Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD Even though our unwelcome houseguest is still hanging around, many people who were unemployed, laid off or furloughed because of COVID-19 are now returning to work out of economic necessity. These folks are surprised to find that they are experiencing significant back pain, perhaps for the first time in their lives,… Read more »
Mark W. McFarland, DO The neck area or cervical spine has many muscles, ligaments and tendons that help to support, stabilize, and provide movement for the neck and head as they sit on the spinal vertebrae. When you think about it anatomically, it’s an architectural masterpiece that works together beautifully when healthy. But then, life… Read more »
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD As we pass through the summer heat, we start to think about fall outdoor activities to keep ourselves moving. Bicycling through the mountains, viewing the fall colors and enjoying the breeze sounds great. Please be safe! Even though a lovely bike ride is inviting, researchers at the Harvard Medical School evaluated… Read more »
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD As surgery advances and becomes more commonplace, more patients will have spinal hardware (i.e., screws, rods, plates) used to stabilize the bones of their spines. The hardware has great advantages over the older techniques of providing spine stability with an external brace. This difference can be equated to having surgery for… Read more »
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD Patients can be very concerned with the words “degenerative disc disease” or “spondylosis” when used in the report sent from a radiologist’s reading of an MRI. These phrases and words are used synonymously with “arthritis”. Our spinal discs wear with time, just like brake pads on a car. This wear is… Read more »
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 »
Boyd W. Haynes III, MD Bicycling is a wonderful exercise for anyone who wants to stay fit, be outdoors and it can be as competitive or as laid back as you want it to be. You can race with others in your age bracket in a ranked sporting event or you can take your cruiser… Read more »
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 »
Mark W. McFarland, DO Cervical Dystonia, also called spasmodic torticollis, is a painful disorder that causes twisting or turning of the head due to involuntary spasms of the muscles in the neck. It can cause the head to twist in a variety of directions, like chin to chest, chin straight up or down or ear… Read more »
Jenny L. F. Andrus, MD Nerve blocks are commonly used by many types of physicians to prevent or treat pain. An anesthetic medication is injected near the nerve that affects a specific area of the body to provide effective, short-term pain relief to the patient. For example, nerve blocks may be administered by Anesthesiologists before… Read more »