you are suffering with a condition that affects the lower spine, which is preventing you from carrying out normal day to day activities, a lumbar fusion may be necessary to alleviate painful symptoms. It can also be useful if other treatments have failed to work successfully. Recovery from lumbar fusion surgery can take time, patience,…
Common Spinal Injuries
Your spine is your body’s primary support structure, facilitating the body’s ability to move, feel, and respond to stimuli. It allows you to stay in an upright position while it also houses the spinal cord, which pairs with your brain to form the central nervous system (CNS). However, everything from sports to household chores to…
When To Get A Microdiscectomy
A lumbar microdiscectomy is a surgical procedure performed to relieve pressure on your nerves and spinal cord in your back caused by a herniated disc. It involves the removal of a portion of the bulging disc, hence, the term “micro”. Today, a microdiscectomy can be performed as a minimally-invasive procedure, which requires a smaller incision…
What Is Degenerative Disc Disease?
One of the most common causes of back pain is degenerative disc disease. Contrary to its name, it’s not an actual disease but rather a set of symptoms that cause neck and back pain that may radiate to the upper and lower extremities and cause weakness, tingling, and shooting pain, depending on the location of…
Causes of a Herniated Disc
Approximately 80 percent of people will experience back pain at least once in their lives due to a variety of reasons, a very common reason of which is a herniated disc. A herniated disc is also referred to as a slipped or ruptured disc. With a herniated disc, the nucleus of the disc is pushed…
Tagged With: Bradley D. Ahlgren MD, Chronic Pain, Herniated Disc, Herniated Discs, Orthopedics, spine surgery
When To Visit A Doctor For Arthritis
A lot of people don’t get diagnosed with arthritis until the condition has progressed for quite some time. The reason for this is arthritis symptoms can easily be mistaken as normal aches and pains. Most people choose to relieve symptoms on their own until the condition has progressed enough to cause chronic pain. If you…
Types of Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a condition caused by the deterioration of the spine, most often due to an injury or years of wear and tear. Spinal stenosis actually has three variations. The type of spinal stenosis you have depends on the location of the narrowing. Lumbar spinal stenosis affects the lumbar region, thoracic affects the region…
How to Prepare for Spinal Surgery
If you’re scheduled to have spinal surgery, there is a significant possibility that you’re a little worried about how it will turn out. One thing that can help you stay calm and relaxed is preparing for the surgery beforehand. With this in mind, here are some tips on how you can prepare for your spinal…
Filed Under: Spine Surgery
Treatments for Sciatica Pain
Sciatica pain stems from the body’s largest nerve, the sciatic nerve. The roots of the sciatic nerve are located in the lower back, specifically in the spinal cord’s lumbar section. The nerve extends down the lower legs, passing through the buttocks. The pain associated with the sciatic nerve can be felt in all of these…
Questions to Ask Your Spine Surgeon
If you are seeking treatment for a spine condition that’s been causing you chronic back pain, you may benefit from talking to an experienced spine surgeon. The more questions you ask, the more confidence you will have in the doctor and in the procedure itself. The surgeon may even recommend minimally invasive treatments that don’t…
Tagged With: Bradley D. Ahlgren MD, Chronic Pain, Orthopedics, Spinal Pain, spine surgeon, spine surgery
