Some may argue on the surface they don’t have much in common, as martial arts are typically used for self-defense or attack, where as medicine is used to heal and care for patients. But, when talking with Dr. Jessica Shellock, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon and Dr. Sheena Bhuva, Physiatrist, about their life in medicine and the martial arts there is much more in common between the practices.  
Learn more at www.texasback.com

Martial Arts And Spine Care Dr. Sheena Bhuva And Dr. Jessica Shellock

One of the most remarkable advancements in medical technology and spinal treatment occurred more than 20 years ago. At the request of the Federal Drug Agency (FDA), leading spine surgeons at selected practices around the United States began exploring the feasibility of replacing damaged vertebral discs with those that were man-made.

An artificial disc is an elegant concept because it restores motion between the vertebral bodies instead of fusing them to other discs and locking them in place. However, improving on what Mother Nature “created” is always a challenge. Fortunately, the spine specialists at Texas Back Institute (TBI) were up for the task.

To see the full article visit: www.texasback.com/blog

#discreplacement #Artificialdiscreplacement #backpain #Neckpain #spinecare #richardguyer #scottblumenthal #jessicashellock #texasback

Spine Talk Podcast - Artificial Disc Replacement with Drs. Guyer, Blumenthal, & Shellock Shellock

Dr. Ralph Rashbaum, co-founder and Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Texas Back Institute talks about SI Joint disfunction, the symptoms, and treatment options for it. Si Joint disfunction is often misdiagnosed, and goes untreated for many patients. For more information visit: www.texasback.com

SI Joint Disfunction - Dr. Ralph Rashbaum [Ep. 002]

Blog Audio - Dr. Samuel Bederman Talks About the Genetic Link in Scoliosis

Text Neck is More than a Cute Term. It’s Seriously Painful 

People, of all ages, staring down at a small screen for hours every day could have a real problem. As was noted in a previous blog post (http://texasback.com/about-us/blog/text-neck-its-nothing-to-lol-about/), this has resulted in the rise of a non-medical, but extremely descriptive term: Text Neck. It has also resulted in patients showing up in the Texas Back Institute waiting room, complaining of sore necks. More on this later.

Dr. Rey Bosita, a spine surgeon at Texas Back Institute notes, “This is a pain in the back of a person’s neck, caused by poor back posture while looking down at smartphones, tablets or other electronic devices.”

“The cause of text neck is the same for both kids and adults,” he said. “People have a tendency to hold a mobile device down in the lap or down on a low surface, while keeping the neck flexed. When that happens, the muscles in the back of the neck get fatigued. When users finally get distracted from dealing with “Angry Birds,” email, or FaceBook, they feel pain when they try to lift their heads.” 

“The problem with text neck is that people might keep their heads in this position for several minutes or several hours every day,” he noted. “This causes a cumulative pain effect. Text neck affects both kids and adults. The biomechanics are the same, whether a person is young or old. The most important thing is to try and prevent it.”

The constant use of hand-held technology is causing other unintended consequences besides text neck. According to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, “electronic toys hinder verbal development and traditional toys, such as common building blocks, sparked higher quality conversations among children.” 

Dr. Bosita, while not a child psychologist, is the proud dad of 4 youngsters, and he has first-hand experience with the benefits and challenges of smartphones, tablets and other electronic gadgets in the hands of kids. Does he see any backlash brewing with regard to allowing kids unlimited use of hand-held devices? 

“I agree with the statement that electronic games can hinder verbal development,” he said. “Parents have to be cognizant of this problem, especially with the little kids.  Make sure the kids play with the traditional toys and have enough personal interaction with each other to make sure this ‘locked in’ situation doesn’t happen where the kid’s iPad becomes his or her world.”

Read the Full Blog at www.TexasBack.com/blog

Blog Audio - Dr. Rey Bosita Talks About The Danger Of Text Neck

This is the time of year when the bats are swinging, the baseballs are flying and the boys and girls of summer are at least thinking of the words to the world’s best baseball song…

“Put me in coach. I’m ready to play. Today”

As the official spine surgeons for the Frisco RoughRiders, a minor league affiliate of The Texas Rangers, the specialists at Texas Back Institute examine many of these young players when back injuries strike. Often, these injuries are exacerbated when young players – middle school, high school, collegiate and professional - try to “play through the pain.”

