Many thousands of people experience sciatica pain each year. Many of them seek medical treatment due to persistent, worsening, or recurrent pain. The term sciatica describes compression of the sciatic nerve. When this large nerve, which travels down the buttocks and backs of the legs, is compressed, symptoms may range from mildly frustrating to debilitating.… Read More »
We often hear the term “pain in the neck” to describe a variety of frustrations. To say that neck pain is a pain in the neck is both playful and a start reality. When persistent aching or tension is experienced, it may be difficult to do certain activities. When a pinched nerve in the neck… Read More »
Back and neck pain are not normal. However, these are two of the most common problems that adults live with. Many people tolerate chronic pain for months or years before seeking medical care. We understand why. There are a few common reasons. One is that people often do not think their pain will last. Over… Read More »
When you’ve been living with back pain for too long, the prospect of surgery can be both relieving and intimidating. Many people worry that having back surgery will not improve their condition. Many worry that they may be in more pain after surgery than they were beforehand. This is one of the reasons people put… Read More »
Back and neck pain can be treated in several different ways, most of which do not involve surgery. Even a spinal surgeon will lean toward nonsurgical modalities unless surgery is deemed the only way to improve a patient’s comfort and quality of life. The assumption that a spinal specialist will want to promote surgical treatments… Read More »
When your daily activities are interrupted by chronic back pain, your quality of life may eventually decline. Many people who experience frequent stiffness, aches, cramps, and other symptoms manage them with conservative strategies like anti-inflammatory medication and rest. For some time, these measures may work. If there is an untreated underlying condition causing discomfort, though,… Read More »
Understandably, the very idea of any kind of spinal surgery can bring some degree of stress with it. Surgery does require preparation. It does necessitate a time of healing. At the same time, the benefits far outweigh these aspects of care. A person who undergoes neck surgery has most likely been through a few nonsurgical… Read More »
“Should I get back surgery?” This is not a question most people envision themselves asking. And yet, statistics indicate that acute and chronic back pain affects people around the world. More than 90 percent of people will experience some degree of back pain in their lifetime. In our country, back pain is one of the… Read More »
Spinal nerve compression is a common problem that is typically not referred to in any other way than “my back hurts.” Some people may say that they have a pinched nerve. Regardless of what we call it, chronic pain in the neck or back is not something to ignore. Even though the idea of surgery… Read More »
Usually, the word pain is used as a primary descriptor. We say “my back hurts” or “my head hurts” when we want to express a painful situation. In our office, we reach beyond the vague term of pain to help us better understand what might be happening. Pain signals can be interpreted by the brain… Read More »