You know the symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy as sciatica, a painful lower back problem that can affect you anywhere along the sciatic nerve’s path. Surgery is necessary only in very few cases. Here are five nonsurgical treatments for the condition.
Like many other tissues in the body, nerves can develop cancer. Neuroblastoma usually occurs in or around the adrenal glands, but it can occur in other places, too. You’ll need to know what to expect if your child requires surgery.
Chronic neck pain can be challenging to treat, and surgical solutions are best left as a last resort if conservative methods fail. Before agreeing to surgery, consider acupuncture, an alternative treatment that often produces good results
The cushioning discs between the bones of the spine act as both movement points and shock absorbers for your body. As such, they sometimes bear extreme loads and they may rupture, a condition called herniation. Here’s how they’re treated.
A leading cause of lost time at work, back pain can range from annoying to disabling. When you’re in pain, improving your posture can help you feel better and recover faster. Try these posture-improving habits.
Your spine is a key player in your musculoskeletal system, the pillar around which your body is based. It also protects your spinal cord and the network of nerves inside. Here’s how it does its job and what happens when it doesn’t.
Your sciatic nerves are major branches off the spinal cord, running the length of each leg. Nerve compression at the spine can cause pain, strength, and sensation issues anywhere along the length of the nerve.
There’s evidence that spine surgery has a history dating back over 5,000 years. That’s a lot of sore backs over the centuries, and it’s not surprising that procedures and techniques are much different today.
If you’ve never experienced a pinched nerve, you may think it sounds like no big deal. But, nerve compression can bring your life to a standstill, causing weakness, numbness, or pain in various parts of your body.
When they told you to sit up straight in grade school, it may not have seemed important then, but with adult aches and pains beginning to affect you, it takes on new importance. Here’s why posture is a gift you give yourself.
Some people equate the terms neurosurgery and brain surgery. However, a neurosurgeon treats more than your brain. Contrary to what many think, a neurosurgeon doesn’t only practice in an operating theater.
Call it tech neck or text neck, it’s the same thing, and it’s a pain no matter how you look at it. Using contemporary technology forces your head forward and the resulting posture creates dangerous loads on your cervical spine.
During an episode of epilepsy, a person experiences abnormal brain activity that can affect their senses and behavior. Often controlled with medication, there are some forms of epilepsy that respond well to neurosurgical procedures.
The most common reason for time off work and for a doctor’s visit is back pain. Virtually everyone suffers from it at some point in their lives, even if it’s only for a short time. For some, though, back pain is recurrent or chronic.
Brain surgery isn’t a single procedure, and the reasons it’s necessary vary widely. The type of procedure a patient needs depends heavily on not only the cause of the problem but also the state of progress of their conditio
It’s a common mistake to think that neurosurgery is “just” brain related. You may see a neurosurgeon any time that you have an injury or disease affecting nerves. Neurosurgery, therefore, treats all parts of your body from head to toe.
Back pain is a common problem — a majority of Americans experiencing it at some point in their lives. Herniated discs are frequently the cause, pressing on nerve tissue and creating pain. They might be the reason behind your neck or back pain.
Many people blame the sciatic nerve for their back pain, and while it may be the culprit, it can also cause issues anywhere along its length, from the lower back to your feet. Here’s what you need to know.
It might be pain, it might be numbness, tingling, or weakness, but the symptoms of pinched nerves are rarely welcome. Compression or irritation interferes with the nerve’s normal function, and several areas in your body are particularly vulnerable.
A certain degree of pain accompanies some forms of exercise, and this can include back pain. However, there’s a difference between “good” and “bad” pain, and your back is one place where lingering pain is problematic.
Generally, your chances of experiencing a herniated disc in your spine increase with age, since disc degeneration often results from the wear and tear of daily living. Just as your skin loses moisture, so do spinal discs.
Chronic lower back pain often stems from nerve irritation due to ruptured disks or other narrowing of spaces through which these nerves pass. This condition is called lumbar radiculopathy and it may need multifaceted treatment.
An operation on your spine, even a minor one, is a significant procedure. Recovery times can be long if bone tissue needs to heal, so following your surgeon’s after-surgery care instructions could help you keep your healing time short.
Even if you’re not fond of needles, it’s worth putting your fears aside for nerve block injections for chronic pain. You could experience months-long pain relief, reducing your need to take opioid medications or delaying major surgery.
There’s usually a combination of reasons why you develop back pain, and there’s a very good chance you will, since four out of five American adults experience it sometime in their lives. Some everyday conditions may be adding to your back pain risk.
Chronic back pain can be a stubborn condition to treat. Pain medications tend to lose their effectiveness over time, leading to stronger doses and increased side effects, including drug dependence. Steroid injections may help, but in a limited way.
Neck pain affects virtually everyone at some point in their lives, and usually, it’s not a serious condition. Soft tissue strains repair themselves in a few days, but there are times when the situation or symptoms require medical intervention.
Excess weight isn’t just a cosmetic issue. Being overweight or obese, especially when you carry fat around your waist, can cause painful back strain. Learn how weight can impact your spine health.
Cervical radiculopathy is better known as a pinched nerve, in this case originating in one of the seven vertebrae of the cervical spine. Nerve irritation originating at the spine radiates pain and other sensations along the nerve path.
Is your arm or foot tingling? Pins and needles are just one of the signs of a pinched nerve. Read on to explore the tops signs you may have a pinched nerve.
Nerve pain typically involves a confusion in the messaging system that runs along the nerves between the brain and body. Causes range from an orthopedic condition to a larger health issue, like cancer or HIV. A variety of treatments can help.
The cause of your leg pain might have nothing to do with the leg itself. Learn more about what your symptoms mean and whether a damaged nerve or a herniated disc may be to blame.
Is your neck sore or stiff? If so, it may be arthritis. Fortunately, there are a number of treatments available for this very common problem, including physical therapy, medications, cortisone injections, and surgery.
If you’re suffering from chronic back pain that resists every treatment you try, it may be time to explore a surgical solution. With our minimally invasive techniques, spine surgery has come a long way.
