Woman gripping her lower back in pain

Detecting The Source Of Your Back Pain. Could It Be Bertolotti Syndrome?

Bertolotti Syndrome is an unique cause of low back pain, particularly focused along the waistline slightly off to the side, that is often confused with sacroiliitis. Bertolotti Syndrome is a diagnosis given to someone with symptomatic pain due to a transitional vertebra that is inflamed. Although it is a very rare cause of back pain,…

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ASK THE EXPERT: Will I Lose Neck Mobility After Surgery?

A common concern that patients have when discussing spinal surgery is whether they will lose mobility and function after the procedure.  This question frequently comes from fear arising from urban myth or historic outcomes from older surgical techniques. Not Your Grandma’s Spine Surgery In modern spinal surgery, the operations are designed to minimize trauma to…

man having lower back pain in the woods

Top 4 Tips To Optimize Any Spinal Treatment

Millions of people experience symptoms related to back or neck pain each year. These symptoms could include tingling, numbness, pins and needles, loss of strength – you name it, someone has felt it. Luckily, as the prevalence of back and neck pain has progressed, so has our understanding of the underlying causes and our ability to treat…

woman on the phone

High Tech Can Be A Pain In The Neck: 3 Easy Ways To Avoid Tech-Neck

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…

Woman gripping her lower back in pain

ASK THE EXPERT: Is My Spinal Nerve Damage Permanent?

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…

Doctor explaining spine to person holding back in pain in foreground

SI Joint Dysfunction—The Great Imitator!

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…

Man gripping his painful lower back with an x-ray of his spine visible

Disc Herniations Are An Unexpected Culprit For Lower Back Pain In Athletes

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…

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Ask the Expert: What Is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?

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…