Blog Archive

Spinal Injection Therapy May 5th, 2020

This month’s post will be discussing the mechanics and hopefully provide a better understanding about various types of spinal injections. These are common procedures performed by pain specialists and physiatrists in order to deliver medication more effectively to the location that is generating your pain. The solution injected is typically...

Summit Spine Institute Is A Leader In Spine Research Apr 29th, 2019

"Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be” Khalil GibranHere at Summit Spine Institute we are leaders in advancing spine surgery safety and efficacy. You may be interested to know, the evolution of spine surgery in medicine is relatively young.  Beneficial, reproducible and safe...

Here’s How You’re Going To Nail Your Resolutions Jan 22nd, 2018

Developing new habits and keeping to resolutions is a matter of persistence, focus, and perseverance. Thinking about making a change is a lot more fun than carrying through with it once resistance sets in. But, with some simple techniques, like using SMART goals and using one key habit to influence...

Spinal Fluid Leak Aug 29th, 2017

I am sure many of you in the Northwest have seen the news articles relating to Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors, who had recently undergone a procedure to repair his cerebrospinal fluid leak. This occurred nearly 2 years following his back surgery. Many of the newspaper articles...

New Treatment Guidelines for Low Back Pain Apr 4th, 2017

As I sat down today to work on this month's blog for our website here at Summit Spine, I found myself having significant difficulty focusing because I currently have back pain.  Yep, classic acute back pain. I hurt myself 2 days ago and now, as my wife told me this...

What is Neuromodulation? Jan 24th, 2017

​The North American Neuromodulation Society defines neuromodulation as the direct stimulation of nerves by electrical stimulation.  I want to stress that this is NOT a TENS unit!  This is a surgically implanted device used to “interrupt” pain signals to the brain.  This stimulation does not cause muscle contraction or interrupt sensory...

Obesity and Back Pain; Super-Sized Pain Aug 30th, 2016

Are you one of the 1.9 billion adults battling obesity?  Do you also have back pain?  This is no coincidence.  I am sure many of you are like me and celebrate by eating; eat when I’m sad and love to socialize around food.  Jim Gaffigan, my favorite comedian, said it...

Recovery from Lumbar Spinal Fusion Surgery Jun 30th, 2016

Many of our patients come to us after trying many things for their lower back pain.  This usually includes physical therapy, chiropractic care, modification of physical activity, and various medications. If this is unsuccessful then spine surgery may be an option, but then what? In some cases a fusion is...

Is My Surgeon Any Good? 5 Ways to Dig a Little Deeper May 27th, 2016

When debating what this month's blog would focus on, I was thinking about various ideas. What’s new in spine surgery? The risks and benefits of disc arthroplasty? I couldn't come up with just one great topic. Then yesterday one of my patients asked "why you? Why should you do my...

Tobacco Products and Spine Surgery Apr 25th, 2016

Did you know tobacco use is bad for you?  Why don’t you just quit? These are questions I am sure you have heard a million times before. Here at Summit Spine we have yet another very important reason for you to stop smoking; one you may not have heard before. Nicotine, and...

What can you do as a patient to reduce Your risk of infection? Mar 10th, 2016

The risk of post-operative skin infections following a surgery was found to be approximately 2% according to the Scoliosis Research Society that presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the North American Spine Society.  Here are a few things that you can do to prevent superficial skin infection of your...