How to Head Off a Pain in the Neck

WEDNESDAY, June 19, 2019 -- Neck pain can sneak up on you over time. While it can be caused by an accident or injury, your everyday posture and body mechanics can also be to blame, from the way you carry a shoulder bag, cradle your phone while multitasking or sit at your desk. These tips will help you better protect your neck.

Hold gadgets and reading materials at eye level. Constantly looking down at your cellphone or tablet, or even a magazine, can tax the muscles in your neck. The same is true for your computer screen. When texting on your cellphone, avoid holding it at chest level or in your lap. Both positions could place your neck in an unnatural position. There's even a name for it: text neck.

Quantity, Not Type of Opioid Matters for Post-Op Dependency

TUESDAY, May 14, 2019 -- As the United States struggles with a painkiller-abuse epidemic, researchers have found that it's the quantity of opioids prescribed after orthopedic surgery, not the type of opioid, that corresponds with long-term use.

"One of the frequent myths we encounter among clinicians is that some types of opioids, such as hydromorphone, are more dangerous than others," said senior study author Dr. Marilyn Heng. She is an orthopedic surgeon in Boston.