Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD Federal, state and local mandates regarding postponing elective surgery during the Coronavirus outbreak have caused many patients quite a bit of concern and frustration. Managing the logistics of your life around a planned surgery take a lot of time and effort. There are work, family, and social considerations, as well as… Read more »
Mark W. McFarland, DO Did you know that back pain is the number one reason for which people seek medical attention? Having a healthy, non-painful back is essential to living and working well. Let’s discuss some common back injuries and how I treat them. Back Strain – One of the most common complaints I hear… Read more »
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 »
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD Patients who are considering spine fusion have lots of questions about their outcomes related to their surgery. Will this procedure work? How will I be limited after my surgery? When can I get back to work? These questions are certainly valid, but all are secondary to the actual success of the… Read more »
The next generation of artificial cervical discs is all about motion. As alternatives to spinal fusion surgery – which permanently immobilizes damaged regions of the neck – the newest replacement prosthetics aim to mimic the body’s natural structure and movement. Dr. Jeffrey Carlson, a fellowship-trained orthopaedic spine surgeon, has closely followed the development of one… Read more »
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD As we all get busier in life, being injured or sick is a major inconvenience. Every day, I meet with patients with spinal disc herniations in their neck that cause pain in their arm. Some of these patients are in severe pain and cannot perform their daily activities and/or go to… Read more »
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 »
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 »
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD In the spring, young men across America get mopey, starry-eyed and stare off into space, dreamily thinking of only one thing…WHEN is football season going to start? Well, sports fans, August is almost here and the pre-season NFL games will be starting soon, as will college games. With the advent of… Read more »
Jeffrey R. Carlson, MD Patients ask me if surgery on the cervical spine (neck) will relieve their pain and disability. This isn’t an unusual question for those contemplating the potential outcomes of a surgical procedure compared to their current state of dysfunction. The considerations can be especially important for older patients who are losing their… Read more »