Spine

Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal, a structure housing the spinal cord and its nerve branches. The cervical spine describes the upper area of the spine, consisting of 7 bones called vertebrae that form the neck. Over time, the discs in the spine that separate and cushion vertebrae may gradually dry The post A Patient’s Guide to Cervical Spinal Stenosis first appeared on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

To better understand the treatment options for scoliosis, or a curvature of the spine, one first must understand the different causes of scoliosis.  The broad categories of scoliosis include idiopathic, congenital, and neuromuscular, which are most often diagnosed in childhood, and degenerative, which is acquired as an adult.  There are different considerations for children/adolescents and adults as to whether to consider scoliosis surgery; every curve is different! Considerations for […]

When someone experiences back pain, whether it is chronic back pain or a severe pain that comes on suddenly, they may have a moment when they try to decide if it is time to call a doctor. Though this can be scary for some, especially if that means seeing a “spinal surgeon.” Even thinking about surgeons and surgery can cause anxiety! Fear is a normal response to any health issue, but if a person lets it hold them back from being evaluated by an appropriate physician, they could actually […]

Radiculopathy is a term used to describe irritation of a nerve root from the spine; this irritation can occur due to pressure on the nerve from surrounding bones and ligaments, or it can be from chemicals released after an injury such as a disc herniation.  When nerve roots are inflamed, one can experience pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in a particular place in the arm or leg. There are several different types of radiculopathy, named for the location when the compressed nerve occurs. […]

An intervertebral disc is the cushion between two vertebral bodies that helps absorb the stresses placed on the spine. It has a soft, jelly-like center, with a more fibrous surrounding rim called the annulus. Over time, the outer annulus weakens due to either the aging process or repetitive stresses. When the rim of the disc is weakened, the inner gel-like portion of the disc is able to push it outward when placed under pressure; this is called a “disc bulge.” Many people have a bulging […]

Scoliosis is a common condition in which the spine develops a curvature.  This either occurs as part of the growth process in young people or it can develop with aging in older people, termed “degenerative scoliosis.”  Some degrees of scoliosis are mild and require only occasional checkups to measure any further progression of the scoliosis, while others may end up requiring surgical correction. While scoliosis is typically thought of as an S-shaped curve seen when looking at someone from […]

The iO-Flex® System utilizes thin, flexible instruments to provide precise lumbar decompression, i.e. removing pressure on spinal nerves, from the “inside out.” The Baxano iO Flex® device is much like a flexible nail file that is inserted through the foramen, which is the “window” in the bone where a spinal nerve exits the spine.  A surgeon slides the device back and forth to shave down any areas of bone that have narrowed this window and therefore make room for the nerve; this […]

If you have been suffering from nerve pain caused by a damaged or degenerated disc in the neck and have found no relief with nonsurgical management, you may discuss possible surgical treatments to better relieve your pain and discomfort.  Among the possible surgical options you may discuss are cervical fusion surgery and cervical disc replacement. Both of these spinal surgeries can be effective in treating your problem and relieving the pressure on spinal nerves in the neck, but here are five […]

Cervical disc replacement is often recommended by top spinal surgeons to manage nerve pain caused by a damaged disk in the neck, otherwise known as the cervical spine.  This procedure involves removal of a damaged or degenerated cervical disc and replacing it with an artificial disc device that has been shown to be  safe to implant in the body. After time spent in physical therapy, pain medications, and spinal injection procedures,  patients who have found no relief generally are interested […]

spinal surgery Considered a ‘cutting edge procedure’ for spinal stenosis, coflex® has been in the news for its recent (2012) FDA-approval and for being the first and only motion-preserving minimally-invasive device for moderate to severe spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)  whose use also involves decompression, or removal of portions of bone and ligament that are narrowing the spinal canal. The coflex® Interlaminar Technology is an Interlaminar Stabilization device […]