Spinal Stenosis is a condition where the tube carrying the spinal cord becomes narrowed. This narrowing may happen with aging but can occur in middle age as well. Individuals with this condition may experience back pain, leg pain, or nothing at all. What determines...
Back Pain
Is My Hip or Back the Problem?
Did you know that your hip could be causing your back pain? Or your hip pain could be the result of your back? The close relationship of the back and hip can sometimes make determining the exact “source” of pain tricky. Internet searches and advice from...
FAST Relief for YOUR Back Pain
Back pain is the #1 musculoskeletal reason that patients seek medical care. This group of patients comprises the highest percentage of patients seen at a typical outpatient physical therapy clinic. The natural history of back pain is to recover, but when it does not...
Why imaging of your spine does not tell the story
Many of the patients who come to see me with spine (neck or back) problems in particular already had imaging. Most if not all come in saying “I have arthritis” or “I have degenerative or bulging/herniated discs”. Yes, well so do 50-70% of...
Avoid the PAIN of spinal surgery by NEVER having ONE
I feel it is important to write on spine surgery given all the publicity it has received in recent months. Two high profile sports figures have been in the news related to their issues with back surgery. To begin with, a few weeks ago, we were told Tiger Woods would...
Exercise- Good or Bad for Pain?
I have been doing some reading lately after having discussions with people about whether exercise is helpful or harmful for those in pain. Do a search on Exercise and Pain and you will get back over 183 million hits. Clearly everyone has an opinion and has put...
Chronic Back Pain…Does it Matter What Exercise?
For those with back pain, be it chronic or new, the question of what to do is present? Do I rest, take medication, see a professional (but WHO?), rely on the advice of friends or family? A quick internet search for back pain will pull up nearly 73 million hits and...
Physical Therapy after Spine Surgery…A MUST
I am always amazed at how doctors and patients alike feel physical therapy after spine surgery is optional. Sure, patients always have the choice, but why go through a major surgery not to do EVERYTHINGÂ you can to recover better and faster? Going to therapy 3 days...
Effects of Pain Medication
There has been a lot of media attention toward prescription pain medication lately. The focus has been on the unnecessary over-zealous prescription of opioids. The problem is not only the addiction they can cause, but also related deaths. There were nearly 30,000...
Importance of Post Surgery Rehab
Any time someone undergoes surgery whether arthroscopic, minimally invasive, or otherwise, proper post-surgery rehab is a must. Many think, I can just walk it off or I can do it myself. How wrong those individuals are. Worst, some of this message is passed down from a...
