Catalina Medical Center: Blog

This National Diabetes Month, we at Redondo Beach’s Catalina Medical Center want people impacted by diabetes to know we can help ease their pain. Neuropathy, damage to nerves, is one of the most common results of high blood sugar’s interference with bodily systems. However, our practitioners are trained in whole-body methods of pain reduction that are non-addictive and minimally invasive. “Peripheral neuropathy” refers to pain, numbness, or extra sensitivity in the limbs. When related to diabetes, it is often felt first in the lower limbs, where acidic crystals accumulate. Neuropathy can also affect organ systems and cause weakening of the thigh muscles. People with high blood sugar have weaker blood vessels, which prevents them from healing quickly because it is more difficult for nutrients to reach their body parts. When people have pain in their lower limbs, they often compensate by changing their posture or gait. This puts them at greater risk for developing back pain, as their bac...

Self-care is necessary to remind yourself that you matter. Self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself as it produces positive feelings while boosting your confidence and self-esteem. Most of us tend to put the needs of others before our own, which is why our doctors at Catalina Medical Center encourage patients to schedule “me-time.” If you need some suggestions for taking a break from everyday life, we hope you take advantage of these. Indulge in a massage – set aside some time to experience the complete and total bliss of a massage. It soothes both the mind and muscles, improves sleep quality, and reduces stress. Unplug – these days it seems like we’re all glued to our phones, laptops, or even both at the same time. Taking a break from social media, email, blogging, and so on can help us recharge and gives our brain the downtime it needs to work at an optimal level. Get outside – ditching the comfort of your home is a great way to improve mental and ph...

At the Catalina Medical Center in Redondo Beach, we offer comprehensive, safe treatments for complicated ailments such as fibromyalgia. This disorder affects the entire body through the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. It is crucial for patients who have it to understand how many ailments it is related to. Fibromyalgia has its roots in how the brain processes signals relating to physical sensations. It causes dull aches on both sides of the body, as well as above and below the waist. People with it often also suffer from irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, and memory problems. They are also more sensitive to fatigue, headaches, and disorders of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the jaw to the skull. People sometimes develop fibromyalgia after infections or trauma. It is most common in middle-aged women. It cannot be tested for directly, so other diseases have to be ruled out before a diagnosis can be made. Treating it requires the patient to reduce their exposu...

Do you suffer from a stiff neck and not know where to get help? At the Catalina Medical Center, we employ medical professionals with diverse backgrounds to provide patients with a variety of treatment options. We take a holistic approach that will get you comfortable again without major intervention or risk of addiction. Major muscles called the levator scapulae stretch from the shoulder to the neck bones. Neck stiffness can usually be traced to problems in these muscles. People who rest their chins on their palms or who spend a lot of time with their head bent looking at a screen commonly wear these muscles out. Swimmers can get stiff necks from turning their heads so much, and painters often wear out their necks working. Overuse injuries resulting in misalignment of the neck bones can also squeeze the surrounding muscles. When patients come to our office, we’ll do diagnostic exams to ensure we’ve identified the cause of their neck pain correctly. (In rare cases, a stiff neck can resu...