Blog Archive

Understanding the Connection Between Poor Posture and Chronic Back Pain Jun 1st, 2023

When you were growing up, did adults ever lecture you about standing up straight, not slouching, and keeping a good posture? They may have had some good points! Bad posture is a major contributing factor to chronic back pain, one of the most common types of pain complaints in adults...

Osteoarthritis Pain Management: 5 Key Benefits of Physical Therapy May 1st, 2023

If you have osteoarthritis (OA), you know how joint pain and inflammation complicate your daily life. OA is the most common form of arthritis in the United States and tends to affect load-bearing joints like those in your hips and knees. Since May is Arthritis Awareness Month, it’s a good time...

How Does Menopause Increase My Risk of Osteoporosis? Apr 2nd, 2023

You count on your bones to keep your body functional and strong throughout your lifetime, but do you know about your risks for osteoporosis or loss of bone density? While osteoporosis can affect anyone, women are more likely to develop this condition in the latter half of life. Why? Primarily,...

How Can Physical Therapy Treat Repetitive Strain Injuries? Mar 1st, 2023

When you repeatedly engage in the same motions, your body experiences a unique type of stress called repetitive strain. Over time, repetitive strain can damage your joints, tendons, ligaments, or muscles.  Without the right treatment, your condition can continue progressing, with increasing inflammation, discomfort, and dysfunction in the affected area...

The Link Between a Herniated Disc and Neck Pain Feb 2nd, 2023

There’s a reason the go-to comparison for discomfort is “a pain in the neck.” Neck pain can be incredibly frustrating, and severe neck pain can even become debilitating. One of the potential causes of neck pain is a herniated spinal disc. If your neck hurts due to an issue with...

Relieving Nerve Compression Caused by a Bone Spur with a Laminectomy Jan 11th, 2023

Low back pain strains your patience, limits your plans, and ruins a good night’s sleep. If your low back pain problem comes from bone spurs in your spine, you may need a surgical procedure called a laminectomy to relieve pressure on your spinal nerves and get you back to being pain-free. At...

How a Spinal Fusion Can Relieve Pain from an Infection Dec 1st, 2022

Could you benefit from spinal fusion surgery? This procedure is an effective treatment option for spinal pain related to infections and structural problems. At South Texas Spinal Clinic, our spinal medicine and orthopedics experts recommend the best treatment options for new and existing patients throughout San Antonio and South Texas....

Is There Any Way to Avoid Osteoarthritis? Nov 1st, 2022

Many of the health problems that appear with old age are related to joint dysfunction. If the joints of your spine or extremities don’t move smoothly, fully, or with ease, your ability to get yourself around without too much pain becomes compromised. And, once you’re dealing with chronic joint pain...

Is Regenerative Medicine Right for You? Oct 5th, 2022

Regenerative medicine focuses on harnessing your body’s innate ability to regenerate and renew itself. Your body regenerates constantly. You grow new tissue and bone cells regularly, repairing injuries and wounds and replenishing crucial areas of your physical self. Degeneration or dysfunction in your body, especially in the nerve-rich area around...

What's Involved in Physical Therapy? Sep 13th, 2022

Physical therapy helps with a wide variety of rehabilitation and recovery needs. In fact, physical therapy is one of the best ways to rebuild your health and wellness after an illness, injury, or surgical procedure. At South Texas Spinal Clinic, our team of orthopedic surgery and physical therapy experts treat...

Lesser-Known Symptoms That Can Accompany Neck Pain Aug 9th, 2022

The neck is one of the most common areas of regular pain among adults in the United States. But did you know that if you suffer from neck pain, other symptoms and issues can occur, as well? You might have health and wellness issues that you don’t even know are related...

Can Arthritis Affect Your Spine? Jul 12th, 2022

Arthritis is a chronic, often degenerative condition that causes inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joints around your body.  Most people associate arthritis with the bigger joints, such as knees and hips, but arthritis can affect any joint in your body, including the small ones in your spine called facet...

