Mark W. McFarland, DO As a spine specialist and surgeon, x-ray and MRI are pretty much the tools of my trade; however, I occasionally need more detail or different detail than they can provide. That’s when I order a Myelogram. In this article, I will discuss what a Myelogram is, why it is ordered, what… Read more »
Category: Disc herniation
Chronic Neck Pain
Raj N. Sureja, MD When a patient with chronic neck pain gets referred to me, an Interventional Pain Management Specialist, I am often considered a last resort for treatment. Typically, the patient has tried every treatment that their PCP has to offer, been to a Chiropractor, Physical Therapist, massage therapist, to an Orthopaedist, and may… Read more »
Treating Chronic Pain from Spinal Osteoarthritis
Did you know that Spinal Osteoarthritis is the number one cause of lower back pain in those over the age of 50? While it is most commonly seen in the lower back, it can also occur in the neck. This is the kind of arthritis that is known as “wear and tear” arthritis and typically… Read more »
Losing Your Balance as You Age? It Could be Cervical Myelopathy
Spine surgery encompasses many aspects of patient mobility, but none as serious as spinal cord injury. Injury to the spinal cord can happen from an accident where the bones get violently moved out of position and pinch the spinal cord. This may just be an instant compression on impact than released or a sustained compression… Read more »
Cervical Radiculopathy
Raj N. Sureja, MD The human neck is comprised of seven vertebral bones known as the cervical area of the spine. This column of bones is stacked on top of each other and houses the upper portion of the spinal cord and many nerve roots that shoot off and go to different areas of the… Read more »
Tumors of the Spine
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD Tumors are an abnormal collection or mass of cells that multiply rapidly without the “on/off” switch normal cells possess. Spinal tumors that are directly related to spine cells are rare and we are not sure what causes most spinal tumors; however, a very small percentage can be caused by genetic… Read more »
Lumbar Spine Fusion
Mark W. McFarland, DO As a busy spine surgeon, I routinely perform Lumbar Spine Fusion surgery. In this article, I will discuss this procedure and how it is used to improve function and relieve pain in patients with certain spinal conditions. The lumbar spine is made up of five bone segments, called vertebra, which… Read more »
I Think my Balance is Off & I Keep Falling – Why?
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD The title of this article echoes complaints I often hear from patients in the exam room. Poor balance can be caused or exacerbated by many things – aging, medications, blood pressure, ear infections or disorders, arthritis, circulation issues – the list is long. However, most folks don’t know that a problem… Read more »
Will I Need Another Spine Surgery?
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD As a fellowship trained spine surgeon, I see patients every day that have had spine surgery in the past but who are again facing worsening pain and dysfunction. When they had their initial surgery, they were told that this procedure would correct their current problem for a time, but they should… Read more »
Degenerative Disc Disease
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD There are some medical terms that confuse patients. There are some medical terms that mean the same thing. There are medical terms that we research on the internet and then find we are more confused than before doing research. Degenerative disc disease (DDD) seems to be one of these terms. On… Read more »