As featured on WTOP.com We live in a digitally connected world, and while there are many benefits to this, for many it is becoming a pain in the neck – literally. Did you know the average American spends over 10 hours a day hunched over their phones and tablets? Pair that with the fact the human head weighs roughly 12…
Quick Anatomy Refresher The body is made up of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system connects our brain and spinal cord to the muscles and skin of our body using nerves. Nerves run through every body part we have, comprised of tens of thousands of fibbers that allow…
It’s no surprise that there are many causes for lower back pain, but over the years the majority of medical professionals have only focused on the familiar, common causes for this pain. This includes discogenic pain, arthritic pain, nerve pain, and musculoskeletal pain. What many doctors fail to realize, however, is that there is another…
It’s no surprise that athletes are highly susceptible to injuries, but more commonly we think of sprains and strains as the culprit. If the ice/heat treatment doesn’t seem to be working, your lower back pain could be the result of something more serious. Disc Herniations: The Unlikely Culprit Within the general population, disc herniations are most common among older…
Do you have tingling and numbness that goes in your buttock, leg, or even down to your toes? While this is unfortunately a common condition, the good news is that we have answers for you! There are many possible causes of your symptoms so a thorough and detailed exam is important in getting you back…
Symptoms of pain or tingling in the shoulder, arm, and/or hand are very common in many of the patients we care for at VSI. There may be several reasons for these symptoms. 4 Common Reasons for Arm Pain or Tingling 1. Nerve Pinching in the Neck All of the nerves that supply the muscles and sensation…
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) is a buzzword often thrown around by doctors and patients seeking the best surgical option for their neck or back pain. And for good reason! MISS offers the same post-surgical benefits as traditional spine surgery, but with much less trauma. Until recently, many surgeons needed to make large incisions which required…
We’ve seen over 100,000 patients at VSI, and many of them have never stepped foot in the OR. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 90% of our patients can be treated non-operatively with physical therapy, spinal injections, regenerative medicine, or a combination of these treatment options. So why would a patient ever need spinal surgery? We’ve compiled the…
No one is exempt from aging. Many of us first become aware of our aging when we reach our thirties. There may be a new wrinkle on the skin or a gray hair showing in a dark head of hair, but these superficial characteristics are external warning signs of an aging process which affects the…
Life is a degenerative process! This sums up the ugly reality that plagues all of us. Due to my family’s strong genetic predisposition for degenerative changes in the spine, I have experienced at a younger age than most the problems that come from a degenerating spine, and consequently the miracles of modern spinal health care. This…
