Back Talk Doc Sanjiv Lakhia - Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates

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 ask, could we do better? Could we make people healthier? That way, they could actually heal more completely and they wouldn't keep coming back into my office.”
Rather than looking at just the injury, Dr. Yurth looks at the whole inflammation framework. And fortunately, she’s found that you don’t need expensive lab tests to figure out if your hormones are the source of your inflammation. Basic lab work, like CBC, metabolic panels, and glucose tests, can indicate whether hormones are off balance — and at a low cost. 
Her best advice to maintain health before you even hit the doctor’s office? Keep moving. It’s tempting to stop exercising when you’re injured, but something is better than nothing. Find the movement that works for you and stick to it. Why? Because your muscle acts like an organ, and building and stimulating muscle can help reduce pain. 
“Stop moving and you will die,” she says. “You’ve got to do something … you've got to move your muscles.”
On this episode of Back Talk Doc, hear some of Dr. Yurth’s top tips for staying out of the doctor’s office, such as identifying and minimizing sources of inflammation and treating your muscle as an organ.
💡 Featured Expert 💡Name: Elizabeth (Betsy) Yurth, MD
What she does: An expert in orthopedics and spine care, Dr. Yurth is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Boulder Longevity Institute. She’s fellowship trained in anti-aging medicine, regenerative medicine, and cellular medicine, with over 500 hours of continued education in longevity, nutrition, epigenetics, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, and regenerative orthopedic procedures. 
Company: Boulder Longevity Institute
Words of wisdom: “We have absolute certainty and absolute proof now that the cause of the degenerative disease is not the trauma. It’s the immune response to the trauma. If you can change that immune response, then you shouldn't see the trauma go on.”
Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram
Subscribe & Contact👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Food Elimination and Pain with Heather Wolcott.
👉Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 
👉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.
🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.
Back Talk Doc is brought to

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 elimination diets.
Heather understands that the term “elimination diet” can be daunting for some people. But, she says, this form of lifestyle change is really just a tool to identify food sensitivities and intolerances that can cause brain fog, joint pain, rashes, anxiety, bloating, and fatigue. 
As with all things in wellness and nutrition, the key is balance. Even elimination dieting doesn’t have to last forever, says Heather. For some people, it may only last a couple of weeks. 
Everyone is different, and no two paths to health are the same. But Dr. Lakhia and Heather have both observed that certain foods seem to cause more problems than others. 
Tune in to learn how you might be able to improve your lifestyle by simply cutting certain foods. 
💡 Featured Expert 💡Name: Heather Wolcott
What she does: As a holistic nutritionist for more than 20 years, Heather has been helping clients improve their health and achieve their nutrition goals. She is a National Board Certified health and wellness coach and an ADAPT-Certified Functional Health Coach. 
Company: Heather Wolcott
Words of wisdom: “I love to really dial into nutrition because it's super complicated and complex when you get granular with it, but it doesn't have to be. I think people just need to be more educated.”
Connect: Website | Instagram
Subscribe & Contact👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Evaluating Supplement Quality with Dr. Tod Cooperman
👉Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower inflammation. 
👉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. 
🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.
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.

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. Cooperman is the president, founder, and editor-in-chief of ConsumerLab.com, which is dedicated to independent reviews of supplements. He pursued the testing and review of supplements after seeing the impact of the DSHEA act in the 1990s, which allowed companies to make claims about products that they previously weren’t able to, leading to an explosion of interest in the health supplement market.   
Understanding what goes into supplements can be a complex science in an industry that lacks FDA regulation. The team at ConsumerLab.com has set up detailed testing procedures at specialized labs to identify which products on the market are delivering on their claims. 
Despite a boom in popularity, Dr. Cooperman explains he’s not a fan of gummies because their dosage can be inaccurate due to the semi-liquid environment of the product. 
“There are not a lot of requirements from the FDA, but a product does have to have 100% of what it claims,” says Dr. Cooperman. “So companies don't want to produce a product that's going to fall below that; otherwise, they're in violation of the regulations. So they put in more.” 
Dr. Cooperman also shares insight into how to make an informed purchase, what to be wary of when shopping online for supplements, and what supplements he takes personally.
💡 Featured Expert 💡Name: Dr. Tod Cooperman, MD
What he does: Dr. Tod Cooperman is a nationally recognized and respected researcher, writer, and speaker on consumer healthcare issues. Dr. Cooperman is a graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine, receiving his M.D. in 1987. He also received his Bachelor's degree from Boston University with a major in Medical Sciences and a minor in Economics. Recognizing a lack of quality standards and oversight in the U.S. dietary supplement industry, Dr. Cooperman founded ConsumerLab.com in 1999, guiding it to become the leading independent evaluator of dietary supplements and nutritional products.
Company: Consumer Lab
Words of wisdom: “Very rarely is there a situation where there are limits on contaminants. That’s left up to the manufacturer, so you’re at the mercy of the supplement company to do the right thing by you when you're buying a supplement. Some companies will cut corners or use simple methods, and others hold their products to a much higher standard.”
Connect: Website |  LinkedIn
Subscribe & Contact👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Back Pain and the Sacroiliac Joint with Tanner Holden, PT.
👉 Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6 week course to lower...

