How Come my Doctor did not order an X-Ray?
That is a question often asked of me and my staff. The better question is “Why should you get an X-ray for back pain?” The answer to that question is “It depends.” I know. you want a better answer. But, there is a logic to the response. The most important determining factor on the need […]
Sex and Low Back Pain
Counseling on Sex and Low Back Pain is sensitive but necessary. After gaining the trust of my patients, this does become a common topic. You could imagine, it can be difficult to keep a straight face while fielding very graphic and detailed questions. But, there has been some research on this very topic as sex is instinctual, with physical, […]
Spine Surgery? Sometimes, it is better to wait.
If you have a serious life or limb threatening condition, you need to trust your physicians and get spine surgery if that is their recommendation. If you have a serious life or limb threatening condition, I hope you are not reading this blog, and instead getting medical care NOW. For the rest of you, please […]
Is a Pinched Nerve a Permanent Problem?
As a Spine Surgeon, I see people with pinched nerves almost everyday. Fortunately, most pinched nerves do not become a permanent problem. That is why greater than 98% of pinched nerves can be treated without an operation. Pinched nerves are commonly caused by herniated nucleus pulposus (disk herniation), cervical and lumbar spondylosis (bone spurs). The […]
Spinal Cord Injuries
Unfortunately, as a spine surgeon, I have had to deal with spinal cord injuries. Fortunately, it remains a rare occurrence. But, the consequences can be devastating. The least catastrophic of spinal cord injuries is the spinal cord contusion. In the simpliest term, it is a bruising of the spinal cord, with associated inflammation, and irritation […]
Poor Surgery Outcomes with Narcotics
In the June 2014 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American edition), Dennis Lee, MD and colleagues submitted a Paper titled “Preoperative Opiod Use as a Predictor or Adverse Postoperative Self-Reported Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Spine Surgery”. The paper discussed an investigation performed at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville Tennesee. 583 patients, […]
