The results of conventional surgical therapy (e.g., deafferentation) for chronic benign pain syndromes are poor. The results of so-called neuromodulation therapy, neurostimulation, and infusion techniques are continually improving, however, particularly in benign pain syndrome, which has typically been the most…
Functional Restoration Principles Functional restoration is an intensive and goal-oriented form of interdisciplinary chronic pain management. It was originally developed at the Productive Rehabilitation Institute of Dallas for Ergonomics (PRIDE) to treat individuals with chronic spinal pain (CSP) who are…
Introduction Most spine specialists recognize that early mobilization (activation) of patients with neck or back pain is not harmful and is, in fact, necessary. Activity early in an acute course of neck/back pain shows 50% improvement of pain symptoms in…
Back pain is a major health problem in the United States. About 70% to 85% of the population experiences back pain at some point in their lives, with the annual prevalence ranging from 15% to 45%. Usually, the clinical course…
Pain is not what occurs at the periphery; it is what the brain perceives, and it is indisputably modifiable by emotions and beliefs. Actual damage is neither necessary nor sufficient for the perception of pain. Anger, depression, anxiety, fear, and…
Pain sensation is an important physiologic means by which an organism is informed about the immediate external environment and internal bodily function. The pain “experience” is the integration of a number of neurologic functions. In response to a brief painful…
Spinal arachnoiditis is a nonspecific inflammatory process of the arachnoid layer of the spinal cord or cauda equina. Arachnoiditis was first described by Victor Horsley in 1909. Since Horsley, numerous authors have described it with a variety of terms, including…
Introduction The evaluation and management of cervical spine deformity remains one of the most challenging issues within spinal surgery. Although multiple etiologies exist, iatrogenic malalignment represents a significant portion of cases. This chapter focuses on the evaluation of patients with…
Background There have been multiple high-quality studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of both cervical and lumbar disc arthroplasty; the results of these studies have been favorable enough that surgeons are performing disc arthroplasty surgery with increased frequency. The aim…
“A goal without a plan is just a wish” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The number of elective spinal surgeries performed yearly continues to increase at an accelerating pace. Although advances in diagnostics, implant design, and biologic adjuncts have made these…