Articles under General

Back pain hurts, and most people care less about specific causes than they do about making the agony end. And while such an approach may be understandable, it’s ultimately short sighted. So many different kinds of spinal disorders may result in back pain, and until you understand the cause of the discomfort, you can’t effectively address it. While back problems can often become chronic and require serious medical or surgical treatment, you can treat some issues yourself relatively easily and effectively. One condition that generally doesn’t need serious intervention is an arched back (aka hyperlordosis).  Read More »

Scoliosis isn’t an uncommon disorder, as anyone familiar with official statistics on the subject can tell you. For instance, the United States Bone & Joint Initiative notes that for every 1,000 U.S. adolescents, there are 2.5 cases of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The organization also stated that “a 2005 study reported mild to severe adult scoliosis prevalence as high as 68% in a healthy (no known scoliosis or spine surgery) population aged 60 years and older.” So whether you’re younger or older, scoliosis is a risk, and if you’ve received a scoliosis diagnosis, you’ll naturally want to know about non-surgical scoliosis treatments.  Read More »

No matter how established the procedure or skilled the doctor, one thing remains true: Every surgery feels major when it’s happening to you. Spinal fusion surgery is no exception. After all, there are many types of spinal fusion and many levels of spinal fusion, and the mere thought of undergoing a major surgery under general anesthetic can seem daunting. Patients may find themselves asking, “When is spinal fusion necessary? What will happen to me? What should I expect when I wake up?” Read More »

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 »

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 »

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 »

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.

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“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 »

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 »