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 […]
Does Optimism Help Spine Surgery Results?
People who undergo elective spine surgery usually fall into three general groups: 1. Hard charging optimists – People who do not have time for the pain, and dysfunction, of spine problems. These folks are often in a rush to go directly to surgery. 2. Cautious realists – These patients spend appropriate time to understand their problem and the risks […]
Research on Twins and Disc Degeneration
So, what if you had a study where identical twins were subject to difference occupations and followed over time to see if there was any difference in the development of disk degeneration? I think everyone would agree that would be a fascinating study. If we had just a study, maybe we would have enough data to […]
The Unintended Consequences of a Spine MRI
So, you have spine pain. In the USA, there is a natural tendency to want to get a Spine MRI as soon as possible. We are in an instant information society, and it would make sense that we would want to instantly see if there is a problem in our back. Naturally, there is aways the […]
