When you first discuss surgery with a Santa Monica spine surgeon, it’s perfectly normal to have expectations to reach a point where you can get back to doing the things that matter most to you without distracting pain. It’s also […]
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the gradual breakdown of cartilage at the end of bones. The resulting discomfort can range from a mild inconvenience to near-debilitating symptoms that seriously impact quality of life. Because […]
The hips rely on supporting soft tissues and nerves to facilitate various movements. One of two ball-and-socket joints in the human body, the hip joint is also intersected by the sciatic and femoral nerves and cushioned by fluid-filled sacs. These […]
Each level of the spine has bony, hollow archways on either side of each vertebra, referred to as foramina. Two nerve roots run through these openings. If one of these passageways for spinal nerve roots narrows, it’s a condition called […]
The bones of the spine have to absorb some degree of stress on a regular basis simply from normal daily movements. Spongy discs with a soft, gel-like center and a harder exterior shell ease some of this stress while also […]
Being advised to quit smoking before spinal surgery is a common recommendation, and there’s a certain logic behind this suggestion. First of all, some of the chemicals in cigarette smoke may affect anesthesia, and with fusion surgery there’s a higher […]
Consisting of an assortment of bones, joints, and other essential parts, your spine absorbs some degree of stress every day from your regular movements alone. Because of the complexity of how the human spine is designed and the many factors […]
Going through physical therapy (PT) after spine surgery or as part of an attempt to manage chronic pain is fairly common and often helpful for patients. Recent research suggests exploring PT options earlier may be even more beneficial, especially for […]
When back braces are mentioned, you may have visions of the kind of spine-support devices often worn by adolescents with scoliosis or individuals with spinal stenosis or a similar condition that causes an abnormal curvature of the spine. In fact, […]