Recent Blogs

Look around at the animal kingdom. You rarely see a chimpanzee complaining about sciatica, or a cheetah booking a physical therapy appointment for lower back problems. Yet for humans, back pain is practically a rite of passage, affecting an estimated 80% of adults at some point in their lives. Why are our bodies seemingly so…

As back-to-school shopping lists roll out, laptops, heavy textbooks, and binder set quickly stack up. While design and color are usually top of mind for students, parents and students alike often overlook the most important factor: ergonomics. Carrying an ill-fitting or overloaded backpack every day can cause severe physical strain. Over time, poor weight distribution…

Almost everyone encounters back pain at some point. When a sudden ache strikes after yard work or an intense workout, our default strategy is usually self-management: a combination of rest, ice or heat, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, and gentle stretching. For about 80-90 percent of people, acute back pain resolves within four to six weeks using these…

In the world of medical decision-making, “watchful waiting” is often hailed as the virtuous, conservative choice for many bodily ailments and conditions. It is true that the body, in many ways, is a self-healing machine.  So, we tell ourselves that perhaps one more round of physical therapy or another epidural steroid injection will finally turn…

Summertime brings a welcome shift in tempo. The days stretch out, the weather warms up, and our schedules are filled with road trips, beach days, gardening projects, and outdoor sports. But as we transition from more sedentary routines to higher-energy summer fun, our bodies often pay the price. Spine injuries typically increase during the months…

As a spine surgeon, I’ve spent my career focusing on the spine as a mechanical structure. When patients come to me with a “crumbling” spine, what doctors call spinal stenosis or degenerative disc disease, the usual approach has been to treat mechanical problems. But as medicine advances, some of the most exciting discoveries are happening…