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VSI® | Spine Solutions

14 hours ago

If you’ve been living with back or neck pain — and surgery is now part of the conversation — deciding between disc replacement and spinal fusion can feel overwhelming.

You’ve probably started researching, reading other patients’ experiences, and trying to figure out what the right decision actually is.

In this episode of Get Back to Your Life®, VSI spine surgeon Dr. Colin Haines and physical therapist Larry Grine break down how these decisions are really made — including what makes someone a candidate for disc replacement vs fusion, and how factors like anatomy, lifestyle, and long-term goals all play a role.

But this conversation goes beyond the procedure itself.

They also walk through what many patients don’t fully understand going in — how preparation before surgery and commitment to recovery afterward can have a major impact on your outcome.

From prehab and surgical planning to early movement and long-term recovery, this episode gives you a clearer picture of what it actually takes to get back to doing the things you love.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next, this conversation will help you move forward with more clarity and confidence.

💡 Learn more about Dr. Haines: https://www.spinemd.com/medical_team/dr-colin-haines/
💡 Learn more about Larry Grine: https://www.spinemd.com/medical_team/larry-grine/

🔗 Learn more about expert, surgical and non-surgical spine care at VSISpine.com

👍 Found this helpful? Like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear this.
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If you've been searching any of the following terms, keep listening:
Disc replacement vs fusion, spinal fusion recovery, artificial disc replacement, spine surgery recovery, back pain treatment options, spine surgery decision, prehab physical therapy

Disc Replacement vs. Fusion: How to Make the Right Decision

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

1 weeks ago

VSI is proud to mark the world’s first spine surgery performed using the Medtronic Stealth AXiS™ Autopilot system: a next-generation platform that integrates AI-powered surgical planning, robotic guidance, optical navigation, and real-time segmental tracking into a single, connected workflow.

Spine surgeons Drs. Christopher Good, Colin Haines, and Ehsan Jazini are the first in the world to operate using this robotic system. The procedure was performed at Reston Hospital Center.

This achievement builds on VSI’s longstanding leadership in surgical innovation and a growing track record of world-first procedures in minimally invasive, robotic-assisted, and augmented reality spine surgery — a reflection of our commitment to advancing solutions that get our patients back to improved quality of life, safer and faster than ever before.

Learn more: https://www.spinemd.com/resources/blog/worlds-first-spine-surgery-with-stealth-axis-autopilot/

World’s First Spine Surgery with Stealth AXiS™ Autopilot | Spine Surgeon Explains

1.2K

VSI® | Spine Solutions

2 weeks ago

Dr. Niteesh Bharara, Physiatrist and Sports Medicine specialist at VSI® joined Fox5 DC to break down often-overlooked reality: basketball injuries don’t just affect your knees and ankles,your spine is involved in every movement.

You’ll learn:
- Why basketball can be uniquely hard on your spine
- The biggest mistakes “weekend warriors” make
- How to prevent basketball injuries
- When pain is a warning sign—and you need to seek care
- Non-surgical treatment options, including PRP and regenerative medicine to heal basketball injuries without surgery.

More Resources:
- Hear more injury prevention tips: https://youtu.be/0OuQNJjKsFU
- Hear more injury prevention tips: https://youtu.be/0u20PYMKgdI
- Read Dr. Bharara's blog: https://www.spinemd.com/resources/podcasts/safeguarding-your-game-slam-dunk-strategies-to-prevent-basketball-injuries/
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Dr. Niteesh Bharara is a double-board certified physiatrist who is recognized in the top 7% of physicians in the United States and earned his medical degree at University of Alabama. Leading the Mid-Atlantic region in regenerative therapies and injections such as stem cell therapy, PRP therapy, and adipose fat injections, he received training in physical medicine & rehabilitation with a fellowship in pain medicine at Temple University Hospital. His reputation for getting athletes and active individuals back to their passions has earned him the title of Face of Regenerative Medicine by Washingtonian Magazine and Top Doctor recognition in consecutive years.
🔗 Learn more about Dr. Bharara: https://www.spinemd.com/medical_team/dr-niteesh-bharara/

#marchmadness #Basketball #BackPain #spinehealth #VSI #injuryprevention #basketballinjury

Fastest Way to Heal Basketball Injuries Without Surgery

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

1 months ago

If you're in the middle of trying to figure out what to do about your back pain, whether that means researching your diagnosis, weighing surgical options, or trying to understand what recovery actually looks like, this episode was made for you.

