Virginia Spine Institute

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Back Pain

GET THAT MONKEY OFF YOUR BACK WITH 5 WORKPLACE ERGONOMICS TIPS

Do you find yourself  leaving work with headaches, back aches, sore shoulders and neck, or wrist pain? These common complaints are typically attributed to poor ergonomics in the workplace. Ergonomics is the science of blending the workstation with the worker in order to increase health and productivity and decrease work-related musculoskeletal disorders. In this post [...]


EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY (MIS), AS TOLD BY DR. HASZ

In a world where health care is constantly evolving and progressing, as a patient it is hard to keep up with the latest procedures and treatment options. Lately, I have been receiving many inquiries and questions from patients surrounding around “minimally invasive surgery”. Through these recent dialogues it has become clear to me that Minimally [...]


TIPS TO SERVE UP A PAIN FREE GAME OF TENNIS!

Tennis is an excellent form of aerobic activity and has many health benefits. It is important, however, to play smart and have proper technique in order to protect your neck and back.  Tennis injuries may occur as the result of a combination of many factors including muscle fatigue, repetitive muscle contractions or overuse. Injuries are [...]


THE BRACE KASE: LIFE BEYOND SCOLIOSIS THROUGH THE EYES OF ADOLESCENT GIRL

I am constantly inspired by the positive attitudes of my patients despite their painful symptoms! In fact just recently a young patient of mine, who is undergoing brace treatment for scoliosis, shared her latest project with me. I was delighted to hear that she had set up a blog to serve as a resource for [...]


SPONDYLOLISTHESIS: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS CONDITION BEYOND IT BEING A 30-POINT SCRABBLE WORD

When back pain sets in, patients ask “How did this happen and why did this happen?”  One of the most common diagnoses is spondylolisthesis, or the forward slippage of one lumbar vertebra on another. Spondylolisthesis is often a result of spondylolysis, a stress fracture through the “pars” bones in the back of the spine. Patients [...]


DEALING WITH THE EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF CHRONIC PAIN

Living with chronic pain is not easy, and with time, can really affect one’s lifestyle. In fact, the psychological effects of chronic pain are often times just as significant as the painful physical condition itself. Emotional effects of chronic pain include irritability, depression, and anxiety.  Chronic pain can also affect one’s ability to interact with [...]


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FOUR TECHNIQUES TO REMEMBER WHEN HEADING OUT TO SHOVEL THIS WINTER

Shovel Away Your Low Back Pain This Winter. Snow shoveling often leads to low back injuries, so it is important to practice proper shoveling techniques to avoid these injuries. 1. PROPER STRETCHING: Warm Up: Think of shoveling like exercise; never start shoveling without a quick warm up! Get your heart rate up with a short [...]