Archives:
When is Spine Pain an Emergency?
So often we hear from people who are upset with Emergency Rooms because they feel their neck or back pain was not treated with the seriousness it deserved. A traumatic event such as a bad fall or a serious car accident with any sign of severe pain, or abnormal neurological signs such as paralysis, should […]
Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Back Pain
So often we see patients who suffer from anxiety, depression or have extremely stressful lives. These patients often complain of neck and back pain, usually more severe than their testing would indicate. They are not malingering, nor are they exaggerating. They really feel this pain. Let’s talk…… The body’s reaction to stress varies with each […]
Compulsory Medical Examination
Since I started my practice in 1993, I have also been performing examinations that are now known as Compulsory Medical Evaluations. To those who do not know, it is an examination arranged to evaluate a person with claims of injury from an accident. The causes are usually related to a work injury, a motor vehicle […]
Sacroiliitis
The sacroiliac joint is the joint which connects the hip bone with the iliac bone on either side of the lumbar spine. When there is inflammation of this joint it is called Sacroiliitis. Pain is usually worse after staying in one position for any length of time. Moderate movement is actually helpful. Diseases that can […]
Microdiscectomy Surgery
What exactly is Microdiscectomy? In the simplest terms, it means removal of disc material that is pinching a nerve, using small incisions and with magnification. In the United States, there is an average of 300,000 discectomy type surgeries performed per year. For the vast majority of patients, the reason for microdisectomy is PAIN, despite treatments such […]
Is Cervical (neck) Fusion Surgery Considered a Radical Solution?
Many people are both upset and frightened when their spine surgeon recommends a fusion as a solution to their neck problems. An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), in the properly selected patient, has a very high success rate, with very satisfied patients. In our practice, patients who elect to have cervical fusion typically have […]
