Resource library
Plain answers to common spine questions
Short, clear guides on neck and back pain, spine scans, surgery and recovery. They are written for patients and the family who help them. Each one lists its sources.
Spine answers online tend to be too thin or too technical. Our guides aim for the middle. They say what a careful spine surgeon would tell you at a visit, in plain words. They are general health education, not advice for your own case. If one sounds like you, talk with your doctor or call our office.
Symptoms and first steps
Symptoms
When to see a spine surgeon
Which symptoms can wait, which deserve a visit, and which need the emergency room.
Symptoms
Sciatica vs back pain
Nerve pain down the leg is not the same as a sore back. Here is why that matters.
Symptoms
Nonsurgical options for back pain
What tends to help, from exercise to shots, and when it is time to do more.
Imaging and diagnosis
Imaging and diagnosis
Spine MRI report terms explained
What bulge, stenosis and other report words mean. Many are normal with age.
Imaging and diagnosis
Adult scoliosis explained
The two main kinds of adult curves, how they are measured, and how they are treated.
Imaging and diagnosis
Getting a second opinion
When to ask another surgeon, what to bring, and what to do if they disagree.
Surgery options
Surgery options
What is minimally invasive spine surgery?
Surgery through small openings: how it works, what it helps, and its limits.
Surgery options
Cervical disc replacement vs ACDF
Two common neck operations side by side, with what ten years of research shows.
Before and after surgery
Looking for a specific condition or procedure?
Each one has its own page with more detail.
Start with a conversation
Questions about your neck or back?
Call the office or send a short request and our team will call you back. Please keep medical details for the phone call.