It is not uncommon for adults to experience back pain more frequently once they reach age 60. Because this is the case, there is somewhat of a normalcy to this problem. When the older adult begins to notice more aching in the lower back or more tension in the shoulders...
Headache pain is one of the most common complaints among American adults, next to low back pain. In the vast majority of cases, the affected person does what they can to manage symptoms without medical assistance. When a person talks to their doctor about their headache pain, they may be...
The hip joints are in use pretty much anytime we move. So are the joints of the spine. Both areas carry a significant physical load, and they sit in close proximity to each other. So, a back doctor is not surprised when a patient complains of pain in both the low...
Throwing your back out is never a fun experience. One minute, you’re tending to your garden or getting up off the sofa, the next, you’re stooped over in pain. When this happens, what most people do is take a break. It is important to avoid too much physical activity after...
Lumbar spine pain is typically attributed to a handful of common conditions. These include repetitive straining, reaching, pulling, bending, and twisting motions. Each of these motions requires proper body mechanics to avoid unnecessary injury and wear-and-tear on the spine. However, there are factors beyond body mechanics and posture that can contribute...
One of the most important steps in reducing and preventing pain is knowing why it has occurred in the first place. At Innovative Spine Care in Tampa, we are interested in helping our patients get back to a sense of normalcy. Our central focus is to find the source of...
The field of regenerative medicine is constantly expanding and discovering ways to work with the body’s inherent capacity to heal itself. In this area of practice, several types of stem cells are used. These cells are attached to blood vessels. When a part of the body is injured, blood vessels release stem...
Every year, thousands of people seek medical help for sciatica. This nerve irritation originates in the low back and follows a path from there down the buttock, back of the thigh, and leg. The type and severity of sensation caused by sciatica can differ from one person to another. Some...
Automobile accidents happen all the time and can lead to a variety of injuries. We often think only of the severity of major accidents and what that may mean for quality of life. What comes as a surprise to many people is how even a minor fender-bender can lead to...
Back pain, headaches, and neck pain are some of the most common complaints adults express. Pain anywhere along the spine can make it difficult to sleep soundly, to be productive at work, and to enjoy activities that bring enjoyment and health. Still, it takes most people quite a long time to schedule...
Historically, if you had back pain, you would medicate it or you would undergo surgery. There was very little in between except for gradients of discomfort and limited mobility. Today, we have new options thanks to the ever-evolving field of regenerative medicine. Here, doctors use substances like platelet-rich plasma and...
Most people recognize that certain spine conditions can develop as a result of wear and tear over time. However, studies also indicate that up to half of all doctor’s visits for back or neck pain relate to an injury. In both instances, it is common to see herniated discs. When diagnosed...
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has reported that approximately 80 percent of Americans will experience low back pain at least one time in their lives. It has been estimated that one-third of Americans are living with some type of back or neck pain at any given time....
As common as it is to experience back pain frequently, even daily, research shows us a common thread among sufferers: they do not see a specialist about their problem. According to statistics, millions of workdays are missed each year as a result of back pain. When surveyed, thousands of people...
Day to day living is directly affected by our sensations. When the persistent sensation is pain, our desire or ability to perform tasks normally may be inhibited. People who face frequent or chronic back pain often turn to over-the-counter medications and rest. Initially, these steps may keep pain to a...
The neck is comprised of 7 bones called vertebrae. These bones make up the spinal segment we call the cervical spine. This part of the spine is responsible for holding the head upright and facilitating the various movements the head makes. Seeing that the average head weighs about 10 pounds,...
Usually, sitting gives us a break from the stress of the day. We sit periodically when we’re on our feet often and expect to find the seated position comfortable and relaxing. This isn’t possible for folks whose back pain is triggered when they sit down. If sitting causes or worsens...
Back pain is one of the most prevalent problems among American adults. It accounts for accumulative months of missed days of work each year and numerous prescriptions for pain medication. These statistics suggest that we must find ways to address back pain more quickly and consistently for more patients. Here,...
According to research published by the Cleveland Clinic, chronic joint pain contributes to 50 to 90 percent of restless sleep for adults in America. Now, there are many joints in the body, so this percentage includes everything from the hips and knees to the back and neck. Additional studies indicate that lower...
