Why do we blame your back for your leg pain?
Sciatica is one of the most common medical problems that take people to the doctor. Though you hear the word frequently, most people don’t understand what causes it and why we blame your back for that terrible pain in your leg. Let’s talk… . In your low back (lumbar spine) the nerves start separating within […]
Concussions Affect the Spine
The concussions in sports conversation will surely be brought up again as football season starts. Most of the discussion is about the affects on the brain. As a spine surgeon, I made a video to further the discussion as the spine and neck are also affected by the forces that cause concussions. CitationsElkin BS, Elliott […]
Feel My Pain
We are a surgical orthopedic practice. Every day we see patients in pain. We ask them to describe it; location, duration, sharp or dull, constant or intermittent, but we really have no way of measuring someone else’s pain. The tools we use now are inadequate and the information we get from them is misleading. Let’s […]
Before you have Spine Surgery
“Before you have Spine Surgery……..” there should be a discussion on the risks, benefits, and alternatives. I see patients for surgery second opinions almost every day. Naturally, the patients are in pain, and often have some weakness. But, I am surprised on how many patients have not truly explored their alternatives. So, here is a […]
5 Patient controlled Risk Factors for Spine Surgery
The TRUTH. YOU the PATIENT have control over 5 of the risk factors associated with SPINE SURGERY: 1. SMOKING. Smoking is associated with poor healing of the wounds. From a very basic science perspective, smoking decreases the blood flow to areas secondary by causing constriction of your arteries. The lack of blood supply impedes healing […]
Outpatient Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
In times past, people were admitted to the hospital for the simplest of surgical procedures. In the 1970’s, a two week admission to the hospital for a simple carpal tunnel surgery was routine. People would be admitted a day or two before surgery to get testing. Surgery was then performed. Then, the patient was discharged […]
