Blog Archive

Low bone density. Fragility fractures. Brittle bones. File all these terms under one umbrella: osteoporosis, which develops when your bones stop renewing their cells.  When you live with osteoporosis, even the slightest mishap can lead to a fracture or broken bone. Even coughing or sneezing can cause a fracture if...

More and more people are embracing their age — focusing on the wisdom they’ve gained, letting their hair go silver, and taking advantage of those senior discounts.  Unfortunately, one unwelcome byproduct of getting older is the likelihood of experiencing symptoms of spinal stenosis — a painful back condition caused by...

If that aggravating crick in your neck becomes chronic neck pain, it’s important to seek treatment. Persistent neck discomfort not only limits your mobility but also affects your overall quality of life.  The muscles, joints, bones, and nerves in your cervical spine — the neck area — become painful and...

Here’s a fact many aren’t aware of: The sciatic nerve that runs the lower part of the back down both legs to below the knees is the body’s longest and thickest nerve.  Sciatica is pain caused by either pressure on the sciatic nerve or trauma to it from an injury,...

“I threw my back out!” It sounds terrible, but what does it mean, and how do you know if it’s happened to you? The phrase implies that the problem’s onset is sudden, unlike a chronic back issue, but what else does it entail? You’ve come to the right place to...

Your knees are exceptional joints, taking you through your travels for a lifetime and allowing you to walk, run, jump, kneel, and more. They’re also some of your body’s most complex joints, which makes the knees prone to injury and other painful problems.  When patients visit Advanced Spine and Pain...

An orthopedics expert has many arrows in their treatment quiver for conditions like arthritis, sports injuries, and post-surgical pain, but an innovative one that’s proving successful for many uses is platelet-rich plasma therapy or PRP. PRP is a type of regenerative medicine, an exciting area of treatment that harnesses the...

Have you been felled by mild to intense upper or lower back, shoulder blade, and neck pain, or even pain or numbness down your arm? Does it affect your elbow, fingers, or forearm? What about lower back discomfort and pain, loss of sensation, or weakness in your hip, buttocks, leg,...

Scoliosis, a condition where your spine is curved, can be painful and typically emerges in childhood or early adolescence. Not only does the curvature have the potential to compress nerves, but it can also cause self-esteem issues for kids and teens when standing out is the last thing they want....

There are lots of perks about working from home — better focus, the ability to attend a function at your child’s school or go to a doctor’s appointment with no fuss, the luxury of working in your sweat pants, and more. However, long hours at your laptop can take a...

Say you sprain your ankle running, experience carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms from typing too much, or have lower back pain whose source you can’t quite figure out. These are all examples of musculoskeletal injuries, and the pain and mobility problems they cause can limit your activities and rob you of...

Study after study has shown how detrimental chronic pain is for people, and its impact isn’t just physical. Long-term discomfort can also lead to anxiety and depression because the brain and nervous system are closely intertwined.  One innovative treatment that has helped many is epidural steroid injections, directly delivering steroidal...

Lower back pain is a near-universal problem in that most people suffer from it at some point in their lives. According to a 2022 Harris Poll, a startling statistic emerged — over 72 million Americans suffer from low back pain. Plus, over a third declare that their pain is severe, and almost...

Your spine has little “shock absorbers,” cushion-like discs that nestle between each vertebra to soften the force on your back when you walk, run, jump, and more.  Unfortunately, daily wear and tear, age, and excess weight can damage them. Playing sports and traumatic injuries also cause disc pain.  Herniated discs are...

Back pain is something almost everyone experiences in their lives at some point, but if spinal pain intensifies, becomes chronic, and limits your mobility, it may be nearly impossible to engage in the activities you’ve always enjoyed. Doctors prescribe many treatments to ease spinal pain, ranging from noninvasive and conservative...

We typically don’t take the time to contemplate how amazing our bodies are and the hard work our joints do to enable the multitude of ways we move. Thanks to the bands of tissue throughout the body called ligaments — there are over 900 of them — our bones, joints, and organs...

Knee pain can put a sudden and unwelcome cramp in your style at the most inopportune times. You can’t engage in normal activities and sports when this vitally important joint hurts, alters your gait, and limits mobility.  The causes for knee pain are many, from chronic conditions like arthritis and...

The most relatable way to describe your discs’ jobs is that they work like shock absorbers for your spine. Round and soft, they provide cushioning, but their outer layers are tough and sturdy. They are located between each of your vertebrae. One of the most common and painful problems people...

You may know that scoliosis is a disorder where the spine develops a C- or S-shaped curvature, but many don’t realize that girls receive the diagnosis much more frequently than boys.  Most scoliosis is idiopathic (80-85% of cases), meaning that the exact cause of the problem can’t be determined, but...