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal noted overuse injuries are a serious problem, particularly for younger boys and girls. These are caused by the repetitive stress of the muscles and skeletal system without giving them enough rest. According to the article, more than 50 percent of the pediatric sports injuries occur due to a focus on a single sport by a young athlete.

Teams, of all skill levels, are trying to combat these injuries due to overuse by giving a greater role to athletic trainers. In an effort to determine is this is a positive trend or one that is dangerous, Dr. Rey Bosita, a spine surgeon at Texas Back Institute, was asked to give his professional pitch. 

See the full story here: www.texasback.com/blog

Dr. Bosita Repetitive Stress In Young Athletes

Can plunging one’s entire body into a freezing chamber reduce muscle pain? For the professional athletes and celebrities who have made cryotherapy so popular, the answer is yes. If the media coverage is any indication, extreme cold is very hot.
Many athletes, movie stars and other opinion leaders have publically extolled the benefits of Whole Body Cryotherapy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryotherapy for losing weight, reducing pain, improving athletic performance, slowing aging and improving sleep. However, this relatively new treatment has not been vetted by any reputable medical organization and has had some tragic consequences for at least one young lady. 
According to an article in Forbes http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2015/11/23/the-cold-hard-facts-on-cryotherapy/#1d8c1a691334 magazine, “the recent death of 24-year old Chelsea Patricia Ake-Salvacion during a cryotherapy treatment has brought some increased scrutiny on a practice that has been growing in use worldwide.” To find out just how effective cryotherapy is in reducing back pain, Dr. Nayan Patel  http://texasback.com/doctors-profiles/doctor-patel of Texas Back Institute was asked for his opinion on the extreme version of ice packs on a hurting back. Read the full story here: www.texasback.com/blog

Blog Audio - Dr Patel Talks About Cryotherapy And Back Pain

Why Air Travel Can be Hazardous to Your Health
Anyone who spends a lot of time on an airplane has a clear understanding of the concept of misery. Except for those lucky travelers who are in “first class,” the other 200 or so people spend the duration of the flight cramped, with little leg room, closely seated next to other passengers who are often grouchy due to their own lack of space!

Dr. Michael Hisey http://texasback.com/doctors-profiles/doctor-hisey is a spine surgeon at Texas Back Institute and his work in the field makes him a highly-sought-after speaker for medical conventions all over the world. Because of this, Dr. Hisey has become somewhat of a “road warrior” and as such, is the ideal source for offering tips on avoiding the back pain which can result from hours and hours on an airplane.
He has also had some quirky experiences that can only happen to a doctor on a plane.
“Recently, I’ve had some long trips to Uganda and China,” he said. “I’ve also got a trip coming up to Singapore.
See more at www.texasback.com/blog

Dr. Michael Hisey On Air Travel 02

It’s rare when a world-class spine surgeon and internationally respected scoliosis expert is also an enthusiastic yoga practitioner. However, such is the case with Texas Back Institute’s Dr. Isador Lieberman (http://texasback.com/doctors-profiles/doctor-lieberman ).  This high-energy physician is putting all of these skills in play during a special event on Saturday, June 25, 2016.
For the second year, Dr. Lieberman, Texas Health Plano Scoliosis and Spine Tumor Center and Texas Back Institute ( http://texasback.com/about-us/ ) are combining forces for “Stretch for Scoliosis,” a two-hour, fun-filled event to promote the National Scoliosis Awareness Month. Held at the Plano Sports Authority, which is located at 6500 Preston Meadow Drive and running from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., this special workshop will teach parents and children about how core strength and flexibility can be improved. 
Screening for Scoliosis

This event will also allow scoliosis specialists to screen adults and children for this very serious, however controllable spinal problem. Dr. Lieberman explains.