Recovering from Joint Replacement Surgery: What to Expect Jun 1st, 2022

Over time, stress and repetitive use wears down your joints, and they become painful, stiff, and difficult to move. If your painful hips, knees, or shoulders are lowering your quality of life, a joint replacement surgery procedure may be a good way for you to relieve your symptoms and reclaim your movement....

5 Ways to Prevent Fractures as You Age May 1st, 2022

Your bones go through substantive changes as you get older, typically becoming weaker, more brittle, and more prone to fractures.  For women, these changes are particularly pronounced after menopause due to hormonal shifts that impact your bone growth. You’re also at a heightened risk if you have a medical condition...

Is Physical Therapy Safe After Back Surgery? Apr 1st, 2022

You may need back or spinal surgery for a variety of reasons. Depending on the invasiveness of your procedure, you may be facing a more or less intensive post-surgery recovery process. At South Texas Spinal Clinic of San Antonio and South Texas, our team of orthopedic surgery experts and physical...

Will Spinal Fusion Limit My Range of Motion? Mar 1st, 2022

When problems with your spine cause you to suffer from chronic back pain or chronic leg pain symptoms, you may be able to find lasting relief with a surgical procedure known as spinal fusion. “Spinal fusion” sounds like a procedure that could limit your range of motion, freezing you into...

How to Prevent Osteoporosis Feb 1st, 2022

When you imagine a bone, you might think of a dry, dusty museum piece, but your bones are made up of living tissue. Your bones naturally break down old tissue and replace it with new cells. However, as you reach your 30s, your bone mass naturally stops increasing. And, as...

Types of Physical Therapy That Reduce Inflammation Jan 1st, 2022

Pain and inflammation can occur throughout your body due to an acute injury or a chronic condition. You might be dealing with inflammation from a chronic pain condition like fibromyalgia or a degenerative condition, such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. At South Texas Spinal Clinic, our team of expert providers...

What to Expect from Lumbar Laminectomy Dec 1st, 2021

Persistent low back pain cramps your style, keeping you from living life to the fullest. The orthopedic surgery and physical therapy experts at South Texas Spinal Clinic offer the best treatment options to relieve your back pain and improve your quality of life. Among the treatments for back pain we...

Tips for Traveling with Back Pain Nov 1st, 2021

Back pain, acute or chronic, makes day-to-day life a challenge. And it’s even trickier when you travel. Long hours sitting in cramped airline seats or driving on a road trip can leave your back aching and painful. At South Texas Spinal Clinic in San Antonio and several locations throughout South...

When is Your Back Pain Cause for Concern? Oct 1st, 2021

Add back pain to that classic list of inevitable things, right along with death and taxes. Most adults cope with back pain at some point in their lives. But, for some, back pain becomes a more serious cause for concern, potentially indicating underlying issues that need treatment. How can you...

Is Lower Back Pain Holding You Back from Doing the Activities You Love? Sep 5th, 2021

You wake up in the morning, open your eyes, and it hits you right away: aching or sharp pain, shooting or radiating through your lower back. Or, maybe you have a short period each morning before your low back pain inevitably returns, leaving you shifting and uncomfortable by evening. Back...

When To See a Specialist About Joint Pain Aug 8th, 2021

Your body depends on your more than 350 joints for mobility and flexibility. You depend on healthy joints for activities at home, at work, and at play. That means that your joints come under unique strains and pressures. If your joints don’t let you bend and move with ease, your...

3 Less-Invasive Alternatives to Joint Replacement Surgery Jul 22nd, 2021

The more than 300 joints around your body can wear down over time, becoming damaged, stiff, and painful. You might think you need to replace a knee or elbow joint that’s been acting up. However, with today’s treatment options, you have plenty of pathways to explore before turning to surgical...

Physical Therapy for a Sports Injury: What to Expect Jun 13th, 2021

Whether you’ve suffered a sports injury after a bad landing, or overstressed your body in the pursuit of peak athletic performance, physical therapy (PT) can restore your musculoskeletal health. The team of physicians and licensed physical therapists at South Texas Spinal Clinic are your guides to physical therapy regimens that...