Are you saddled with chronic pain? Whether it stems from an accident, surgery, or chronic condition, your physical health isn’t the only thing affected. Pain that endures for months or even years is associated with depression. In a cruel twist, depression also worsens chronic pain.  Starting in the 1990s, the...

Chronic pain, by definition, is pain that continues for at least three months — and often for much longer — and significantly alters your quality of life.  If your mobility is so limited by pain that you can’t perform daily living skills, like ascending stairs, cooking, or walking your dog,...

When you endure chronic back pain, you may feel alone in your misery — but you most certainly aren’t! Some 16 million suffer right along with you each year.  Back pain puts a damper on your life. Along with the pain and discomfort comes limited mobility, which stops you from enjoying your...

There are few times in life when we want to fit in more than during adolescence. This period is marked by trying new activities, pursuing many interests, and finding their niche and peer group. Unfortunately, seeming or looking different can thwart those efforts.  When a teen has scoliosis, a curvature of the spine,...

Teachers and parents often bark, “Stand up straight!” because you just look better when you’re not hunched over and slouching. But did you know that your posture also impacts your physical comfort? Many people work sitting at desks or standing for long periods, and it’s easy to let good posture...

“Oh, my aching (fill in the blank)!” If you have arthritis, you’ve likely uttered this exclamation. The pain, swelling, stiffness and limitations to your movement can really put the brakes on enjoying your life.  You’re not alone — according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 32.5 million Americans suffer from...

Most people wouldn’t wish a migraine on their worst enemy. The intense pain, pressure, sensitivity to light, and other severe symptoms often sufferers take to their beds for hours — and sometimes days. Sadly, between 3% and 5% of Americans suffer from chronic migraines.  The pain experts and our team at Advanced Spine and Pain (ASAP)...

Most people have heard of a herniated disc, but how well do you understand the condition? It’s not as simple as it sounds, because the pain and discomfort of a herniated or bulging disc can affect either your cervical (upper) or lumbar (lower) spine.  First, it helps to understand what...

Chronic pain can make living a normal life next to impossible, especially if you’ve been suffering for a very long time with pain that’s severe. Whether you’re dealing with pain related to a chronic condition or an injury, sustained discomfort like this makes your mood plummet and lowers your overall...

Your ball-and-socket hip joint is unique in that it stabilizes and bears your body weight, but it also allows you great flexibility. Since the hip enables essential and different types of movement, hip pain can halt life as you knew it. The caring provider team at Advanced Spine and Pain...

If you’ve never experienced sciatic pain, consider yourself lucky. If you do suffer with sciatica, you know the pain that radiates from your lower back down your leg is no joke.  Your sciatic nerve is your body’s largest, and it directs the muscles in the sole of your foot, as...

Nearly everyone experiences neck pain at some point or another, but its severity and origins can be the factors that determine whether you actually need to seek medical treatment.  Our skilled team at Advanced Spine and Pain are experts in treating diverse conditions, including those that cause neck pain. We...

Your body is not unlike a car. It needs food to fuel it, requires use in order for it to stay operational, and even contains shock absorbers — the discs between your vertebrae protect them from damage.  But your discs are vulnerable to injury and wear and tear over time. ...

The discs in your spine help keep you upright and mobile, but one of the most common spinal injuries that hampers your activity and comfort is a herniated, or bulging disc. About 2% of adults suffer one annually — that’s about 5,160,000 individuals.  There are a variety of treatments orthopedic...

Did you know that your acetabulofemoral joints do truly amazing things for you? We know that’s a mouthful, but we’re just talking about your hips, your strong and flexible ball and socket joints. When you suffer from hip pain, your life can be severely disrupted. And it’s hard to know...

Being a teen has never been easy. Between navigating social relationships and juggling school and jobs, teens are plenty busy. But what if they come to you with complaints about back pain, or you notice that their posture seems “off”? These and other signs may point to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis,...

Your spine keeps you upright, enables bending and other movements, and protects your spinal cord, the long cluster of nerves that allows your brain and your body to communicate and facilitate your mobility. Certain conditions, and even just getting older, compromise the integrity of your spine and you can end...

The 23 vertebral discs in your spine serve several critical purposes. They ensure that your vertebrae are held together, are cartilaginous joints (joints that have cartilage between them enabling movement), and they’re vital shock absorbers since they’re positioned in between your vertebrae.  Unfortunately, discs are vulnerable to problems, and one...

Whether you suffer from pain related to a chronic condition like arthritis or a sudden sports injury or fall, sometimes conservative treatments like pain relievers and hot and cold packs simply don’t provide the relief you need.  The Advanced Spine and Pain team specializes in both immediate pain relief and...

Nothing can make your quality of life plummet like chronic pain that emanates from back conditions. When your mobility is limited due to long-term pain, even simple tasks like cooking and showering become challenging, ascending and descending stairs may trigger severe discomfort, and partaking in any fun activities is out...

