A new physical therapist has joined the team at Redefine Healthcare!

Dr. Brittany Angrosina is a physical therapist who recently graduated from the University of Scranton. She earned her B.S. in Exercise Science in 2019 and her DPT in 2022, both from the University of Scranton. During her graduate studies, Dr. Angrosina completed two orthopedic outpatient clinical rotations and one acute care rotation. She has experience with treating adolescent and adult patients with non-surgical, post-surgical, and sports-related injuries, as well as patients with balance impairments, chronic pain, and abnormal gait. Dr. Angrosina prioritizes individualized treatment plans that will best assist all patients to reach their personal goals. She is excited to join the Redefine Healthcare team and share her knowledge and skills in order to help patients in improving their functional mobility, increase ease in daily activities, and improve overall quality of life.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Angrosina by calling (732) 906-9600.

The post Meet Redefine Healthcare’s Newest Physical Therapist, Dr. Brittany Angrosina! appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

Don’t assume your neck or back pain may require invasive spine surgery with months of recovery. Many of our patients at Redefine Healthcare who come to us with pain or post-injury make a full recovery without even considering surgery. Even if your condition warrants surgery, Redefine Healthcare has partnered with some of the area’s top spine surgeons to provide patients access to quality spine care when surgery may be your next step.

Non-Surgical Treatment For Back Pain

At Redefine Healthcare, we always begin treatment plans with the least invasive methods. This may include the classic RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), physical therapy, or over-the-counter medication. Redefine Healthcare provides state-of-the-art physical therapy facilities at several of our locations. Our program utilizes therapeutic exercise, massage therapy, electrical stimulation, and more to restore function and mobility in the spine while relieving pain.

Our spine specialists may choose to move to interventional pain management treatments, such as nerve blocks, steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, and more. These are tried-and-true methods for pain relief and can be extremely effective in managing pain while recovering from an injury or living with a chronic pain condition by using ache-blocking techniques to make daily activities and movement more comfortable. We are committed to helping you through your pain, which is why we will utilize various techniques until we find the best option for managing your pain and relieving it.

Is Spine Surgery Right for Me?

Spine surgery may be an option if conservative treatment with Redefine Healthcare has yet to help your pain. Surgery can provide a more definite option to relieve pain and other symptoms of a spine condition. Additional signs you may be ready for spine surgery:

• Your quality of life is being affected by your condition.If your neck or back pain has progressed past an annoyance, it may be time to look into surgery. When you’re used to living an active lifestyle, or can no longer work certain jobs due your mobility limitations, spine surgery can help you back to an active lifestyle.
• Your symptoms have worsened. Severe symptoms like loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness or loss of sensation, extreme pain, among others, may lead to permanent nerve damage if left untreated. Conservative treatments will not correct the issue causing these conditions, and you may need surgery. Contact your doctor right away if you experience any of those symptoms.

Redefine Healthcare offers interventional treatment for neck and back pain, including pain management, chiropractic care, and physical therapy. If these treatments fail to provide you with the relief you need, you don’t need to go far to ask about the surgery. Premier Brain & Spine, home to three of the area’s top neuro- and spine surgeons, is now accepting patients at several Redefine Healthcare locations. Dr. David Wells-Roth, Dr. Harshpal Singh, and Dr. Aaron Greenberg are all board-certified surgeons, experts in minimally invasive surgical techniques to limit recovery time and get you back to a pain-free lifestyle as soon as possible. Contact us today for an appointment and to learn more about your options.

The post Is Spine Surgery Right For Me? appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

Don’t brush off this yearly feeling as a case of the winter blues, or something you need to tough out on your own. Beginning in the fall and continuing throughout the winter, if you experience symptoms like low energy, appetite changes, oversleeping, or weight gain, you may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in the seasons, beginning and ending at about the same times each year. While the specific cause of SAD remains unknown, the changes in season and reduced sunlight are believed to have an effect on your biological clock, serotonin, and melatonin levels.

Additional factors can also increase the risk of developing SAD:

• Genetics – If a blood relative suffers from SAD or another form of depression, your chances of developing SAD are higher
• Pre-existing conditions – SAD is more likely to occur in people who already have mental/emotional issues, like clinical depression.
• Location – The further you live from the equator, the more likely you are to develop SAD due to the more prominent changes in sunlight and temperatures.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Chronic Pain

If you live with chronic pain, SAD should be on your radar. SAD can be linked to chronic pain conditions, just as depression can. Patients with chronic pain are 4x more likely to develop a mental illness than those without. Like a cycle, chronic pain and symptoms of depression feed into each other; a positive mood generally makes for less pain, while a negative mood often heightens discomfort and pain.

The same is true in reverse. Those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder or other forms of depression are more likely to experience chronic pain. SAD can cause fatigue that prevents you from getting regular movement and adequate exercise. A sedentary lifestyle can reduce muscular and skeletal strength, which puts more strain on your spine, joints, and ligaments. The extra stress makes your body more susceptible to inflammation, injuries, and dysfunctions that cause chronic pain.

