You hear it all the time: we are in the midst of an opioid crisis. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, in 2015 an estimated 2-million people suffered from opioid pain-reliever related substance use disorder and more than 33,000 Americans died as a result of an opioid overdose. How did so many Americans…
What Will Be Your Legacy Month
Never forget where you came from. That is true at the individual level as well as for a medical practice. And it’s true for those who are seeking information on a medical practice that may be new to them. There is tremendous value in examining the foundation on which a practice was built. Maryland Brain, Spine…
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…
Optune: New Toxic-Free Treatment For Brain Tumors
By Dr. Tim Burke, Neurosurgeon, Maryland Brain, Spine + Pain Cancer treatment has evolved in ways never thought possible, making the ‘C word’ a little less frightening. As a physician, I’m grateful to have more options for my patients. Those with glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumors, for instance, can try Optune therapy. What is Optune? Optune,…
MBSP Statement Regarding the CDC Guidelines for Opioid Prescription
We applaud the CDC for taking steps to curb the abuse epidemic by publishing its recommendation for prescribing opioids medications for chronic pain, excluding cancer, palliative, and end-of-life care. There is growing consensus in the medical community that opioid medication should not be unimodal therapy (the one and only treatment) to treat pain. In fact, there is very…
Managing The Pain: The Olympic Athlete And The Weekend Sports Warrior
Watching the incredible action and athleticism of sporting events like basketball’s March Madness, the Super Bowl, or the Olympic Games would inspire anyone to hit the court or gym and ‘get back into shape once and for all’! Not so fast. Many of the pain complaints we treat at MBSP are of the ‘weekend sports…
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…