The primary purpose of back surgery or neck surgery is to correct an anatomical lesion in individuals who fail to show improvement with conservative (nonsurgical) treatment. Surgery is not an …
Daily ScoopBack Surgery and Neck Surgery Overview
Daily ScoopWhen Back Pain May Be a Medical Emergency
The underlying causes for most occurrences of back pain are non-emergent, but the intense pain and related symptoms often elevate anxiety and prompt a visit to the emergency room (ER). …
Daily ScoopDiagnostic Processes for Neck and Back Pain
At the beginning of an initial doctor’s visit for back or neck pain, a nurse or physician’s assistant is likely to conduct a pre-examination to prepare the doctor for the …
Daily ScoopIntroduction to Diagnostic Studies for Back and Neck Pain
There are several types of tests used to provide images of and/or analyze areas of pathology. These are generally referred to as “diagnostic studies.” The findings of the test(s) are …
Daily ScoopShould You Get an MRI on Your First Visit?
Most of our patients do want an MRI at some point, and I think it’s a reasonable thing to do, but what we know from analysis of people with back …
Daily ScoopSomatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP)
A somatosensory evoked potential test checks the ability of the spinal nerves and spinal cord to send sensory signals from the body to the brain. The entire nerve pathway is …
Daily ScoopWhat is EMG/NCS?
EMG/NCS stands for electromyogram and nerve conduction studies. And this is an electrical test of your nerves and muscles. The purpose of the test is to localize where your symptoms …