Be a good patient? This can be a hard pill to swallow, literally. Not everyone likes the advice a doctor gives him or her, but almost 100 percent of the time the advice given is in the patient’s best interest. Try to put aside pride and do what the doctor tells you. If the doctor’s orders insist on a lifestyle change, then see it through. If you were prescribed a medication and your doctor has reiterated that it is necessary, take the full course. You see a medical doctor for a reason. They have several years of schooling in medicine and that makes them experts in how to treat illnesses and manage health. You may not like hearing that your BMI is higher than average or your sudden weight loss has an underlying cause, but you went to your doctor with your concerns for a reason. Why go if you aren’t going to heed their advice? And if you truly disagree with a treatment, seek a second opinion. Most physicians encourage it.

The most common cause of back pain ? There are three common types of nerve root issues that lead to back pain: spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and osteoarthritis. In all three conditions, the nerve root is affected causing often-severe back pain. In spinal stenosis the pain results from narrowing of the spinal canal near the nerve roots. It can appear in one area, or several areas, of the back. In spondylolisthesis, a vertebrae slips over another vertebrae and creates a painful, unstable back. Spondylolisthesis most commonly occurs with joint issues, typically after a fracture or a degenerative joint disease, or as the result of a defect to the joints. Lastly, osteoarthritis occurs when both discs and joints begin to wear down. This ailment becomes more common as people age and leads to pain, swelling, instability and stenosis in one or several areas of the spine.

Only a small percentage (less than 10%) of patients with adult scoliosis will ever need surgery. However, if surgery is considered necessary, it is typically related to back and leg pain that interferes with activities of daily living. The most common corrective spinal surgery for the treatment of scoliosis is spinal fusion. During this procedure, the spine is fused to bone graft material to hold the spine in a straighter position. Fusion surgery may be incorporated into other procedure. This might include spinal decompression, stabilization, osteotomy or vertebral column resection to correct the deformity. In adults, most cases of scoliosis will never progress once the skeleton has matured. However, there are exceptions. The goal of scoliosis treatment for adults is to reduce any active pain, and restore physical function and balance to the body to prevent any future problems. Explore extra details on Scoliosis Treatment.

Up to 90% of patients experience pain relief with Long Beach Lumbar Spinal Fusion. Pain is significantly reduced after this procedure. A Long Beach lumbar spinal fusion is a type of back surgery that can be done as an open, minimally invasive or mini-open procedure. The procedure combines two or more vertebrae through a welding-like process in order to reduce pain and increase stability in the spine. It is used to treat chronic neck and back pain that may radiate to the arms and legs. People who suffer conditions such as degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, fractures and spinal tumors in Long Beach typically make good candidates for the procedures. When possible, some spinal fusion surgeries can be done as outpatient procedures with minimal cutting and operating time—they are called minimally invasive spinal fusions. Depending on which vertebrae are causing pain and where potentially diseased discs are located, a fusion can be done on the thoracic (upper back) or lumbar spine (lower back). Long Beach spinal fusions prevent pain associated with movement by fusing together two or more vertebrae in the spine to prevent painful movement. The pieces are welded together using a bone graft, made from either a cadaver bone or taken from the patient. These grafts are commonly referred to as cages.

SI joint dysfunction isn’t always the cause of SI joint pain. Other potential causes of SI joint pain include sacral stress fracture, lumbar disk herniation, piriformis syndrome (a rare diagnosis that involves irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve) and ankylosing spondylitis (chronic, dull pain felt in the back, hip, and butt that often results in morning stiffness but subsides with exercise). If SI joint dysfunction is the cause of pain, an individualized treatment plan will be developed that includes both rest as well as modified activity. The goal is to rehabilitate the affected muscles by targeting the underlying cause of dysfunction and pain. In some cases, runners can change their approach to running to reduce or eliminate pain. A biomechanical evaluation of the runner can be done to assess whether or not this is the problem. Sometimes improper training, weak muscles or imbalanced muscles can be to blame. Overtraining can also be to blame. Manual therapy performed by a sports osteopath, chiropractor, physical therapist or athletic trainer is sometimes recommended as part of a doctor-prescribed therapy protocol.

Long Beach Spine Surgery is often sought to treat spinal conditions including deformity in children and adult scoliosis, kyphosis and flatback. Dr. Yuan never recommends surgery first and guides you to many options for pain relief and quality of life. Dr. Yuan is a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon and fellowship trained spinal surgeon. He specializes in the treatment of all spinal disorders including issues with the neck and back. He treats conditions that affect the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine utilizing both surgical and non-surgical interventions. Dr. Yuan emphasizes non-surgical treatment first and only recommends surgical procedures when absolutely necessary to better a patient’s quality of life. Discover additional info on Spine surgery.