The spine may seem like a relatively simple part of the body, but there is a lot of mechanics involved in the structure and movement of this area. The spine has several bones called vertebrae. In between each set of bones are spongy discs that keep the bones from coming...
As a woman approaches menopause, the becomes acutely aware of her changing body. She may affectionately refer to her hot flashes as her “personal summer,” and may begin to relish a warm cup of milk to stave off insomnia. While there are several well-known effects of menopause, most of which...
You may have heard the term “pinched nerve” sometime in your life. This is often the way people express that they have back or neck pain. Technically, a pinched nerve is a nerve root that has become compressed as it exits the spinal column. Sometimes it is a misalignment of...
Nerves can be found in every part of the body. The expansive nervous system travels from the brain, through the back and to the rest of the body. Within the spinal column is a long trunk, the spinal cord. From the spinal cord, numerous nerve roots travel through spaces in...
Professional athletes are perhaps some of the people who are most susceptible to injury. Putting their all into their physical ability year after year, athletes can encounter direct injury or the degradation of various joints, including the facet joints in the back. Because those who have devoted their lives to...
The components of the spine – vertebrae, discs, nerves – are quite small when we look at them individually. If a problem occurs in any one of these small, moving parts, big problems may follow. Chronic neck or back pain affects millions of people and causes thousands of days of...
The upper back is a part of the spine with 12 segments or levels of vertebrae and discs. This part of the spine is referred to as the thoracic spine. It begins at the base of the neck and extends down just below the bottom of the ribcage. Usually, we...
The spinal column is a vertical line-up of multiple segments. Each spinal segment serves a portion of the body. For example, the lumbar spinal segment is involved in functions and mobility from the waist down. The cervical spinal segment sends nerves up and out to power the upper limbs. In...
Back pain can be a nuisance when it lingers for a few days or weeks. In our country, back pain is a prevalent problem with which many people struggle for six or more months out of the year. Pain my not be described as debilitating but, when observed closely, seen...
Low back pain and sciatica can significantly degrade the quality of life by making just about every movement uncomfortable. Spinal problems like herniated lumbar discs can reduce the range of motion and affect everything from your work life to the quality of your sleep. In most cases, doctors attempt to...
Over the past several years, spinal surgery has advanced by leaps and bounds. Surgical techniques have become increasingly less invasive thanks to critical aspects of surgery including imaging, nerve monitoring, surgical materials, and special instrumentation. Today, a large number of the spinal surgeries that are performed are minimally invasive in nature,...
A herniated disc may eventually require surgery. At Innovative Spine Care in Tampa, this is one of our primary specialties. Discectomy surgery is a minimally-invasive procedure through which comfort and improve range of motion can be restored. The process includes removing a portion of one or more spinal discs to...
We are fortunate to live in an area of the country in which the temperatures lean to the warm side more often than not. Ok, we could never really complain of cold temperatures in our neck of the woods! But during this time of year when trips may be planned...
We tend to hear much more about neck and low back pain than we do mid-back pain. If certain movements are limited due to stiffness or pain in this middle segment of the spine, it is important to know what the cause may be. More importantly, patients need to know...
Persistent neck or back pain affects millions of people. It isn’t just that we feel uncomfortable now and then. For some people, spinal pain can be debilitating. Statistics indicate that many missed days of work are attributed to back pain each year. Furthermore, studies suggest that frequent bouts of pain...
Within this regularly updated feature of my website, I will provide visitors with practice news and specials, as well as information regarding the most recent technological advances and new treatments in Spin Care. I believe that patient education and open communication with your doctor are the keys to achieving healthy,...
Back pain is a big deal. It’s a problem that affects millions of Americans to the point of diminished productivity and quality of life. If you’re living with chronic neck or back pain, it is necessary to speak with a spinal specialist. A visit to Innovative Spine Care in Tampa can...
Chronic pain of any kind presents both physical and emotional challenges. Statistics suggest that back pain contributes to a large percentage of “sick days” for Americans. It is difficult enough to manage wellbeing when an injury has led to intense spinal discomfort and limited range of motion. The persistence of...
