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Dr. Abraham is a graduate of the University
of Chicago and received his MD Degree from the University of Southern
California.
He is a member of the
American College of Physicians
American Society of Internal Medicine
American Association of Orthopedic Medicine
American Association of the Study of Headache
Dr. Abraham works within a integrated model of body posture and
movement, using the work of his teachers. He believes that one must
first do a careful evaluation, with a complete history and physical
exam, to find the most precise and accurate injured sites within the
body. Many persons, especially those with chronic injuries, have more
than one site of discomfort. Patients have most often more than one
injured body structure of ligament, disc, tendon, etc.
He has 28 years of experience with English system of Orthopaedic
Medicine, as founded by the late Dr. James Cyriax, an Internist and
Orthopaedic surgeon at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London, England. He
attended a workshop in NY taught by the late Dr. James Cyriax of
England, and then, deeply interested, went to more courses . In 1992 he
began as a teacher in local and national conferences.
The one most important principle is this: Dr. Cyriax insisted on
specific diagnoses before treatment, saying: “the treatment is easy; it
is the diagnosis that is hard.”
Dr. Abraham believes from his training and experience that most
so-called mechanical low back pain problems have distinct identifiable
causes. A variety of treatments may be needed, but cure or marked
improvement is the obtainable objective with most patients. He is
pleased to have authored a paper that successfully challenged the
prevailing viewpoint that most low back is non-specific or undiagnosable.
(see list below).
Also published is a study of prolotherapy
for chronic headaches in the journal, Headache (see list below). ).
Dr. Abraham sees the physician’s responsibility as:
1. To find the proper clinical problems before suggesting any
prolotherapy or other treatment.
2. To then utilize non-invasive treatment as needed.
3. Use prolotherapy in the proper context of adequate nutrition and
exercise as tolerated that will enhance healing.
4. To guide the patient in decision making: this is a partnership.
5. Be aware that patients, as people, have their own ideas and internal
resources for problems solving and recovery.
6. Educate the patient that treatment is a process, which may take a
month, months or up to a year or more, depending on the severity of
problems.
7. Inform patients that no treatment is without risk nor guaranteed and
that no physician is perfect, nor knows everything.
Grateful thanks are given to mentors who have taught so much over many
years:
Stephanie Saunders PT (England)
Howard Dananberg PDM (New Hampshire)
Richard DonTigny PT (Montana)
Publications:
1. The Physician Work Force in the United States, (letter to the editor)
New England Journal of Medicine: August 1996, p. 598.
2. “Prolotherapy for Chronic Headache”, (letter to the editor)
Headache:April 1997, p. 256.
3. A New Paradigm for Low Back Pain: Application of Specific Clinical
Criteria for Diagnoses and Treatment. (abstract) Journal General
Internal Medicine: April 1998, Vol. 13, suppl. 1, p. 48.
4. Q & A Diagnosis and Treatment of Low Back Pain, CORTLAND
FORUM:August,1999, p. 173-183.
5. Preliminary Report on NCECA Convention Questionnaire (to
participants) On Skeletally and other work-related medical problems of
the Ceramicist. NCECA Newsletter: Fall 1999.
6. Lack of evidence-Based Research for idiopathic Low Back Pain, in
“Controversies In Internal Medicine” in Archives of Internal Medicine
Vol. 162, July 8, 2002. p. 1442-1444.
7. Letter, The DonTigny method for
sacroiliac dysfunction, Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine, 27(3): pp.
139-140, 2005. |