Cervical disc herniation is a very common orthopedic condition that can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the neck and arms. Disc herniation can happen due to age-related wear and tear, trauma from an accident or injury, repetitive strain on muscles and joints around the neck area (such as those caused by poor posture), or…
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Common Causes and Risk Factors of Disc Degeneration
As you age, the cushioning in your spine starts to wear down, causing disc degeneration. In other words, disc degeneration, also known as spine degeneration, refers to a condition in which the discs in the spine deteriorate. For some, disc degeneration can lead to severe neck and lower back pain as well as leg pain….
Back Surgery: The Timeline and Dos and Don’ts
Back pain is very common, but surgery is rarely necessary to relieve it. Most cases resolve on their own or with non-surgical treatments, such as physical therapy, medications, and massage. Doctors usually resort to surgery only if necessary to relieve chronic pain. Learn more about back pain, the general timeline when pursuing back surgery, and…
Can Exercise Cause Chronic Spinal Pain?
You probably already know exercise is good for you. It keeps you limber and strengthens your bones, joints, and soft tissues. However, there is a right way to exercise, and exercising without any guidance can lead to exercise mistakes. Just like any sport, there is proper conditioning, form, and technique in exercise, without which, it…
What to Ask a Spine Surgeon About Fusion Surgery
Spinal fusion is a procedure that involves an orthopedic surgeon placing a bone graft within the spaces between the small bones in the spine (vertebrae) and using screws, metal plates, and rods to hold them together. The goal is to enable the bones to heal into one solid unit and ultimately eliminate the movement between…
What Are the Potential Symptoms of Disc Degeneration?
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…
Causes and Symptoms of Sciatica
Sciatica affects as much as 40% of the American population at some point during their lifetime. This is a compression injury to the sciatic nerve, which is the body’s longest and largest nerve – running from the bottom of the spine down the buttocks and along the backs of both legs and to the toes….
Importance of Getting Treatment for Your Child’s Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine that most obviously appears when you are standing or sitting upright (apparent when the back is bare), and it is usually in an S-shape or C-shape. It can develop in both adults and children, but children who are between the ages of 10 and 15 are at the…