Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants

Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants

Why Does My Neck Hurt When I Wake Up?

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Neck pain is something we’ll all deal with at one point in time. The difference between an annoying neck pain and a chronic neck pain can be quite noticeable. If you’ve been exercising chronic neck pain when you wake up each morning, you’ll want to read this post to understand what may be causing your neck to hurt upon waking up from your sleep.

So Why Does Your Neck Hurt When You Wake Up?

There are a number of reasons why your neck may hurt when you wake up in the morning. In The list elbow, we’ll explore some of those reasons and explain why they may be causing neck pain in certain individuals.

Awkward Sleeping Positioning

Sometimes we may just sleep funny. This could be due to a number of reasons, but it’s likely this will be a one-time thing if it is caused by an awkward sleeping position. Awkward sleeping positions cna yield some weird knots, stress, and aches when we wake up. Avoid this by ensuring your sleeping positions and bed is suitable for your needs. 

New Partner in Bed

If you’re recently moved in with a new partner and you’re now sharing a bed, it can sometimes cause you to compensate for the nelly occupied space on the bed and subsequently cause some possible neck pain in the morning. Thai could be especially true if your new partner in bed tosses and turns a lot throughout the night. A possible solution to this issue could be to talk to your partner and see if there’s a middle ground where you two cna meet and have a good night’s sleep together.

A New Pet in Bed

A new pet can equally disrupt your sleep, just as a new partner can. Pets, while seemingly smaller than humans, can cause a whole host of sleep disturbances. Especially if they move around a lot on the bed, jump on and jump off of the bed, or try to wake you up throughout the night if they have to go outside or need food/water. A good solution to this would be to keep your pet in their own space throughout the night.

An Object in Bed

If you’ve recently added a new pillow to your bed space, or some other new object; you may want to reconsider it if you’re experiencing a newfound neck pain upon waking up. 

Unsupportive Pillows

Supportive pillows in and of themself can cause neck pain to arise. Investing in a high-quality pillow which is geared towards your individual preferences cna do a whole lot of good to improve your quality of sleep, and thus possibly improve your neck pain.

A New Bed

If you’ve recently purchased a new bed, and you’re not acclimated to it yet; you may be experiencing an adjustment period. If this continues for a much longer time than you’re used to, you’ll want to consider returning the mattress to where you purchased it from. Many mattress companies offer you the ability to return it within a 90-day period, or even a full 365-day period. Take advantage of this opportunity if it’s available to you.

A New Exercise Routine or New Activity

Implementing a new exercise routine or activity can inevitably cause some newfound aches and pains to present themselves. If you notice a new neck pain after participating in a new activity, maybe take a break from siad activity for a week or so and see if your neck pain improves after you allow recovery time to take place.

A Past or Present Injury

If you’ve had a past injury which was never allowed to fully heal, you may be experiencing neck pain as a result of said injury. You’ll want to have it checked out as soon as possible, as it could be your body telling you of something wrong. If you’re experiencing neck pain from a new injury, the same strategy applies. Go see your doctor and determine what is happening. Don’t put it off.

Contact Us if You’re Having Neck Pain When You Wake Up in the Morning

If you’re experiencing neck pain when you wake up in the morning, you’ll want to contact us using the form below. We’ll be sure to have you seen by one of our amazing medical professionals as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

How Carpal Tunnel is Affecting More People Than Ever Before

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Carpal Tunnel is More Prevalent Today

As we begin to incorporate technology into each and every aspect of our lives, we’re starting to notice more and more cases of carpal tunnel presenting themselves. This could be due to the repetitive motion and action when we type on keyboards, use our smartphones with our thumbs, or even flicking through our favorite shows on our tablets. The list goes on, but we’re sure after a long day of typing, your fingers, hands, and wrists are probably not feeling their best. In this post, we’ll explore how carpal tunnel syndrome has transformed from something typically seen in factory workers, to now benign seen in many office workers. 

Now Referred to as “The Office Worker Condition”

Carpal tunnel syndrome is now being thought of as an office worker condition. As mentioned above, when you repetitively strike keys on the keyboard or thumb through your phone’s email app; you’re going to place repetitive stress and tension on the thumb, hand, and wrist area. This in turn could lead to the possible development of carpal tunnel over the years if you[re not cognizant of the actions. The best solution to this is to take a rest every hour to avoid fatigue and strain on your fingers, hands, and wrists. It’s also a good time to stand up, stretch, and walk around a bit before going back to your desk.

