Spine. Treatment

The term “stem cell” is a broad one that includes many types of cells from many tissue origins. Although current advances in stem cell research and technology show that stem cells may have therapeutic potential, many unanswered questions remain and other new questions emerge. For example, each type of stem cell has specific attributes, and […] Read More

The central idea behind cell transplantation for spinal cord injury (SCI) is that the cells are thought to promote repair and regeneration by secreting growth-promoting molecules (neurotrophic factors), providing a scaffold for regenerating axons, remyelinating damaged axons, or even replacing damaged or lost cells. Read More

Medical costs for a spinal cord injury can include, but are not limited to: Surgery; Trauma care or emergency services; Rehabilitation; Long-term care such as in-home nurses; Medical equipment like wheelchairs; Prescription medications; Pain management; Therapy; Other hidden expenses such as travel costs to and from the hospital, parking fees, food while traveling, or therapy […] Read More

A spinal cord injury can have adverse effects on a variety of functions throughout the body: Bladder/bowel control: the brain may not be able to communicate with the bladder or bowels following a spinal cord injury, and changes in control may require new techniques to empty each respectively to avoid infection. Skin sensation: without proper […] Read More

Treatment of spinal stenosis can be conservative or surgical. The modes of conservative therapy include rest, physical therapy with strengthening exercises for paraspinal musculature, bracing, use of optimal postural biomechanics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, analgesics, and antispasmodics. Surgical decompression is indicated in persons who experience incapacitating pain, claudication, neurologic deficit, or myelopathy. Concomitant stabilization is reserved […] Read More

The goal of spinal imaging is to localize the site and level of disease. It also is used to help differentiate conditions for which patients require surgery and conditions for which patients can recover with conservative treatment. Imaging studies used in LSS include standard radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scanning, nuclear imaging, […] Read More

You will be helped to sit on the side of your bed on the day or night of surgery. You may need help to get out of bed and walk. On the day of surgery, you will get out of bed and walk with the physical therapist or nurse at least three times a day. […] Read More

Complications from spinal surgery are rare, but you should be aware of some risks: Some pain after surgery should be expected, but sometimes surgery doesn’t relieve all of your preoperative pain and, in rare cases, can make it worse. Discuss your expectations for pain relief with your surgeon. After a spinal fusion, neighboring parts of […] Read More

Driving will depend on the surgery and the postoperative medication. Generally, you should assume you won’t be driving for at least two weeks after surgery. Once your surgeon clears you to drive, you will ease into it with short trips. Keep your trips as a passenger short. If you have a long ride home after […] Read More

The biggest variables affecting recovery time are the nature of the surgery and the condition before surgery. Here are some general guidelines on what to expect. Discectomy: Recovery is typically fairly quick. Some pain, numbness, or weakness in the nerve that was compressed is normal and should clear up in a few weeks. Laminectomy or […] Read More