Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants

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Analyzing Your Scoliosis X-Ray: Our Approach

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Analyzing Your Scoliosis X-Ray: What We Look For

Here at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants, we analyze many cases of scoliosis and provide excellent treatment options for your condition. We take a very detailed look at all aspects of your back and spine area to determine the next best steps when you’re seeking analysis and treatment of your scoliosis condition. Altogether, we have some of the best medical professionals and surgeons who are willing to go above and beyond the standard protocol when it comes to ensuring your scoliosis condition is addressed properly. Read on to discover more about how we analyze your scoliosis x-rays and what we can do to help ensure your condition does not progress any further, while also potentially reversing the effects.

The Importance of X-Rays in Diagnosing Your Scoliosis

From our first, initial consultation; you’ll find our approach to analyzing scoliosis x-rays is different. By different, we mean much more involved and our attention to detail is what really sets us apart from other practices. We want to analyze your shoulders for unevenness, we look for tilting of the waist where one side is higher than the other, and we even analyze your rib cage to see if there’s an uneven protrusion occurring where one side of the rib cage is more prominent than the other. All of these visual inspections pair well with our actual analysis of your scoliosis x-ray.

How Our X-Ray Machine is Different from Others

When we first have your scoliosis x-rays taken, we’ll ask you to attempt to touch your toes while kneeling over to see the true alignment of your spine in its best position for analysis. From there, our x-ray machine utilizes 36-inch x-ray film which allows us to see your entire spine, all at once. How great is that? We think so too. From there, we’ll be able to see all of the potential areas which require improvement. We prefer to take the least invasive, nonsurgical approaches first. This methodology allows us to see how your body responds to everything from physical therapy, to back bracing, to nonsurgical pain management (injections). All of these approaches are better suited for cases of scoliosis, where there’s very rarely life-threatening conditions present. If however, there’s an extreme worsening in your scoliosis which is progressing over time, you’ll want to consider surgical options to prevent the condition from progressing to an irreversible state. We can assist with this matter by performing a minimally invasive, spinal fusion procedure to prevent further curvature, thus reducing your chances of encountering severe, progressive back pain in the future.

Choosing Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Your Scoliosis X-Ray

When you choose Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for your scoliosis x-ray analysis, you’re trusting us to provide you with thorough feedback, excellent analyses, and proper solutions which can help you overcome your scoliosis condition. Feel free to contact us using the button below to learn more about how we can potentially help your scoliosis condition and have you back on track to wellness in due time. We look forward to hearing from you soon and are eager to have your scoliosis condition resolved as soon as possible.

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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.

Texas Spinal Care: Our Guide

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Texas Spinal Care: How Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants Stands Out

Spinal care is a very serious path to take as a medical professional which requires years and years of dedicated, highly involved work to master over time. Thankfully, our Texas spinal care center, Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants of San Antonio, Texas is here to help you with any and all spinal issues or problems which may be occurring. Read on to discover how with our excellent facilities, our amazing staff, and our highly-skilled surgeons; you’ll be able to regain control of your life once again and be able to enjoy life to its fullest extent.

How Our Texas Spinal Care Center is Different

Our Texas spinal care center is focused on our patients first and foremost. We place a strong emphasis on being the best we can be, no matter what. With this mindset, we always go into treating our patients with a proactive approach, rather than a reactive approach. We’ve found this is the best way to go about diagnosing, treating, and providing proper recovery options for your spinal condition. Other facilities may just simply treat their patients as just another patient on the list. We do the exact opposite of that with our innovative approach to treatment and patient care. We’re always by your side on this sometimes difficult journey towards recovery and we want you to know you can count on us as your trusted, spinal care center.

We Focus On Results, Through & Through

Our patients have felt the effects of our expertise, time and time again thanks to our skilled surgeons who specialize in spinal and neurosurgery techniques. We’re one of the best of the best when it comes to our methodologies, techniques, procedures, and follow up you’ll find in your search for spinal surgeons throughout the greater Texas area and the United States. Our compassionate, caring staff members will always be here for you when you need us and we want to reiterate how important you are to us as a patient; as you’re the reason why we do what we do.

Choosing Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Your Spinal Care

If you’re searching for Texas spinal care which always has you, the patient, in mind; you’ve come to the right place. Be sure to book an initial appointment with us using the button below and we’ll be sure to respond to your inquiry as soon as possible. We look forward to learning more about your condition and offering a number of ways in which we can help you overcome the pain and discomfort you’ve been experiencing. All in all, we want you to know you’re in great hands with us here at Neurosurgery & Spine Clinic of San Antonio, Texas.