“For those who might not be aware it, scoliosis is a curvature of the spine where people are either bent forward or sideways,” he noted. “This, of course, leads to discomfort and limited mobility.”
“Over the years, we’ve been big advocates in trying to improve posture. As a surgeon, I can improve the posture of someone suffering from scoliosis, but there are many people who have unbalanced posture, with a spinal deformity – whether this situation is caused by scoliosis or other factors – who could benefit from an active program of posture exercises.  This will help them regain their balance and improve their function.” 
“Yoga, Pilates as well as general stretching all help with this condition and we designed this Stretch for Scoliosis program with this in mind,” he said. “This is our second year and we are trying to raise the awareness of how to keep one’s back healthy and maintain  good posture using an active exercise program which includes yoga and Pilates type exercises that will allow someone with a spinal deformity to have a better quality of life.”
 Read the full blog post here: www.texasback.com/blog

Dr. Lieberman Talks About Stretching For Scoliosis

Texas Back Institute is constantly striving to bring new expertise to its practice and the latest evidence of this effort is Dr. Scott Kutz, a neurosurgeon who joined the organization in June.  The latest addition to the surgical team at TBI grew up in central Illinois and before landing in the Dallas-Fort Worth area he spent time in Chicago, New Orleans for his medical education and St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri in the early years of his medical practice.
In a recent interview, Dr. Kutz said, “I originally wanted to practice relatively close to central Illinois in order to be close to my family. However, the climate for medicine is much more challenging and rewarding in the St. Louis, Springfield and ultimately the DFW areas.”
What made Dr. Kutz decide to join the team at Texas Back Institute? He didn’t hesitate in his answer.
“Texas Back Institute is a phenomenal facility,” he said. “They have a wonderful combination of doing excellent clinical work combined with cutting edge research and medical education.”


Dr. Scott Kutz Neurosurgeon Intoduction

Dr. Bosita Talks About Pros And Cons Of Crossfit

Eric Clapton, one of the world’s best-known blues and rock guitarists, has been playing his instrument professionally since 1962 and now, at age 71, he is being forced to seriously consider retirement. This has nothing to do with his popularity. In fact, he released a new album of songs entitled “I Still Do” in May 2016, to rave reviews.

According to a recent article in the Washington Post, Clapton is experiencing nerve damage which is making it extremely painful to play guitar. He was quoted in the article. “I’ve had quite a lot of pain over the last year,” Clapton told “Classic Rock” Magazine. “It started with lower back pain and turned into what they call peripheral neuropathy, which is where you feel like you have electric shocks going down your leg. And I’ve had to figure out how to deal with some other things from getting old.”

As the most recent addition to the Texas Back Institute team of spine experts, Dr. Scott Kutz, specializes in neurosurgery and, in addition to being an Eric Clapton fan, has several insights about this painful condition.

“Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder affecting the peripheral nerves of the body, which is a part of the central nervous system,” he said. “This can affect one nerve, in which case it is known as a mono-neuropathy, or it can affect multiple nerves where it is known as a poly-neuropathy.

“This condition is fairly common and there are several different types and multiple causes of neuropathy. In the case of a mono-neuropathy, the most common type is carpal tunnel syndrome , where the medial nerve is compressed in the area of the wrist and causes pain, tingling, numbness, swelling and it can affect one’s strength.

For the Full story visit www.texasback.com/blog

Dr. Scott Kutz Talks About Eric Claptons Condition

Why Do Pregnant Women Experience Back Pain? 
The Two Reasons Might Surprise You.

There is not a more joyous time in the lives of a couple than when they are expecting a child. Words are inadequate to describe this experience.  This process of bringing a new life into the world is simultaneously invigorating and more than a little scary! 

During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes many changes in order to accommodate the birth, and this often results in the expectant mom experiencing back pain. In most cases, this pain is common. However, to paraphrase a wise person: “Pain is not common if it is YOUR pain.”

To explain why back pain often occurs in pregnant women, Dr. Jessica Shellock, a back specialist at Texas Back Institute was asked for her professional opinion. In the process giving this explanation, she also offered some suggestions on dealing with this pain.

