Working Together

Finding Solutions

Relieving Pain

The Ultimate Choice For Ultimate Spine Solutions^®

Explore Our Resources

Empowering Our Patients Through Shared Knowledge

Join The Conversation

#MyVSIVictoryStory

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

23 hours ago

85% of Americans start their day with caffeine, often within minutes of waking up. But did you know that when and how you drink your morning coffee could be sabotaging its brain-boosting benefits? Most of us reach for caffeine within minutes of waking up—but experts say we might be doing it all wrong.

VSI Neurologist, Dr. Ella Akkerman, recently joined Fox5 DC's Lion Lunch Hour to reveal the science behind optimizing your daily cup of joe.

In this segment, Dr. Akkerman covers:
✅ The best time to drink coffee (hint: it's NOT right when you wake up)
✅ Why you should always eat before your first cup
✅ How much caffeine is too much—and which roasts have less
✅ What to add (and avoid) in your coffee for maximum brain benefits
✅ Warning signs that your caffeine routine isn't working for you

👩‍⚕️ About Dr. Akkerman:
Dr. Ella Akkerman is a board-certified Neurologist with over 15 years of experience treating a wide range of neurological disorders, including chronic headaches, migraines, nerve pain, balance issues, progressive neuropathy, movement disorders, and other general neurological conditions. She specializes in patient-centered care, expert diagnostics, and interdisciplinary treatment. She translates complex neurological issues into clear concepts, empowering patients along every step of their healthcare journey.

🔗 Learn more about Dr. Akkerman: https://www.spinemd.com/medical_team/dr-ella-akkerman/

#coffee #coffeebenefits #caffeine #neurology #headacherelief #Fox5DC

How to Optimize Your Morning Coffee | Neurologist Explains

9

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

6 days ago

At VSI®, recovery is planned before the procedure even begins, leading to more effective and efficient outcomes for our patients.

If spine surgery is in your future, make sure recovery a part of the discussion with your surgeon.

To learn more about Recovery Revolution at VSI, visit https://www.spinemd.com/recovery

Recovery Revolution™ at VSI, Explained by Dr. Good

328

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

7 days ago

Dr. Christopher Good, President & CEO of VSI, joins Fox 5 DC Morning News to discuss groundbreaking research on spine surgery recovery and introduce The Recovery Revolution™.

The Recovery Gap Crisis
For 1.6 million Americans who undergo spine surgery each year, recovery is the hardest and most neglected phase of spine care. Dr. Good co-led one of the largest spine surgery recovery studies ever conducted, analyzing data from more than 50,000 patients nationwide. The findings are clear: when recovery is planned, supported, and personalized, patients heal faster, experience less pain, and dramatically reduce readmission rates.

Three Ways to Close the Recovery Gap:
- Start Before Surgery: Build recovery into the plan with prehab, education, and strength training so patients go in stronger and heal faster.
- Treat the Whole Patient: Combine high-tech and holistic therapies from hyperbaric oxygen and aquatic therapy to nutrition and mindfulness to accelerate healing and restore function.
- Make Recovery the Metric: Shift success from what happens in the OR to how patients live after. Measure outcomes, track progress, and make recovery the true definition of surgical excellence.

0:00 - Introducing the Recovery Gap
0:23 - The 50,000 Patient Study
1:30 - Top Research Findings on Spine Surgery Recovery
2:04 - Why Doctors Ignore Recovery
3:19 - What to Look for in a Spine Surgeon
3:53 - Dr. Good's Personal Story
4:46 - The Recovery Revolution™

About Dr. Good:
Dr. Christopher Good is a double board-certified spine surgeon ranked in the top 7% of physicians nationwide. He has pioneered the use of robotics, navigation, and augmented reality in spine surgery, and has been consistently named Top Doctor by Washingtonian Magazine and Northern Virginia Magazine. His passion for spine care began with his father's difficult recovery after spine surgery, motivating his lifelong dedication to improving patient outcomes.
To learn more about Dr. Good, visit: https://www.spinemd.com/medical_team/dr-christopher-good/
Dr. Good’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.chris_good/

Featured on: Fox 5 DC Morning News
Air Date: November 6, 2025

Learn More About The Recovery Revolution™:
🌐 Website: https://www.spinemd.com/recovery
📞 Schedule a Consultation: 703.709.1114
📧 Contact: mycare@spinemd.com

#SpineSurgery #RecoveryRevolution #Fox5DC #VSI #DrChristopherGood #postopcare #SurgicalRecovery #BackPain #NeckPain #PatientCare #GetBackToYourLife

Why Recovery After Spine Surgery Matters Most | Dr. Good on Fox5 DC

62

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

1 weeks ago

Dr. Jazini, Spine Surgeon, explains a surgical milestone: the East Coast’s first two-level lumbar disc replacement surgery combined with the TOPS™ (Total Posterior Spine) System.