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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.

Scoliosis Brace Guide: How We Can Help

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Scoliosis Brace: Our Guide

Many of those who tend to suffer from ongoing scoliosis issues seek out ways to treat their condition without having to undergo surgery. This is a wise step to take first and foremost as surgery should be the last option in most cases. We at Neurosurgery and Spine Consultants value our patients’ health and always want to exercise the right options for you as an individual. If that means experimenting with a scoliosis brace to offset the years of poor posture, misaligned spine, and overall discomfort; that’s the route we’ll take. We want you to know you’re in excellent hands with us and your health and well-being are always our top priority. With that being said, let’s explore how a scoliosis brace can possibly help correct the aforementioned issues without the potential need for surgical intervention.

How Does a Back Brace for Scoliosis Help?

A back brace for scoliosis can help you tremendously, especially if you wear it for prevention purposes instead of purely for treatment purposes. Catching your scoliosis condition from the start, preferably during your formative youth years, can allow us to properly project where we anticipate your scoliosis condition to develop in the years to come. From here, we can create a customized back brace for your scoliosis condition to offset some of commonly developed habits in scoliosis patients (poor posture, leaning to one side or the other, and a weakened abdominal core).

How We Help Determine the Right Brace for You

We’ll first take x-rays and possibly an MRI to best determine the extent of your scoliosis condition and from there, we’ll design and develop a customized approach to help control your scoliosis. We want to see proper posture, good spinal column alignment, and just enough room to allow you to properly grow with the back brace itself. When all of these elements are combined, we’ll be able to see the results we’re hoping for.

If you’re older and have scoliosis from your teenage years, we’ll still be sure to develop a back brace which we determine to be the right fit, form, and style to best accommodate your scoliosis condition while still preventing it from becoming any worse. While it’s unlikely your scoliosis will improve 100% at a fully-developed adult age, you can still take the proactive approach with your condition and wear a scoliosis brace every day to prevent your scoliosis condition from worsening any further.

Choosing Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for Your Scoliosis Brace Needs

If you’re seeking a scoliosis brace and want a truly custom approach to your condition, look no further than Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants to see all we have to offer. Between our excellent specialists, our amazing facilities, and our personable approach to resolving your scoliosis condition; you’ll find all of our qualities to be exactly what you’ve been searching for when seeking a scoliosis brace which truly helps, not hinders. Be sure to reach out to us using the button below and we’ll be sure to respond to your inquiry as soon as possible. We look forward to hearing from you soon and are eager to begin helping you achieve your goals of overcoming your scoliosis condition.

Book an Appointment

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.

Five Exercises for Upper and Middle Back Pain

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Upper and middle back pain is not as common as lower back or neck pain because the bones, disks, muscles and ligaments do not need to flex as much. Instead, these areas help the ribcage support the back, keep it stable and protect vital organs like the heart and lungs.

Common causes of upper and middle back pain

Even though lower back pain is more common, many people experience upper or middle back pain caused by:

  • Aging
  • Overuse, muscle strain or injury
  • Incorrect or poor posture
  • Excess pressure on the spinal nerves
  • Bone fracture
  • Arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Herniated disks
  • Scoliosis
  • Obesity

Five exercises to alleviate upper and middle back pain

Certain exercises will help improve your posture, decrease your risk for injury and reduce pain. Start by stretching, then try these five easy exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles in your back, shoulders and stomach:

Upper back exercises

  • One-arm dumbbell row
    Choose a flat bench, place your right leg on top of the bench and bend your torso until it is parallel with the floor. Next, place your right hand on the other end of the bench and hold a weighted dumbbell in your left. With your torso stationary, exhale as you pull the dumbbell up to the side of your chest while keeping your arms close to your body. Breathe out as your slowly return your arm to the starting position. Complete three sets of ten, alternating sides.
  • Face pull
    Secure a resistance band to a stable surface above eye level and grasp each end of the band using an overhand grip. Next, pull the band directly toward the face while flaring your elbows out to the sides and squeezing your shoulders together. Complete three sets of ten.
  • Reverse dumbbell fly
    Using lightweight dumbbells, stand with your torso bent at a 45-degree angle and your arms hanging down. Next, keep your neck neutral and your eyes down as you lift your arms to the sides and up. At the top of the movement, squeeze your shoulders together. Complete three sets of ten.