The Causes of Back Pain

“There are two primary causes for back pain in women who are pregnant,” noted Dr. Shellock. “As the baby is growing in the uterus, its weight increases, which causes a strain on the lower back of the expectant mother. In order to accommodate this weight, a woman will change her posture – hyper-extending her lower back in order to maintain balance. This causes muscle strain and leads to pain.

“The other reason for this pain is due to the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy,” she said. “Estrogen is a relaxant and it fluctuates in a woman’s body during this period of pregnancy. These hormones are preparing her body for childbirth.  They loosen some of the ligaments, which allow the baby to pass through the birth canal. Both of these factors can cause increased fatigue and back pain.”

“These changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy don’t typically cause long - term injuries,” Shellock said. “However, women who are prone to having back pain are going to be more likely to experience back pain during their pregnancy. 

“In most cases, after delivery, the pain will subside,” she said. “This is due to the woman losing that ‘baby weight’ and her hormones regrouping to their normal levels.”


Dr. Shellock Talks About Pregnancy And Back Pain

“We’re all wired to sleep differently,” Dr. Bosita said in a recent interview. “Some of us are natural side-sleepers, some sleep on our backs and others sleep on our stomach and those natural sleeping positions can sometimes make back pain worse. 
“Many times, a person will feel uncomfortable when trying a new sleeping position because it doesn’t feel right. One of our goals at Texas Back Institute is to help our patients get their back pain under control so they can sleep in the most comfortable position for them.”
“A person with spinal stenosis, for example, typically experiences pain when they extend their spine,” he noted. “If a person is a natural back-sleeper, the firmness of the mattress will have the effect of extending the spine a small amount, making the back and leg pain worse.
“In some instances, people will roll over quickly and they will suddenly wake up because their back pain will get acutely worse. For someone who is sleeping fitfully, the mattress may be the cause and sudden movements can increase the back pain.
 “Regardless of the sleeping position, it’s my job to help our patients manage their pain so that they can sleep in any position.”

View the full story at www.texasback.com/blog

Dr. Bosita Talks About Sleep And Back Pain

For more info visit www.texasback.com/blog
Low Radiation and 3-D Images: Two Reasons Your Next X-Ray Should be Taken with the IOS Machine

(Stock photo of an x-ray of the spine)
When Professor Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1901/rontgen-bio.html) discovered the x-ray while working with a cathode –ray tube in his laboratory in 1895, medical journals of the day immediately understood the significance of this discovery.  This ray could pass through most substances, casting shadows of solid objects. 
What most excited the physicians and dentists about Roentgen’s discovery was that the ray could pass through the tissue of humans, but not bones and metal objects.  According to an article (https://www.nde-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Radiography/Introduction/history.htm) on the history of radiography, “Public fancy was caught by this invisible ray with the ability to pass through solid matter, and, in conjunction with a photographic plate, provide a picture of bones and interior body parts. 
“Scientific fancy was captured by the demonstration of a wavelength shorter than light. This generated new possibilities in physics, and for investigating the structure of matter. Much enthusiasm was generated about potential applications of rays as an aid in medicine and surgery. Within a month after the announcement of the discovery, several medical radiographs had been made in Europe and the United States, which were used by surgeons to guide them in their work. In June 1896, only 6 months after Roentgen announced his discovery, X-rays were being used by battlefield physicians to locate bullets in wounded soldiers.”
Unfortunately, with most advances in medicine, there are unintended consequences which are discovered later. Such is the case with effect x-rays can have on the body.
 
For more info visit www.texasback.com/blog

Dr. Isador Lieberman Talks About EOS Xray Technology

The Power Swing: Why it’s Causing Severe Back Injuries and Ending the Careers of Young Golfers

The world’s top-ranked professional golfer is Jason Day. He is just 29 years old, 12 years younger than his mentor Tiger Woods, and may be nearing the end of his career due to a golf swing that is taking its physical toll on his back. Woods’ history of back injuries has been extensively chronicled, and due to these health problems, he appears to be at the end of his impressive professional career.