The opioid crisis has devastated America and statistics bear this out. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 128 individuals died every day in 2018 after overdosing on opioids — nearly 47,000 dearly loved parents, sisters, brothers, childrens, and friends.  If you’re struggling with opioid addiction and have decided...

Back pain can strike anywhere on your spine, but no matter where it emerges, it’s never welcome. Your quality of life plummets even more if the back pain you experience is severe or prolonged. There is an unequivocal link between chronic pain and depression, so back issues can be a...

Sadly, orthopedic specialists and pain management physicians can’t always solve certain chronic pain problems, even with a multitude of pain relief options at their fingertips, from safe prescription medication and epidural steroid injections to regenerative treatments like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma treatment. Fortunately, the groundbreaking option of pain...

The nagging pain of sciatica runs from your lower back down the back of your leg, and aside from limited mobility, such long-lasting discomfort can do a number on your emotional well-being.  More than 80% of people experience low back pain at some point, and sciatica is a main culprit. ...

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and characterized by joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. It’s a wear-and-tear degenerative condition, and according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it affects over 32.5 million people — a staggering statistic. Arthritis doesn’t just cause chronic pain, it limits your mobility,...

There are multiple types of arthritis, but osteoarthritis is the most prevalent, affecting a staggering 32.5+ Americans. Age and wear-and-tear from activity are the primary culprits to blame for this condition, which occurs because the pillowy cartilage that protects the tips of your bones simply breaks down.   Osteoarthritis typically causes...

Your hip joint is one of the largest in your body, and the responsibility it bears isn’t insignificant: It’s one of your primary weight-bearing joints, so when there’s a problem, your mobility and overall quality of life are greatly affected.  Countless people are affected by hip pain, whether from a...

The causes of back pain are myriad, but up to 11% of the population, many over age 50, suffer from spinal stenosis, a condition where the spaces within your spine narrow, and your nerves get compressed, creating a recipe for ongoing pain. It can develop around your neck (cervical stenosis)...

When you experience back pain, what differentiates one type from another isn’t usually on your mind. But it’s good to familiarize yourself with disc condition symptoms, so you can get appropriate treatment.  Dr. Thomas Raley, Dr. Randy Davis, and Dr. Brian Lee offer progressive treatments no matter which disc problem...

Opioid misuse and abuse have ravaged the United States over the last two decades to the point that opioids were responsible for two out of three overdose deaths in 2018, and a staggering 750,000 Americans have died as a result of an opioid overdose since 1999.  Opioids are a broad...

We’re all staying home much more these days as we deal with the realities of COVID-19, but the Advanced Spine and Pain (ASAP) team has great ideas for at-home exercises you can do to help alleviate knee pain, one of the most common conditions we treat. If you have knee...

Your back is a complex mechanism with many moving parts that allow you to stand, walk, and twist. It supports you whether you’re simply standing or sitting or doing something more strenuous like raking the yard or playing tennis.  Our need for a strong, functional back is something that’s easy...

Picture the hole in the side of a jelly donut where the yummy insides ooze out a bit. That’s what happens when you get a herniated disc.  When a bit of the nucleus, or soft center, of your disc seeps through a tear outside its tougher outer shell — the...

Though tennis certainly requires you to use your elbow over and over again, the Serena Williams wanna-bes of the world aren’t the only ones affected by the painful condition known as tennis elbow. Anyone who performs tasks that overwhelm their elbow tendons is at risk, like people who work in...

Back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Injury and degeneration can cause chronic back pain and make you miss work and the activities you used to enjoy. Your spine consists of a series of bones and a spinal canal. The bones help hold up your torso, and the...

Pain anywhere in your body is uncomfortable and distressing, but joint pain is especially frustrating because it limits your ability to move. Walking, carrying things, and even typing on a computer can be limited by shoulder pain. You want to feel better again so you can get on with your...

If you suffer from back pain, you’re not alone. According to the American Chiropractic Association, back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. In the United States, it accounts for 264 million lost workdays a year, which equates to two days for every worker in the country.  While most...

Addiction is a national crisis. Communities all over the country are faced with nearly epidemic levels of addiction, and there’s great concern when it comes to prescription opioids. This presents a challenge for people living with chronic pain. If you have chronic pain, there’s a likelihood that you will need...

Scoliosis is a condition that causes your spine to curve sideways. It usually occurs in children, during the growth spurt right before puberty. In fact, approximately three percent of adolescents have scoliosis. The exact cause of scoliosis is unknown, though conditions like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy can make it...

Sciatica develops when your sciatic nerve gets compressed, causing irritation and inflammation. These nerves start on the left and right side of your lower spine, run through your buttocks and down into your legs, before finally stopping in your feet. That’s why sciatica symptoms — like numbness, weakness, tingling, and...