Choosing Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you’ve been expecting carpal tunnel syndrome and have yet to find relief, you’ll want to contact us using the form below. We’ll be sure to have you seen by one of our amazing medical specialists who can determine the level of care necessary to resolve your condition. We look forward to hearing from you soon and we’re eager to begin treating your carpal tunnel condition.

DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

How Driving for Extended Periods of Time Can Hurt Your Neck, Back, & Spine

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Driving can be a very involved activity in our neck, back, and spine. It may not feel like it, but we are using various parts of our body when we’re driving. It’s often felt after driving for a few hours continuously on a road trip, only after you stop for gas or a snack you begin to realize how stuff your joints are. In this post, we’ll be focusing on the main components of what makes driving for extended periods of time potentially harmful to our neck, back, and spine.


We’re Not Made to Sit for Extended Periods of Time

As stated above, we’re not really meant to be seated and operating a vehicle for several hours on end. Between gripping the steering wheel, to pressing the gas and brakes, to sometimes even shifting if we have a manual transmission car. All of this nuanced activity ends up causing tension and stress to develop across our body.

We’re Typically Tenser When Driving

As we’ve all experienced when we’re driving on a congested highway, or in stop-and-go traffic; we’re just much more tense. Driving in and of itself is not inherently stressful, it’s the other vehicles on the road which typically cause stress and cortisol levels to rise. These enhanced stress levels can cause areas of our neck and back to tighten up with stress-induced pain, discomfit, and even spasms in some cases.

Poor Circulation

Driving for multiple hours can result in poor circulation. It’s always a good idea to take a brief stop to stretch every hour or so. This same principle of standing up and stretching should be applied to all activities which involve extended periods of sitting.

Lack of Mobility

There’s not much room to move around when you’re the driver of a vehicle on an extended trip. This lack of mobility and inability to fully extend your legs will most likely result in varying levels of discomfort.


Poor Distribution of Our Weight

When we’re driving for extended periods of time, we’ll often try to shift our weight to relieve pressure on our hips, buttocks, and lower back. This ultimately will cause one side of your body to distribute weight to the other side of your body. In turn, you may experience pain and discomfort on one side more than the other side, resulting in a displaced style of walking.


Contact Us if You’ve Been Having Neck, Back, or Spine Pain

If you’ve been experiencing neck, back, or spine pain; you’ll want to contact us using the form below. We’ll be sure to have you seen by one of our amazing medical specialists as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

How People Sleep, All Around the World

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How People Sleep, All Around the World

Sleep is something all of us have in common. The benefits of sleep are enormous and without a good night’s sleep, your day is likely to be starting on the wrong foot. Read on to learn more about how various cultures sleep, all around the world. Enjoy!

Various Cultures Sleep Differently

As you’ll see in the following list of countries, many people sleep differently; depending on where they live in the world. Here are some of the most fascinating differences between various cultures.

Spain

Spaniards value sleep more than most other cultures. Have you ever felt that afternoon lull and thought to yourself “A nap would be awesome right now!”, the people of Spain agree. The “siesta” is a somewhat common practice many adhere to around 2-4pm to recharge and take on the rest of the day. While it’s certainly not as popular as it used to be, it’s still very much a part of the culture. With an afternoon nap comes a much later bedtime than most other countries.

Italy

Italians have a similar mid-afternoon nap time by the name of “riposo”. These naps are taken as the typical time most Italians wake up is around sunrise, so it makes sense as to why they need a quick rest around 2pm or so. They’re also fans of their coffees, so whether it’s a riposo or a cappuccino, Italians enjoy it.

Norway

With Norway experiencing some of the longest days of the year once spring and early summer arrive, you may find your neighbor mowing their lawn around midnight, going for a hike at 1am, or simply out and about socializing with friends and family when the rest of us are fast asleep. This all makes sense when you realize the sun doesn’t really set during peak summer hours. It simply provides some ambient light and then rises again during the month of June. Some love this part of summer and take advantage of the very long summer days in Norway.

Finland

New moms in Finland receive a “baby box” which provides a number of maternity gifts and a place for the baby to sleep when they first arrive home. From there, they’re transferred to their crib, but it’s a nice gesture by the Finnish government and it’s something most Finns appreciate.

Iceland

In Iceland, many mothers will allow their babies to sleep outdoors for nap time. Due to Iceland’s very low crime rate, many mothers are not concerned about the safety factor we may worry about in other countries. Icelandic parents believe in the benefits of fresh air and the soothing qualities of a nice breeze. Surrounding children in nature can do a lot of good for healthy development.

