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When patients are living with chronic pain and other therapies have not provided relief, a spinal cord stimulator may be an option.  This medical device has been available for patients suffering from chronic pain, failed back surgery syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome and other conditions since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it in…

Have you heard of stem cell therapy?  It is one of the newest techniques being used in medicine today, and it has been extremely successful for people who need repair of tissue that is either diseased, damaged, or that has degenerated to the point of causing pain. Stem cells are a special type of cell…

If you’ve been struggling with pain and things are getting worse (or staying the same) rather than getting better, your doctor may recommend that you begin physical therapy treatments. This approach can be extremely effective for people who are suffering from both back and neck conditions, as it provides exercises and movements designed to strengthen…

What Is A Spinal Injection and What Does It Accomplish?   Spinal injections are procedures meant to provide pain relief to the lumbar, thoracic, cervical or caudal spine. The deliver a dose of an anti-inflammatory medication called a steroid that reduces swelling or irritation of nerves that can be caused by a bulging disc or…

Back pain is one of the most insidious and debilitating conditions that we humans can experience. Unlike other body parts that you can avoid moving when they’re injured or hurting, when your back hurts there’s little you can do to avoid causing yourself pain: your back is what supports your body and is an integral…

The idea of going under the knife is frightening no matter what the condition being treated, but when it’s a question of whether to have spine surgery, things get even scarier. Though spine surgery techniques have come a long way over the years and these operations are performed every day, there is also a lot…

Sixteen years ago, a group of more than 80 patient advocate organizations coordinated in a group effort to designate the month of September as Pain Awareness Month. If you’re not familiar with the type of activities or goals are associated with these events, you might be surprised by the difference that they can make. By…

Spinal Cord Stimulation is increasingly being offered to patients suffering from chronic pain. The procedure uses systems that are either implanted or external to simulate large nerve fibers. These fibers effectively block the primary nerve pathways of the smaller nerve fibers that conduct pain sensations. The procedure is provided for patients suffering from a range…

When you think of spine surgery, you probably envision a big incision leaving a nasty scar, as well as a long and painful recovery. Fortunately, modern technology has provided less invasive procedures and solutions that mean much shorter recuperations and barely-there scars. These minimally-invasive procedures represent a sea change in the treatments that can be…

When you were a kid, were you constantly cracking your knuckles, only to hear your mom correct you and say you were going to end up with swollen joints? How about today, when you’re an adult? Do you crack your joints, stretching your neck from side to side to hear and feel a satisfying pop?…