5 Ways to Keep Your Osteoarthritis Symptoms from Getting Worse May 5th, 2021

Osteoarthritis, one of the most common types of arthritis in adult patients, affects your joints. You’re more likely to deal with osteoarthritis in joints that take a lot of pressure and bear most of your body weight, like the joints in your legs and feet. Joints in your hand that...

Can Injections Help My Neck Pain? Apr 6th, 2021

The many delicate pieces that give your neck flexibility and a full range of motion, while still supporting the full weight of your head, are prone to degeneration and pain. Neck pain is the second-most common complaint in adult patients with chronic pain. At South Texas Spinal Clinic, our team...

4 Ways Laser Surgery Can Ease Your Recovery Mar 25th, 2021

If you need surgery, especially when you need surgical procedures performed in the area around your spine, it’s only natural to have some concerns. While surgical treatment may be needed to effectively resolve symptoms like back pain, neck pain, or other serious issues, what about risks of complications? And, you...

Early Signs of Osteoporosis Feb 7th, 2021

Your bones have to be strong enough to hold up your whole body, especially the many bones that make up your spine. That’s why conditions like osteoporosis can be such a serious cause for concern. If you have osteoporosis, your bones become weak and brittle. This can lead to problems...

When to See a Doctor about Joint Pain Jan 1st, 2021

Aches and pains in your joints can be a reality of aging — but if you have joint pain that just won’t let up, how do you know when it’s time to seek medical attention? The expert professionals at South Texas Spinal Clinic have the experience you can trust when...

Can Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Alleviate Your Back Pain? Dec 9th, 2020

Back pain that lingers for weeks and months can seriously impact your day-to-day life. Beyond everyday backaches and temporary discomfort from strained muscles, your pain might restrict your activities and damage your quality of life. What can you do if lasting, persistent back pain is limiting your life choices? At...

Can Physical Therapy Reduce Neck Pain? Nov 1st, 2020

“What a pain in the neck.” There’s a good chance you’ve used that phrase at least once in your life. Neck pain is something almost everyone can relate to, at least some of the time. If you’ve been living with chronic neck pain, however, you should know that you have...

Posture Matters: What Bad Posture Does to Your Spine Oct 8th, 2020

Do you wake up in the morning with lower back pain, or suffer from regular headaches or neck pain? The source of the problem might be closer than you think. If you habitually use bad posture when seated or standing, you’re putting pressure on your spine that can lead to...

Regenerative Medicine and Arthritis: What You Should Know Sep 2nd, 2020

The pain of arthritis can limit your goals and dim your personal happiness. With today's medical advances, you don't have to merely cope with your arthritis pain. Cutting-edge regenerative medical therapies may be able to help with symptoms related to arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. At South Texas Spinal...

Knowing When Your Knee Is More of a Liability Than an Asset Aug 17th, 2020

The joints in your knees allow you to move in many ways. Strong enough to hold up the entire weight of your body, healthy knees can also pivot easily in multiple directions, so that you can bend, twist, walk, run, and jump. However, because your knees are so complex, they...

The Many Complications of Degenerative Disc Disease Jul 2nd, 2020

Your spine has to support the whole weight of your head, as well as serving as the connection between your limbs and the nerve centers of your brain. It's relatively easy for something to go wrong in your spine. Spinal problems have the potential to cause serious symptoms like back...

How Electrodiagnostic Testing Can Treat Your Pain Jun 24th, 2020

You perceive pain due to the natural electrical activity always present in your body. From the tips of your toes to the top of your head, your sensory nerves send electrical information back to your brain, where it registers as sensations. Your motor nerves then send electrical signals back to...

What Causes Spondylolisthesis? May 26th, 2020

The vertebrae that make up your spine need to be correctly aligned, or you can suffer from problems like chronic pain and deformity. The term spondylolisthesis refers to either forward or backward slippage between two of your vertebrae. The most common symptoms of spondylolisthesis are pain in your lower back...

