Backbone Almanac
Expert-driven insights into spinal care
A Blog By the Brain and Spine Neurosurgical Institute of Rhode Island
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Conservative care focuses on non-invasive or minimally invasive treatments that prioritize the patient’s overall well-being. This approach not only helps manage pain effectively but also minimizes the risks, recovery time, and costs associated with surgery.
Tennis involves quick twists and powerful movements that can strain your spine. Protect your back by warming up, using proper technique, strengthening your core, and stretching post-game to prevent injury and maintain spinal health.
Protecting your spine while running involves maintaining proper form, strengthening your core, warming up, and wearing supportive shoes. These practices help reduce impact on your spine, prevent back pain, and keep you running pain-free.
Spinal surgery for sciatica aims to address the underlying cause of nerve compression and alleviate associated symptoms. Procedures such as discectomy, laminectomy, or spinal fusion can help relieve pain, improve mobility, and enhance quality of life, offering long-lasting relief.
Recovery from spinal cord stimulator surgery is a gradual process, with an initial focus on pain management and limited activity. Patients gradually resume normal activities, while the device is adjusted for optimal pain relief. Long-term management involves regular follow-ups and lifestyle modifications for spinal health.
Spinal fusion surgery scars vary in appearance, from flat and minimal to raised and prominent. Understanding scar types—such as flat scars, hypertrophic scars, keloids, and contracture scars—can help manage expectations. Proper care, including scar treatments and sun protection, promotes better healing.
Pickleball is a low-impact sport combining elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, making it a great way to stay active and protect your spine. It strengthens core muscles, improves flexibility, and is gentle on joints, offering a fun and sustainable activity for all fitness levels.
Lumbar spinal stenosis involves the narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back, often causing pain, numbness, and weakness. While conservative treatments can help, surgery may be necessary for severe cases. Surgical options like decompression or spinal fusion aim to relieve nerve compression and stabilize the spine.
The timeline for returning to walking after spinal surgery varies depending on the type of surgery, the extent of the procedure, and the patient’s overall health. While walking with assistance can begin within a few days to weeks post-surgery, full recovery may take weeks to months, involving gradual improvements in mobility and strength.
Patient-centered care is a fundamental approach in spine surgery that prioritizes the needs, preferences, and values of the patient throughout the entire treatment process. This approach ensures that patients are actively involved in their care decisions and receive individualized treatment that aligns with their goals and expectations.
Non-surgical treatments for spinal disorders encompass a range of conservative approaches aimed at alleviating symptoms, improving function, and avoiding the need for surgical intervention. These treatments are often the first line of defense for managing spinal conditions such as herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease. By addressing symptoms through non-invasive methods, patients can often achieve significant relief and improve their quality of life.
Advancements in spinal surgery have introduced a range of innovative techniques that improve outcomes, reduce recovery times, and enhance patient safety. These advanced techniques are designed to address complex spinal conditions with greater precision and efficiency. By incorporating the latest technology and surgical approaches, spine surgeons can offer patients improved treatment options and a higher quality of care.
All About Your Surgery
Recovery from spinal cord stimulator surgery is a gradual process, with an initial focus on pain management and limited activity. Patients gradually resume normal activities, while the device is adjusted for optimal pain relief. Long-term management involves regular follow-ups and lifestyle modifications for spinal health.
Spinal fusion surgery scars vary in appearance, from flat and minimal to raised and prominent. Understanding scar types—such as flat scars, hypertrophic scars, keloids, and contracture scars—can help manage expectations. Proper care, including scar treatments and sun protection, promotes better healing.
The timeline for returning to walking after spinal surgery varies depending on the type of surgery, the extent of the procedure, and the patient’s overall health. While walking with assistance can begin within a few days to weeks post-surgery, full recovery may take weeks to months, involving gradual improvements in mobility and strength.
Advancements in spinal surgery have introduced a range of innovative techniques that improve outcomes, reduce recovery times, and enhance patient safety. These advanced techniques are designed to address complex spinal conditions with greater precision and efficiency. By incorporating the latest technology and surgical approaches, spine surgeons can offer patients improved treatment options and a higher quality of care.
