Northwell Health - RSS Feed https://northwell-health.mmcxchange.com/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 16:59:36 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Baltimore Times RSS Hub Pain-free and ready for her future https://northwell-health.mmcxchange.com/detail/pain-free-and-ready-for-her-future Tue, 27 Feb 2024 21:52:03 -0500 https://northwell-health.mmcxchange.com/detail/pain-free-and-ready-for-her-future Pain-free and ready for her future

Surgery and physical therapy fixed Victoria’s hip dysplasia—and inspired a new career path.

Here comes the sun: Victoria is feeling a ray of hope now that she’s free from hip pain

Hip and back pain were a fact of life for Victoria Berger, just 16. Running and even long walks were tough for the then-high school junior. After six- or seven-hour shifts at her part-time job at a bakery in Carle Place, NY, near her hometown of Albertson, she would often be in pain. “I couldn’t bend down to get things because it would hurt my hip,” she said; she had to ask coworkers to retrieve items from the basement storage area. But she loved her job and didn’t want to quit. She just wanted to not be in pain anymore.

Victoria already knew at that point that she had a moderate case of scoliosis and a tethered spinal cord, a neurological condition that can cause tension in the tissues of the spinal cord and limit movement. She’d already seen Terry Amaral, MD—an orthopedic surgeon and co-chief of the Division of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Northwell—for a knee injury a couple of years before. So she made an appointment to see if her hip pain, which was most severe on her left side, was a result of either of those problems.

Dr. Amaral determined that her scoliosis wasn’t severe enough to cause the pain, or even require treatment. But an X-ray he ordered revealed the source of her discomfort: Victoria had left hip dysplasia, which happens when the socket of the hip doesn’t totally cover the top of the leg bone (femur) that normally fits there. Victoria was happy to have an explanation thinking, “Oh, it’s not just my imagination. It is real.”

As a first step, Dr. Amaral recommended physical therapy (PT), which Victoria did for about eight months, two to three times a week.

It didn’t work; the pain persisted. Further imaging also revealed that the hip dysplasia had gotten worse. Dr. Amaral and Victoria both determined surgery was the best option.

By that time, Victoria had graduated from high school. She enrolled in online classes at a local community college, which would give her time to recover from surgery.

Young smiling woman with dyed green hair and black jacket on a brick porch.
Surgery and therapy were a long road, but worth the trip.
 

Victoria first underwent a lumbar laminectomy to release her tethered spinal cord. The surgery went well—she was back in action in just two weeks—and it also helped prepare her for the more intensive periacetabular osteotomy, which she’d have on her left hip. That procedure involved readjusting the acetabulum, or hip socket, to allow for better coverage and to improve hip function and pain.

“I was nervous because it’s surgery and anyone would be, but I had Dr. Amaral as my doctor for a while at that point, so I trusted him,” Victoria said, stating that he always listened to her, asked questions and was attuned to detail.

The procedure, which Dr. Amaral performed at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, was a success. Victoria spent eight days in the hospital, where she said she received around-the-clock care and worked with both physical and occupational therapists daily.

Once discharged, she did PT at home before moving to an outpatient location, where she went upward of three times a week for nine months. Victoria started out using a walker, then moved on to crutches, which she was on for over two months, before eventually being able to walk on her own again.

Young smiling woman with dyed green hair and black jacket leaning on a porch railing.
Looking to the future, Victoria wants to become a physical therapist.
 

“I was definitely feeling stronger because right after the surgery, I could barely move my left leg,” she said of her time in PT.

These days, the 19-year-old is no longer in PT and is back to doing many of the activities, like walking, which were previously painful. She also returned to her job at the bakery—and doesn’t have to ask for help when lifting and carrying the way she used to. “I can handle doing the stairs all the time. And I stand on my feet, running around for seven hours with no problem,” she said.

The experience has also inspired her career ambitions: “I’m planning to study PT because I’ve done so much of it over my life that I just want to be able to help other people now.”

]]> 8 Ways To Get Your A1C Levels Down https://northwell-health.mmcxchange.com/detail/8-ways-to-get-your-a1c-levels-down Wed, 14 Feb 2024 02:34:08 -0500 https://northwell-health.mmcxchange.com/detail/8-ways-to-get-your-a1c-levels-down 8 Ways To Get Your A1C Levels Down

By Leslie Pepper, Writer
 

High A1C levels can be cause for concern—and a key indicator of Type 2 diabetes. But there are ways to reverse the trend.