Germany

German sleepers will typically have their own duvet cover so as not to disturb their partner should they decide to use more of the covers. This concept is known as a daunendecke. It’s all about keeping the peace in the bedroom and it seems to have worked out so far for them.

Guatemala

Guatemala citizens like to palace “worry dolls’ underneath their pillow if they’re experiencing a stressful day or week. You whisper your worries to the dolls and place them underneath your pillow before you fall asleep. They will then absorb your worries and allow you to have a good night’s sleep. When you wake up in the morning, you’re supposed to rub the worry dolls’ bellies to give them comfort after carrying your worries throughout the night. 

Mexico

Prayer is a large part of pre-sleep rituals throughout Mexico. 83% of the population of Mexico is Catholic, so it makes sense they’d incorporate prayer before they rest their eyes for the night. Prayer and mediation has been proven to relieve stress, and with this stress relief, you may find yourself sleeping better.

China

Feng Shui plays a large role in how the bedroom is set up in China. The bed placement is crucial for a good life and there are many Feng Shui experts who will suggest optimal placement when moving into a new house or apartment. Additionally, many Chinese medicine practitioners say the ideal bedtime for most people is 10:30pm, as they say the human body begins to repair from the day’s stressors around 11pm.

Japan

Futons placed on tatami mats are typically how the Japanese sleep every night. The mats are able to be rolled out onto the floor and then rolled back up once they awaken in the morning. The Japanese population as a whole sleeps the least with around 6.3 hours of sleep on average per night. This is believed to be due to their work culture causing long hours at the office and on the job.

India

Many Indians believe the soul leaves the body each night in search for water, so they’ll keep a glass of water at their bedside to prevent a thirsty soul. This is probably a good idea for all of us, as sometimes we may wake up very thirsty in the middle of the night due to dehydration from night sweats, bad dreams, or a stuffy room.

Vietnam

Nap time is a part of both children and adults’ daily routine. Naps are taken at school and work where you’ll typically see both children and adults bring a small pillow to take a quick nap in the afternoon when they need to rejuvenate their energy for the rest of their day.

Choosing Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Neck, Back, & Spine Pain Relief

Contact us using the form below if you’re experiencing neck, back, or spine pain and we’ll be sure to have you seen by one of our awesome specialists as soon as possible!

DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

How to Take Care of Your Spine

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How to Take Care of Your Spine

Taking care of your spine is crucial for your overall bodily health. Without the proper care of your spine, you may run the risk of becoming compromised in other areas of your body. Your spine is one of the most important areas of your body to treat well and protect throughout your life. In this post, we’ll be discussing the various ways you can do just that while also promoting greater overall health. Enjoy!

Let Your Spine Decompress with a Good Mattress

We all know the feeling of laying down on our bed after a long day. It’s one of the absolute best feelings. At the same time, you’ll want to make sure your mattress is conducive to a good night’s sleep. If you find yourself waking up with a stiff neck, back, or spine; it’s time to reevaluate your mattress. While purchasing a new mattress can be expensive, it often ends up being much more expensive later on if you have to go to the doctor for various reasons caused by your unsupportive mattress. On top of that, you’ll want to have a good mattress not just for financial reasons, but also for the benefits of your health. Health is wealth, after all.

Exercise Core Muscle Groups

Exercising your core muscle groups, especially in your abdomen, can provide you with much needed strength and stamina to allow your posture and spine to be the best they can be. Our posture and our subsequent spinal positioning is mainly developed with the strength of our abdomen. When you have a weakened core, you may find yourself inadvertently slouching. Thai is not ideal if you’re looking to improve your posture and spine health. Start off by exercising the area with some mild ab exercises and you may find your posture improving naturally over time.

Wear Supportive Shoes

We don’t always realize it, but our choice of shoes makes a huge difference in how our back, neck, and spine respond to walking and running. If you’re the type of person who wears fancy dress shoes or high-heels, you may want to consider trading those in for a much supportive pair of stylish sneakers or flats with arch support. We know it may not be the most in-style, fashionable choice; yet good spine health never goes out style.

Massage Therapy & Physical Therapy

Massage therapy and physical therapy are good ways to help relieve tension, stress, and pain throughout the neck, back, and spine. Our team of physical therapists here at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants are trained in helping our patients overcome their conditions through non-invasive methods.

Practice Good Ergonomics While Sitting & Limit Total Sitting Time Throughout the Day

Sitting in a supportive chair if you have an office job, or even maintaining good posture through a reminder app on your phone can help a lot when it comes to spine health. If you must sit throughout the day, make sure to take breaks every hour to walk around and briefly stretch. This simple action helps promote circulation and natural movement.