The Professional Golf Association (PGA) tour has become a young man’s game, with five of the first six tour events in 2017 won by players between the ages of 22 and 24. However, these “young guns,” such as Day, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose, have all had recurring back injuries force them out of tournaments this year.

What in the Name of Lee Trevino is Going on Here?

In the words of that great Duke Ellington song from the 1940’s, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!” These ailing young golfers have several things in common, including their athleticism, but it is their swing that is making and breaking their careers.

According to Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee, who has written a popular book on the sport titled “The Anatomy of Greatness,”every swing is different, but Woods, Day and McIlroy embody a stylistic change that has pervaded the sport. In a recent article, he shared his knowledge of the swing traits of some of the greatest golfers in history and found a few key differences in the contemporary swing from past generations.

“In general, the modern swing is shorter with more restrictive lower body movement. That requires a more violent turn to initiate the downswing, which takes more of a physical toll than swings from previous golfing greats, such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, that were longer and more rhythmic.”

A Competitive Golfer Who is Also a Spine Surgeon... see the full story here: https://texasback.com/the-power-swing-why-its-causing-severe-back-injuries-and-ending-the-careers-of-young-golfers/

Dr. Michael Duffy Talks About Jason Day And Playing Golf With Back Injuries

Since its founding in 1977, Texas Back Institute (https://texasback.com/about-us/) has been recognized around the world as a state-of-the-art clinic for spine and neurological treatments. Along with recruiting the best and the brightest spine surgeons and clinicians, the practice has been an important contributor in the development of medical innovations such as artificial disc replacement, treatment for scoliosis, disc fusion and for the testing of many other medical devices on behalf of the Federal Drug Administration.
The practice is now earning accolades for its spinal research with the launch of the Spine Biomechanics Laboratory at Texas Back Institute. According to a recent article in the online medical site “Spine Universe,” this team and facility, located in Plano, Texas is “helping patients understand exactly how spine conditions affect their movements and muscle activities, and quantifies how much improvement they have made following spine surgery and other treatments.”

One of the leaders of this research effort is Dr. Scott Kutz (https://texasback.com/find-a-physician/name/scott-kutz/), a neurosurgeon at Texas Back Institute. He explained why this research is important to both TBI patients and spine specialists around the world.    

“From a research perspective, this process is extremely valuable because it allows us, as physicians, to understand what we are accomplishing with surgery. The subjective reporting from patients is not as conclusive. While it is certainly wonderful to have a patient return for follow-up and report that they are feeling better, we need objective measures to prove that what has been done is improving the patient’s health. This research is also important for our practice here at the Texas Back Institute and when it is documented in publications, we can share these results – both good and bad – with other spine specialists around the world.” 

View full article at www.texasback.com/blog

Spine Biomechanics Lab At Texas Back Institute With Dr Scott Kutz

Dr. Rey Bosita, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Texas Back Institute talks about some myths and facts about back pain. 

Learn more at https://texasback.com/patients/patient-education/

Join Us at www.facebook.com/texasbackinstitute

Dr Rey Bosita Answers FAQs Of Low Back Pain

On any given day, the waiting room of Texas Back Institute is filled with people who are experiencing back pain. In most cases, these patients are over 50 and have age-related causes for their pain, ranging from arthritis, wear and tear from work or other conditions that affect their spine. By and large, back pain is an older person’s problem. However, a form of chronic back pain that affects younger patients has received more discussion and research among spine specialists. This disease is ankylosing spondylitis.

According to a report in Medical News, “Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a painful and progressive form of spinal arthritis and symptoms of inflammatory back pain often first present in people before age 35. It typically begins in the late teens and early twenties and in severe cases may result in fusing spinal vertebrae and may cause structural damage to hips and other joints. Often misdiagnosed as "just back pain" or undifferentiated arthritis, AS is a systemic inflammatory disease that, in addition to its effect on the spine, can affect internal organs, peripheral joints, and vision.”

