Bertolotti’s syndrome, a variant of a common spine condition called lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, is an interesting yet lesser-known anomaly affecting the lower spine. Named after the Italian physician Mario Bertolotti, this condition sheds light on the complexities of spinal anatomy and its impact on musculoskeletal health.
Continue reading “Bertolotti’s Syndrome: A Potentially Painful Anomaly of the Lower Spine”MAINTAINING YOUR SPINE AFTER SURGERY
Any back surgery, even a smaller one, is a major procedure that can have significant impacts on a person’s life, both physically and emotionally. While it can sometimes be necessary to address serious spinal issues, it’s obviously preferable to avoid additional surgery if possible. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of needing another back surgery in the future. By adopting healthy habits and making lifestyle changes, you can support your spine and reduce the likelihood of experiencing further problems. Here are five practical steps you can take to help you avoid another back surgery:
Continue reading “MAINTAINING YOUR SPINE AFTER SURGERY”INTRODUCING TAI CHI
A big part of exercising is finding something you enjoy doing that gives you the benefits of exercise without being too hard on your body. Let’s be honest, if you don’t enjoy an exercise, you’re probably not going to keep it up no matter how good it is for you. If you already have an exercise program that works for you, you can just skip to another article. But if you are looking for something low impact that will help with your strength, balance and posture, or if you just want to mix things up because your current exercise regimen, or lack thereof, isn’t working for you, take a look at Tai Chi.
Continue reading “INTRODUCING TAI CHI”CARING FOR YOUR SURGICAL WOUND – TMI EDITION
Caring for a surgical wound is a critical part of your healing process and minimizes the risk of complications. Whether you’ve undergone a minor or major surgical procedure, understanding the essential steps for wound care is vital for a successful recovery. In this article, we will discuss some of the ins and outs on how to take care of your surgical wound.
Continue reading “CARING FOR YOUR SURGICAL WOUND – TMI EDITION”BASIC STRETCHING TECHNIQUES FOR THE BACK
Back pain is a common ailment that can significantly affect our daily lives. Whether it’s caused by falls or accidents, long hours of sitting, improper posture, excessive or improper exercise, or muscle strain, finding relief can seem existential. While medical advice may be needed for chronic or severe back pain, incorporating simple stretches into your routine can provide relief and promote flexibility. Here are some basic stretches that you can do on your own to help alleviate back pain and improve your overall well-being:
Continue reading “BASIC STRETCHING TECHNIQUES FOR THE BACK”ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE
I get asked about acupuncture a lot. And to be honest, patients have given me pretty mixed results. Some patients have had a great experience and absolutely love it. Others felt it to be a waste of time. Ultimately, for some patients and for some conditions acupuncture probably won’t help. However, some patients do benefit and it is worth a try if you have back or neck pain.
Continue reading “ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE”DECIPHERING YOUR MRI RESULTS
Reading your MRI report may make you feel like the character from Dr Seuss’s “What was I afraid of?”
I was deep within the woods
When suddenly I spied them.
I saw a pair of pale green pants
With nobody inside them.
I wasn’t scared but yet I thought
What could those pants be there for?
What could a pair of pale green pants
Be standing in the air for?
When you read the radiologist’s description of your results, it can seem just as strange. Except this time, the stranger in the pants is what’s going on inside you.
Continue reading “DECIPHERING YOUR MRI RESULTS”EXERCISE FOR A HEALTHY SPINE
Exercise is something we all know we should do, but not many do it for one reason or another. However, the evidence is mounting that exercise has many health benefits, including improving back pain and overall spine health. Continue reading “EXERCISE FOR A HEALTHY SPINE”
THE BETTER WAY BACK PROGRAM
If you are considering back surgery, you might be interested in hearing stories from other people who have had back surgery. Or you may want to actually talk to someone who has had back surgery.
Approximately 500,000 back procedures are done in the United States each year. So there are lots of people who have experience with what it’s like. You may have questions like:
- Does spine surgery really work?
- What are the alternatives?
- How painful is the recovery?
- What side effects are there?
- How do I deal with a complication?
- How do I find out more about the back operation I am going to have?
GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF BACK PAIN
Back pain is extremely common. More than 90% of people will suffer from back problems at some point. For most patients, after a little rest and massage, the pain goes away and they are able to resume their normal lives.
However, sometimes the pain just won’t go away. If that’s the case for you, you might be referred for a surgical consultation.
Continue reading “GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF BACK PAIN”