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/.

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

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...

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 Associates, to discuss the personal challenges that he has faced with low back pain.

Dr. Cheatle’s injury occurred following a skiing accident where they were hit by another skier. Initially, he brushed off the incident, but over time, he began experiencing increasing discomfort in his back and buttocks. As the pain worsened, he realized the challenge of diagnosing his own condition.

Even after finally seeking professional help with his injury, which included physical therapy and an MRI, Dr. Cheatle was still not entirely upfront with his own family. But they noticed changes in his behavior, including staying in his car longer after arriving home from work because it hurt to get up, and having to excuse himself to go lay down.

Ultimately it was conservative therapies, including spinal injections, that helped Dr. Cheatle reduce his pain and begin to recover. It was at this point that he was able to reintegrate exercise into his life with the help of physical therapy.

The experience has made him a better doctor, allowing him to provide more meaningful support and encouragement to patients during the healing process. He emphasizes that the emotional aspect of recovery is often as challenging as the physical.

Name: Joseph Cheatle, MD

What he does: As a board-certified neurosurgeon at Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates, Dr. Cheatle, provides adult neurosurgical care. His clinical special interests include treating brain tumors, degenerative spinal disorders, transsphenoidal surgery, and spinal cord stimulation.

Company: Carolina NeuroSurgery & Spine Associates

Words of wisdom: “I'm a better doctor, for sure. And what I mean by that is that I can sympathize and not empathize.”

Connect: Website

Top takeaways from this Back Talk Doc episode

• You should be a patient, not a doctor for yourself. After realizing the severity of his situation, Dr. Cheatle sought professional help from the physical therapy department. He completed a thorough examination and underwent an MRI.
• Don’t immediately jump to surgery as a solution. A discectomy would likely have provided quick relief. But even as a surgeon, Dr. Cheatle recognized the importance of trying other therapies first. He opted to explore more conservative treatment options before considering more invasive measures.
• Distinguishing between sympathy and empathy. Dr. Cheatle says that he is a better doctor after his injury. It allowed him to connect with patients on a deeper emotional level. By sharing his patients own struggles and triumphs, he can better relate to patients undergoing difficult situations.

[04:28] Brushing off an injury: Dr. Cheatle shares how he was involved in a skiing accident that he originally...

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 degrees and quickly progressed to 72 degrees. Her doctor recommended surgery or, he told her parents, she likely wouldn’t live past age 30.

She hadn’t experienced much pain, only discomfort, from her scoliosis, but she remembers some of her post-op pain clearly. It’s helped her become more empathetic with patients.

“The resident was trying to peel off the bandage on my back — that was very painful,” she said. “So now when I remove bandages, I'm very, very sensitive to that for patients.”

Thankfully, surgery allowed her to get back to a sporty lifestyle and allowed her to be a cheerleader in high school. And the experience as a whole inspired her to work in medicine.

Originally, her plan was to go to medical school, with the goal of helping other girls who suffered from similar issues. But she ended up becoming a physician assistant because she liked to spend more time with patients in their care transitions.

Tune in to this episode of Back Talk Doc to hear more of Lindsey’s story with scoliosis and how she uses that difficult experience to be a better care provider today.

Name: Lindsey Howard, MPAS, PA-C

What she does: Lindsey has been a physician assistant with Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates since she graduated in 2013. She works in the physiatry department with Drs. Wiercisiewski and Sumich.

Company: Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates

Words of wisdom: “The main reason I got into this is because I don't want anybody to ever feel [alone]. I think whenever you go through a major illness or any major medical issue, you can sometimes feel really alone.”

Connect: Website | LinkedIn

👉 If you enjoyed this episode of Back Talk Doc, check out our recent episode Talking Artificial Disc and Facet Replacement Surgery with Dr. Vince Rossi.

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

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