Dr. Sean McCance - NYC Orthopedic Spine Surgeons' Blog

Surprising Causes of Back and Neck Pain

Nearly all adults will experience minor neck or back pain in their lifetime. In fact, it is estimated that 31 million Americans experience lower back pain at any given time. Fortunately for the majority of adults, only 10% of these cases are severe and debilitating. Many causes of back neck pain are common knowledge, such as old mattresses, strains from heavy lifting, or whiplash. However, there are some surprising habits that may be the source of your back and neck pain throughout the day. “Text neck” – Your addiction to your smartphone or tablet may be affecting your posture more than you realize. The leaning forward, hunched-over position can strain in your neck and upper back and cause minor pain or “text neck.” Holding your phone at eye level and taking breaks from your phone goes a long way to prevent or reduce this pain. Old shoes or flip flops – Reducing back pain starts from the bottom up! Shoes that lack proper support, such as flip flops and shoes with worn-down soles, can throw off your alignment and cause significant lower back pain. Wearing comfortable, supportive shoes and getting rid of older shoes can help you avoid this common

April 8, 2014

A New Study on Treatments for Spinal Cord Compression

Last week, the Wall Street Journal shared a new study underway at Tufts University’s Lahey Hospital on the treatment options for cervical myelopathy, often referred to spinal compression. As one of the most common spinal cord problems for Americans over age 55, this is a condition that specialists have been studying since the early part of last century. This new research is another step to help us better define the optimal surgical approach to this patient group. Cervical myelopathy, or spinal cord compression, is caused by degeneration or damage to the spine that causes a narrowing of the spinal canal. As the spinal canal narrows, pressure is put onto the spinal cord, which can lead to neurologic symptoms affecting the arms or legs. If signals are blocked between the brain and the body, it can cause common symptoms such as weakness, imbalance, loss of hand coordination, numbness, and others. Nonsurgical options such as physical therapy and exercise are not effective for the neurological symptoms of cervical myelopathy , but in mild cases can possibly reduce pain. when the condition progresses or becomes severe, surgery becomes necessary. There are three common surgery options for the condition that are used in different situations.

April 1, 2014

Tiger Woods Sidelined by Bulging Disc

In August 2013, we saw Tiger Woods collapse on the course at the Barclay’s tournament from debilitating back pain. The star athlete suffered through competition to completion, but withdrew from his next tournament to rest. At the time, he blamed his heavy travel schedule and soft hotel beds for his pain and frequent back spasms. During the off season, Woods took time to rest and prepare his body for the 2014 golf season. Unfortunately, earlier this month, Woods was forced to withdraw from competition at the Honda Classic when his lower back pain once again became too much to handle. He later explained, “It’s my lower back with spasms… It started this morning warming up.” Luckily, through stretching and physical therapy, Woods was able to participate in the Cadillac Classic the following weekend. Tiger has such a powerful swing that, even though he is in great shape, it puts a lot of torque onto his lower back and disks. The full golf swing is a movement that can aggravate an underlying disk condition, as many of my patients have experienced. Tiger played a strong game at the Cadillac Classic and came in fourth place. However, he wasn’t as lucky

March 25, 2014

Lower Back Pain and Student Athletes

Across the board, I encourage my patients and their families to exercise regularly and participate in sports however they can. Competitive sports for children and young adults can serve as both a great learning experience, and an opportunity to make new friends. Sports also help kids to create building blocks for success later in life, and are a fun way to exercise among peers. However, a recent study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine showed that “excessive exposure to competitive sports activities during youth was associated with low back pain and symptoms in the lower extremities.” While strains and sports-related injuries are common among young athletes, the study found that wear-and-tear caused by improper motions or posture can have a long-term effect on athletes into adulthood. Young athletes may be exposed to sports injuries at a young age, which, if improperly treated, can lead to further pain throughout their lives. Common injuries include muscle strains, stingers, and disc injuries. Young athletes can also suffer overuse that lead to injuries as they continue to train. Specialization in sports at a young age can reduce range of motion in joints and create an imbalance in muscle strength. Intense or repetitive training,

March 19, 2014

What is Sciatica? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

When patients experience shooting pains in the buttocks or legs, many mistake it for a pulled muscle or location-specific injury. However, this pain may be the symptom of a much larger issue occurring in the spine. Whether it’s pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs, these symptoms are often diagnosed as sciatica. When I speak to patients, there is often confusion about what sciatica means and how it can be treated. Today, I’m explaining the condition, what causes the pain, who is at risk, and a few simple treatment options. What is sciatica? To be clear, sciatica is actually a catch-all term that describes symptoms such as leg pain, tingling, numbness or weakness that originates in the lower back and travels through the buttock and down into the leg. Therefore, sciatica is not a medical condition that can be treated on its own. Rather, it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Who is at risk? While sciatic pain can occur at any stage in life, men and women between the ages of 30 and 50 are most likely to experience it. Those with arthritis, diabetes, and high BMIs are also more likely to suffer from sciatica. Pregnant women

