Is It a Back Muscle Spasm or a Disc Problem? How Doctors Tell the Difference
TL;DR A muscle spasm and a herniated disc can both cause significant back pain, but they behave differently and need different evaluations. Neither can be reliably told apart by symptoms alone. Muscle spasm often causes localized, tight, band-like pain without leg symptoms. A herniated disc more often causes pain, numbness, or weakness radiating into the […]
Pinched Nerve in the Neck: Cervical Radiculopathy Symptoms and Treatment
TL;DR A pinched nerve in the neck, called cervical radiculopathy, causes pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that radiates from the neck into the arm or hand. Most cases improve with non-surgical care. Symptoms typically follow a specific pattern down one arm, not both. Weakness or significant numbness is a reason to be evaluated promptly. Most […]
Degenerative Disc Disease: What an MRI Finding Means, and What It Doesn’t
TL;DR Degenerative disc disease shows up on many MRIs, including in people with no back pain at all. An imaging finding alone does not confirm it is the cause of your symptoms, and most cases are managed well without surgery. Disc degeneration is extremely common with age and often causes no symptoms. Your exam and […]
Whiplash Symptoms: When Neck Pain After a Crash Needs Medical Evaluation
TL;DR Whiplash symptoms can take hours or days to fully appear after a car accident. Neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and reduced range of motion are common signs worth getting evaluated. Symptoms often peak a day or two after the accident, not immediately. Common signs include neck pain, stiffness, headache, and limited range of motion. Feeling […]
Back Pain Worse When Standing or Walking but Better Sitting: Could It Be Spinal Stenosis?
TL;DR Back pain that worsens with standing or walking, and eases when you sit, is a recognizable pattern often linked to lumbar spinal stenosis. It is not a self-diagnosis, but it is a good reason to get evaluated. This pattern is often linked to lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing around the nerves in your lower […]
Whiplash Treatment After a Car Accident in Brooklyn, NY
Neck pain after a car accident is often whiplash. Getting evaluated early and staying appropriately active gives most people the best shot at a full recovery.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Why Back and Leg Pain Can Worsen When You Walk or Stand
If your back and leg pain gets worse when you walk or stand and better when you sit or lean forward, it may be lumbar spinal stenosis.
How can laser therapy help to get rid of acute back pain?
Back pain is quite common in humans, irrespective of their age and gender. Acute back pain can occur due to numerous reasons, like lifting weights, improper posture, and even living a sedentary lifestyle can lead to back pain, among other things. Acute back pain is tolerable if it only lasts for a couple of days. […]
When should I go and visit a knee orthopedic doctor?
If you have acute or severe knee pain, you have likely been working with your primary care physician for support. Unfortunately, there are times when you require support that goes beyond what your family doctor can provide you. If acute knee pain is taking over your life, there are reasons for working with an orthopedic […]