The Spondylitis Association of America estimates that between 350,000 and one million people in the U.S. suffer from ankylosing spondylitis. However, millions more may have the disease and are unaware of this...
Read more at: https://texasback.com/young-adults-take-notice-that-back-pain-may-be-ankylosing-spondylitis-and-it-is-serious/

Dr Kevin Ju Talks About Ankylosing Spondylitis

Facet Joint PainAs a former collegiate golfer and current avid player, Dr. Michael Duffy, a spine surgeon at Texas Back Institute, is an excellent source for information on playing the game at a high level without succumbing to back injuries. As a student of the game and its players, he has excellent insights about the causes for the injuries to these two players and how amateur golfers can avoid them.

“A lot of what’s going on today is due to the fact that golfers are better athletes than they were decades ago,” Dr. Duffy said. “They are swinging harder and creating more torque with the new, so-called ‘X-factor’ swing, and while this makes the ball travel farther, it can also cause serious injuries to the spine and back.

See the full article here: https://texasback.com/is-there-life-after-back-injuries-for-these-two-young-golfers/

Dr Duffy - Life After Injuries To Two Golfers

For more info visit: https://texasback.com/treatments/surgical-treatments/decompression/

Dr. Kevin Ju, explains what decompression surgery is and who would be a good candidate. So, what is Decompression Surgery?
Any surgery that relieves compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerves is considered to be decompression surgery. If the compression results from a disc herniation, the surgery is a discectomy. If the compression is because of a narrowed spinal canal that is placing pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots, this surgery is a laminectomy. A laminectomy removes the back wall of the spinal canal to create more space for the spinal cord.

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Decompression Spine Surgery - Explained by Dr. Kevin Ju

Dr. Scott Kutz (https://texasback.com/find-a-physician/name/scott-kutz/) , a neurosurgeon at Texas Back Institute (https://texasback.com/treatments/surgical-treatments/fusion/tdr/spinal-cord-stimulation-scs/), treats hundreds of patients each year for back pain and has some first-hand experience with spine stimulation.
 
“The original spine stimulators were developed in the 1960s,” he said. “However, the technology could not be used in a wide-spread fashion until the 1980s. This was because the pacemaker technology, which, like the spine stimulator, could be implanted and maintain electrical stimulation for a long period of time, improved at this time

“Between the 1980s and 2010, the technology was relatively static. There was a certain recognized range of stimulation frequency that could be delivered to the dorsal column of the spinal cord. If the stimulation was delivered within those parameters, the patient would typically get a reduction of pain, particularly pain to the hips, buttocks, shoulders, some parts of the back, arms and fingers.

“Unfortunately, some patients did not get good pain reduction from this type of stimulation. This could be due to the fact that they might have more pain centered in the neck, at the back of the head or in the lumbar spine area. In some cases, the patients would experience paresthesia with this stimulation, meaning they could feel this stimulation and for many that sensation was disagreeable. It was annoying to some patients, and this made it ineffective in coverage of the pain.

“We now have high-frequency stimulation that cannot to be perceived by humans. Thus, when this stimulation is delivered, it still has effects on the nervous system and still interrupts pain delivery from those distal nerves up to the brain, but it is not perceived by the patient. This means the stimulation can cover deeper pathways within the spinal cord leading to better coverage of pain in the neck itself, the thoracic area (where the ribs attach to the spine) and the lumbar (lower back) area of the spine.”

Using Stimulation Instead of Opioids
The fact that this new version of spine stimulator is being used instead of opioids for treatment of back pain is good news for the medical community, which is concerned about their abuse. From a medical standpoint, how does spine stimulation mimic the effect of opioids for the treatment pain?
“Actually, spine stimulation and opioids work differently on pain,” Dr. Kutz said. “Opioids don’t eliminate pain but rather they increase the tolerance of the mind to having pain. Most patients who are taking opioids say things like, ‘I can still tell that I hurt, but I just don’t care.’
“With spinal cord stimulation, there is an actual disruption of that pain signal coming up to the brain.”

Visit Texasback.com/blog for the full story.

