One of the more common questions that my partners and I hear from patients is whether we perform laser spine surgery. When told that we don’t, the typical response is a mixture of disappointment, confusion and frustration. At this point during a patient consultation, I explain that, in my professional opinion, laser spine surgery is…
Spinal Outcomes
Anyone who is contemplating having spine surgery wants to have a good outcome, but very few people know what actually goes into making this happen. It not only involves the expertise of your surgeon and his/her staff, but many important events that occur before and after the patient gets to the operating room. The following…
Sciatica – What is it and how do we treat it?
Constant pain in one of your legs, increased pain while sitting, a frequent case of burning, tingling, or searing pain in your leg, sharp pain that makes it difficult to stand up or walk. Do any of these symptoms sound uncomfortably familiar? You might be suffering from Sciatic Pain. First, let’s break down what Sciatica…
Keep It Moving – Spinal Artificial Disc Replacement
What is arthroplasty? As the long-term effects of aging, injury or arthritis become limiting, the Holy Grail of pain free mobility has proven to be joint replacement (arthroplasty). For millions of people around the world, the benefits of hip, knee and a variety of other joint implantation are well known. However, it has been a…
A pain in the rear: A neurosurgeon’s perspective
Back pain! Almost everyone gets back pain at some part of their life. Deciding when to just take it easy, when to call your doctor or when to Uber to the Emergency Room can be an intimidating but important distinction. Time is on your side An old, wise neurosurgery professor once told me that “no…
Bringing smiles to our patients
Because May is National Smile Month (started in England), we felt it was the perfect time to share a letter from one of our patients — a letter that made us all smile: When I was nearing retirement from the Postal Service, I began training for my next “career” as a whitewater rafting guide. Passing…
Inventing a relief for back pain
By BRIAN J. SULLIVAN, M.D., Neurosurgeon Back problems are an enormous medical issue in our society. Too often, people endure pain for years before they find the right medical team and treatment plan. At MBSP, we always attempt our best and most aggressive nonsurgical treatments first. No one wants to take on the risks of…
Reading the Body’s Roadmap
In an age of break-neck technological and biomedical innovation, would it surprise you to know that we really are not sure where back pain comes from? To neurosurgeons there is an enormous difference between back pain (pain from the buttocks up) versus leg or sciatic pain (from the buttocks down). The different presentation implies a…
This New Year – Really Love Your Spine As You Hit The Gym
Spine Health should be discussed at the gym and amongst friends and family. Especially if you are a non-athlete. By Tushar Sharma, M.D., MBSP – Pain Management Specialist It’s a new year. We all know what that means. Thousands of us flock to the gym and fitness groups for workout regimens that will deliver a…
Cure Lower Back Pain with iFuse®
If you have suffered from sacroiliac joint pain or degenerative sacroiliitis, then the iFuse Implant System® may be the answer you have been seeking to relieve your pain. iFuse is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure for permanently stabilizing and fusing painful sacroiliac (SI) joint disruption using triangular titanium inserts. The iFuse procedure represents a dramatic change…