The procedure addressed the patient's severe back pain due to spinal stenosis and disc degeneration from previous spinal fusion surgery.

To restore function, stability, and motion in the patient, Dr. Jazini utilized a custom, 360-degree approach to address the patient's multiple spinal conditions and relieve their painful symptoms.

To learn more about this milestone, visit the official announcement: https://www.spinemd.com/resources/blog/first-customized-disc-replacement-with-tops/

TOPS + Disc Replacement: Alternative to Spinal Fusion Surgery

1.2K

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

1 weeks ago

If you’ve tried rest, ice, and every “miracle fix” that pops up on your feed, Laser Therapy might be the game-changer you’ve been looking for.

Why it works:
➡️ reduces inflammation
➡️ speeds up tissue repair
➡️ improves circulation
➡️ supports healing for both acute pain and chronic pain

#lasertherapy #painreliever #chronicpainrelief #acutepain #acutepainrelief

Tried Everything for Pain? This Light-Based Treatment ACTUALLY Works!

360

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

1 weeks ago

The surgery itself is most vital step, but small consistent habits like movement, diet, and hydration also play a powerful role in achieving your best recovery from disc replacement surgery.

If you’re exploring disc replacement, comment the questions do you have about recovery 💬

#discreplacement #discreplacementrecovery #lumbardiscreplacement #spinesurgery #recoveryjourney

Recovery after lumbar disc replacement surgery should start before the procedure. #spinesurgery

1.1K

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

2 weeks ago

When walking, focus on posture (tall through the spine, head and shoulders back), take slightly longer strides, and keep a good pace. If symptoms appear after walking for a certain amount of time, stop walking just short of that threshold to rest and repeat the cycle again if you are able.

Have questions about exercising with low back pain? Our athletic trainers can help - Schedule a consultation and assessment today.

#physicaltherapy #lowbackpain #spinehealth #backpainrelief #walkingtips #movementismedicine #rehab #orthopedics #restonva #northernvirginia #vsiphysicaltherapy

“What’s the best exercise for low back pain?” Our answer: Walking ✅

254

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

4 weeks ago

What if the secret to healing faster was already in the air you breathe?

In this special on-location episode of Get Back to Your Life® podcast, Dr. Christopher Good, Spine Surgeon and President at VSI, breaks down one of the latest breakthroughs in spine surgery recovery, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, and how it’s being used right here at VSI to help people who suffer from back and neck pain recover faster.
VSI’s state-of-the-art hyperbaric oxygen chamber delivers 100% oxygen under increased pressure, flooding the body’s tissues with oxygen to accelerate healing, reduce inflammation, and optimize recovery after spine surgery or orthopedic procedures. Dr. Good explains how Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy works, who benefits most, and why it’s quickly becoming a cornerstone of comprehensive recovery care.

At VSI, hyperbaric oxygen therapy represents more than a new technology, it reflects a new philosophy of healing. It’s part of VSI’s Recovery Revolution™, a patient-first model/movement that reimagines what recovery should look like before, during, and after spine surgery. Backed by data from a 50,000-patient study, VSI’s recovery model/approach to recovery combines advanced surgical techniques, regenerative therapies, and proactive recovery planning to help patients heal faster, reduce pain, and return to life stronger than ever.

🎧 Listen to learn:
- How oxygen therapy accelerates healing and reduces pain
- Why it’s becoming a key tool in spine surgery recovery
- What a hyperbaric session feels like, and who should consider it
- How oxygen therapy fits into VSI’s Recovery Revolution™ model for optimal recovery outcomes.

Want a closer look? Follow along Dr. Good’s own hyperbaric session inside the chamber here: https://youtu.be/kdEhfTjIrAo

For additional resources & support, visit our website at VSISpine.com.

Oxygen Therapy: The Key To Accelerated Recovery

57

VSI (Virginia Spine Institute)

4 weeks ago

Word to the wise: don’t believe everything you read online!

Finding a medical team who truly listens to you as a patient AND a person ensures not just a successful spine surgery but more importantly a successful recovery as well.

#spinesurgery #spinesurgeryrecovery #spinalfusion

Lesson of the Day: Don’t believe everything you read online! #spinalfusion

144

Take the First Step to Relief

Schedule Consultation