OPEN ENROLLMENT
Open enrollment season is upon us once again, which means many of us will be facing the challenge of choosing a new health plan. It’s no secret that price is often the driving factor for health care consumers when selecting a plan.
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It’s not unusual for the subject of laser surgery to come up when I am discussing treatment options with patients. The curiosity about laser spine surgery makes sense given the benefits touted by laser spine surgery providers.
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Good physical health can help prevent spine problems, such as chronic back and neck pain. A regular aerobic and core-strengthening program can help prevent back and neck injuries. However, patients tell me all the time that they don’t understand why they have spine problems since they exercise regularly.
Full story on Spine Health and General Physical Health[...]
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Many patients I see have suffered with back pain for months or even years and are desperate for relief. Spine surgery may seem like a magic pill when other treatment options have failed, but patients still need to be sure that their condition is one that surgery can address effectively.
Full story on Spine Surgery Reality Check[...]
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Back pain can be debilitating, making it difficult to work, exercise or even sleep. If you experience pain after a fall or injury, tingling or numbness or severe pain that doesn’t improve with rest, it’s time to seek help. But before you rush off to a spine surgeon to treat your pain, there may be some other options to consider. In my experience, I’ve found that only about 10 percent of the patients I see truly need to be treated by a spine surgeon.
Full story on Finding the Right Professional for Your Back Pain[...]
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It’s no secret that with all the changes in health care, it’s becoming more challenging to schedule patients into the clinic for an evaluation in an appropriate time frame.
One approach to speed the process of scheduling a consultation and initiating treatment is to utilize physician’s assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs), trained in the evaluation and treatment of spine problems. This has worked well in other countries, as well as in large medical care institutions in the United States, where PAs and NPs can practice independently or with surgeons in the same office.
Full story on the Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners in Spine Care[...]
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Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the space for the nerves and/or the spinal cord. It can occur developmentally and as part of the aging process of the spine. When it occurs in the lower (lumbar) part of the spine, the symptoms of spinal stenosis can include pain radiating to the legs (sciatica), a heavy feeling in the legs when walking, numbness, and tingling sensations. Patients often say that it becomes more difficult to walk longer distances. Sitting can help the symptoms temporarily, and leaning over slightly helps them to walk further.
Full story on the X-STOP or Laminectomy for Spinal Stenosis[...]
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By now, you’ve probably heard about how harmful it is to sit behind a desk for too long. Research has shown that periods of prolonged sitting can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and even some types of cancer.
Full story on the Keeping Your Back Healthy At Work[...]
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If you’re evaluating hospitals based solely on patient satisfaction surveys, you may want to reconsider. A new Johns Hopkins University study (recently highlighted in Kaiser Health News) found little correlation between patient satisfaction scores and quality care.
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Spine surgery is a continually evolving specialty. Some recent changes have been positive, while others can be viewed negatively. For example, an important positive change is the trend toward less invasive surgery, which results in faster recovery times, allowing patients to return to daily activities more quickly.
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It is common to experience back and neck pain after a fall or an accident. Although it can take a few days to manifest, in most cases the pain resolves itself in several weeks. If it does resolve in a short period, it generally indicates a low level of injury.
Full story on Back pain after a fall or accident[...]
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Many people have heard the term spinal fusion, but most people probably have no idea what spinal fusion really is or why it might be necessary. Spinal fusion is designed to stop the motion at one or more points in the spine. We call these points motion segments. A motion segment in the spine is a combination of a vertebra, a disc, another vertebra, and two facet joints.
We consider spinal fusion as a surgical option for patients if there is spinal instability (spondylolisthesis), deformity (scoliosis, kyphosis), or spinal fractures. It can also be helpful for patients with a narrowing of the spinal cord (spinal stenosis), and less often for degenerative disc disease (low back pain caused by a disc).
During the surgery, we take bone from the patient or synthetic bone substitutes and place it along the spine, in the disc space, or in the facet joints. Eventually, the bone attaches the vertebrae together, which is what we call spinal fusion. Sometimes we use rods, screws or plates to help the fusion take. The operation can be done from the front, side, or back of the spine depending on the problem and the surgeon’s preference.
