Research and Clinical Trials Blog Posts

Is Surgery the Quickest Path to Sciatica Relief?

By: Larry Parker, MD | Mar 25, 2020
Sciatic nerve with radiating pain in the buttocks and upper thigh
Learn some useful pointers on the overall success of surgeries for sciatica based on medical research from surgical trials.
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The Best Alternative Therapies to Treat Back and Neck Pain

By: Ana Bracilovic, MD | Feb 06, 2020
Closeup of acupuncture needles
There are many options for alternative therapies to treat back and neck pain, including massage, acupuncture, yoga, and more. A large review reveals which options are the most effective at relieving pain.
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Weight Training Effectively Relieves Back Pain

By: Eric Sturos, MD | Jan 24, 2020
Woman doing arm exercises with a trainer in a gym.
Learn about which conditions may benefit from weight training and guidelines and tips on how you can safely participate in strength training to help your back.
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What Are Cages and Why Is Your Surgeon Putting One in Your Spine?

By: Jay Jagannathan, MD, FAANS | Dec 20, 2019
A cage is an implant that provides more normal spacing between vertebrae.
Often, the spinal fusion procedure includes using a cage as a space holder between your vertebrae. This cage will become a part of your spine forever, so it’s important to understand what it is and why it’s there.
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How and When to Get a Second Opinion Before Spine Surgery

By: Peter Ullrich, MD | Dec 15, 2014
Woman consulting with her doctor.
<p>It is often said that no one should have spine surgery unless they receive a second opinion from another surgeon. On the surface, this advice would sound like good old common sense, as two opinions are better than one. However, there is a trap in this line of thinking.</p>
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Is Surgery the Quickest Path to Sciatica Relief?

Learn some useful pointers on the overall success of surgeries for sciatica based on medical research from surgical trials.

References

  • 1.Jacobs WC, van Tulder M, Arts M, et al. Surgery versus conservative management of sciatica due to a lumbar herniated disc: a systematic review. Eur Spine J. 2011;20(4):513–522. doi:10.1007/s00586-010-1603-7
  • 2.Fernandez M, Ferreira ML, Refshauge KM, et al. Surgery or physical activity in the management of sciatica: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Spine Journal. 2015;25(11):3495-3512. doi:10.1007/s00586-015-4148-y
  • 3.Sedighi M, Haghnegahdar A. Lumbar disk herniation surgery: outcome and predictors. Global Spine J. 2014;4(4):233–244. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1390010
  • 4.Kumar, M. Epidemiology, pathophysiology and symptomatic treatment of sciatica: A review. nt. J. Pharm. Bio. Arch. 2011, 2.
  • 5.Gugliotta M, da Costa BR, Dabis E, et al. Surgical versus conservative treatment for lumbar disc herniation: a prospective cohort study. BMJ Open. 2016;6(12):e012938. Published 2016 Dec 21. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012938
  • 6.Lucas AJ. Failed back surgery syndrome: whose failure? Time to discard a redundant term. Br J Pain. 2012;6(4):162–165. doi:10.1177/2049463712466517

The Best Alternative Therapies to Treat Back and Neck Pain

There are many options for alternative therapies to treat back and neck pain, including massage, acupuncture, yoga, and more. A large review reveals which options are the most effective at relieving pain.

References

  • 1.Field T, Diego M, Hernandez-Reif M. Moderate pressure is essential for massage therapy effects. Int J Neurosci. 2010; 120(5):381-5. doi: 10.3109/00207450903579475.
  • 2.Evidence-Based Evaluation of Complementary Health Approaches for Pain Management in the United States. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016 Sep;91(9):1292-306. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.06.007.
  • 3.Rubinstein SM, Terwee CB, Assendelft WJ, de Boer MR, van Tulder MW. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Sep 12;(9):CD008880. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008880.pub2
  • 4.Paige NM, Miake-Lye IM, Shekelle PG. Association of spinal manipulative therapy with clinical benefit and harm for acute low back pain. JAMA. 2017; 317(14):1451-60.
  • 5.Cramer H, Klose P, Brinkhaus B, Michalsen A, Dobos G. Effects of yoga on chronic neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil. 2017; 31(11):1457-1465. doi: 10.1177/0269215517698735

Weight Training Effectively Relieves Back Pain

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When you're experiencing back pain, your impulse may be to keep your back immobile, so you don't trigger further pain. This idea seems like it would be especially true for adding resistance to your workout in the form of weight machines, free weights, or resistance bands.

References

  • 1.Dreisinger TE. Exercise in the management of chronic back pain. Ochsner J. 2014;14(1):101–107.
  • 2.Michaelson P, Holmberg D, Aasa B, Aasa U. High load lifting exercise and low load motor control exercises as interventions for patients with mechanical low back pain: A randomized controlled trial with 24-month follow-up. J Rehabil Med. 2016;48(5):456-63.
  • 3.Welch N, Moran K, Antony J, et al. The effects of a free-weight-based resistance training intervention on pain, squat biomechanics and MRI-defined lumbar fat infiltration and functional cross-sectional area in those with chronic low back. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2015;1(1):e000050. Published 2015 Nov 9. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2015-000050
  • 4.Lee JS, Kang SJ. The effects of strength exercise and walking on lumbar function, pain level, and body composition in chronic back pain patients. J Exerc Rehabil. 2016;12(5):463–470. Published 2016 Oct 31. doi:10.12965/jer.1632650.325

What Are Cages and Why Is Your Surgeon Putting One in Your Spine?

Often, the spinal fusion procedure includes using a cage as a space holder between your vertebrae. This cage will become a part of your spine forever, so it’s important to understand what it is and why it’s there.

References

  • 1.Jain S, Eltorai AE, Ruttiman R, Daniels AH. Advances in Spinal Interbody Cages. Orthop Surg. 2016;8(3):278–284. doi:10.1111/os.12264
  • 2.Alkalay RN, Adamson R, Groff MW. The effect of interbody fusion cage design on the stability of the instrumented spine in response to cyclic loading: an experimental study. The Spine Journal. 2018;18(10):1867-1876. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2018.03.003
  • 3.Omidi-Kashani F, Hasankhani EG, Ashjazadeh A. Lumbar spinal stenosis: who should be fused? An updated review. Asian Spine J. 2014;8(4):521–530. doi:10.4184/asj.2014.8.4.521
  • 4.Ofluoglu AE, Erdogan U, Aydogan M, Cevik OM, Ofluoglu O. Anterior cervical fusion with interbody cage containing beta-tricalcium phosphate: Clinical and radiological results. Acta Orthopaedica et Traumatologica Turcica. 2017;51(3):197-200. doi:10.1016/j.aott.2017.03.001
  • 5.Baeesa SS, Medrano BG, Noriega DC. Long-Term Outcomes of Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using Stand-Alone Ray Threaded Cage for Degenerative Disk Disease: A 20-Year Follow-Up. Asian Spine J. 2016;10(6):1100–1105. doi:10.4184/asj.2016.10.6.1100

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