athlete woman working out

Why Athletes Choose Motion-Preserving Spine Surgery Over Spinal Fusion

Following a back injury, lots of athletes are choosing motion-preserving disc replacement surgery over a traditional spinal fusion – so much so that this story has been in the news several times recently with professional athletes. It’s a topic that comes up often for athletes at all levels who want to preserve motion after spine…

heather competing warrior games

Back Surgery Gets Wounded Warrior Back to Competitive Sports

In this episode, we are talking about what’s possible after back surgery. We interview an Air Force Veteran and wounded warrior who is back to competing in the warrior games following two back surgeries. We hear her inspiring story and talk with her doctor – Spine Surgeon Dr. Christopher Good – about how she got…

woman swimming freestyle

Celebrating an Athlete Who Got ‘Back’ in Warrior Mode

Heather has been a life-long athlete, but when she first came to visit Dr. Good, she was experiencing debilitating pain, had been for years and she was frustrated.  “I was 22 years old when the pain started,” she told me. It began as a minor inconvenience, a nagging ache, but over time, it developed into something larger…

close-up of a person using a pen to write

Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Spine Surgeon After Being Recommended Surgery

Being told you need spine surgery is one of those life-changing moments and can be a scary time for anyone. Your mind starts racing and you forget all of the important questions that you want to ask your spine surgeon before agreeing to this procedure. The good news is that I’ve heard it all with…

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

Dispelling a Common Myth About Spine Surgery

When people have a back injury, they’re often concerned they won’t ever get better. But I’m here to tell you that modern spinal healthcare is one of the great advances over the past decade. Whether it’s through robotic surgery, stem cell therapies or minimally invasive procedures, people are getting better faster, spending less time in…

I’m Considering an Artificial Disc Replacement, But Which Disc is Right for Me?

I’m Considering an Artificial Disc Replacement, But Which Disc is Right for Me?

I’m considering an artificial disc replacement, but which disc is right for me? Are you considering disc replacement surgery for your neck or back condition, but are unsure which artificial disc is right for you? There is a lot of information out there to help you in your research which can also be overwhelming. We…

What is Bertolotti Syndrome?

What is Bertolotti Syndrome?

Bertolotti Syndrome is when the bottom lumbar vertebra, also known as L5, grows extra bone that rubs against the sacrum, or the bottom part of the functional spine. This is a commonly misdiagnosed condition, largely because imaging doesn’t always tell the full picture.  Very commonly, people without back pain may have the imaging characteristics of…