{
Where are you from?
}
I was born in Algeria, North
Africa, but I grew up in El Paso
and received all of my training in
San Antonio.
{
How did you become inter-
ested in cardiology?
}
Both of my parents are math
majors, so I was always interested
in math, which is used frequently in cardiology. But I re-
ally became interested in the feld when I met my husband
our freshman year of college at the University of Texas
at San Antonio. He has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a
condition in which the heart muscle is abnormally thick,
and my interest in cardiology grew from there.
{
What do you love most about cardiology?
}
I love the preventive aspect of cardiology—being
able to educate my patients and treat diseases before
they happen and the ability to delay the progression of
disease afer diagnosis. I also love the patient contact I
get in the clinic setting.
{
How did you get to San Angelo?
}
Te idea of moving from San Antonio came af-
ter meeting Dr. Charles Marsh, medical director of the
Shannon Regional Heart Center, at a training seminar in
Denver. He invited me to visit Shannon if I ever wanted
to relocate to a smaller town. I took him up on the ofer,
was very impressed with the medical services ofered and
excellent medical care that patients were receiving, and
quickly decided to join.
{
How do you like San Angelo?
}
We are really enjoying San Angelo—we are still
close to family in San Antonio, but we have everything
we need here—updated medical facilities, kind and
wonderful patients to treat, friendly people, and great
food—without the hassle of a big city. It really is a city
with a small-town feel, and I like that.
{
What’s your opinion about being the only female
cardiologist in the region?
}
I don’t really give much thought about being a female
cardiologist. Occasionally when I walk into a patient’s
room I can see the wide-eyed looks they sometimes give
me, but once we start talking they usually end up for-
getting about my age and gender. I do like that it gives
patients a diferent perspective on what a doctor can be.
A COMPLETE TEAM
Te Shannon Regional Heart Cen-
ter features nine cardiologists, a cardiothoracic surgeon
and six midlevel providers specializing in a variety of
cardiac conditions. For more information or to
make an appointment, call
325-655-2200.
Samia Benslimane,
MD, Shannon Clinic
cardiologist
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SKULL
to the top of the
torso, there’s an elaborate series of bones, disks, nerves,
muscles, ligaments and other tissues that all combine
to make up the neck.
But when something goes wrong with any of these
intricate moving parts, it can result in pain. For some,
it’s a straightforward ache, tenderness or stifness. Others
report shooting sensations, electrical feelings, tingling,
or weakness in the arms or hands.
What’s behind most neck pain? According to the Na-
tional Pain Foundation, the two most common causes
are injury and long-term wear and tear.
Injury.
Motor vehicle accidents, falls, diving mishaps
and sports injuries are just some of the activities that
can cause neck injury and pain.
Neck injuries commonly involve muscles and liga-
ments, though severe injuries can result in broken bones,
spinal cord damage and paralysis.
Wear and tear.
Cervical stenosis is the gradual nar-
rowing of the spinal canal that can lead to pressure on
the spinal cord and other nerves, resulting in pain.
Stenosis is ofen caused by aging, reports the Ameri-
can Association of Neurological Surgeons.
As people age, the structures designed to cushion the
bones in the neck degenerate, and bones and ligaments
get thicker, all of which narrows the spinal canal. Tese
changes may also prompt bone spurs to form, further
compressing nerves.
TIME TO SEE A DOCTOR
Experts say it’s time to talk
with a doctor if neck pain:
●
Is caused by an injury.
●
Comes with a fever or a headache.
●
Shoots down
your arm.
●
Doesn’t get better with over-the-counter
medications.
●
Doesn’t get better in a week.
You also should also see a doctor if stifness keeps
you from lowering your chin to your chest or if there is
tingling, numbness or weakness in your arms, hands
or legs.
DIAGNOSING NECK PAIN
To fgure out what’s causing
your pain, your doctor will likely ask about your medi-
cal history and do a physical exam. He or she may also
recommend one or more diagnostic tests. For example:
●
●
X-rays may be needed to fnd fractures or bone spurs.
●
●
Magnetic resonance imaging scans can help locate a
disk or nerve problem.
●
●
Electromyography can pinpoint nerve damage.
●
●
Computed tomography scans may aid in the diagno-
sis of persistent neck pain.
For more information about neck pain, visit
www.shannonhealth.com or call the Shannon Brain
and Spine Institute at
325-481-2193
.
You’ve tried medications, injec-
tions, exercises and other therapy,
but your neck pain won’t go away.
What’s next?
For some people with persistent—
or worsening—neck pain, the best
option may be surgery.
But before suggesting surgery,
your doctor will weigh a number
of factors, including:
■
Your age.
■
Your medical history.
■
How
long you’ve had your neck problem.
■
The success or failure of previous
treatments.
Surgical treatments vary depend-
ing on the nature of the problem. For
example, people with pain caused
by spinal instability may beneft from
spinal fusion.
This procedure involves fusing
two or more vertebrae together
using bone or bone substitutes. The
goal is to ease pain by creating a
stronger, more stable section of
bone.
Not every neck problem can or
should be corrected by surgery. Ask
your doctor about the potential risks
and benefts of surgery.
Source: American Association of Neurological Surgeons
NECK PAIN: WHAT CAUSES IT
AND WHEN TO GET HELP
SAMIA BENSLIMANE, MD
GETTING TO
KNOW YOU
BETTER
W
e l l n e s s
W I N T E R 2 0 1 2
3
H E A L T H B E A T
Neck pain:
Is it time to consider a surgical solution?