After surgery, patients usually spend a few days in the hospital. They wear a brace for 6-12 weeks. Once the fusion is mechanically stable, physical therapy may be recommended. Patients can expect to see a 50% decrease in pain and a 50% increase in function. Some patients will need the rods and screws removed at a later date if they become painful.
Since spinal fusion limits motion at one portion of the spine, other motion segments may break down in the future and require treatment including additional surgery. Patients have a better chance of success if they have a positive attitude, maintain a healthy weight and avoid smoking. It is important for patients to ask their doctor about what they can expect in the short- term and long-term issues before deciding on surgery.
Full story on Spinal Fusion Surgery Full story on Risk Factors associated with[...]
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SELECTING THE RIGHT HOSPITAL
There are many ways to evaluate a hospital. Several organizations, including U.S. News and World Report and Thomson Reuters, rank hospitals, using a variety of criteria. Insurers also recognize facilities that have distinguished themselves by exceeding certain quality and service levels. Feedback from friends and family about their experiences can also be useful.
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If you’re facing back surgery, it’s important to educate yourself about the potential outcomes of your surgery – including infection. A recent study shows that certain conditions – such as obesity and heart disease – may increase the risk of infection after low back surgery.
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When a surgeon recommends an operation, it is generally a good idea to get a second opinion. Not all surgeons are alike. Different surgeons look at spine problems differently and there are multiple ways to get a good result. It helps a patient to get another perspective on the problem, including recommended options and possible outcomes.
Full story on Getting a Surgical Second Opinion[...]
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Sometimes a narrowing of the spinal canal can lead to less room for the nerves, which causes them to be pinched. We call this spinal stenosis. Not all pinched nerves are caused by spinal stenosis, but when it occurs in the low back it can cause serious symptoms that could require surgery.
Full story on Do Pinched Nerves in the Low Back Require Surgery [...]
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CHOOSING THE BEST MATTRESS FOR YOUR BACK
Many patients ask me what kind of mattress is best to purchase if you are suffering from back or neck pain or recovering from surgery. While no two people are alike, and everyone's back problems may be different, here is some general information to help you make an informed decision.
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Informed surgical patients have the best chance of a successful surgery. Patients who are well informed about their options and their surgical procedure have the least stress before and after surgery.
With so much information available online, it is difficult for many patients to know what is most relevant for their own surgery.
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Proper training is important to prevent or minimize injuries from winter sports. Skiing and snowboarding require strengthening your leg muscles, improving your flexibility and getting your CORE stronger.
CORE muscles stabilize the spine. They help transition forces from the legs to the torso. In the low back, these are the abdominal muscles, specifically the transverse abdominus muscle and the paraspinal muscles in the back, the multifidi. From a spine perspective, CORE strengthening is the key to protecting the back during sports activities, and preventing flare-ups of existing back problems as well as new injury.
Full story on is your back ready [...]
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I've often said that maintaining your health and weight is the most important factor in keeping your body in the best possible condition. Even with back, neck and spine problems, your overall fitness is the best way to ensure a lifetime of pain-free, healthy living. Fad diets that ask you to eliminate something from your diet might make you drop some pounds in the short-term, but your body needs those nutrients to function at its best:
Full story on Why Fad Diets Won't Work [...]
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Clinical trials are an important research tool. They help spine surgeons and other medical professionals learn how new technologies and medicines can benefit our patients. The goal of a clinical trial is to test the safety and efficacy of new drugs and medical devices before they are approved for use by the general public.
You can find a list of actively recruiting clinical trials at Spine-Health. According to clinicaltrials.gov, here is some important information for anyone who is considering participating in a clinical trial. You can also learn more about it at Spine-Health or clinicaltrails.gov
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Wintertime can be stressful enough; don't add the strain of back pain. Follow these simple tips to avoid back injuries and keep the cold months pain free and healthy.
Full story on Wintertime Injuries [...]
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, is a technology that allows physicians to see musculoskeletal and internal anatomy and diseases much more clearly. MRIs are especially helpful for spine surgeons who need to be very precise about where to operate to achieve the optimal outcome without causing harm to a patient.
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Summer is a time to get outside and enjoy some fun in the sun. But outdoor exercise, yard work and even those much-needed family vacations can be hard on your back. Remembering a few simple tips can help you to avoid injuring your back or neck during this time of increased activity.
Full story on Summertime Injuries [...]
