LUMBAR and CERVICAL EPIDURAL SPINAL INJECTIONS (ESI’s)
One treatment that is frequently recommended for patients with spine problems are epidural steroid injections (ESI’s). They are particularly effective for patients who have radiculopathy (nerve pain) and are thought of as ‘conservative care” though they are often done in surgery centers or small OR’s. Properly administered using fluoroscopy (live x-ray), a corticosteroid (Dexamethasone) is […]
Questions for the Spine Surgeon
Have you been told you need Spinal Surgery? If possible, it is always wise to get a second opinion. But wait! Do your homework first. This is what I would do before seeing a spine surgeon for a second opinion…. 1. Go with a trusted friend or family member. Two sets of ears and two […]
I Have What?
The report is in front of you. And it looks dire. Degeneration, bulges, herniations and annular tears. It sounds terrible! Let’s talk… I am not a radiologist but I have seen a lot of MRI’s and MRI reports over the years. I have taken many courses and have been privileged enough to work with several […]
Degenerative Disk Disease? There Will be Pain…Maybe
Have you been told you have Degenerative Disk Disease? If so, welcome to the club. If you live long enough, you will get it. If you think about it, degenerative disk disease really should not be called a disease, as it is the normal process of disk degradation. It is like saying aging is a […]
Cervical Selective Nerve Block
What is a Cervical Selective Nerve Block? For people with arm pain and tingling secondary to a pinched nerve in the neck, most of the time, the pain does get better. But for a small minority, the pain remains constant despite all conservative treatments. For those people, your physician may offer injections of cortisone to the neck. The rationale being, […]
Spinal Stenosis and Weightlifting – Is it a Good Idea?
As we get older, almost all of us are going to have some degree of spinal stenosis. It is now felt that a moderate weight training regimen will make a difference with our future spine health. As with most things that are good for us, we should start now. Also, like most things, too much […]
