What is facet rhizotomy?

To answer this question, we first need to understand what rhizotomy means. Rhizotomy means interruption of a spinal nerve root. And facet rhizotomy really means interrupting nerves from sending pain signals from facet joints (small joints of the spine) to the brain.

Facet joints help support the body weight and enable spine movement. However, they are prone to wear and tear. As we age, facet joints gradually deteriorate and sometimes become arthritic. As a result, facet joints are a common source of back pain. (more…)

A pinched nerve occurs when the nerve is compressed by surrounding tissues and its normal function has been disrupted. A pinched nerve can happen at any part of the body, including the neck.

Many factors can cause a pinched nerve. Herniated discs, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, and arthritis are among the most common causes of a pinched nerve in the neck, as well as in the lower back. (more…)

Depression from back pain

Depression from back pain is a common mental condition. Statistics indicate that a large percentage of people with chronic pain also experience depression. And studies conducted in large populations have revealed that the worse the pain, the more common the depression.

The study results make perfect sense. After all, back pain can affect our lives in many ways, such as the following. (more…)

If you are having back pain, you are not alone. As one of the most common medical problems, back pain affects almost everybody. Indeed, 8 out of 10 people will experience back pain in their lifetime. But luckily, in most cases back pain will go away on its own, or with some self-treatment such as over-the-counter pain medication.

When to seek medical advice/treatment

However, if your back pain persists despite of your own back pain treatment, or if your back pain is accompanied by the following symptoms, you need to see your doctor for medical advice and treatment. (more…)

Neck pain can be caused by many different factors. Muscle strain, disc herniation, and facet joint disorders in the neck can all cause neck pain. Fortunately, in most cases neck pain can be cured with conservative medical treatment such as anti-inflammatory medication. But in some cases, neck surgery is needed to relieve the pain.

Treatment of neck pain

Treatment for neck pain generally starts with conservative treatment options such as pain medication. But if the pain persists or gets worse after 6 to 8 weeks of conservative treatment, neck surgery may be needed. (more…)

If you or your loved one is considering back surgery to treat back pain, you probably have heard about endoscopic spine surgery. But what is endoscopic spine surgery? And what’s the difference between endoscopic spine surgery and conventional spine surgery, or back surgery? (more…)

Back pain affects many people. Approximately 80 percent Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives. But the good news is staying in shape can help us keep back pain at bay.

Regular exercise, combined with healthy eating, is the best way to stay in shape. Many exercise programs (eg, aerobic exercise programs) can help you stay in shape. But not every exercise program works for everybody. You should choose an exercise program or routine based on your physical condition. If you are overweight, you should start with weight loss exercise. The more weight you carry, the more pressure your back (especially lower back) bears. As a result, parts of your back bone (the spine) will wear out over time. When this happens, you’ll start to feel persistent back pain. (more…)

What is sciatica?

To answer the question, we need to know the sciatica nerve first. The sciatica nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It runs from the lower part of the spinal cord to the buttock and all the way down to the back of each leg. Sciatica, also known as sciatic nerve pain, refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatica nerve and its branches. This means that sciatic nerve pain typically radiates from the lower back to the buttock and all the way down to the back of the leg.

Sciatic nerve pain can vary widely, from dull ache to burning sensation or sharp pain. It generally gets worse after sitting for an extended time. Coughing or sneezing may also make the pain worse. Sciatic nerve pain can affect both sides of the lower body (lower extremities), but in most cases it affects only one side the body. (more…)

Your back is an intricate structure made up of bones, muscles, and other soft tissues extending from the neck to the pelvis. Back injuries, especially lower back injuries, are very common. A car accident can cause a back injury, such as a neck injury or lower back injury. Working around the house can also result in a lower back injury. Sprains, strains, fractured bones, and herniated discs are the most common types of back injury.

The length of a back injury recovery may vary widely depending on the type and severity of the injury. The following are 5 key elements of a quick recovery from a back related injury. (more…)

We all know that our body and mind deteriorate as we age. As we get older, we notice that our body is not as strong and our mind is no as sharp as they used to be. The spinal discs, like our body and mind, also degenerate as we get older. And the consequence of the disc degeneration? degenerative disc disease.

The degenerative process

As we discussed in our previous blog posts, a spinal dsc consists of a tough outer layer (annulus) and soft, jelly-like inner content (nucleus pulposus). The tough outer layer and the soft inner content of a disc are made up of various types of proteins and a large amount of water. In fact, a healthy disc consists of about 80% water. Unfortunately, as we age, the discs gradually lose their water, and their proteins also undergo some undesirable changes. (more…)