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Patients suffering from chronic, debilitating low back pain know that it can prevent them from working and even from participating in normal daily activities. After exhausting every conservative, non-surgical treatment they can find, from chiropractic care and physical therapy, to spinal injections, alternative medicine and psychology, six months later many of these patients are still...
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Medicare patients with spinal disorders present significant challenges to physicians. In many cases, these patients have a variety of medical problems in addition to spinal disease, making them difficult to evaluate and treat, and more likely to develop complications after surgery.
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Depending on your situation and symptoms, chiropractic care can be an option for patients with low back pain and neck pain. The treatment involves manipulation and or mobilization of joints to decrease pain and improve function.
Full story Artificial Disc Replacement [...]
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If you have a lumbar herniated disc in your spine (sometimes called a "slipped" or "ruptured" disc), you've probably gotten several opinions from spine doctors regarding surgical options for your condition. Surgery may help to alleviate your pain and increase your mobility, but it's important to know all the information about the pros and cons...
Full story on Do I Need Surgery [...]
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The back is designed to be strong and flexible, but like everything else, it has its limits. Lifting something too heavy, overdoing it on the ski slopes, court or ball field, or spending too much time at the computer without the proper ergonomics can lead to short-term or chronic pain. As we age, something as...
Full story on What Causes Pain [...]
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You may have seen newspaper ads from chiropractic clinics promoting a new type of "space age" spinal decompression machine. These mechanical traction devices have become quite popular, especially in the past two years.
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In the past, neurosurgeons typically performed decompression surgery on the spine that involved maneuvering the nerves and spinal cord, while orthopaedic surgeons performed fusion surgery and scoliosis reconstructions.
As the specialty of spinal surgery evolved and became more complex with the introduction of new technologies and devices such as rods, screws and artificial disc, both disciplines...
Full story on Differences Between Surgeons [...]
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It is amazing how many of us live with constant pain. More than 80% of Americans complain about back and neck pain at some point in their lives. It is one of the leading causes of missed time from work is one of the main reasons that people get up "on the wrong side of...
Full story on Living With Pain [...]
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At a presentation during the 24th annual meeting of the North American Spine Society, a study from the Scoliosis Research Society examining the incidence of infection after 108,419
spine surgeries indicated a superficial and deep wound
infection rate of 2%.
Full story on Infection After Surgery [...]
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Minimally invasive surgery is a popular trend. When we talk about minimally invasive cervical
spine surgery, it describes an operation on the
cervical spine (neck) that leaves minimal residuals from surgery. The advantage is that if a patient has arm pain and numbness from a degenerative process like arthritis, or a herniated disc, we can address it with less invasive techniques.
Full story on Minimally Invasive Cervical Spine Surgery [...]
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Many people have heard the term spinal fusion, but most people probably have no idea what spinal fusion really is or why it might be necessary. Spinal fusion is designed to stop the motion at one or more points in the spine. We call these points motion segments. A motion segment in the spine is a combination of a vertebra, a disc, another vertebra, and two facet joints.
We consider spinal fusion as a surgical option for patients if there is spinal instability (spondylolisthesis), deformity (scoliosis, kyphosis), or spinal fractures. It can also be helpful for patients with a narrowing of the spinal cord (spinal stenosis), and less often for degenerative disc disease (low back pain caused by a disc).
During the surgery, we take bone from the patient or synthetic bone substitutes and place it along the spine, in the disc space, or in the facet joints. Eventually, the bone attaches the vertebrae together, which is what we call spinal fusion. Sometimes we use rods, screws or plates to help the fusion take. The operation can be done from the front, side, or back of the spine depending on the problem and the surgeon’s preference.
After surgery, patients usually spend a few days in the hospital. They wear a brace for 6-12 weeks. Once the fusion is mechanically stable, physical therapy may be recommended. Patients can expect to see a 50% decrease in pain and a 50% increase in function. Some patients will need the rods and screws removed at a later date if they become painful.
Since spinal fusion limits motion at one portion of the spine, other motion segments may break down in the future and require treatment including additional surgery. Patients have a better chance of success if they have a positive attitude, maintain a healthy weight and avoid smoking. It is important for patients to ask their doctor about what they can expect in the short- term and long-term issues before deciding on surgery.
