Q
: 1
05/22/2010 |
My wife has scoliosis, does that mean that our children are predisposed to it? Also, she is currently pregnant and has a curved or 'crooked' spine, could that be a problem for a child during the nine month period?
Scoliosis should have no effect on the growing child within the mother. But it is heritable. It can be passed both by the mother and the father. For some unknown reason, females get more severe curvature more often but males get scoliosis too.
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Q
: 2
05/19/2010 |
I have had a herniated disc for about a month and I'm still having pain and numbness in my right leg. I heard that herniated discs sometimes dissolve on their own without surgery. Is that true?
Most lumbar herniated discs will resolve spontaneously in six to 12 weeks. Surgery is necessary in less than 20% of cases of acute sciatica.
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Q
: 3
04/28/2010 |
Can scoliosis be treated in older people?
Absolutely! There is no cut-off for scoliosis treatment although the surgery gets more difficult as one ages. Complication rates do go up but with appropriate management and techniques, many older individuals with scoliosis can be successfully treated.
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Q
: 4
04/06/2010 |
My 12-year-old daughter was just diagnosed with Scheuermann's kyphosis. However, she began menstruating at age 10 and is almost at the end of her growing. If a person has reached maturity and there is no more growing, can a brace still be effective in correcting this disease. She has a 50 degree curve.
Bracing is only effective in obtaining permanent kyphosis correction if it can be employed before the end of growth. If your child is near skeletal maturity it is doubtful that bracing will correct her curvature. However, a 50° curve is really not very big and should not cause her any significant problems as an adult.
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Q
: 5
03/20/2010 |
What is a tarlov cyst, seen on a MRI Report at S2, and what is the treatment?
Tarlov cysts are cysts in the dural sac. These are usually asymptomatic and considered incidental findings. They do not require any treatment.
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Q
: 6
03/16/2010 |
What is the normal course of action a doctor would take if a disc fusion hasn't healed 1 1/2 years post surgery?
The treatment of symptomatic pseudoarthrosis generally involves some type of revision surgery to improve the biology for bone healing in there with additional bone graft or supplementary fixation or both. Most fusions will occur in about one year. If the fusion hasn't occurred by then, it is unlikely that it will heal with additional time.
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Q
: 7
02/27/2010 |
My mother is 75 years old and has a compression fracture in her lower back. She is in severe pain and her doctor has recommended physical therapy as treatment. Should we seek a second opinion? I have read of some procedures being used now that are less invasive and help relieve the pain. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a treatment that can relieve pain from compression fractures. Most of these fractures heal and become less symptomatic in 4 to 6 weeks but if the pain persists, then injection of bone cement can be helpful in certain cases.
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Q
: 8
02/22/2010 |
What options are available for degenerated disc's in the thorasic area of the spine? Two distinct areas of been causing chronic pain for 40 years.
Most thoracic disk degeneration is treated with non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy and medications.
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Q
: 9
02/22/2010 |
Could you provide some discussion regarding "curved" rods vs. straight rods in a spinal fusion of the entire lumbar spine?
Very simply: the shape of the rod itself is not important as long as spine is fused in an appropriate position. In the lumbar spine that means sufficient lordosis to allow the patient to stand up straight. As long as this goal is accomplished, any type of rod will do. However, it is generally much easier to use a curved rod to match the amount of lordosis required. The greater the amount of the spine that is to be fused, the more important this becomes.
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Q
: 10
02/19/2010 |
What can be done for a pinched
nerve in the neck? I have had neck
and left shoulder pain that goes
down to the blade for three weeks.
Most acute neck and arm pain will resolve on its own in a few weeks. Usually nothing more than some pain medication and rest is all that is needed. If the pain does not resolve after about a month, then injections or surgery become options.
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Q
: 11
02/19/2010 |
If you are in an accident that causes the cervical vertabrae to be in a straight position instead of the normal curved "C" shaped position, what are the repercussions of this? Is this a permanent situation?
Straightening of the spine after trauma is usually the result of spasm. As the pain resolves and the spasm goes away, the straightening usually improves spontaneously.
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Q
: 12
02/14/2010 |
I have full blown scoliosis. I am 73 years old with nerve pain from my back to my right knee. It is very very painful. What exercises should I be doing?
General aerobic exercise combined with core strengthening such as pilates or yoga is great. However, if there is severe nerve impingement, exercise might not be effective by itself.
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Q
: 13
02/12/2010 |
Do you do IDD therapy at UMMC? I have back pain due to L2 L3 L4 L5 compression. My doctor ordered the intervertebral dynamics disc therapy for me. Is it the best non-invasive treatment?
Currently we do not offer this type of treatment. As far as I know there is no scientifically valid study to show that it is effective.
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Q
: 14
02/08/2010 |
Twenty years ago (I'm 42) I herniated a few lumbar discs and so have battled back pain since. Over the past few months, though, the pain has become debilitating so I was given an MRI. The results state that I have extensive bony edema and disk degeneration at the L5-S1 level consistent with modic type I changes along with broad based disk bulge and annular fissure. The radiologist said it looked like a possible vertebral infection. How is this treated?
Most vertebral infections can be treated with bracing and antibiotics. About 1/3 will require surgery. However, you may not have an infection! You need evaluation by a spinal surgeon and possibly a biopsy. Blood tests at the least. Since you are in MD, you can call for an appointment if you like. 410-448-6400.
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Q
: 15
02/02/2010 |
I understand you have never fused over Pro-Disc L's that have subsided, but you said you could handle it. Do you remove facets or do a laminectomy? I have such back sitting/laying pain and the ADR's made is worse. Also, what bone material do you use?
We would only do laminectomy/facetectomy if there was nerve root compression on a myelogram. We can use your own bone, banked bone or BMP (genetically engineered bone growing protein). Either alone or, more likely, in combination. There are pros and cons to each.
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