What is Stenosis? Apr 1st, 2020

Many tiny nerves come together in your spine — so spinal problems can create all sorts of strange symptoms. A nerve that's been put under pressure or pinched can leave you in pain, or you may experience tingling sensations, numbness, or sudden muscle weakness. Spinal stenosis can create uncomfortable pressure...

Are Bone Fractures Preventable? Mar 1st, 2020

Many factors can increase your risks of bone fractures. Whether you're concerned about your bone health as you age, have recently experienced a concerning fracture or broken bone, or have received a recommendation for a bone health evaluation, the experienced staff at the South Texas Spinal Clinic are here to...

Joint Fusion Sounds Extreme — Can it Really Solve My SI Pain? Feb 1st, 2020

If you're experiencing chronic lower back pain, there's a good chance your sacroiliac (SI) joint may be the issue. SI problems account for 15-30% of low back pain cases. At South Texas Spinal Clinic, we have six locations in South Texas where we can resolve your SI pain for good...

Will Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Alleviate Your Back Pain? Jan 1st, 2020

Back pain can interfere with your daily life in multiple ways, from bringing about emotional stress and disappointment to keeping you from carrying out your everyday tasks. Over 260 million days of work are lost in the US each year from back pain, according to the American Chiropractic Association, which...

Is Back Pain Normal As You Age? Dec 1st, 2019

The way some people talk about it, you might think back pain is one of the basic parts of getting older, the same as wrinkles and gray hairs. Is back pain a normal part of aging? Yes and no – while many people experience more back pain as they start...

What Makes Women More Susceptible to Osteoporosis? Nov 1st, 2019

When you think about your bones, the first word that comes to mind probably isn’t tissue. Tissue seems like a soft word, something you would associate with organs or intricate, fragile body parts. Your strong, resilient bones, the ones that help you walk and move, couldn’t be made out of...

Why Physical Therapy Is a Crucial Part of Recovery Oct 1st, 2019

Some injuries heal without much fuss. When you get a papercut, you wrap it with a band-aid and wait until it’s fully healed. When you have strep throat, you take some antibiotics and focus on getting rest to help your body fight off the illness. Even a broken finger will...

Stem Cell Therapy Could Be the Answer to Your Chronic Pain Aug 31st, 2019

Most people experience aches and pains now and then, but the problem usually goes away with an over-the-counter pain reliever and some rest. Chronic pain is much more severe and doesn’t go away on its own, and can last for weeks or even years. Regardless of the source of your...

The Dangers of Tech Neck Aug 1st, 2019

We live in an age of plentiful technological advancements. However, there are some drawbacks to our age of innovation, and tech neck is one such problem as 58% of American adults with smartphones are at risk for this painful problem.  Tech neck is an irritating condition caused by looking down...

Understanding Pain Management: What Does Your Body Need? Jul 17th, 2019

It’s holistic. It’s patient-centric. It’s more effective than anything else you’ve tried.  It’s pain management.  You might be thinking, “That’s not a real thing.” But it is! And we’re so glad to offer it to you at all of our six South Texas Spinal Clinic locations.  Now that you know...

Find Out How a Laminectomy Can Relieve Pressure Off Your Spinal Cord Jun 14th, 2019

Too much pressure on your spinal cord and nerve roots can lead to back pain, numbness, and tingling in the arms and legs. In some cases, pressure on your nerve roots can cause problems with walking and bowel functions, as well. Procedures intended to relieve pressure in the back are...

How Osteoporosis Affects Your Body May 1st, 2019

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes your bones to deteriorate, making you more susceptible to debilitating bone fractures. Your bones are living entities; bone cells constantly die, and new cells grow. But if you have osteoporosis, your body doesn’t generate enough new cells when the old cells die to keep...

Top Health Conditions Laser Spine Surgery Can Help With Apr 9th, 2019

When it’s hard to stand up, hard to sit down, and hard to come up with excuses not to get your back fixed, it’s time get some answers. Start by visiting the talented team of doctors at South Texas Spinal Clinic, with 12 locations throughout Texas. They each specialize in...

