Best Exercises for Arthritis Pain
We all know that exercise is important for our health and well-being. This is especially true for those who suffer from osteoarthritis.
You may think that exercise causes further damage to your painful joints. The exact opposite is true. A therapeutic exercise program can help to relieve pain. It also strengthens the muscles that are designed to protect your joints.
Understanding…
Unhealthy Habits That Cause Back Pain
Everyone has bad habits, and unfortunately, they are not easy to break. Some bad habits are relatively harmless, but others may lead to a risk of injury over time. There are many bad practices that contribute to debilitating back conditions such as degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis, herniated discs, and more.
Frequent Offenders
As mentioned, there are a myriad of bad practices that may…
Is Fibromyalgia Causing Your Neck & Back Pain?
What is Fibromyalgia (FM)?
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disorder that causes widespread pain, including back and neck discomfort. In addition, the body may also be tender to the touch (known as allodynia). This sensitivity can occur across the entire body, or the pain can migrate to different areas. Along with the many symptoms associated with FM, pain and tenderness can ebb and flow over…
Surgical Treatments for a Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve (radiculopathy) occurs when too much pressure is applied to a given nerve. This is generally caused by surrounding tissues, such as cartilage, muscles, bones, or tendons. This pressure can stop the nerve from functioning properly. Furthermore, people with this condition often feel pain, tingling, numbness or weakness.
This condition can occur in the body at a variety of…
Understanding Cervicogenic Headaches & Neck Pain
Understanding Neck Pain & Cervicogenic Headaches (CH)
Headaches happen for many different reasons. More often than not, it can be hard to determine the type and cause of a given headache. Sometimes, a headache will affect other areas of the body, such as the upper spine, or cervical region.
A cervicogenic headache (CH) feels very similar to a migraine, so they are easy to misdiagnose.…
What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS)?
Normally, standard spinal procedures are done using long incisions down the back. This process is called “open surgery.” When using open procedures on the spine, the soft tissues and muscles need to be moved away. In some cases, tissues even need to be removed. There are many more risk factors involved with this method and the recovery time can be much longer.
(MISS), on the other hand, uses…
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction: An Overlooked Source of Back & Hip Pain
Pinpointing the Source of Back & Hip Pain
Struggling with back and hip pain affects how you live your life. In fact, the pain can keep you from enjoying your favorite activities or spending time with family. Back pain can have many causes, like muscle strain, arthritis, bulging discs, or skeletal irregularities. An experienced doctor can pinpoint the source of your pain and help you find…
Pre-Surgery Tips to Maximize Your Spine Surgery Recovery
Optimize Your Spine Surgery Recovery Process
When it comes to maximizing your spine surgery recovery, the name of the game is often planning. (And believe us when we say, there’s a lot to think about!) To give yourself a leg up over what can be a lengthy healing process, you’ll want go into spine surgery as your most healthy self. You’ll also want to consider all the hidden in’s and out’s of the…
Recognize the Warning Signs of a Back Pain Emergency
What is a Back Pain Emergency?
Back pain emergencies are rare… but they do happen. And, it can be tricky to distinguish the truly “insidious” from the “benign.” That’s because back pain—usually a guiding light in these matters—is an unreliable indicator of critical status when it comes to back pain emergencies. In fact, sometimes the least serious conditions, like a torn muscle, are the most…
What are the Symptoms of a Lumbar Herniated Disc?
What is a Lumbar Herniated Disc?
A lumbar herniated disc occurs when a spinal disc in the lower back ruptures, or “herniates.”
Herniated discs can also occur in the mid-back (thoracic) or neck (cervical) regions of the spine. However, in patients between the ages of 25 - 55, 95% of all herniated discs affect the lumbar spine. And, in particular, the spinal discs between the L4/L5 and L5/S1…