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, diagnosing SI joint pain is rarely straightforward because medical imaging is not typically helpful in diagnosing SI joint pain. The pain can present in unexpected places and is often best diagnosed with the help of pain provocation tests. 
Once diagnosed, patients can opt for regular pain-reducing injections for a quick solution. A more holistic treatment plan looks at patient goals and finds ways to improve movement over time. This may also include lifestyle modifications to remove the irritants or activities that cause the pain to flare up. Since SI joint pain sources vary from patient to patient, plans are customized to individual needs. 
Tanner believes that healthy movement, activity, and strength are key to living an active and pain-free life. He and Dr. Lakhia discuss how this approach puts the patient first and removes the need for unnecessary supports like braces and belts. Instead, a strength-based approach allows patients to take their care into their own hands, resulting in fewer medical visits.  

💡 Featured Expert 💡Name: Tanner Holden, PT, DPT, OCS, CSC
What he does: Tanner is a residency-trained Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist serving Charlotte and the surrounding area. He holds a board certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. 
Company: Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates
Words of wisdom: “We like to get people in and out and living their life.”
Connect: Website |  LinkedIn 
Subscribe & Contact👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Rethinking Osteoarthritis and Degenerative Disc Disease.
👉 Take Dr. Lakhia’s 14 Day Challenge to get your health back on track. 
👉 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.
🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.
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.

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 dysfunction. 
Using a framework focusing on food and supplementation options, Dr. Lakhia discusses the connection between what we put in our bodies and the pain that we feel. 
Two of the biggest culprits for inflammation in the North American diet are gluten and dairy. Studies have shown that removing these from your diet can reduce back pain. Dr. Lakhia discusses the benefits of adding collagen, EGCG, melatonin, and a botanical nutrient combination that uses cannabidiol and a fatty acid known as palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). Each supplement is backed by research and has shown promise for treating back pain. 
“I think those are some really exciting options to consider beyond the typical thought process of just vitamin D, turmeric, and fish oil,” says Dr. Lakhia. For those interested in learning more, check out the 14 Day Challenge that is available on Dr. Lakhia’s website.  

💡 Your Host 💡Name: Dr. Sanjiv Lakhia, DO
What he does: As a board-certified physiatrist and integrative medicine physician at Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates, Dr. Lakia specializes in nonsurgical approaches to spine and orthopedic conditions and offers a diverse range of innovative treatments for back pain, including acupuncture, spinal injections, and prescriptive exercise. Dr. Lakhia favors a conservative, holistic approach to spine care and understands the importance of getting to know each patient. He believes that listening to a patient without judgment is essential to finding the best course of treatment for back pain relief and a return to a normal life.
Company: Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates
Words of wisdom: “We know that patients and consumers nowadays are spending lots of time on the internet downloading, digesting information at a very, very rapid pace. So as clinicians, it's our duty to keep up as best we can with the evolving literature in the space.” 
Connect: Website | LinkedIn 
Subscribe & Contact👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Bone and Spine Health With Dr. Stephanie Plummer.
👉Take Dr. Lakhia’s 14 Day Challenge to get your health back on track. 
👉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.
Back Talk Doc is brought to you by Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, with offices in North and South Carolina. To learn...

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 how women — and men — can best support their bone health to avoid disease and injuries as they get older.
As an avid marathon runner, Dr. Plummer is quite active. But she emphasizes the importance of adding strength, flexibility, and balance work into our routines to help build bone density, as she’s done in her own workout regimen.
“The flexibility and balance component is huge, and I think is really overlooked,” she says. “It’s great if we build good bone density and bone structure. That’s important for helping to prevent fractures. But if your balance is poor — or you don’t have the mobility to be able to prevent falling in the first place — then you may still be at higher risk.”
Dr. Plummer and Dr. Lakhia also discuss the differences between osteoarthritis, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. They touch on hormonal influences as a reason why women are more likely to develop bone disease, as well as the role diet and sleep play in bone health.
💡 Featured Expert 💡Name: Dr. Stephanie Plummer, DO
What she does: Dr. Plummer joined Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates as the first female physiatrist in 2021 & has been practicing physiatry in the Charlotte, NC area since 2013.
Company: Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates
Connect: LinkedIn
Subscribe & Contact👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Battlefield Acupuncture for Pain with John Howard.
👉 Enroll in Dr. Lakhia’s 6-week course to lower inflammation. 
👉 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.
🎧 Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.
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.