2008 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year award for first place in the "consumer health" category.
November 20, 2008
Dr. Mark Brown had a signing on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at Books & Books, 9700 Collins Avenue, 2nd level, Suite 204, Bal Harbour, FL 33154. For more information, please call 305-864-4241 or visit
www.booksandbooks.com.
November 17, 2008 National Teleconference power-point presentation to patient advocates of PinnacleCare
November 15, 2008
What if you could relieve back pain without surgery or pills? Renowned spine surgeon, DR. MARK BROWN, a Professor and Chairman Emeritus of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Miami, explains how in Conquer Back & Neck Pain: Walk it Off! (Sunrise River Press, $11.95). Dr. Brown explains how avoiding common pitfalls of back-pain treatments and incorporating gentle aerobic exercise will almost always bring pain relief naturally. Sat., Nov. 15, 2 p.m., Room 3410. Miami Book Fair International, Miami Dade College, 300 NE Second Avenue, Miami, Florida 33132. For more information, visit
www.miamibookfair.com
October 20, 2008
Dr. Brown interviewed from 11:30-11:45 ET on "Let's Talk" on WMYN/WLOE radio, North Carolina.
http://www.wloewmyn.com/index.htm
September 7, 2008
Dr. Brown interviewed from 1-2 p.m. PT on "Wide World of Health" Talk 650 KSTE, Sacramento, CA.
http://www.talk650kste.com/pages/nosler.html
August 21, 2008
Dr. Brown interviewed by Dr. Michael Brickey on
"Ageless Lifestyles"
August 19, 2008
Dr. Brown interviewed on "Phil and Scotty in the Morning" CKNX AM 920 Radio, Ontario, Canada.
5-Star Review on Amazon.com, August 13, 2008
by Larry Steinbecker
My step-dad just went through a major episode with his back, and this book was invaluable to making the process much less painful and expensive than it would have otherwise been. It helped immensely with the discussions with his doctor.
There is one type of back pain which I feel is common, and is overlooked by the book (it outlines seven types). I suffer from non-chronic back-pain. Occasionally my back will go "out", the muscles and nerves get pinched, tighten up or spasm, and eventually release (usually after a chiropractic treatment). The book doesn't give specific advice for this scenario, other than moderate exercise, which I have found to be useful.
5-Star Review on Amazon.com, August 8, 2008
Midwest Book Review
Millions of Americans experience chronic back pain, and have little clue on how exactly to deal with it. "Conquer Back and Neck Pain: Walk It Off!" is a complete and comprehensive guide for sufferers, written by nationally renowned spinal surgeon Dr. Mark D. Brown. Despite his profession, Brown suggests against surgery for most types of back pain, suggesting many ways to relieve the pain without going under the knife -- including literally walking it off. An informative guide to when surgery is truly required and when it is not, "Conquer Back and Neck Pain: Walk It Off!" is highly recommended for sufferers of back and neck pain, and for community library health collections.
July 31, 2008
Listen to Dr. Mark Brown's interview by Deborah Harper at
Psychjourney Podcast
Library Journal review, July 2008
With this well-organized, easy-to-follow book, spine surgeon Brown (emeritus, orthopedics & rehabilitation, Univ. of Miami) helps sufferers of back and neck pain make informed decisions about when to seek treatment for their pain. He begins by describing seven different types of back pain, providing a checklist to help readers identify which type they are experiencing, then illustrates various situations that make clear when sufferers can walk off the pain and when they should seek help immediately. Brown advises against surgery in most cases, instead espousing light aerobic exercise as an effective means of treatment.
5-Star Review on Amazon.com, July 20, 2008
By Vernon F. Michalls
This is a great resource to help folks avoid the common pitfalls of dealing with back and neck pain. It kept me from going to the next step (steroid shots) and then to back surgery. Walk it off is working.
July 16
Dr. Mark Brown interviewed by Dr. Joseph DiPrima on "Health Talk", WYSL 1040.
5-Star Review on Amazon.com, June 12, 2008
By Thomas Tucker
This is the first book I have ever given a 5-star review.
No other medical ailment, except perhaps cancer, is more subject to misinformation and pure chicanery than back pain. Yet here is a guy who makes his living doing back surgery, yet thinks his specialty is overused, and that in most cases you can solve your problem just by maintaining healthy weight and doing aerobic exercises.
The book came at a perfect time for me. I was having so much lower back pain that I decided to take two weeks off with almost no moving, hoping that whatever it was would heal itself. Nature intervened, however, and I found myself outside for hours at a time with a chain saw cutting up trees and hauling heavy pieces to the burn pile. I was sure I would pay a terrible price in much worse back pain. To my surprise, however, my pain completely disappeared.
June 10, 2008
CBS4 WFOR Miami morning anchors Cynthia Demos and Jorge Estevez interviewed Dr. Mark Brown at 7:45 a.m.
June 10, 2008
Dr. Mark Brown launched his book on June 10 at Books and Books, 296 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables. For more information, call 305.442.4408 or visit
www.booksandbooks.com.
June 2, 2008
Walking beats pills, doctor says
Miami Herald
By Georgia Tasker
Back pain? Most people reach for an aspirin or an Aleve, get a cortisone shot or a massage, take to bed or take a day off. Many turn to narcotic prescriptions.
But orthopedic surgeon and back expert Dr. Mark Brown says not to do any of the above. Instead: Get a sound diagnosis and then take a walk.
"Back pain is the most common reason for doctor visits today and it is the most expensive disorder," he said. "Even though the cost [of treating back pain] has increased 65 percent, the results have decreased."
Brown is professor and chairman emeritus of the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. After 35 years of practice, he has written the book, Conquer Back and Neck Pain: Walk It Off (Sunrise River, $11.95), advice he takes himself. He walks four miles several mornings a week.
Brown clearly explains the structure of the spine, with its 33 vertebrae and cushioning discs. The center of the disc soaks up water like a sponge. As it ages, or because it is genetically programmed to do so, the center deteriorates, deflates and loses its ability to cushion. It can do several things then, but most cause pain, often extending into arms and legs. Sometimes, the flattened disc squashes into the outer rim, narrowing the spinal channel and nerves. This is called spinal stenosis, a common cause of neck and back pain, as well as leg and arm pain.
When things get really bad, the vertebra will form bone spurs in an attempt to defend itself against sprains and more damage, and eventually cause even greater pain.
Brown's solution is to have patients figure out what kind of back pain they have (there are seven types, he says) to determine treatment and prevention. He includes a questionnaire that will help readers determine the type and a short guide to determine when to walk it off and when to call for help.
Basically, most back pain will go away, he believes. Pills, surgery, manipulation and other remedies can make the pain worse.
"The theme is to get a diagnosis by a qualified doctor... then go to a specialist. If they prescribe something, make sure you know the up and down sides and the alternatives," he said.
From Brown's perspective, the best things you can do when you know what is causing back pain are to give up smoking, lose weight and walk, or participate in some kind of aerobic exercise, such as walking on a treadmill or swimming -- not twisting, yoga or Pilates, which can injure the back.
"Narcotics are horrible for people with back, bone and joint pain," he said. "They don't relieve the pain, and they actually worsen the quality of life and make them more sensitive to pain."