If you suffer from chronic pain and/or symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, seeking treatment with Redefine Healthcare’s pain management team may help resolve or improve both issues. Concurrently with pain management, our board-certified psychiatrist is here to provide mental health resources to help you through the season. Treatment of chronic pain requires a multidisciplinary approach, which means addressing not just the physical symptoms, but the psychological effects as well. Schedule an appointment by calling (732) 906-9600 or visit RedefineHealthcare.com.

The post What You Should Know About Seasonal Affective Disorder and Chronic Pain appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

Under the care of board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Ketan Hirapara, Redefine Healthcare is now offering SPRAVATO® as part of our practice’s mental health services.

SPRAVATO® is the first prescription nasal spray (taken in conjunction with an oral antidepressant) specifically for adults with treatment-resistant depression.

What is treatment-resistant depression?

Treatment-resistant depression is diagnosed in adults who were struggling with major depressive disorder and had not responded adequately to at least two different antidepressants of adequate dose and duration in the current depressive episode.

Treatment with SPRAVATO®

SPRAVATO® is taken along with an oral antidepressant. You will administer SPRAVATO® nasal spray yourself under the supervision of a provider at Redefine Healthcare. SPRAVATO® sessions are twice a week for the first four weeks, and then once a week after the first four weeks. After this, SPRAVATO® is usually taken either once a week or once every two weeks, but can vary depending on the response.

How is SPRAVATO® different from other antidepressants?

Today’s most commonly used oral antidepressants are thought to treat depression by increasing levels of neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine) in areas of the brain that affect mood. SPRAVATO® works differently in that it targets the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and is believed to work differently than currently available oral antidepressants.

Is SPRAVATO® right for you?

If you’ve struggled with depression and tried two or more antidepressants in your current episode without adequate relief, talk to your provider at Redefine Healthcare to see if SPRAVATO® may be an option for you.

Redefine Healthcare will begin offering SPRAVATO® treatment in our Edison and Union offices at the end of this month. Call (732) 906-9600 or go to RedefineHealthcare.com to schedule a consultation.

SPRAVATO® is not for use as a medicine to prevent or relieve pain (anesthetic). It is not known if SPRAVATO® is safe or effective as an anesthetic medicine.

It is not known if SPRAVATO® is safe and effective for use in preventing suicide or in reducing suicidal thoughts or actions. SPRAVATO® is not for use in place of hospitalization if your healthcare provider determines that hospitalization is needed, even if improvement is experienced after the first dose of SPRAVATO®. It is not known if SPRAVATO® is safe and effective in children.

The post Redefine Healthcare Now Offering SPRAVATO™ appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

Chronic pain plays a role in every aspect of your life, including your mental health. When treating chronic pain, it is essential to address not just the physical symptoms, but the psychological effects as well.

Patients with chronic pain are 4x more likely to develop a mental illness than those without. Like a cycle, chronic pain and certain mental health symptoms feed into each other; a positive mood generally makes for less pain, while a negative mood often heightens discomfort and pain. Ignoring this fact and your risk factor to mental illness is a big mistake; your mental state can exacerbate your pain, making it even more difficult to manage.

It’s important to be aware of your mental state and recognize the effects chronic pain can have on it. Chronic pain is often linked to:

• Anxiety
• Decreased appetite
• Fatigue
• Lower quality of life
• Opioid dependence
• Restricted mobility
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping

Redefine Healthcare recognizes the need for our patients to have access to both physical and mental support when working through chronic pain. We understand our job doesn’t stop at relieving the physical pain. This is why next month, Dr. Ketan Hirapara will be joining the Redefine Healthcare team, board-certified and fellowship-trained in both pain medicine and psychiatry. By providing this in-house resource, we are able to integrate measures to improve mental health into treatment plans for patients suffering from chronic pain, aiming to heal both the mind and body – not just the pain.

To learn more on Redefine Healthcare’s mental health services or to schedule an appointment, call (732) 906-9600 or go to RedefineHealthcare.com today.

The post The Psychological Effects of Chronic Pain and Redefine Healthcare’s Addition of Mental Health Services appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

Redefine Healthcare has paired up with AccuHealth to provide Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) to our patients.

At Redefine Healthcare, we believe in offering the highest quality of care to our patients, which is why we paired up with AccuHealth to provide Remote Patient Monitoring. RPM helps to prevent some conditions and allows our physicians to manage their existing conditions to provide an overall better health outcome.

Our RPM program will provide patients with a blood pressure cuff to monitor their blood pressure at any time in the convenience of their own home.

What is Remote Patient Monitoring?

RPM is a program designed to allow patients to take daily readings of their blood pressure from the convenience of their home and have those readings monitored by a healthcare professional. Abnormal readings will trigger a healthcare professional reaching out to the patient to determine whether emergency care is required.

What are the benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring?

