Here Steven C. Anagnost, MD, discusses the ways in which he stays healthy, mentally and physically.
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Let’s face it. Back and neck pain is just plain awful. The pain to the spine and its effects on our muscles and sensation can indeed be life changing. Each day, spine surgeons see the life-changing effects that spinal disease and damage have on our patients.
Spine disease will affect all of us in some shape or form during our lifetimes. It is inevitable. So, what do I do as a surgeon, to try and keep my own spine as healthy and pain free as possible? Here are five things to know that have helped me to maintain my own spine health.
Microscope. Spine surgery is hard work both physically and mentally. Early in my career, I began using the microscope as much as possible during my cases. My neck and back are in a much more natural position during surgery with the microscope. Once new minimally invasive spine surgery techniques arose, the microscope became a natural part of most of my surgeries. These simple changes have not only helped my patients, but have reduced my neck and back pain as a result of performing surgery.
Sleep. Physicians lead busy lives, with long hours. We just don’t get enough sleep. Giving your body rest when it needs it is critical not only for our spines, but for our complete health. I cannot make more hours in the day, therefore I choose to make my sleep as sound as possible. I hydrate as much as possible during the day. I limit my caffeine to my morning cup. When it is time to sleep, the TV and electronics are off. Reading or studying before bed helps me to unwind and disconnect from the stress of work.
Exercise. This is key to a healthy spine. However, exercise that is inappropriate for age or previous injury, can be harmful for our bodies. When I was younger and in residency, I was very active in sports — I competed in triathlons, and was always involved in sport. As I have aged, I have realized that the physical difficulty of my job as a surgeon has taken its toll on my body.
Almost all surgeons will suffer with neck pain due to the positions we must hold standing during surgery each day. Running and biking and some forms of exercise, began to increase my physical pains in my spine, not alleviate them. I had to adjust my workout regimens to non-impact exercises. I began using an elliptical trainer machine. This lessens the impact on my spine, while maintaining my cardiac fitness. For my weight training, I lift less weight, and more repetitions, to protect my joints from stress. These changes not only alleviated my neck pain, they also helped my cardiac and sleep habits.
Passion outside of medicine. I feel it is critical to enjoy other things in life besides just medicine and surgery. This is the key to a healthy mind and body. Having a "renaissance" approach to life, makes us more well rounded, and better able to relate and care for those around us. I love to cook. It brings me happiness and memories of growing up with my own Greek family where life revolved around the kitchen. As physicians, we need a passion outside of medicine for a healthy mind and body.
Stress. Being a surgeon is extremely satisfying work helping people, but also very stressful. The surgical hours are very long and the planning and thought surrounding each patient we see is even longer. This is part of being a good physician, and cannot be changed. This stress level simply cannot be maintained 24 hours a day. I had to learn to disconnect. My wife and family are my biggest help with this. I try to spend as much time as I can experiencing all the joys I can from family life. While having a family is a big responsibility, I have benefited greatly from all the happiness and satisfaction having a family can bring. My family life is the best way for me to disconnect from stress of work, and maintain both physical and emotional health.