March 17, 2014

Lower Back Pain and Core Strength

With over 31 million Americans suffering from lower back pain, this persistent ailment is one of the most common health problems plaguing adults in the United States. While some severe cases are the result of a deeper issue, temporary back pain is quite normal and can be reduced or eliminated through proper exercise and postural techniques. One way I recommend to reduce minor low back pain is through strengthening your core. The core encompasses all of the muscles from your hamstrings up to your neck, from your abdominals to your back muscles. Since all of these muscles work together to support your spine, keeping the core engaged and strong can eliminate minor back , improve posture, and reduce the risk of greater injury down the road. Yoga and pilates, two very popular forms of exercise, focus on engaging and strengthening core muscles. Yoga works the core muscles methodically through balance, flexibility, and relaxation. The core components of pilates are control, concentration, and centering the body. These are all achieved through engaging core muscles and, over time, building strength that can help reduce minor pain. Swimming is also a great way to engage your deep core muscles and hit different muscle

March 5, 2014

Sochi Olympic Skier Injured Spine, Now Recovering

The elite athletes representing their countries at the Sochi Olympics are in peak physical shape and are at the top of their sport. However, accidents and injuries still occur, especially in potentially dangerous conditions and courses. On February 15, we saw an unfortunate example of this when Russian skicross racer Maria Komissarova fractured her 12th dorsal vertebra and dislocated her spine during a practice session. Fractures or breaks of vertebrae in the lower back can be very dangerous and possibly lead to paralysis, if improperly handled. Spinal fractures often require a swift course of action from highly trained doctors. Komissarova was carefully moved to a stretcher to be transported off of the mountain to the nearest hospital. In these cases, it’s imperative to immobilize the patient until a doctor can diagnose the problem. Komissarova was rushed to the hospital and underwent a six and a half hour surgery to repair her spine. A team of Russian specialists inserted a metal implant in her spine to stabilize it and hold the bones in place. A metal rod insert is a common surgical option when approaching spinal fractures. Depending on the severity of the fracture and location, sometimes it is necessary to

February 26, 2014

Advancements in Robotic Spine Surgery: Weighing the Pros and Cons

There are incredible achievements happening in technology and science every day, especially in the world of spinal surgery. One of the most recent developments in spine surgery, using robotic technology in the operating room, has been up for debate among surgeons and spinal specialists, and I’ve been considering the pros and cons of these new treatment options myself. Robotic surgery is considered a minimally invasive procedure in which the surgeon controls the camera and instruments using a console. The surgeon operates the robot while looking through a monitor that allows him to see inside the patient. Every movement made by the surgeon is mimicked by the robot, allowing for unprecedented control, precision, and access to the human body. Numerous studies have shown the advantages of robotic technology and the implications it has for the future of medicine. Overall, the average length of hospital stay for patients undergoing robotic surgery was reduced by 27 percent, and complication rates were reduced by 48 percent. A recent study published in Head and Neck Oncology shows that a robotic arm can reduce unavoidable tremors in the human hand by filtering out hand movement. And finally, robotic technology is ergonomically desirable, allowing cosmetic benefits

February 19, 2014

Pregnancy and Back Pain

We’re still in the throes of a frozen winter – which just so happens to be a very popular time to conceive. If you’re pregnant or considering it, there are a few things to be aware of when it comes to your back and spinal health. Women who have experienced chronic back pain or other spine issues and are hoping to become pregnant should visit a spine first. Chronic spinal conditions can worsen during pregnancy due to increased mechanical stress and hormonal changes. This sometimes requires prolonged bed rest toward the end of gestation, or occasionally surgery during the pregnancy. Even if you’ve never experienced major back pain, according to a 2004 study, more than two thirds of pregnant women reported suffering from lower back pain at some point after the first trimester. And it’s no wonder: with weight gain and a surge of hormones relaxing the ligaments in the pelvis, pregnant women often experience strain on their lower back muscles. There are a number of ways to reduce pain by preparing for back strain during pregnancy. 1. Practice perfect posture. As your center of gravity changes, it can be difficult to keep good posture in mind, but slouching is

February 11, 2014

Peyton Manning: Cervical Fusion and Return to Play

After a hard hit in the middle of a game, it can be a long nerve-wracking moment when a player doesn’t immediately rise to their feet. In football, specifically, there is always a fear of a spine or neck injury after a bad tackle. Neck problems are quite common in football, whether a “stinger” or something more serious. But when the injury is severe and surgery becomes a necessary option, there is life after surgery – even in professional sports. In mid-2013, a study was published of seven professional football players and eight professional wrestlers who underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. All fifteen were cleared to play following the surgery. Thirteen returned to their respective sports in 2-12 months, and eight are still participating in the most recent season. An earlier study from 2010 also showed that professional football players with cervical disk herniations who were treated surgically had higher return-to-play rates and longer careers than those who were treated non-surgically. Nearly 3 out of 4 NFL players treated surgically returned to play in an average of 29.3 games over a 2.8-year period. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning completed a record-breaking 34 passes in Sunday’s big game, although it did

February 7, 2014

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