We've done something a little different with this one...
We went back through some of our most powerful conversations and pulled the moments that matter most for patients at exactly this stage of their journey. Think of it as a “greatest hits”, built around the questions we hear most often, and the answers that have resonated most with our listeners over time.

You'll hear from VSI spine surgeons like Dr. Christopher Good and Dr. Ehsan Jazini on what a surgical consultation should look like, and why so many patients end up making decisions without the full picture. You'll also hear from Dr. Colin Haines, Dr. Niteesh Bharara, and Dr. Yash Mehta on why pain persists, what it's actually telling you, and when it's time to stop waiting for it to 'get better'. And you'll hear from one of our Physician Assistants as well as two patients, Rachel and Nick, on what the other side of spine surgery recovery really looks like.

By the end of this episode, you'll have a clearer sense of the questions worth asking, the options worth exploring, and what it actually means to go into a spine surgery decision , and your recovery, feeling prepared.

If any of these conversations resonate with you, we'd encourage you to go deeper. Links to the full episodes with every doctor and patient featured today are below.

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro: Why Pain Keeps Coming Back
3:47 - What Spine Surgery Should Look Like
6:37 - The Power of Getting a Second Opinion
8:55 - Spine Surgery Recovery
11:53 - What’s on the Other Side of Spine Surgery at VSI

Ready to watch the full episodes?
On Pain Relief:
- Dr. Haines Says, "It's Not Normal to Hurt": https://youtu.be/gUDjPiiCjHE
- Dr. Bharara Shares the Risks of Pushing Through Pain: https://youtu.be/ube8uiuSvww
- Dr. Mehta's Tips for Lasting Back Pain Relief: https://youtu.be/PPCCZz1KqqE

On Spine Surgery:
- Dr. Jazini & Dr. Good on Pain After a Prior Surgery: https://youtu.be/EXcif6LPZQ0
- Dr. Good Explains Spinal Fusion vs. Disc Replacement: https://youtu.be/UO3I4QWMPvY
- Dr. Jazini Shares the Importance of an Individualized Approach: https://youtu.be/ntSbxtB6KfY
- VSI Surgical Team Gets Real about Preparing for Surgery: https://youtu.be/cEtCjGl8G58

On Recovery:
- Dr. Good on How to Accelerate Recovery: https://youtu.be/wvbdfOSL118
- Nick's Disc Replacement Journey: https://youtu.be/yDXCiArmSis
- Rachel's Disc Replacement Recovery: https://youtu.be/dCKS5k8n8oc

Read the blog: https://www.spinemd.com/resources/podcasts/the-back-pain-roadmap-from-experts/

🖥️ For more information about VSI's approach to Spine Surgery, visit us at https://www.vsispine.com
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- VSI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vsi_spine/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vsi_spine?lang=en

SUBSCRIBE to our channel to see more resources for back and neck pain relief.

#backpain #backpainrelief #spinesurgery #spinesurgeryrecovery #secondopinion #secondopinionspinesurgery #spinesurgeryoptions #backpaintreatmentoptions #persistentbackpain

Before You Say Yes to Spine Surgery… Watch This

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

1 months ago

Dr. Haines is the first surgeon in the Mid-Atlantic to complete 100 disc replacements with prodisc® L from Centinel Spine. While it is one of the options that our surgeons use, our biggest priority is always selecting the right implant for the right patient.

Read more about their achievement here: https://www.spinemd.com/resources/news/vsi-leads-lumbar-disc-replacement/

Which lumbar disc implant is right for me?

469

VSI® | Spine Solutions

1 months ago

Basketball is harder on the spine than you might think!

Dr. Bharara, Sports Medicine Physiatrist, joined DC News Now's Living Local DMV show to share what’s really happening to your back on the basketball court + how to protect it this March Madness season.

#basketball #basketballinjury #spinehealth #backpainrelief #sportsmedicine

Basketball is harder on the spine than you might think!

