Virginia Spine Institute

VSI Blog

Pain Management

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 [...]


ACUPUNCTURE FOR BACK PAIN?

Back pain is one of the most prevalent reasons people seek health care. Millions of work days and recreation hours are lost each year because of back pain. Back pain comes in many forms: new or chronic , acute or long standing, constant or intermittent throughout the day. It also arises from various sources, including [...]


CAUSES OF LOW BACK PAIN DURING MENSTRUATION & 8 TIPS TO MINIMIZE THIS MONTHLY OCCURENCE

Menstruation can consist of abdominal pain, bloating, and headaches for most women. In addition to the typical symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle, some women also suffer from low back pain. This low back pain can range from a subtle annoyance to debilitating pain during those days of the month. The pain experienced is typically [...]


TOP 11 NON-OPERATIVE TREATMENTS FOR THAT PAIN IN YOUR NECK

Did you know most spinal conditions do NOT require surgical intervention? In fact, of the 50,000 patients we have treated in the past 20 years neck pain is one of the most frequent conditions. The positive news is that we manage the majority of these patients with “non-operative” care that’s often called “conservative” care. Prior to [...]


ASK THE EXPERT: I have radiating pain down my legs (caused by herndiated discs) and have tried everything to resolve it. What are my treatment options?

Question: I have two herniated discs that have caused pain to radiate down my legs to my feet. I have tried everything from chiropractic and acupuncture to physical therapy and medications. But the pain is just getting worse. How does a doctor decide if surgery is the answer? And how long is too long to [...]