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…
Lose Weight & Help Your Back Feel Great Again
Ready to get started on those new years resolutions? If you’re one of the many Americans suffering from obesity, a renewed focus on weight loss is likely high on your priority list for the new year. Not only does a healthier weight make us look and feel better, it also has numerous physical benefits such as decreased…
How To Choose the Best Neurosurgeon for You
By The MBSP Surgical Team If you’re considering brain or spinal surgery, your choice of a neurosurgeon must be a careful, thoughtful and comprehensive one. After all, you want someone precise and methodical in everything he/she does in the operating room. And out of the OR, they should be able to communicate with you in…
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…
Head Games
Fumble: Have we dropped the ball on concussion? By Gary Dix M.D., MBA, Neurosurgeon Have you seen ‘Concussion’ starring Will Smith? Released late last year, this movie details the NFL’s attempts to invalidate Dr. Bennet Omalu’s findings on concussion and its link to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE, a progressive degenerative disease associated with repeated…
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…