Spinal fusion surgery is a popular option for people who have been suffering from pain caused by a wide variety of spinal conditions, including degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis and more. The procedure itself consists of a spinal surgeon fusing together two vertebrae to form a single, solid bone, according to the American Academy of… Read More
Study Finds Spinal Injuries More Common Among Modern U.S. Soldiers
The Department of Defense Trauma Registry provides detailed information about injuries soldiers have sustained in combat. Among the events detailed include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recently, a group of researchers collected data from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry on casualties from 2005 to 2009. In a new study published in Spine, researchers… Read More
Researchers Find New Way to Detect Early Alzheimer’s Disease Brain Changes
Tau proteins have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease in many recent studies. When dying nerve cells contain masses of tau protein strands, this could signify an individual has the disease. Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most common causes of dementia, affects millions of Americans, according to the National Institute on Aging. Researchers are currently studying… Read More
Differences in Brain Axons Can Reveal Who Develops Chronic Back Pain, Study Suggests
An individual could sustain a back injury from various activities, such as sports, bending over in the garden or a car accident. According to MedLine Plus, the most common area for back injuries is in the lower back (lumbar) region. The types of injuries someone might sustain in his or her lifetime include fractured vertebrae,… Read More
Study Suggests Diet Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids Can Reduce Spinal Cord Injury Pain
Spinal cord injury is a devastating condition that can change a person’s life. An individual with spinal cord injury may experience chronic neuropathic pain, which is “a type of chronic pain that occurs when nerves in the central nervous system become injured or damaged,” according to the American Chronic Pain Association. This pain is traditionally… Read More
Study Suggests Spinal Fluid Might Reveal Early Signs of Multiple Sclerosis
Approximately 2.1 million people suffer from multiple sclerosis worldwide, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Multiple sclerosis, a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, is characterized by damage of the myelin sheath, “the material that surrounds and protects nerve cells,” according to MedLinePlus. The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are caused by this… Read More