Dr Scott Kutz Talks About New Technology To Fight Spine Pain And The Opioid Crisis

Read the full article at www.texasback.com/blog

New Research: An Imaging Biomarker Could Change Treatment of Degenerative Disc Disease  

There is promising news for millions of patients who suffer from lower back pain and disability caused by degenerative disc disease. Researchers in Hong Kong recently published their findings in the medical journal Spine. They found a novel imaging biomarker that seems to correlate to degenerative disc disease and lower back pain. 
While the researchers noted that much more investigation is necessary before this imaging protocol is used for diagnosing this painful condition, it has the potential of allowing spine surgeons to gain more insights without being forced to use more invasive testing.
As a spine surgeon at Texas Back Institute (https://texasback.com/about-us/), Dr. Jessica Shellock (https://texasback.com/find-a-physician/name/jessica-shellock/) has diagnosed and treated hundreds of cases of degenerative disc disease and her insights about the condition sheds some light on the potential benefits of this research.  

What is Degenerative Disc Disease?
Between each bony vertebral body is a disc (https://texasback.com/conditions/herniated-disc/) that acts as a shock absorber and a hinge. With aging, the disc becomes dehydrated, making it less supportive and more prone to injury. Even a healthy, well-hydrated disc can be injured. The disc is composed of the annulus, which is a tough tissue that makes up the outside of the disc and the nucleus pulposus, which is the jelly-like substance in the center of the disc.
What causes these discs to degenerate?  
"Degenerative changes within a disc are physiologic," Dr. Shellock said. "This means that as our discs age, certain processes occur, including pathologic changes...

Read the full article at www.texasback.com/blog

Dr Jessica Shellock Talks About Degenerative Disc Disease

Dr Michael Hisey Talks Sciatica - Symptoms And Treatments

Dr. Ted Belanger talks about Spinal Instability in this short, but informative podcast. Spinal Instability is described as excessive motion of vertebral bodies in relation to one another is considered spinal instability. Some motion is, of course, normal. Motion can be described as instability when the motion is significantly greater than that at adjacent levels. Spinal instability can be the result of an injury, degenerative process, tumor, previous surgery or congenital condition. Symptoms of spinal instability may include neck or back pain, nerve pain and muscle spasms.
Find More here: https://texasback.com/conditions/spinal-instability/

Dr Ted Belanger Talks About Spinal Instability

Dr. Rey Bosita, Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Texas Back Institute talks about herniated discs, and the symptoms that you need to watch for.

What is a herniated disc? 
Between each bony vertebral body is a disc that acts as a shock absorber and a hinge. As we age, the disc becomes dehydrated, making it less supportive and more prone to injury. Even a healthy, well-hydrated disc can be injured. The disc is composed of the annulus, which is a tough tissue that makes up the outside of the disc. The nucleus pulposus is the jelly-like substance contained in the center of the disc. A herniated disc occurs when the nucleus breaks through the outer tissue. A herniated disc is very common and may or may not cause symptoms. Stretching or tearing of the annulus may result in back or neck pain. The discs are immediately in front of the spinal cord and exiting nerves, so when the herniated disc or protrusion compresses the spinal cord or nerves, leg or arm pain and numbness or weakness may occur.

Find more here: https://texasback.com/conditions/herniated-disc/

Dr Rey Bosita On Herniated Discs

Dr. Rey Bosita talks about Swimming And Diving Injuries and How to Avoid them.

Read the full blog here: https://texasback.com/the-future-of-spine-surgery-will-involve-3d-printing/

There is an interesting intersection at work between the disciplines of mechanical engineering and orthopedic surgery. For example, spine surgeon Dr. Michael Hisey of Texas Back Institute earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from The California Institute of Technology. Of course, he then went on to medical school and specialized in orthopedic surgery, but his fascination with engineering continues to this day. This partially explains his interest in the 3D printing of medical devices.

A Brief History of 3D Printing
While it seems that 3D technology has just recently burst on the scene, in fact, it has been around since 1981. It was originally known as “additive manufacturing” and was invented by Hideo Kodama of Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute in Japan. The first medical application of 3D printing occurred in 1999 when scientists at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine printed synthetic scaffolds of a human bladder and then coated them with the cells of human patients. The newly generated tissue was then implanted into the patients with little to no chance that their immune systems would reject them, as they were made of their own cells.

