Anatomy of Spine
Explore the fundamentals of the spine’s structure in this brief introduction. From the alignment of vertebrae to the network of nerves, we’ll uncover the spine’s crucial role in movement, organ protection, and nerve signaling. Let’s dive into the basics of spine anatomy, shedding light on its importance for our overall health.
Subscribe to the BlogDisc Injections With Platelet Raisins and Protein Syrup
The last blog I published was on the mounting evidence for using PRP to treat the common causes of spinal pain. However, in that literature review, one study stood out. That research was abruptly halted at eight weeks, which was curious. As I sat down to read and analyze this paper in more detail, it…read more
Which Ligament Allows for Excessive C1-C2 Overhang?
This blog is specific to the topic of upper cervical instability. In that patient population, we often get a Digital Motion X-ray open mouth view looking for sideways motion of C1 on C2 (aka “overhang”). When we see that, which ligament is responsible for allowing that to happen? Let’s dig in. The Upper Cervical Ligaments…read more
What is the Ligamentum Flavum? Why Should You Care?
One of the more critical ligaments in your spine is generally an unknown for most patients. That’s despite being responsible for causing lots of back pain and general havoc. That structure is called the ligamentum flavum. Let’s dig in. Ligaments and the Spine If we had to hold a competition between different spinal structures like…read more
The New VAST Trial Results on VIA Disc
It’s my job as CMO of Regenexx to stay on top of the latest and greatest technologies out there that can be used to treat Degenerative Disc Disease in the spine. Today I’ll tackle one called VIA Disc. My goal is to dissect a recent and past paper to see if this is something we…read more
Getting Flat Feet? Meet the Spring Ligament
My feet are getting flat. In fact, that’s causing some pain in the top of my foot at the end of the day. So what’s going on? What does that have to do with the Spring Ligament? Let’s dig in. What Are Flat Feet? Our feet have a natural Arch. Why? Because it’s part of…read more
The Curious Case of the Bad Artificial Disc
I often write about what I experience day in and day out in the clinic. The case this morning is of a patient who had an Artificial Disc placed and developed new pain. After a few in-clinic x-rays, a problem with the disc was discovered. So let’s use this opportunity to review the concept of…read more
Does Low Back Surgery Cause Damage to the Fascia? What Is the Fascia?
Your muscles are surrounded by something called fascia. This structure commonly gets injured in low back surgery. What is fascia and why should you care if yours is injured? Let’s dig in. What Is Fascia? Fascia covers our muscles and contains them. Look at the diagram above. The muscle is surrounded by a thick fascia.…read more
What Is a Dural Leak?
We’ve seen many patients through the years with chronic dural leaks. What is that? How is a dural leak diagnosed? Can it be treated? Let’s dig in. What Is a Dural Leak? The dura is the covering of the spinal cord and nerve roots. It forms a sac of sorts that contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF),…read more
