Tag Archives: Spinal surgery

Teen Spinal Surgery and Shorter Recovery Time.

Posted on February 2, 2012 by forest

A lot of sports that teens take part in like soccer, football, hockey, basketball or even swimming can cause back problems. Some of these problems are herniated disks, spinal cord, nerve and fractured vertebras. Teen surgery is a procedure that they will have to live with and hopefully will not have to be repeated in years to come. Teen surgery needs to be correctly done so that the teen will not have chronic pain as they grow older.
The Houston spine center has highly qualified surgeons in their field.

Years ago back surgery was very invasive, left large scars and the recovery times were long. At the spine center they use minimally invasive procedures. Surgeries are minimally invasive, shorter OR times some can be on an outpatient basis, and best of there is no cutting of important tissue or nerves. Teen recovery from spinal surgery is greatly reduced. Complications from these spinal surgeries are far less than they were with large open scar surgeries years ago. Continue reading →

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Spyder System: Innovative Spinal Retractor System

Posted on January 23, 2012 by forest

Orthopedic surgeons specialize in working with the musculoskeletal system of the human body. When a patient needs any type of spinal surgery it is an orthopedic surgeon that performs it. Traditionally, orthopedic surgeons perform “open” surgery on a patient’s spine. This type of surgery involves making a long incision and dissecting and retracting layers of tissue until the target affected area is visible and accessible. This is known as an invasive procedure for spine treatment.

There are ways to perform spinal surgery in a minimally invasive manner. One company has developed a spinal retractor system that is used in minimally invasive spinal surgery. The company is Aesculap and the product is the Spyder Minimally Invasive Spinal Retractor System.

The Spyder method is used in the lumbar region and is compatible with a screw system also designed by Aesculap called the Pedicle Screw System. The system mechanism is fully adjustable in multiple directions. One other feature of the system is that it contains blades that can be removed during the operation without the need to remove the retractor frame as well. Continue reading →

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Benefits of a Spine Doctor

Posted on December 26, 2011 by forest

A few years ago back surgery was regarded as a last result option for many, because the surgery seemed to limit a person over the long term and not help them. Things have now changed in the procedures, and approach that doctors take with spine surgery compared to years prior. There will be people who will need a surgeon who are searching, for an outstanding Houston spine doctor, to help them address their physical problems with their spinal issues.

The advancements in medicine have made spine surgeons more sought out today, because people see the practice as a safer option compared to years prior. The reason for this is that many are discovering that there are many benefits now for them to have spinal surgery. The benefits for a person are less back pain, the ability to move around physically a lot better, and a reduced need for drugs to mask the pain that an individual is coping with in their spine.

There are many athletes now that have spinal surgery when their spines are injured. Back surgery can help an athlete reduce the pain that they are enduring so they are able to do the physical activities that they need so they can be successful once again in their particular sport. A regular person who isn’t a professional athlete can also see the advantage of having spinal surgery by having their pains in their back reduced to a minimum, so they can live a comfortable and a more pain free life. Continue reading →

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Coping With Back Pain

Posted on September 16, 2011 by forest

Are you the kind of person who is suffering from lower back pain? Many conditions can afflict a person over the years; this is one of the only times where your mobility and your quality of life can be affected to such an extreme that you are desperate for solutions. Most turn to the over-the-counter solution in the form of heating pads, pain relievers, or braces. The worst part is, pain as you get older is almost inevitable. As the body ages, normal wear and tear takes its toll on the spine and muscles, only dwarfed by injuries and/or trauma suffered from serious accidents. In other cases, back pain, lower back pain specifically, can be a sign of more serious underlying issues or the result of poor lifestyle.

The good news is there are solutions to coping with your pain. Not ever ache and cramp requires a run to the hospital for spinal surgery. Instead, try to cope through non-surgical means. Make sure you are getting enough rest everyday, but not too much. Stagnate living can actually aggravate the symptoms or possible condition. Apply heat and ice to affected areas. Application of cold packs can help reduce inflammation following traumas. After a few days of cold treatment to the tender areas, patients can begin to utilize heat in the form of heating lamps, warm baths and heating pads for brief periods to relax the muscles. A patient should see to it that they are also seeing a back pain doctor referred to by their primary care physician. Only the proper licensed individual can prescribe heavier pain medications if necessary when other methods of treatment are either ineffective or not enough. Proper exercise within personal means and routine massage therapy are also shown to strengthen and improve back muscles while simultaneously relaxing the strain. In the meantime, make sure to chronicle back pain when it persists, as well as what you were doing and the time of day. These are useful pieces of information for your doctor when trying to diagnose and treat your pain. Continue reading →

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Reasons for Back Pain

Posted on July 11, 2011 by forest

Since poor posture is one of the biggest reasons for upper, middle and lower back pain, it is vital that correct posture begin from the bottom up with proper fitting footwear.  The type of support a person’s shoes need depends upon the shape of the foot and whether or not one has any foot instability.

Pronation, Over-Pronation and Under-Pronation
Pronation is the normal inward roll of your foot to absorb the shock of walking or running.  Some pronation is needed for the foot to function normally.  However, too much pronation, known as over-pronation, causes your arch to collapse which adds stress to the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the foot.  Over-pronators need shoes with built in support features.

Some people Under-pronate, which means that the foot does not roll inward enough to adequately absorb shock.  Under-pronators need flexible shoes with additional cushioning.

Shoes and Orthotic Inserts
Purchasing shoes which closely match your foot type is the best prevention for injury and pain.  Some characteristics of the best shoes for back pain are as follows: Continue reading →

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Tips for Interviewing a Spinal Surgeon

Posted on June 27, 2011 by forest

Chronic back pain can be difficult to deal with. When other treatments have not fixed the problem, surgery could be an option. There are several important questions to ask a spinal surgeon when considering surgery.

Questions for Before Surgery

- How will surgery help?
- What surgery is being recommended?
- Can it be described in clear terms?
- What are the benefits of the surgery?
- What are the risks of the surgery?
- How often has the surgeon performed this surgery before?

Spinal surgery, like any surgery, contains risks and a surgeon should be looked at carefully before making a decision to have surgery. Ask what surgery the surgeon is recommending. See if what will be done during the surgery can be explained in clear and easy to understand terms. Ask the surgeon how often they have done this surgery before. Experience will matter, so make sure to select a surgeon familiar with the surgery to be done.
Find out what the benefits of the surgery will be. Spinal surgery is usually done Continue reading →

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6 Common Causes of Back Pain

Posted on May 26, 2011 by forest

Suffering from back pain? Millions of Americans suffer from back pain annually, so you are not alone. Understanding the underlying cause of back pain is essential for proper diagnosis. While this is not a comprehensive list, these are 6 common causes of back pain.

Ruptured Disc- Many patients are diagnosed with a ruptured disc, or herniated disc, when the underlying condition presents symptoms such as leg pain, lower leg weakness and persistent back pain. When the ruptured disc presses against spinal nerves, pain can result.

Spinal Stenosis- This conditions affects men and women equally, typically among adults over the age of 50, and is attributed to the aging process. As the space surrounding the spinal cord narrows, nerves can become compressed, resulting in chronic pain.

Discogenic Back Pain- As we age, lumbar disc degeneration is often experienced. While some do not experience pain as a side effect, extreme pain and discomfort is felt by others.

Continue reading →

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