I’m sure you’ve heard this before and maybe thought it yourself — if you go to a surgeon, they’re just going to recommend surgery. While I can’t speak for all surgeons, data clearly shows that isn’t always the case. There are so many treatment options to help patients dealing with back and neck pain or…
It’s never easy when you experience pain, but there’s no question it’s more difficult than ever when doctors can’t figure out the cause. When that happens, you need a doctor detective – one who is willing to take the time to help you figure out what’s going on and most importantly – what to do…
Are there symptoms or signifiers that a patient may have a tumor on their spine? Patients may have similar symptoms to other pathologies such as disc herniations or stenosis from spondylosis that cause spinal cord or nerve root compression. This may include pain, decreased sensation, or motor weakness. For example, when a patient has signs…
When debilitating back pain began to impact Maggie’s ability to cheer and attend school, she sought help from VSI. After diagnosis and successful treatment for what Dr. Haines discovered to be Bertolotti’s Syndrome, Maggie is now back doing what she loves as a cheerleader for Clemson University. Dr. Colin Haines, Spine Surgeon; and his patient,…
Cheerleading is an incredible popular sport, with more than 3 million involved across the US. These are serious athletes who can develop very serious injuries, especially along and around the spine. So we are talking in this episode with Dr. Colin Haines from VSI about how he helps competitive cheerleaders deal with back and neck…
Eighty percent of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their life so we shouldn’t be surprised that it’s a common reason adults call out sick to work. Whether your job is a physical one that keeps you on your feet all day long or you’re moving and carrying heavy things or you’re…
As we age, our bodies undergo various changes, and the spine is no exception. Conditions like spondylosis, spondylolysis, and spondylolisthesis are commonly heard medical terms related to the spine. While they sound similar, they each have specific characteristics and modes of treatment. Knowing what they mean is just the first step to finding healing –…
Bertolotti’s Syndrome (BS) is rare — with research showing it affects just 4–8% of the population. But it’s something we are both very familiar with as spine surgeons because it’s a cause of low back pain in young patients. Word of mouth referrals are strong among those who have Bertolotti’s because knowledge about the condition…
It’s time to talk about a little-known source of back pain that often goes overlooked. In this episode, Dr. Niteesh Bharara explains more about facet joints and answers your frequently asked questions. What are facet joints? What problems do they cause? And what can you do about it?
SI joint problems can be tricky to diagnose. Although imaging is a diagnostic tool, X-rays alone can’t fully identify the problem. Another problem in this area is that while the injury wasn’t well known for some time, now – thanks to an over-abundance of so-called ‘treatments’, it’s actually over-diagnosed and now you can find an endless…