Middle back exercises

  • Superman
    Lay on your stomach with your arms and legs fully extended. While keeping your neck neutral, lift your arms and legs off the ground at the same time using your back and glute muscles. Complete three sets of ten.
  • Cat cow
    Start on all fours with your palms directly below your shoulders and your knees directly below your hips. Draw your navel up toward your spine and lower your head to relax your neck. Hold this position for three to five seconds and then return to a neutral position. Next, look up while lowering your back toward the floor. Hold this position for three to five seconds and repeat the entire sequence five times.

It’s important to consult with your physician before beginning this or any exercise routine.

If you’re interested in learning more about effective exercises for upper and middle back pain, contact Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants at 210-255-8935. We specialize in nonsurgical pain treatments in the San Antonio communities of Medical Center, Stone Oak, Westover Hills and Southwest.

Will Surgery Make My Neck Pain Better or Worse?

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Will neck surgery make my pain better or worse?

It’s a common question. In fact, there used to be a common adage that it’s wise to avoid spine surgery at all costs. This is ill-advised, of course, as there are—and long have been—situations in which surgery is the best option for relieving debilitating spine pain. Also, spine surgery has advanced considerably, resulting in a much better risk-to-benefit profile.

Yet, the question regarding surgery for neck pain remains an important one, and we hear it frequently.

Surgery will only provide effective relief for specific kinds of problems.

Whether or not surgery will improve your neck pain depends on several factors.

First and foremost, surgery of the spine involves risks. Like any surgery, those risks have to be weighed against the potential benefits of surgery. Surgery can be very effective at relieving neck pain (including radiating pain that originates in that part of the spine), but it isn’t recommended in most cases.

That’s because surgery to relieve neck pain is only recommended for severe, debilitating pain, and then only if there is an identified, correctible problem. This means two things:

  • There must be a definitive diagnosis
  • The problem diagnosed must be something that surgery can correct

Surgery for neck pain relief is an option of last resort.

Even with a diagnosis of a surgically correctible problem, surgery for neck pain is an option of last resort. It is only recommended after all other approaches to relieving pain have failed. If rest, medications and physical rehabilitation are ineffective at resolving or reducing your neck pain, and you’re a good candidate for surgery, then surgical intervention will be considered for a correctible problem.

Generally, surgery is only appropriate for neck pain linked to spinal instability or nerve compression. This includes:

  • Pain caused by a pinched nerve root due to bone spurs or caused by a ruptured disc
  • Pain caused by pressure on the spinal cord due to spinal stenosis
  • Pain caused by pinched nerves due to vertebral grinding as a result of degenerative disc disease

Maximize your chances for pain relief with appropriate surgical expertise.

As mentioned, there is always risk associated with surgery, including risk of additional pain. The goal—the key—is to maximize your odds for effective pain relief.

So, surgery to relieve neck pain is only appropriate—and will only relieve pain—when it’s a correctible problem, after all other options have failed, and if you’re a good candidate. In addition, the outcome of spine surgery is highly dependent on the skill of the surgeon. With nerve compression and spinal stability as the problems appropriate for surgery, seriously consider that only neurosurgical spine surgeons are fully trained in nerve-related surgery and are the only surgeons able to perform the complete array of spine surgeries.

If you’re experiencing debilitating neck pain or upper-extremity pain related to the cervical spine, relief is possible, up to or including surgical solutions. Contact Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants for expert evaluation, diagnosis and, if needed, experienced neck surgery in San Antoniowith minimal risk and optimal outcomes. Call 210-255-8953today.

Is There a Cure for Scoliosis?

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Scoliosis is an abnormal curve in the spine that may or may not cause discomfort. It typically occurs between ages 10 and 15 during growth spurts. Boys and girls are equally diagnosed with minor idiopathic scoliosis, but spinal curves in girls are 10 times more likely to worsen and require treatment.

While there is no cure for scoliosis, the symptoms can be significantly reduced with treatment.

What are some common causes of scoliosis?

While the cause of scoliosis remains unclear in the majority of cases, some types of scoliosis do have clear causes. In nonstructural scoliosis, the spine works normally but has a curved appearance. Common causes of nonstructural scoliosis include:

  • One leg is longer than the other
  • Muscle spasms
  • Appendicitis

Once treated, nonstructural scoliosis often goes away.

In structural scoliosis, the curve of the spine is rigid and cannot be reversed. Common causes of structural scoliosis include:

  • Cerebral palsy
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Birth defects
  • Infections
  • Tumors
  • Marfan syndrome
  • Down syndrome

What treatment options are available for nonstructural scoliosis?