Your mobile device serves many purposes. It helps you keep in touch with friends and family and catch-up on work emails, and it serves as a source of information where you can find answers to any of your questions.  While you may enjoy your multipurpose device, it’s not doing your...

Age-related knee pain is a terrible reason to have to give up the activities you love. Sadly, pain in the knees affects many Americans, with those who are over 65 or who are overweight at the highest risk. Women over the age of 55, in particular, are likely to have...

Oh! That aching back! Back pain is one of the most common medical complaints in the U.S., and for good reason: We use our backs for just about everything we do, from standing, walking and climbing, to sitting, bending and lifting. Lots of factors can cause back pain, including herniated discs, one...

1. Avoid activities that put stress on your neck.  Certain activities compromise your neck and make it more vulnerable to injury. Examples of activities you should avoid include holding your head in a forward posture, resting your forehead on your arm and overuse of your upper body or arms.  2....

Knee pain is a common medical complaint, and it gets more common as we get older. Because our knees get a workout pretty much every day, helping us walk, climb stairs, and even sit and stand, even mild discomfort can have a big impact on your life. Physical therapy might...

Chronic pain affects more than 23 million Americans on a daily basis, according to a report from the National Institutes of Health. If you’re one of them, you know the severe toll chronic pain can take on your life and even your mental well-being. Unfortunately, finding meaningful, long-term relief for...

Herniated discs are a common cause of back and neck pain, and they can cause a host of other symptoms too. While some herniated discs can resolve on their own, other times the nerve-related problems they cause can become worse, even causing long-term or lifelong damage. At Advanced Spine and...

Certain joints in your body may be wearing down from years of repetitive action while working. You may find yourself feeling the effects of aging. Regardless of the cause, joint pain can inhibit your natural movements, forcing you to give up the activities you enjoyed in the past. The doctors...

The effects of aging show up in our bodies in different ways. You may have started noticing yourself having constant pain in your neck or lower back. If it’s persistent and doesn’t go away after a few days and you’re over the age of 50, you could be suffering from...

Did you know that nine out of 10 Americans will experience debilitating back pain at some point in their lives, and 40 percent of those with chronic back pain will be diagnosed with degenerative disc disease? So you’ve been suffering from back pain for a while now, and you’re wondering if it could be...

If you can't entertain the idea of undergoing reconstructive surgery to provide relief for your chronic condition, you'll be glad to know that the benefits associated with stem cell therapy have increased considerably in recent decades.Today, researchers are discovering ways to apply this treatment approach to common chronic conditions, for...

What to Expect with an Epidural InjectionESI is often recommended in combination with a comprehensive rehabilitation program, like physical therapy or home exercise, to help restore strength and core musculature to prevent future pain episodes. The ESI is injected into the lumbar spine through a medical needle. The injection is...

Millions of Americans experience chronic pain, which is defined as pain that lasts for months or even years. Two of the most common sources of chronic pain are the back and neck — in fact, more than 26 million adults in the U.S. have frequent back pain.Chronic pain takes a...

At any given point, 31 million Americans are suffering from lower back pain. Your lower back moves in six different directions, making it mobile and flexible, but also quite vulnerable to injury.This doesn’t mean you’re inevitably going to experience low back pain. A few smart lifestyle changes can help keep...

Low back pain is one of the most common medical problems Americans adults face. About 80% of adults will experience low back pain that lasts for six weeks or less -- called acute low back pain -- at least once. A smaller percentage will develop chronic low back pain, which...

Learning you have a herniated disc can trigger a lot of questions, including whether or not you’ll need surgery. You may even wonder if a herniated disc can heal on its own.The answer is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no. At Advanced Spine and Pain (ASAP),...

Low bone mass and osteoporosis affects more than 40 million Americans age 50 and over. Many factors influence your risk for osteoporosis, some of which are outside of your control, such as age and genetics. The good news is you can control diet and lifestyle risk factors and implement a...

Living with chronic pain can disrupt your life and make it impossible for you to do your job, play with your kids, or remain independent. The good news is there are innovative new regenerative medicine treatments, many now available at Advanced Spine and Pain, that can help restore your quality...

Sitting, arthritis, injuries, bursitis, and sciatica are just a few of the reasons your hips may ache or cause daily discomfort. The orthopedic and pain management specialists at Advanced Spine and Pain with locations in Fairfax County, Virginia; Stafford, Virginia; and the Greater Baltimore, Maryland area recommend stretching exercises to...

Millions of adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain. Living with pain every day can be frustrating, debilitating, and affect the quality of your life. The doctors and pain management specialists at Advanced Pain and Spine want you to know there are many things you can do to...