Finding out that your A1C is high can lead to a state of panic, but it doesn’t mean that you’re destined for a lifetime of medication.

“There are plenty of things you can do to lower your A1C naturally,” says Ashley Baumohl, RD, a registered dietitian with Northwell Health. “It’s all about creating a meaningful and sustainable balance in your diet.”

What is A1C anyway?

The hemoglobin A1C is a simple, one-time blood test that measures your average blood glucose levels over a period of up to three months. Anything above 5.7% is considered above normal, so steps should be taken to lower it. “We essentially want to avoid any rapid uptake of sugar into the bloodstream,” says Baumohl.

So, how do you do that? While the tips below are some great general guidelines, she stresses that every person is unique and has their own individual requirements. “No two people are the same size and age with the same activity levels and metabolic needs,” she notes.

There has been a great deal of research published looking to decipher the best proportion of macronutrients per individual. What’s been found is that it all comes down to balance and sustainability—and what’s sustainable for one person may not be sustainable for another.

How to lower your A1C

Look at your diet. The American Diabetes Association recommends a diet of 50% veggies, 25% protein, and 25% carbs. And while that sounds like you’d have to measure every morsel you put into your mouth, you really don’t. Put the guideline into practice by using the MyPlate style of eating—fill up half your plate with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with whole grains, and a quarter with healthy proteins.

Start slowly. Instead of completely revamping your diet, think about one change you can make each week. For example, if you usually have a bagel and cream cheese every morning, switch to something with more protein and complex carbs, like Greek yogurt with almonds and blueberries or an egg wrap with spinach, black beans, avocado, and whole wheat toast.

Once you’ve got that set, swap out your sugary afternoon snack for low-fat yogurt and fresh berries. Then add one more vegetable serving to your day. Within a few months your entire diet will have changed.

Prep your meals. Planning can be a great way to dodge mindless munching. “I like to recommend making a big batch of whole grains like quinoa or farro for the week to start,” says Baumohl. “Other good fast meal prep options could be overnight oats or egg and veggie frittatas in muffin tins. Then all week you can reheat the oats or frittatas for breakfast, make grain bowls or sprinkle farro over a salad for lunch, or have some grains on the side with grilled chicken for dinner.”

Cut down on added sugars. The FDA has made things easier to differentiate natural sugars (like the ones found in milk products, fruits, and vegetables) from added sugars by separating them on the nutrition facts label. A low source of added sugars is 5% daily value (DV) or less, while 20% DV or more is a high source of added sugars.

Focus on whole foods. Foods that have been minimally processed—like apples instead of applesauce, or potatoes instead of potato chips—usually have more nutrients packed into fewer calories. And always choose whole grains over refined, which can protect against diabetes.

Drink water over fruity juices or sodas. If you need flavor, squeeze in some lemon or add a little fruit juice to carbonated water.

Pay attention to portion sizes. “Behavior changes are hard and figuring out why we crave certain foods or want to snack late at night takes a lot of internal work,” Baumohl says. We may know which foods we should have more of and which we should limit, but actually doing it is the hard part. To help, Baumohl has her clients record several things in a seven-day food journal:

  • What did you eat?
  • What was your mood at the time of making your eating decisions (stressed, anxious, relaxed?)
  • What were you doing at the time of each meal (On the go? In front of the TV? Working? Relaxed, sitting at the dining room table?)
  • What was your hunger level when you made the decision to start to eat?
  • What was your fullness level when you made the decision to stop eating? 

“All this information is so important for understanding our eating behaviors,” she adds.

Move more. Not only does activity help control weight, but it makes your body more sensitive to insulin, which means you’ll become better at absorbing sugar from your blood and getting it into the cells for energy. Choose activities you enjoy, whether that means a walk with a friend, swimming in your local pool, or playing soccer in the park with your grandkids. Start slowly, then add more and more time into your workout. Your goal should be at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity most days of the week, as well as two days of strength training. (Always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise program.)

 

Next Steps and Useful Resources

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