Disc degeneration is one of the painful realities that come with age. It occurs when our discs—the gel-filled pads between the vertebrae that act as shock absorbers—desiccate or lose their natural hydration and start to break down, thus the term “degeneration.” If you’ve entered middle age and wondering if the back pain you’re wincing at…
Can You Damage a Spinal Fusion?
The results of any type of surgery can be undone if you don’t take care of yourself in the proper ways. If you follow your spine surgeon’s recommendations and your physical therapist’s protocol of continued exercises and stretches, your spinal fusion results should actually improve over the years. Generally, the more closely you follow your…
What Is a Common Problem for Patients with Spinal Stenosis and How Can Treatment Help?
Spinal stenosis is when the open areas of the vertebrae (spinal bones), which together house the spinal cord, become narrow. This narrowing naturally causes inward pressure on the spinal cord, which comprises nerves – and this nerve impingement can cause pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Anyone can develop spinal stenosis. In fact, young children can…
What to Expect From Seeing a Pain Management Doctor
There are many back and neck health problems that have pain as a symptom. Some conditions cause temporary pain, such as whiplash. Once the injury heals, the pain goes away. Other conditions are incurable, such as osteoarthritis, and cause chronic pain. Many causes of chronic pain have to do with the musculoskeletal system. This is…
Common Questions About Bracing as a Scoliosis Treatment Option
Bracing is a common non-surgical treatment for children with scoliosis or those with a curvature of the spine. The goal of treating scoliosis with a brace is to slow or stop the progression of the curve. Bracing is an option for some children, depending on several factors. The child’s age, the location of the curve,…
Chronic Spinal Pain: What Are the Treatment Options?
Many people think that back pain is just something that everyone has to live with at some point in their lives. Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 25% of American adults experience low back pain. Pain is considered chronic once it has lasted for more than three…
Most Common Spinal Disorders
There are many issues that can affect the spine, causing back pain and a reduced ability to move the back very well. Spinal disorders may result from an injury, wear, and tear, or a structural deformity. Let’s talk about some of the most common problems that can affect the spine, and where you can go…
Surprising Benefits of Scoliosis Treatment
In scoliosis, the spine takes on a curved shape like an “S” or a “C.” It usually develops after a child undergoes a growth spurt. Mild scoliosis may not cause any problems during the patient’s lifetime. However, if the spinal curvature is moderate to severe, it can cause back pain, disability, and difficulty in breathing…
How Will a Doctor Determine the Type of Back Pain I Have?
If you’re plagued by back pain, know that you’re not alone. It is a common problem, which experts estimate to affect up to 80 percent of the adult population in the United States. Back pain may develop without an obvious cause, but it can also occur due to: A muscle or ligament strain – From…
Can an Orthopedic Surgeon Help Me with Tailbone Pain in My Spine?
Tailbone pain – also referred to as coccydynia – is pain that occurs in or around the last bone at the bottom of the spine, known as the coccyx (tailbone). Damage or inflammation to the coccyx, or to the surrounding structures, can cause pain and tenderness in the bony area just above the buttocks. Sometimes…