Archives:
My core is weak and I have back pain: Should I do sit-ups?
One of the most commonly prescribed treatments for generalized back pain is physical therapy. More specifically, a program to lessen pain while improving flexibility, posture, and provide strengthening are the overall goals of the program. Long-term, we discuss core strengthening to help promote a healthy and functioning spine. The core represents the stabilizing muscles and […]
The Framingham Spinal Stenosis Study
Most people know about the Famous Framingham Heart Study. The study followed a group of volunteers from Framingham Massachusetts for an extended period of time. The first group of 5209 volunteers were 30-60 year old men and women enrolled in the study from 1948. All sorts of measures were documented. In 1971, 5124 children of […]
Patients can determine Spine Surgery Results
YOU can make a difference in your SPINE SURGERY results! While patients often will look towards the skill of the surgeon, there are other important factors that will determine the outcome. Following post operative instructions can have a significant effect on the outcome. YOU can improve your SPINE SURGERY OUTCOMES by listening to your SURGEON. […]
Prolotherapy and Spine Pain
As a Spine Specialist, there are times when our traditional treatments just have not been beneficial. In my opinion, as a surgeon, the patients with the very large disk herniations, and with the corresponding physical complaints and findings are the easiest to treat. Epidural steriod injections are often beneficial. For these patients, surgical management is […]
Depression and Spine Surgery
Unfortunately, there is a bit of the “chicken or the egg” analogy in terms of the association of depression and chronic pain. By definition (NIH) chronic pain is a continuous constant pain that is more than three months in duration. Pain, in the acute setting, is a very important response. While not pleasant (understatement, […]
Lumbar Fusion Adjacent Level Disease
In the July 2004 Edition of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Dr. Ghiselli et al performed a retrospective review on patients that had undergone lumbar fusions by primarily by the Late Dr. Edgar Dawson, distinguished professor and spine surgeon affliated with UCLA. The goal was to establish the rate of developing symptomatic adjacent […]
