Golf is one of the most common recreational sports played in America, with over 25 million people participating each year. It even appeals to the younger generations with over 6 million millennials taking to the fairways. As we near the completion of The Masters, however, it’s time we talk about the dark side of the…
It’s hard to catch those zzz’s when you’re suffering with neck or back pain. We get it! Falling and staying asleep can be extremely difficult when you can’t find a comfortable position that doesn’t lead to pain. Additionally, many of our patients report waking up in pain from the night before.Here are the top five tips to…
We’re often asked at VSI how common back pain is — especially as patients are scared and feel alone and isolated in their back pain. There are two ways to answer this question: SO JUST HOW COMMON IS BACK PAIN? Due to its global ramifications, there has been a lot of research to answer this question. Luckily,…
Walking your furry little friend is a great way to maintain a healthy daily exercise routine. In fact, regular walking can help with chronic low back pain. Walking is an essential exercise for the dog but as a caretaker it is important for you to continue walking without injuring your back. Follow these 5 steps…
Now that you’ve shoveled your car out from two feet of snow {and then did it again after the snow plow came through}, let’s take a moment to assess the damage. Did you wake up this morning with sore arms and legs from lifting the heavy snow? What about your lower back — is it…
Often times our patients are scared to schedule an initial consultation with a spinal specialist because they aren’t exactly sure what the appointment will entail. There are a lot of unknowns when it comes to your health, but at VSI we’re here to remove that fear! Here are some tips we’ve compiled to make your first appointment easy…
The spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves and other tissue that extends from the brain through the spinal column. As the spinal cord descends, there are spinal nerves that branch off and go to various parts of the body. It is very important to be able to evaluate the nerves when dealing with…
QUESTION: WHAT CAUSES MY HANDS TO GO NUMB? Answer: Numbness in the hands is usually a result of damage, irritation, or compression of the nerves in your neck, arm, or wrist. It could be compression of one nerve or a branch of one nerve. The most common cause of hand numbness is a compression of a…
Well, it’s official, folks –it’s cold. We’ve written posts before on how cold weather affects chronic pain, but it also contributes to a condition known as Acquired Torticollis. Acquired Torticollis, otherwise known as stiff neck, is the result of muscle spasms in the neck. Symptoms include intense pain on one side of the neck and difficulty…
You’ve either said it or heard someone say, “There’s a storm a brewing, I can feel it in my bones.” But can weather really affect your health and well being? Many people tend to report an increase in pain when there are drastic weather changes. Though there is not full agreement among researchers, there appears to be…