Your Chronic Neck Pain Could Mean You Have Degenerative Disc Disease Mar 7th, 2019

Cervical degenerative disc disease is a condition in which the discs supporting the vertebrae in your neck start to deteriorate. The degenerative process could have been triggered by an accident or injury, but it’s most commonly due to aging. The discs often weaken from normal wear and tear. You have...

6 Amazing Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy Feb 7th, 2019

One of the buzz phrases of state-of-the-art health care is “regenerative medicine.” Regenerative medicine encompasses a number of therapies that help your body repair itself. Two of the most popular branches of regenerative medicine are platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which uses the power contained in your own blood to accelerate...

Why Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Might Be the Best Option for You Jan 9th, 2019

While surgery may not be anyone’s preferred treatment, if you’re plagued by back problems that are having a detrimental impact on your quality of life, surgery may be your best course of action. In an effort to make the road to relief a little smoother, minimally invasive surgical techniques have...

8 Most Common Causes of Back Pain Dec 13th, 2018

Because your back is a complex structure of ligaments, muscles, joints, and bones, it ’s particularly vulnerable to a range of injuries. While anyone can develop back pain at any time, several factors can increase your risk, including: Being 30 years of age or older Having a sedentary lifestyle Being...

Top 5 Health Conditions That Will Benefit from a Spinal Fusion Nov 19th, 2018

While spinal fusion surgery shouldn’t be the first treatment option for your spinal problems, it may be the one that finally provides relief from your specific back condition. When deciding if spinal fusion surgery — a procedure that permanently connects two or more vertebrae together — is right for you,...

Have Consistent Back Pain? It May Be Time to Visit Your Laminectomy Specialist Oct 15th, 2018

Back pain affects almost everyone at some point in life. However, most people recover fairly quickly with time, rest, and conservative treatments such as physical therapy.But if your back pain is constant and doesn’t seem to be getting better, the surgical spine experts at South Texas Spinal Clinic want you...

How Stem Cell Therapy Can Remedy Joint Pain Sep 26th, 2018

There are numerous causes of joint pain, but by far the most common is osteoarthritis. In 2015, 15 million adults reported severe joint pain due to arthritis with it being the leading cause of work disability. As if missed work days from pain and not being able to enjoy the...

5 Sports Injury Prevention Tips for Seniors Aug 20th, 2018

Now that you have more time to participate in the activities you enjoy, it’s wonderful to hit the golf course in the middle of the week, play tennis on the neighborhood seniors team, or continue any other sport you’ve always enjoyed. As a senior athlete, though — either part time...

Stem Cell Therapy: A Boon for Baby Boomer Aging Joints Jul 6th, 2018

Joint pain can affect your life in surprising and dramatic ways, forcing you to change routines, give up activities that you enjoy, and make it difficult to meet your day-to-day obligations. Whether you’re feeling pain in your shoulders, hands, hips, knees, or some other joint, you know how difficult simple...

Four Steps You Can Take to Help Prevent Osteoporosis Jun 18th, 2018

Four Steps You Can Take to Help Prevent Osteoporosis  You may think that osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become weak and brittle, is an inevitable part of aging and that you can’t do anything to prevent it. But that’s not quite true. Although some of the things that contribute...

PRP: A Boon for Treating Chronic Tendon Injuries May 8th, 2018

Your tendons are fibrous tissues made of collagen that attach your muscles to your bones. These soft tissues are incredibly strong and flexible, but they aren’t elastic. While an injury to your tendons can occur for a variety of reasons including aging, overuse, and stress, they’re often due to structural...

Does Weather Affect Joint Pain? Apr 18th, 2018

If your knee starts to flare up or your hip aches as the weather changes, you’re not crazy. Weather can absolutely affect joint pain in some people. Sensitive people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis report feeling more aches and stiffness when cold temperatures, humidity, precipitation, and falling barometric pressure set...

Tips for Returning to Sports After Back Surgery Mar 26th, 2018

There’s no question that being able to surgically repair a serious back problem has major benefits. You may even know firsthand just how wonderful it can be to finally correct a back issue that’s caused you chronic pain, robbed you of your strength, or limited your mobility. But if you...