The market for 3D printing is growing rapidly. One example of this growth is Essentium Inc., a Texas-based 3D printing company that is transforming additive manufacturing for use in a broad range of industries.

Read the full blog here: https://texasback.com/the-future-of-spine-surgery-will-involve-3d-printing/

The Future of Spine Surgery Will Involve 3D Printing with Dr Michael Hisey

Read the Full story here: https://texasback.com/how-a-new-treatment-for-adhd-might-offer-relief-for-epilepsy/


There’s new hope for those who suffer from the debilitating condition of epilepsy. A minimally invasive procedure recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children holds promise for helping the 65 million people suffering from epilepsy. One of the neurosurgeons who helped evaluate this new treatment for the FDA is a member of the team of specialists at Texas Back Institute – Dr. Thomas Kosztowski.

Do you or a loved one suffer from epilepsy? Have you seen symptoms of this condition and are concerned about treatment? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Kosztowski or other neurosurgeons at Texas Back Institute.

Read the Full story here: https://texasback.com/how-a-new-treatment-for-adhd-might-offer-relief-for-epilepsy/

Dr. Tom Kosztowski talks about How a New Treatment for ADHD Might Offer Relief for Epilepsy

Dr. Scott Blumenthal (https://texasback.com/find-a-physician/name/scott-blumenthal/) joins the podcast to talk about Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery, how the technology has evolved since he helped bring it to the United States nearly 20 years ago, and what can be done for the small percentage of patients that may need a revision surgery. 

Find more information about Total Disc Replacement athttps://texasback.com/treatments/surgical-treatments/fusion/tdr/

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Dr Scott Blumenthal Talks About Disc Replacement Revision Surgery

Read the full blog here: https://texasback.com/concern-about-concussions-at-the-draft-combine-what-nfl-players-have-taught-us/

Many athletes have sought expert medical attention from Texas Back Institute  and two exemplary neurosurgeons, Dr. Akwasi Boah (https://texasback.com/find-a-physician/name/akwasi-boah/) and Dr. Thomas Kosztowski (https://texasback.com/find-a-physician/name/thomas-kosztowski/) These two neurological experts recently offered insights on the diagnosis and treatment of concussions.

Every year, the National Football League (NFL) stages its annual “Draft Combine,” where highly regarded college players undergo medical examinations and perform drills for teams that might consider drafting them in the spring. This week-long event also serves as an opportunity for league officials and medical specialists to update the teams and the public on the state of prevention and treatment of NFL players from injuries suffered in games and in practices.
 
Since the 2017 season, the league has instituted several rule changes and on-field concussion protocols. A spokesman for the NFL said that the league is particularly interested in whether key rule changes, such as banning the lowering of the helmet to initiate contact and eliminating blind-side blocks, has reduced injuries. 

In the not-so-distant past, having a concussion was perceived as an “occupational hazard” for professional football players and many players ignored the risks of these injuries. Now, athletes in all sports and at all levels - middle school, high school, college and professional, are concerned about the health risks of head injuries.

Concern about Concussions in the NFL with Drs. Boah And Kosztowski

Texas Back Institute uses its experience, talent, state-of-the-art equipment, and technology to provide superior and innovative care for patients who suffer from back and neck pain.

From the beginning in 1977, the goal to perform as a center of excellence, integrating the best of science and education with the best business practices, has served Texas Back Institute well and continues to be the backbone of Texas Back Institute’s success. Over thirty-five years later, Texas Back Institute is one of the largest freestanding multidisciplinary academic spine centers in the world. Utilizing the latest technological advancements and medical breakthroughs, leading and participating in numerous FDA trials, developing surgeons through its fellowship program and employing an expert medical team and compassionate support staff, Texas Back Institute remains dedicated to helping patients get back to life.

With our unparalleled commitment to spine care, Texas Back Institute has pioneered many innovative spine technologies in the United States. Here at Texas Back Institute, we are dedicated to training spine surgeons from all over the world.

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