While scoliosis cannot be prevented, it can be treated if it’s diagnosed early. In order to diagnose scoliosis, your doctor will need to look at the alignment of your spine. If it shifts to the left or right, they will order x-rays to confirm their diagnosis. Treatment options for scoliosis include:

  • Physical therapy
  • Back bracing
  • Injections to manage pain
  • Minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery (used only as a last resort)

Some types of scoliosis are caused by an abnormality elsewhere in the body. Treating the abnormality treats this particular type of scoliosis. In these cases, no direct treatment of scoliosis is necessary because the spine is normal and will straighten once the abnormality is corrected.

If you or a loved needs expert treatment for scoliosis in or around San Antonio, contact the skilled physicians at Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants. We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of structural deformities, like scoliosis, andwork together to provide the relief you need, as fast as possible, while taking a cautious approach to surgery.

Can Physical Therapy Help Spine Pain?

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When you’re struggling with acute or chronic spine pain, it can be tempting to stay in one place all day—however that’s only a prescription for more pain. The best thing to do is get up and get moving despite how unappealing it may sound. In fact, regular exercise and physical therapy is one of the best ways to help relieve spine pain.

Physical therapy is used to treat disease, injury or pain by physical methods like stretching, massage, heat treatment and exercise—rather than by medications or surgery. The goal of physical therapy is to make every day activities, like walking and climbing stairs, easier.

For those who struggle with chronic back or spine pain (e.g., pain lasting three to six months or more), physical therapy is often recommended to decrease pain, increase function and help prevent future recurrences. NSC’s in-house Physical Therapy team collaborates with your doctors to ensure that each treatment plan is individualized to meet your goals. You will be surrounded by the entire NSC team to ensure a fast and full recovery.

How does physical therapy decrease spine pain?

Physical or manual therapy is performed by a skilled physical therapist and involves slow, measured movements to twist, pull or push discs, joints and bones into position. Over time, these techniques can help lengthen your spine, stretch your muscles and improve your flexibility. Massage and manipulation are also used to help relax your muscles, increase circulation and ease pain in your soft tissues. Your physical therapist will also teach you specific stretching exercises you can do at home to help alleviate spine, back and neck pain and stiffness.

What is the best type of exercise or physical therapy to help with spine pain?

Aerobic activities like jogging, walking or using a stationary bike are all light exercises that have been shown to decrease back and spine pain. However, each person’s pain is unique so it’s important to work with an experienced physical therapist to determine which exercises are right for you.

Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants is proud to offer a brand new, state-of-the-art physical therapy department for nonsurgical spine treatment in San Antonio. Contact us today at 210-255-8935 to learn more or schedule an appointment.

How to Cope With Chronic Pain

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More than 50 million people in the United States suffer with chronic pain. It is medically defined as pain lasting more than 12 weeks that affects how a person lives their daily life. Inflammation or dysfunctional nerves are often the source of chronic, long-lasting physical pain. It can also lead to symptoms of depression, anger, and frustration.

How to cope with the physical, mental, and emotional effects of chronic pain

Here are some helpful tips for coping with the negative effects of chronic pain:

• Get moving
No, really! While rest is important for acute pain, like a sprained ankle or a muscle pull, rest actually reinforces chronic pain. Inactivity leads to stiff, weak muscles, which can actually intensify your chronic pain. Talk to your doctor to find out if low-impact exercises like walking, cycling, or taking a yoga class could help alleviate your pain.

• Pace yourself
Don’t overdo it with daily activities. Once you know your limits on activities that aggravate your pain, to do those activities for less time than your limit, then take a break before your pain flares up.

• Consult a professional
If you’ve done everything you can to manage your pain and still feel overwhelmed, talk to a pain care specialist to find out what type of treatment is right for you. Neurosurgery Spine & Consultants offer several medical treatments to help you manage your pain, including:
o Prescription medications
o Physical therapy
o Steroid injections
o Advanced nerve blocks
o Back braces
o Minimally invasive radiofrequency procedures
o Surgery

If you’re struggling with chronic pain or worsening symptoms, it’s time to get the medical help you need so you can get back to enjoying life.

Contact Neurosurgery & Spine Consultants at 210-255-8953 for expert chronic pain treatment in San Antonio. Our experienced physicians offer the most advanced, nonsurgical treatments to help keep you active and out of pain.