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. Lakhia, it was his exposure to osteopathic medicine that included over 300 hours of hands-on training in osteopathic manipulation that sparked his interest in lightening the burden patients feel when suffering from spine issues. Joel shares Dr. Lakhia’s interest in spine care and knows first-hand how important spine health is after having to undergo multiple surgeries to repair a fracture in his spine. 

Combining standard medical interventions with additional elements like addressing stress levels, prescribing breathing exercises, discussing research-based supplementation, and incorporating acupuncture is core to Dr. Lakhia’s approach. He emphasizes the need for evidence-based alternative treatments as part of a comprehensive approach for patients. 

“What I've observed in my career is patients are moving away from a pill for every ill, and they want to be able to take more control of their health and use natural interventions,” Dr. Lakhia says when describing the increased interest in integrative medicine for spine health. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the SpineXchange and becoming a subscriber you can check out their website here: https://thespinexchange.com/. 

💡 Featured Expert 💡

Name: Joel Proskewitz

What he does: For over two decades Joel Proskewitz has specialized in spinal rehabilitation for people that have undergone or are facing spinal surgery. He has built up a wealth of experience, both as a long-term spine patient himself and working with doctors and physicians from across the medical world. His specific focus is on spinal pathologies, their associated intervention surgeries, and subsequent patient rehabilitation.

Company: The SpineXchange

Words of wisdom: “The owner of the spine has emotions. They have certain stressors that can systematically create a whole bunch of problems, and you really need to understand the individual who's sitting in front of you.”

Connect: Website |  LinkedIn 

⚓ Anchor Points ⚓

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode 

• Having a healthy functioning spine is critical to having a healthy functioning life. Dr. Lakhia’s passion for anatomy led him to osteopathic medicine. He wanted to dive deeper into spine care and understand the science behind a healthy spine so he could contribute to treating dysfunction. In addition, his osteopath older brother inspired him to pursue physical medicine. 
• The modern lifestyle is impacting our health. Dr. Lakhia stresses the importance of reviewing your diaphragm’s ability to expand correctly. The connection between good diaphragmatic movement, posture, and overall health is paramount. Those who disregard the influence of posture on pain are overlooking a crucial component of their health.
• You have to meet people where they are. When meeting patients, Dr. Lakhia establishes a rapport through open-ended questions and understanding their personal story. Understanding the patient’s goals and motivations for treatment helps align the treatment plan with the individual. Armed with that knowledge, he can suggest appropriate treatment options, such as physical therapy, spinal injections, and collaboration with neurosurgical colleagues when necessary. 

⚕️ Episode Insights ⚕️

[02:55 ] A history of physiatry: Dr. Lakhia provides an overview of his speciality and how it came to be. Physiatrists focus on restoring function and reducing pain and operate as a hybrid between neurology and orthopedics. 

[07:10 ] Across the ages: As people are living longer, Dr. Lakhia explains why he is seeing more patients in the 70-plus age range. At the same time, he’s also seeing more patients from younger generations, potentially driven by the work from home movement. 

[10:04 ] The spine impacts your overall health: Joel shares his personal experience in how restoring the natural curvature of his spine through surgery improved his quality of life, supporting Dr. Lakhia’s comments on the importance of spinal health. 

[12:12 ] No longer a pill for every ill: Dr. Lakhia reviews how he uses integrative medicine in his practice and how he sees the approach benefit his patients. 

[15:20 ] Sprinkle in a little extra: Standard medical interventions absolutely have their place in treatment, however adding interventions, like breathing exercises, can go a long way in improving patient quality of life. 

[18:27 ] The patient journey: Dr. Lakhia walks listeners through the journey of a patient in his office, starting with building a rapport and learning the patient’s backstory. 

[22:12 ] Everything offered in-house: Dr. Lakhia reviews the different types of treatments available at the Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates. 

Subscribe & Contact

👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode We Feel Your Back Pain with Dr. Joe Cheatle.

👉Apply for an Integrative Medicine consult with Dr. Lakhia (NC/SC residents only). 

🔎 For more information on Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia and the podcast visit BackTalkDoc.com

👀Check us out on the 15 Best Back Pain Podcasts list!

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Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn more about Dr. Lakhia and treatment options for back and spine issues, go to backtalkdoc.com. To schedule an appointment with Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, you can call us at 1-800-344-6716 or visit our website at CNSA.com.