Five Stretches & Aerobic Exercises for Piriformis Syndrome
Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle in the buttock compresses the sciatic nerve, resulting in inflammation. Here are five exercises to alleviate pain.
A Guide to Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy
Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is one of the most common spinal disorders in Americans over the age of 55. Here we share common symptoms of CSM, risk factors, how it’s diagnosed and how we can help treat it.
How to Reduce Back Pain at the Office
Sitting in an office chair. Staring at a computer screen. These are just some of the actions we perform every day while working, whether we’re at a corporate or a home office.
5 Common Causes of Neck and Shoulder Pain
Often, neck and shoulder pain is experienced simultaneously. Whether it comes after an injury or from gradual wear and tear, this combination can significantly reduce your range of motion, thus affecting your everyday routine. Before treating your pain, it’s important to find out what’s causing it. Below are five of the common causes of shoulder […]
Everything You Need to Know About Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is when one vertebra is unstable and slips on the vertebrae below. Often occurring in athletes, it can be asymptomatic or can cause severe pain. Here we will uncover what spondylolisthesis is, what causes it and how it’s treated. What is Spondylolisthesis? Deriving from the Greek words “spondylos” and “listhesis,” which translate to “spine […]
Tips for Buying a Spine-Safe Mattress
When we sleep, our body is able to completely relax, allowing it time to heal and get rejuvenated for the next day ahead. If you’re dealing with a back injury or disorder, quality sleep is especially important for your healing process. One way to improve your quality of sleep, whether you’re healing from an injury or not, is to use a spine-safe mattress. Here, we’ve outlined some tips to help you buy a mattress that will be safe and comfortable for your back, neck and spine.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome: What It Is & How We Treat It
If you’ve recently undergone and healed from a back procedure but begin to experience new or persistent pain, you might have failed back or failed fusion surgery syndrome. Below, we’ve outlined some important information about this issue and how Dr. Petersen can help you treat it.
Four Stretches to Relieve Sciatica
Sciatica is pain that runs along the sciatic nerve. It happens when one or more of the nerves that make up the large sciatic nerve are irritated or pinched, causing pain in the buttocks, back of leg and, sometimes, the foot.
Herniated Disc: What It Is, Causes & Our Treatment Methods
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the incidence of a herniated disc is about 5 to 20 per 1,000 adults annually, which is a large number considering there are nearly 330 million people living in the United States alone. And, because symptoms vary between patient to patient, some of which cause no pain at all, they frequently go undetected until pain and severity increases, causing limitations in day-to-day activities. At Petersen Neurospine, we treat this condition quite often. Below we share what a herniated disc is, what causes it and how we help you treat it.
Six Spine-Saving Tips for Your School Aged Kids or Teens
School is back in session, which means your children and teens will be spending countless hours sitting at their desks, hunched over computers or studying into the wee hours of the night. These long hours sitting and studying in the same position can lead to long-term back pain and spinal issues.
A Runner’s Guide to Back Pain & Treatment
While running and jogging are excellent forms of aerobic exercise and can be done by people of all ages, they involve repetitive jarring of the spine which can worsen or cause back pain, especially in the lower back. In this guide we share what causes back pain from running, how to prevent and alleviate this pain, and when to see a spine specialist.
Spinal Arthritis: Everything You Need to Know and More
Spinal arthritis is defined as the breakdown of the cartilage between the facet joints in the spine, leading to lower back and/or leg pain. It’s also commonly referred to as degenerative joint disease. In this blog, we share everything you need to know about spinal arthritis including symptoms, risk factors, types of spinal arthritis and how we treat it.
Four Types of Back Pain & Conditions That Typically Affect Women
National Women’s Health Week was May 8-14. The week focused on why women should prioritize their health and personal wellness routine. This got us thinking about spine health and the conditions that typically plague women more than men. While some of these conditions can affect women at an early age, most women see these problems when they are post-menopausal (50+). Learn more about some of the common causes of back pain in women below.
Scoliosis: What It Is and How We Can Help
Scoliosis is simply defined as a sideways curvature of the spine. Learn more about scoliosis and how we can help in this blog.
How Your Shoes Affect Your Spine
Are you experiencing unexplained back pain? If so, your shoes might be to blame.
Sciatica: What It Is and How to Treat It
Sciatica, or sciatic nerve pain, affects between 10% and 40% of the population. [Source: Spine Health] While many people suffer from this issue, few know exactly what it is, what causes it and how to treat it.
National Osteoporosis Month & Your Spine Health
This month is National Osteoporosis Month. Osteoporosis is one of the leading causes of back pain in the US, causing more than 500,000 spinal fractures a year. It is a condition of low bone density as well as deterioration in bone tissue structure. It primarily affects postmenopausal women but both men and women over the […]
Five Signs You Should See a Spine Specialist for Back Pain
Back pain is something that will affect nearly every single person at least once in their lifetime. While most back pain is mild and can be fixed with exercises, physical therapy, or a deep-tissue massage, some back pain requires treatment by a spine specialist. You’ve Suffered a Traumatic Injury It’s important to seek out a […]
Top 5 Exercises to Relieve Back Pain
Whether subtle, mild or debilitating, lower back pain is something that affects millions of people every single day. If you’re experiencing lower back pain, try one or more of the following exercises to help relieve it until you can come in for a consultation appointment with Dr. Petersen.