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VSI® | Spine Solutions

1 months ago

March Madness is here... And so is the #1 most injury-prone sport in America 🏀

Did you know basketball accounts for more than a quarter of all sports-related emergency room visits in the U.S.? Whether you're a weekend warrior hitting the rec center or a seasoned player in a competitive league, your body, especially your spine, can take a serious hit every time you step on the court.

Dr. Niteesh Bharara, Sports Medicine Physiatrist and Director of Regenerative Medicine at VSI® joined the Living Local DMV show to share his slam-dunk strategies for staying healthy, mobile, and injury-free this basketball season.

💡 Dr. Bharara doesn't just treat basketball injuries in athletes, he also plays in a competitive league twice a week.

Tune in for expert advice from someone who lives it.

- Why basketball can be uniquely hard on your spine
- The best stretches to warm up to play basketball
- How dehydration makes you significantly more vulnerable to injury
- The importance of core strength for injury prevention
- Dr. B's "48-hour rule" for knowing when it's time to stop "playing through pain" and actually see a doctor
- Cross-training strategies like yoga, Pilates, and tennis that protect you on the court

More Resources:
- Hear more injury prevention tips: https://youtu.be/0OuQNJjKsFU
- Read Dr. Bharara's blog: https://www.spinemd.com/resources/podcasts/safeguarding-your-game-slam-dunk-strategies-to-prevent-basketball-injuries/
----
Dr. Niteesh Bharara is a double-board certified physiatrist who is recognized in the top 7% of physicians in the United States and earned his medical degree at University of Alabama. Leading the Mid-Atlantic region in regenerative therapies and injections such as stem cell therapy, PRP therapy, and adipose fat injections, he received training in physical medicine & rehabilitation with a fellowship in pain medicine at Temple University Hospital. His reputation for getting athletes and active individuals back to their passions has earned him the title of Face of Regenerative Medicine by Washingtonian Magazine and Top Doctor recognition in consecutive years.
🔗 Learn more about Dr. Bharara: https://www.spinemd.com/medical_team/dr-niteesh-bharara/

#marchmadness #Basketball #BackPain #spinehealth #VSI #injuryprevention #basketballinjury

Basketball & Back Pain: Slam Dunk Strategies to Stay Injury-Free

47

VSI® | Spine Solutions

2 months ago

VSI Neurologist Dr. Akkerman joined Fox5 DC to break down the warning signs of a migraine and and what you can actually do about it.

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

#migraineawareness #headacherelief #migrainesolutions

Is it ‘just a headache’? Or something more?

1.1K

VSI® | Spine Solutions

2 months ago

Migraines affect nearly 40% of people globally, but women are 2–3x more likely to experience them than men.

Hormonal fluctuations can increase pain sensitivity and make migraines more frequent and more disabling and yet, many women’s symptoms are still misunderstood or mistreated. Dr. Ella Akkerman, Neurologist at VSI, joined Fox5 to explain why and what you can do about it if you suffer from migraines.

In this Fox5 DC (Good Day DC) segment, Dr. Akkerman breaks down:
- The difference between a “regular” headache vs. a true migraine
- Common triggers like stress, sleep disruption, and hormones
- What’s happening in the brain (including the role of CGRP)
- Treatment options, including preventive and abortive therapies
- Why tracking symptoms with a migraine diary can help you identify patterns and get relief

Dr. Akkerman also gives a practical tip for understanding if you are suffering from a headache or a migraine: The key is the level of disability. If your headaches are regularly impacting your daily functions and sidelining you from your life, it is not just a regular headache and you could be suffering from migraines.

💡 Learn more and find a specialist for migraine relief: https://www.spinemd.com/conditions/migraines/
📍 VSI (Reston, VA) | Neurology and Spine Care
📲 Follow VSI Neurology on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vsi_neurology/

About Dr. Akkerman:
Dr. Ella Akkerman is a board-certified Neurologist with over 15 years of experience treating neurological disorders including chronic headaches, migraines, nerve pain, balance issues, neuropathy, movement disorders, and more. She focuses on patient-centered care, clear diagnostics, and interdisciplinary treatment. Her true goal is helping patients understand their symptoms and take back quality of life.

#migraine #migraines #womenshealth #neurology #headache #migraineawareness #hormones #GoodDayDC #VSI #VSISpine

Why Women Suffer from Migraines and What Actually Helps

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