Herniating a spinal disc often causes significant pain or discomfort — and it’s a surprisingly common medical issue. According to StatPearls Publishing, “The incidence of a herniated disc is about 5 to 20 cases per 1000 adults annually and is most common in people in their third to the fifth decade of life, with a male to female ratio of 2:1.” And while not every person who herniates a disc (which is often colloquially called a slipped disc) experiences unrelenting agony, most have to deal with enough irritation to make them want to prevent re-herniating a disc. Read More »
Articles under General
Are Sciatica Stretches Effective at Reducing the Pain?
Sciatica is a kind of discomfort in the back of the leg that is quite common. According to publisher StatPearls, lifetime incidence (i.e., the proportion of people who will experience it at least once during their life) of sciatica ranges from 10 percent to 40 percent. Annual incidence is also high at 1 percent to 5 percent. In other words, a lot of people will find themselves wondering at some point what’s the best way to get rid of sciatic nerve pain. Read More »
Hacks You Can Do Yourself to Reduce Sciatic Nerve Pain
It’s one thing to say that back pain is almost ubiquitous — and it’s another thing entirely to realize how many famous people have and do suffer from it. For instance, did you know that George Clooney had to undergo spinal fusion to manage discomfort stemming from an on-set injury he sustained while filming Syriana? Harrison Ford and Elizabeth Taylor also had to deal with chronic back pain. It isn’t just Hollywood types, either. Count sprinter Usain Bolt, golf star Tiger Woods, and running back Arian Foster as members of this all too common club. Even literary legend Jane Austen suffered significant back pain prior to her death. Read More »
COVID-19 Update
The Spine Center has been actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our patient care and office protocols. We are committed to continuing to provide excellent care for our patients in an environment that is safe for both patients and our staff. In conjunction with Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, we have created and implemented a strategic plan using best practices to minimize the risk of person-to-person COVID-19 exposure in our practice. Our offices will remain open and we are committed to making our offices one of the safest places you can visit outside your home. Additionally, we are offering Tele-Health appointments for those who would like to be seen by one of our Providers in the comfort of their own home.
How to Perform a Self-examination for Scoliosis?
“Your child has scoliosis.” Many parents fear hearing these words after a routine school exam or pediatrician’s appointment, and they have a good reason for feeling that way. Scoliosis has a reputation as being a child’s disease. Indeed, the National Scoliosis Foundation notes that approximately 30,000 children will find themselves fitted for a scoliosis brace each year. Read More »
Top Five Tips to Take Care of Myself After a Spinal Fusion Surgery
Any sort of surgery can prompt feelings of unease and disquiet — particularly when it comes to the spine. Spinal fusions in particular may make some patients feel concerned. Permanently connecting two or more vertebrae sounds like a drastic step. However, much of that anxiety abates when they learn about the overall outcomes of spinal fusion. For example, F1000 Research pointed out how back surgery in general provides a reduction in pain and an increase in function. Another study published in the journal Neurosurgery also noted that different types of fusions significantly improved patients’ quality of life.
How Long Does It Take to Fully Recover from a Microdiscectomy Surgery?
Whenever you find yourself facing the possibility of surgery — even a minimally invasive procedure such as a microdiscectomy — you can experience some anxiety. Not only do many patients wonder about what to expect from a microdiscectomy surgery, they also worry about just how long spine operation recovery may take. Surgical procedures sound daunting, and missing work can also seem every bit as unpleasant as physical pain and uncertain recovery outcomes. Read More »
Is it Normal to Have a Curved Spine?
“Idiopathic” is a big word that describes a very simple concept. Merriam-Webster notes that it combines the Greek word “idios” (i.e. “one’s own”) and the suffix “-pathic” (a root that suggests disease or dysfunction). In short, an idiopathic disease is one that springs up spontaneously — one for which medical science and professionals have no agreement on its origins. Read More »
Reasons to Think You Suffer from Scoliosis
We do not generally spend much time examining others’ spines. It’s one of the parts of the human body consistently covered by clothing. Yet that ingrained modesty can cause problems when it comes to one of the most common spinal deformities: scoliosis. Read More »
In Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Telemedicine Visits
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the need for social distancing, The Spine Center will be offering telemedicine visits to patients through a HIPPA compliant platform, Doxy. Please call The Spine Center at 847.628.8147 to initiate the request, or email us at info@chicagospine.net. After patients initiation and consent to the telemedicine visit our team can schedule an appointment. At the time of your appointment you will receive a link by email or text. Click this link at the time of your appointment to enter the virtual waiting room where a doctor will answer you. To schedule your visit please call The Spine Center at 847.628.8147 or email us at info@chicagospine.net.Christopher J. Bergin, MD