RPM allows providers to take a proactive approach to patient care by viewing our patient’s blood pressure remotely and making clinical decisions, such as ordering blood work, referring a patient to the proper specialist, and making adjustments to medications or treatment plans when necessary.

Who qualifies for Remote Patient Monitoring?

Do you suffer from…

• Pain?
• Diabetes?
• Cardiovascular disease?
• Obesity?
• Heart failure?
• Concerns of high blood pressure?

Ask your provider today about Remote Patient Monitoring and begin your journey towards better overall health.

The post Remote Patient Monitoring Now Available at Redefine Healthcare appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

The holidays are right around the corner. Whether it’s planning a safe family gathering or last-minute holiday shopping, the holidays add extra responsibilities and stress to your already busy schedule. Add in increased time with family members or worries about COVID-19, and you’re most likely feeling more stressed than usual.

Stress and pain, unfortunately, go hand-in-hand for chronic pain sufferers. As stress can exacerbate chronic pain, you may be feeling it more than usual this time of year, with no time to slow down. There may not be a way to totally eliminate stress or pain from your life, but you can take steps to manage it. Here are Redefine Healthcare’s best tips to limit stress-related pain.

Eat Well & Stay Hydrated

While we would never ask you to pass on your sister’s delicious homemade apple pie, you should be conscious of the extra sugar, carbs, and gluten you may be consuming at holiday meals. Enjoy good food and good company, but don’t go overboard; poor nutrition isn’t doing anything for your body, and not to mention, extra weight can put extra strain on your joints.

*Dehydration can also affect bones and joints, resulting in stiffness and soreness. Be sure to drink plenty of water!

Exercise

Exercising may be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re stressed or in pain, but getting some movement in, even something as simple as a walk, can make you feel better. Exercise can both boost your mood and ease some of your pain. “Motion is lotion,” and making a conscious effort to add movement into your day can provide some relief to stiff joints.

Take Time To Rest

When you’re allocating your time and planning out activities, make sure to set aside some for yourself. First and foremost, make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Not only can lack sleep make your stress worse, but it can also make the pain worse too. Your body needs rest to repair itself, and if you aren’t getting enough, you’re doing a disservice to yourself.

Get Help!

If you’re in pain, you should see a specialist. There are a ton of simple, non-surgical options available for pain management. At Redefine Healthcare, we offer chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy, and interventional treatments like corticosteroid injections, nerve blocks, and more. Schedule a consultation with one of our pain management doctors by calling (732) 906-9600 or at https://redefinehealthcare.com/

The post How To Handle Stress and Pain During The Holidays appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

Working from home may be uncomfortable if you suffer from chronic pain. Without ergonomic office setups or access to a physical therapist, your body may begin to ache.

The CDC estimates that about 50 million people over the age of 18 in the United States suffer from chronic pain. This pain can limit daily activities and mobility and promote anxiety and depression.

Here are some things you can do at home to help yourself if you’re coping with chronic pain right now.

Read the full article here.

The post Exercises that help you deal with chronic pain while working from home appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

Redefine Healthcare is excited to announce our new physical therapist, Dr. Bhumi Patel, PT, DPT as our newest addition to the Physical Therapy Division.

Educational Background

While Dr. Bhumi Patel is Redefine Healthcare’s new physical therapist, she is not new to the world of physical therapy. Dr. Bhumi Patel received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Seton Hall University in New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. She is certified in Blood Flor Restriction Training and LSVT-BIG Program. Dr. Patel has worked in a variety of settings including home-care and outpatient clinics, with prior internships as a student in sub-acute rehab and acute hospital care. She is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Specialties

By incorporating evidence-based literature into her treatment program, Dr. Patel strives to keep her patients engaged and active in the community. Aside from treating musculoskeletal and spine disorders, Dr. Patel has a special interest in vestibular rehabilitation. With a passion for movement science, Dr. Patel has been treating patients with orthopedic, neurologic, gait, and balance diagnoses at Redefine Healthcare. Dr. Patel believes in providing excellent care to her patients with empathy and compassion to help them reach their functional goals in their recovery process. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family, hiking, and traveling.

If you would like more information about our new physical therapist or Physical Therapy Division, please contact us at (732) 313-2610.

The post Meet Our New Physical Therapist: Bhumi Patel appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.

Redefine Healthcare would like to wish you well during these difficult times. We understand that our patients still need care and will thus be keeping our doors open. We would like to assure you that we are following all preparedness and prevention guidelines established by the CDC to protect our patients and staff. Our patient’s health and wellness are our utmost priority.

Additionally, we are now offering Telemedicine Pain Management appointments to patients who might not feel comfortable coming into the office. During these telemedicine appointments, one of our board-certified physicians will conduct a thorough screening of your symptoms over the phone. To the best of their ability, they will then suggest an appropriate coarse of action for you.

We wish you all safe and well.

Please call Redefine Healthcare at (732) 313-2610 for the most up-to-date news on the status of our practice or to schedule your appointment.

The post Telemedicine Now Available! appeared first on NJ's Top Orthopedic Spine & Pain Management Center.