy, active lifestyles, and that is what attracted Dr. Dave Eichman to the specialty of spinal cord stimulation. In this episode of Back Talk, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and his guest, Dr. Eichman, cover what makes a patient a good candidate for the treatment, what to expect from it, and some potential pitfalls. “The unique ability to test the device before committing can help patients feel more confident in their choice. “[Once] you've h...
Nov 28, 2022•24 min•Ep. 56
If you’re listening to Back Talk Doc, you or someone you know is probably dealing with some type of pain. Chronic pain can be very hard to handle, but many times when we create a mental image of our suffering, we tend to aggravate this pain, thus increasing it. This mental image leads to negativity on a conscious and subconscious level associated with your pain. Today, give your body a safe place to deal with pain. Join us on a guided meditation that will teach techniques to change the mental im...
Oct 20, 2022•12 min•Ep. 55
It is never too late to chase after a dream or make a difference in other people’s lives. Dr. Carolyn McMakin, DC is a testament to that. After deciding to pursue her lifelong goal at the age of 40, Dr. McMakin enrolled in pre-med courses and the University of Western States Chiropractic College. Upon graduation, Dr. McMakin opened her own practice and by 1996 began treating patients with a list of frequencies first documented in the 1920s. This work led her to present her results at the America...
Sep 19, 2022•52 min•Ep. 54
Have you ever sat in one position too long and had your foot fall asleep? And when you stood up, you felt a prickling or tingling that was almost painful? Or have you ever rolled over in the middle of the night and found your hand was numb? Each of these occurrences are considered positive symptoms of neuropathy — they are the presence of an abnormal sensation. What exactly is neuropathy and what causes it? On this episode of Back Talk Doc, host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia is joined by one of the newer pa...
Sep 08, 2022•46 min•Ep. 53
Could a couple of drops of an herb tincture enable someone who underwent open heart surgery to feel her chest for the first time in four years? Could it help you mitigate and prevent back pain? In our society, it’s easy to think that the most complex, advanced medicine is the best cure for any and all pain. And yet, a powerful tool for pain treatment could be an overlooked plant growing in your backyard. In this episode, Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and his guest John Slattery of Desert Tortoise Botanicals...
Aug 15, 2022•55 min•Ep. 52
Imagine relearning how to walk — and learn — in your senior year of high school. For this episode’s guest, Sharik Peck, that was reality. Mr. Peck’s battle with chronic pain began when he was only two years old. As a young child, he fractured his second cervical vertebrae. Years later, he crushed multiple spinal vertebrae in his thoracic region. Finally, he experienced a vertebral artery dissection that forced him to relearn how to walk and learn. Instead of allowing his injuries and pain to def...
Jul 25, 2022•40 min•Ep. 51
Back pain can feel impossible to control. However, there are things that you can do to reduce pain. In this episode, Back Talk Doc host Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia empowers listeners to reduce back pain through mindful eating and nutrition. As Dr. Lakhia explains, “It's important that we zoom out and ask ourselves, what's really going on with our food and our diet? ” By mastering the basics of healthy eating, you can reduce inflammation levels and consequently decrease pain levels. But with the many diets...
Jul 11, 2022•27 min•Ep. 50
In a bomb shelter under attack in the Middle East, Dr. David Berceli, PhD observed what would become the foundation for much of his work. As mortar shells assaulted the shelter’s exterior, David observed as young children shook in terror and adults sat, stoic and unmoving. “We train ourselves out of these endogenous rhythmic movements of the human body that actually are designed to help us reduce stress or release trauma,” David observed. “By trembling, those two year olds were actually healthie...
Jun 27, 2022•47 min•Ep. 49
Sometimes, the greatest struggles can bring forth the greatest innovations. That is certainly true for Dr. Eric Goodman, DC, the founder of Foundation Training . As a young man in chiropractic school, his severe back pain from multiple disc herniations became unbearable. “I had about a year left of chiropractic school when my back got bad to the point that I was like, ‘I don't want to be a chiropractor,’” Dr. Goodman tells Dr. Lakhia. “Driving hurt, standing hurt, sitting hurt, and laying hurt. ...
May 16, 2022•52 min•Ep. 48
Regenerative medicine has great potential. It empowers the body’s own healing mechanisms to cure injuries that would normally require surgery or other invasive measures. In this episode of Back Talk Doc, Dr. Peter Bailey discusses his work in regenerative spinal care. Research on regenerative spinal care is steadily progressing, despite a lack of funding. Most companies fund research into drugs rather than regenerative medicine, so progress has taken time and dedication. In spinal care, regenera...
May 02, 2022•28 min•Ep. 47
For Dr. Stuart McGill, surgery should be the last resort. In fact, for many patients who don’t properly address their pain, surgery is, at best, a temporary option . Consider this: following a disc hernia procedure, many patients, including those Dr. McGill sees, usually fall back into old habits and run the risk of re-injuring their damaged spine. “So you are going to have to change the way that you move [and] become more efficient in purposefully stimulating the adaption that you need in your ...
Apr 18, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 46