Contact Us for Your Spine Care Needs

If you’re experiencing neck, back, or spine pain; you’ll want to contact us using the form below. We’ll be sure to have you seen by one of our excellent medical professionals as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Benefits of Walking Outside for Your Neck, Back, & Spine

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Walking is great for recalibrating the neck, back, and spine. Our bodies are meant to move, and when we use our legs to walk, we’re moving not only our legs, but our whole body in a certain way. This process allows our bodies to gain a better range of motion if we hadn’t walked that day for whatever reason. Throughout this post, we’ll be going over some of the tangible benefits of waking outside for your neck, back, and spine. Enjoy!


The Simple Act of Walking

We learn to walk at a young age. It’s one of the things we have in common as we begin to develop. It’s ironic how many of us often neglect our need for movement in favor of sitting for 8+ hours per day when one of our first major accomplishments as human beings is taking our first steps. You would think we would appreciate it more as we age, but that’s neither here nor there. What’s important is incorporating the simple act of waking into your daily routine, now. There’s no better time to start than now, so let’s explore some of the other benefits of waking outside.

Breathing in Fresh Air

Fresh air is a luxury many of us take for granted. When we take deep breaths of fresh air, it’s a way to reinvigorate our senses and provide high-quality oxygen into our body. “A breath of fresh air” is an old saying for a reason; it’s true! The next time you’re on a walk outside in nature, make sure to breathe in a deep breath and take in all which surrounds you. You’ll most likely feel a calming sensation over your body, which in turn may allow some built up tension in your neck, back, and spine to be temporarily alleviated.

Getting Some Sun

Vitamin D deficiencies are a very real thing, especially in America. It’s important to have some sunlight exposure, even in the colder, winter months. The sun has a way of enlightening our spirit as well. If you’re feeling down and out, spend an hour outside walking in the sunlight and you might just feel a little better.

Observing Nature

Looking at nature has been proven to improve our ability to perceive depth and colors. Observing nature is especially important if you spend a lot of time indoors, staring at a screen. The simple act if observing nature helps us better understand to not sweet the small stuff and recognize we’re not the center of the universe. The simple act of walking through nature while observing its beauty can certainly help us destress, which in turn may help our neck, back, and spine pain in some cases.

Various Terrains

Waking on various terrains is beneficial for us as humans due to the fact we didn’t always have perfectly paved sidewalks to walk on. Walking on the sand at a beach, through some grass in a park, across a dirt path in a country town. All of these terrains offer something a little bit different for us to walk on, which hosts its own unique set of factors to further stimulate our senses while waking.

Choosing Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Your Neck, Back, & Spine Health

If you’ve been experiencing neck, back, or spine pain and discomfort; you’ll want to contact us using the form below. While walking is fantastic to incorporate into our daily regimens, it can only do so much in some cases. We want to help you overcome your pain and discomfort and have you back on track to a pain-free lifestyle once again. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Heal from Surgery Faster with Adequate Protein Intake

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Heal from Surgery Faster with Adequate Protein Intake

Protein intake is crucial for all elements of health. Without adequate protein intake, we run the risk of becoming unwell through various factors: a weakened immune system, atrophy of muscles, and essentially the inability to function properly as human beings. Within this brief guide, we break down the benefits of adequate protein intake for surgery recovery and also some of our favorite proteins to consume. Enjoy!

Protein is a Building Block for a Healthy Recovery

If your protein consumption is minimal, you’ll heal much slower than if you’re receiving the recommended daily averages based on weight, height, age, and gender, and activity level.

Benefits of High-Quality Protein

When you choose to increase your protein intake, you’re going to want to choose high quality proteins. This means, organic, grass-fed, natural proteins which provide you with the necessary proteins, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals necessary to see good results. A high-quality protein also typically tastes better.

Some of Our Favorite Proteins to Consume

Below is a quick list of some of our favorite high-quality protein sources to consume when you’re beginning to explore different foods to incorporate into your diet. 

Steak

Steak is a great choice if you’re seeking out high quality protein which offers valuable nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. Steak can be prepared on the grill, on the cast-iron, stir-fried, or any way you prefer. It can be incorporated into many dishes across many different styles of cuisine. This is a protein many of us in Texas love and appreciate and we hope you’ll try to incorporate it into your diet too.

Fish

Fish has plenty of valuable protein, but it also has a great value of omega-3s which is great for potentially reducing inflammation as your body heals from surgery. Fresh salmon is always a great starting point when it comes to incorporating fish into your protein regimen.  

