Is Golf Bad For Your Back?
Is golf bad for my Back? The answer is yes. If you are a hard core golfer, you probably do not care. You might even be angry that I said this. Welcome to a conversation I have had 100’s of times during my career. Despite the science, I cannot get my golfers to admit the […]
Is Tennis Bad For Your Back?
Is tennis bad for your back? The answer is maybe. Why do you ask this question? Are you a 5-0 player with back pain on your back hand or kick serve? Have you just started playing and noticed sciatica? Do you have back stiffness, and wondering if you should even start playing? For the avid […]
I rarely see a normal spine MRI
Spine specialists have an uphill battle when trying to explain MRI findings to a patient with back pain. As human beings, we want a reason for our complaints, and the identification of MRI findings often become a convenient answer. Without a doubt, an MRI is an excellent tool and can be very helpful in identifying […]
What is a Nonunion?
What is a nonunion? For most doctors, it means two or more bones that were supposed to heal together but did not. To give an example, sometimes broken leg bones do not heal. Surgery may be necessary to unite the bone edges together. Nonunions can happen to any bone, although for most healthy people, the […]
Anomalies That Can Affect Your Back Surgery
In the last video, we concentrated on test findings in your neck that could influence your surgical treatment options. In this video, I will be sharing the test findings in your lower back that could affect your options. One of the most common variants is the presence of a missing or extra lumbar bone. This […]
Anomalies That Can Affect Your Neck Surgery
What are the test results that may matter for surgeries in your neck? Not everyone is born with the standard bones of the spine. In fact, a significant portion of the population has what is called an anatomic variant. But there’s no need to be alarmed. Having an anatomic variant simply means that a structure […]
Common Complications of Spine Surgery
PART TWO What are the most common complications in spine surgery that could be causing you pain? While most spine surgeries are designed to relieve pressure on the nerves or spinal cord, sometimes, the herniated disc or bone spur is not completely removed. This can leave residual pressure on the nerve and cause the pain […]
Why am I Still in Pain After Spine Surgery?
PART ONE How come I’m still in pain after spine surgery? It’s a common question, and the answer depends on the type of surgery and when you ask. The first couple days after surgery, it is typical to feel pain. During surgery, medications such as steroids are infused into the area to help reduce swelling. The medication […]
Where to Make the Incision?
How does your surgeon decide where to make the incision? Before surgery, many want to know how and where the incision is going to be made — with the hope that the smaller it is, the lesser the pain will be. People also want to be reassured that the resulting scar will heal and fade […]
Stem Cells for Back Pain: 2020 Update
What’s the update on stem cells for back pain? The last time I talked about this was in 2018. So what’s the latest news about this controversial topic? If you watch any advertisement for this procedure online or on TV, you would think it was an approved, tried and true procedure for improving back pain. As […]