Complex spine surgery is a specialized field within spinal surgery that addresses intricate and challenging spinal conditions. These may include severe deformities, complex fractures, or multiple degenerative issues that require advanced surgical techniques and expertise. Complex spine surgeries are often performed by highly trained spine surgeons who possess the skills and knowledge necessary to manage these intricate cases and achieve optimal outcomes.
Spinal fusion surgery is a procedure aimed at stabilizing the spine by fusing two or more vertebrae together. The recovery process following spinal fusion surgery is gradual and requires careful adherence to postoperative instructions to achieve the best possible outcomes. Each patient's recovery experience is unique, influenced by factors such as the specific surgical approach, overall health, and adherence to rehabilitation protocols.
A herniated disc, also referred to as a slipped or ruptured disc, occurs when the soft inner core of a spinal disc pushes through the tough outer layer. This protrusion can compress nearby nerves, leading to symptoms such as localized pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. Herniated discs can be caused by age-related degeneration, injury, or excessive strain on the spine.
Spinal stenosis is a medical condition where the spinal canal, which houses the spinal cord and nerve roots, becomes narrowed. This narrowing can lead to compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots, causing a range of symptoms such as persistent pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. These symptoms can occur in various parts of the body, including the back, legs, and arms, and may worsen over time.
Spinal decompression surgery is a specialized procedure aimed at alleviating pressure on the spinal cord or nerves caused by conditions such as spinal stenosis, herniated discs, or bone spurs. By creating more space within the spinal canal, this surgery aims to relieve symptoms including chronic pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness that may significantly impact daily life.
Spinal stenosis is a medical condition characterized by the narrowing of the spaces within the spine, which can lead to significant health issues. This narrowing can exert pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, causing a range of symptoms such as chronic pain, numbness, weakness, and difficulties with walking and maintaining balance. The condition can occur in different parts of the spine, including the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (lower back) regions.
Spinal fusion surgery is a specialized procedure aimed at stabilizing the spine and alleviating chronic pain by permanently joining two or more vertebrae. This technique is used to treat conditions like degenerative disc disease, spinal fractures, scoliosis, and spinal tumors.
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) represents a revolutionary approach to addressing spinal conditions with precision and minimal tissue disruption. Compared to traditional open surgery, MISS offers several advantages, including smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times, allowing patients to return to their daily activities sooner with less postoperative discomfort.
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Regular exercise is crucial for preventative spinal care, strengthening muscles that support the spine, improving flexibility, and promoting proper alignment. Activities like walking, swimming, yoga, and strength training enhance core stability and reduce injury risk, fostering spinal resilience and minimizing chronic pain.
Spinal decompression therapy offers a non-invasive approach to alleviating spinal pain by reducing pressure on discs and nerves, promoting healing, and restoring function. This treatment is effective for conditions like herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, sciatica, and spinal stenosis, providing pain relief and enhanced mobility.
Chiropractors are healthcare professionals specializing in neuromuscular disorders' diagnosis and treatment, prioritizing manual adjustment and manipulation of the spine. They operate under the belief in the body's innate ability to heal itself, often without resorting to surgery or medication.
Learn the causes and treatments of walking and standing back pain.
Back pain is a common problem seen throughout the world. Acute back pain is back pain that has lasted under four weeks...
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) affects millions of individuals. Older individuals are most commonly affected, however DDD can impact younger individuals as well.
Surgery may be used to treat a wide variety of back conditions, including degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, and spinal stenosis, when conservative treatments fail.
Sciatica refers to a list of symptoms affecting one leg including leg pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. It can be nothing more than a nuisance or be troublesome enough…
The one truth about back pain is that it can interfere with your quality of life. It can range from mild to severe and from occasional to chronic pain.
Sciatica is caused when the sciatic nerve is pinched. Often a herniated disk in your spine is the culprit although it can also be caused by a bone spur on your vertebrae.
Pain between the shoulder blades, or interscapular pain, is a common type of upper back pain. The most common cause of this pain is usually from muscle strain.