Chicken

Chicken is a great protein option due to its lean meat qualities and ease of preparation. It is also quite versatile and can be incorporated into a large number of dishes across the board. 

Legumes

Legumes are a fantastic option for protein if you adhere to a vegetarian or vegan diet. There are plentiful options to choose from, consisting of everything from kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc…

Protein Shakes & Protein Bars

If you’re on the go, or you’re simply too busy some days; you can choose to incorporate a high quality protein shake or protein bar. Go for organic, non-GMO sources of protein if possible. Yes, it may be a bit more expensive, but it’s for the health of your body.

Protein Powders

Protein powders can amp up a morning smoothie with ease. Having a fruit smoothie, or even a veggie smoothie with a dash of high-quality protein powder can be yet another method to achieve your protein intake goals for the day.

Contact Us if You’d Like to Learn More About How Nutrition Can Play a Crucial Role in Your Surgery Recovery

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you achieve your nutrition goals with the help of our amazing staff, you’ll want to contact us using the form below. We’ll be sure to respond to your message as soon as possible!

DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Why Does Stretching Feel Good?

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Why Does Stretching Feel Good?

We all know stretching feels good, especially when we’re actively participating in iy. In this post, we’ll be discovering why stretching feels so good, some of the benefits of stretching, and why you should try to incorporate stretching into our daily life. Enjoy!

So, Why Does Stretching Feel So Good?

So you want the answer to the age old question of “why does stretching feel good”? Let’s explore some of the standard reasons as to why, down below:

Improved Circulation

When you stretch, you allow the specified areas of your body you’re stretching to receive further circulation and blood flow. This in turn allows greater levels of oxygen to reach the areas you’re stretching and subsequently allows your body to circulate and remove metabolic waste products over time. Circulation is also necessary to ensure your body parts are optimally functioning. Without proper circulation, you run the risk of encountering muscle apathy, infection, and a whole host of other issues you’ll certainly want to avoid. 

Parasympathetic Activation

Stretching has been shown to activate your parasympathetic nervous system. When this system is activated, it can result in a feeling of calmness and relaxation. This system also helps with assisting proper digestion and resting functions.

Endorphin Release

We all know about endorphins as a reward system during exercise. What about when we’re stretching? Yes, endorphins are being released when we’re stretching as well. Endorphins are generally recognized as the body; natural reward system and help us with completing tasks we need to survive as human beings.

Physical Benefits of Stretching

Now that we’ve covered some of the inner-body benefits of stretching, let’s explore the truly physical benefits of stretching.

Increase in Flexibility

Stretching allows our bodies to be much more flexible than had we not chosen to participate in the activity. 

Better Circulation

Again, when the body’s circulation its blood through more efficient means; you’ll notice a benefit to your overall health. Stretching helps with this process and can provide you with improved blood vessel function and may lower your blood pressure.

Reduction in Stress

We all know yoga is a great stress reduction tool. Yoga is a form of advanced stretching techniques. Even basic stretches have been shown to help with stress reduction. Any small amount of stretching is better than none! So try it out for yourself!

Better Performance When Participating in Sports

Static and dynamic stretching may help prevent injuries from occurring when you’re participating in a youth sport of choice. Stretching may also help increase your overall performance in terms of endurance, stamina, speed, and flexibility.

Improved Posture

Stretching can help improve your posture in some cases, as it allows your muscle tightness and tension to be reduced over time. When you pair good stretching techniques with core strengthening exercises, you may find your posture improving over time.

Methods to Stretch Safely

•Avoid stretching cold: Do some jumping jacks, or take a quick run around the block to get your blood flowing. From there, begin your stretching routine.

•Stretch gently: Don’t push yourself past your own limits. Only stretch when it feels good. If it hurts, you’re going too far. You know your body best, treat it right, and you’ll see great results.

•Make stretching a habit: Aim to stretch every morning. If this isn’t’; feasible, try to stretch at least three times per week.

•Always stretch both sides equally: To avoid imbalances with your stretching process, make sure to stretch both sides equally to see equal results on both sides of your body.

•Avoid bouncing your muscles: Yes, you may have seen this technique on some TV show, but you’ll want to avoid it as it may cause unnecessary tightness to develop in your muscles.

Contact Us at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants

If you’re seeking out ways to improve your posture, improve your flexibility, or even improve your overall lifestyle; you’ll want to contact us using the form below. We’ll be sure to have you seen by one of our excellent physical therapists to address any and all concerns you may have. We look forward to hearing from you soon and welcoming you to Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants!

DISCLAIMER: No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.