Spine Surgery and the Fountain of Youth
Everyone wants to stay young. But why? For some, the appearance is most important. We have to admit that our society values youth, energy, and beauty. In reality, to feel strong and vigorous, and to live an active lifestyle is more important. Botox may make you look better, but it rarely allows you to feel younger. […]
Face Mask Removal is Safer than Helmet Removal
Everyone enjoys loves football in America. The SuperBowl is the most watched American TV event on a yearly basis. Football can be a metaphor for war, competition, and victory. That is why so many young men risk injury to play the sport. Injuries are a reality, and behind the scenes, there are trained professionals ready to give […]
Soccer and Back Pain
Many of us get up early on a Saturday morning to watch European soccer (football), watch our kids play soccer or to play ourselves. Behind the scenes in the professional games, are teams of physicians trying to prepare the players for the next game. There will always be concerns of soccer and back pain, especially with […]
Why Plates and Screws?
So, your surgeon says you need spine surgery. And, it is a surgery that will require hardware, including plates and screws. Go to the other blog pages about why the surgery. Let’s talk about Why Plates and Screws? For the most part, plates and screws are used to hold your vertebra still, or in a certain […]
Goals of Spine Surgery
As a Spine Surgeon, I want to give my patients a chance at a successful outcome. But, I find some patients to be unrealistic about the goals. So the topic can be broached, I thought I would share my thoughts on the Goals of Spine Surgery. As we will see, there are many considerations to spinal surgery. As always, these […]
C5 Syndrome
For patients who undergo cervical myelopathy/radiculopathy surgery, surgeons always have concern for developing the so called C5 Syndrome. Some patients do wake up with weakness to the deltoid and biceps muscles. Typically, however, patients will not experience the weakness for a few days after the surgery. You can imagine the concern for both the patient and […]
Waddell’s Signs
This is a very difficult topic. It, however is an appropriate discussion, considering we are in a national debate about healthcare and its costs. As a physician, sometimes we are asked to make judgements on the validity of a patients complaints, and compare them to the physical findings. It can be an uncomfortable position for some […]
Back Pain and Traveling
Back pain is inconvenient at best, life altering at worst. Still, with or without it, we must continue to do what we need to do to participate in the activities of life. A common question asked by patients concern traveling. The specific questions asked are, when I have back pain, can I ride on a […]
Disk Surgery
Have you been told you need Disk Surgery? Unfortunately, that is a common situation faced by many patients that suffer from back pain with radiating, shooting leg pain. In extreme situations, such as severe weakness, or loss of control of bowel and bladder function, assuming the disk is the cause of the problem, you will need […]
