CONDITIONS

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Do you have a spinal condition that’s causing you chronic pain intense enough to interfere with your life or day-to-day activities? Are you afraid you’ll never be able to get your pain under control or that it might continue to worsen as you age? 

WELL, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. 

Many people with spinal disorders feel frustrated, confused, and helpless about their conditions. As many as 500,000 people suffer from some form of spinal injury each year. The good news is that you can ease your concerns and fears by gaining a better understanding of your condition. 

 

At NJ Spine and Orthopedic, we work to help you understand your symptoms, diagnose your condition and inform you of the various treatments. Below is an overview of the most common types of spine conditions, as well as other orthopedic conditions.

nonsurgical-treatments-for-hip-osteoarthritis

Nonsurgical Treatments for Hip Osteoarthritis 

Arthritis, in general, is a pretty interesting condition. There are just so many different types of the disorder. In fact, doctors group certain forms of arthritis under different medical classifications than other types of the disease. As a general rule, arthritis describes a type of joint inflammation, usually caused by age-related wear and tear. Of course, this isn’t always the case. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for example, is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissues. Because RA is an autoimmune disease, it can affect patients of all ages—from juveniles to adults or seniors. As you might imagine, however, age-related wear and tear is the usual culprit when it comes to arthritis. After all, anything with moving parts will wear down with repetitive use. And, the body is packed to the brim with mechanisms that undergo constant stress. The medical community refers to this age-related form of the condition as osteoarthritis. By far, osteoarthritis is the most common form of this degenerative disease. Simply put, the older you become, the more likely you are to develop osteoarthritis. As we age, we all experience some degree of degeneration when it comes to our joints. However, that does not necessarily mean that everyone is on a course for developing osteoarthritis. Some people are fortunate enough to experience degeneration with little to no painful symptoms as a result. It depends on a variety of factors, from your genetic predispositions to certain lifestyle choices. Though osteoarthritis may affect many different joints in the body, today’s article will specifically focus on cases that affect the hip. Hip Osteoarthritis & Anatomy The hip is one of the largest joints in the entire body. Furthermore, it regularly bears a pretty hefty load, so it is not uncommon for osteoarthritis to manifest at this location. Doctors classify the hip as a ball-and-socket joint. The acetabulum (a cavity or “socket” in the pelvis) interlocks with the femur or thighbone. The “ball” of the joint itself is the rounded femoral head, which sits atop the thighbone. The bony surfaces of any joint in the body work in tandem with articular cartilage. Cartilage works in a fashion similar to motor oil. It’s a slippery material that rests between the bones, thereby reducing friction and preventing them from grinding together. This function is further abetted by the existence of the synovium, which produces a tiny portion of fluid that aids the cartilage in its lubricating purpose. Additionally, this fluid also gives the joint a greater range of motion. Sadly, these structures are not as easily replaceable as motor oil. Of course, that is not to say that there aren’t any treatment options available for osteoarthritis—quite the contrary, in fact. Like any medical condition, your treatment options will depend on the severity and nature of your condition. Many find that they are able to overcome osteoarthritis without the need for surgery. However, more severe cases may necessitate minimally invasive surgical procedures. Most importantly, you should address your osteoarthritis

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woman riding bike after ACDF

Advantages of Minimally Invasive ACDF

Minimally invasive surgeries are a wonderful advancement in modern medicine. For comparison, think about the diagnostic methods that we used in the past vs. the sophisticated techniques that we use now. Before the advent of x-ray imaging, doctors relied on exploratory surgery. The only way to look inside the body was to cut into the area and probe for the underlying problem. Now, we have all of these wonderful tools, like CT scans and MRIs, that allow us to confirm diagnoses without ever having to wield a blade. Minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) is like that in a sense. However, doctors must still perform a procedure on the body, of course. Mere decades ago, the only options we had for surgery were massive undertakings that inherently led to bodily trauma. As a result, traditional or “open” procedures were rife with risks and complications. Not to mention, they took a long time from which to recover. Minimally invasive surgeries flip that concept on its head. In fact, some patients will leave the hospital on the same day as their procedures. Generally speaking, minimally invasive versions of traditional surgeries boast many advantages over other methods. Today’s post will focus on the minimally invasive version of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). In particular, this procedure is ideal for those with damaged cervical discs that do not require more extreme interventions. To find out if you are an eligible candidate for ACDF, consult with your doctor. What is Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion (ACDF)? The best way to break down these procedures is by looking at the name. In this instance, we have anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. So, let’s talk about that. Firstly, “anterior” refers to an approach from the front, while the term “cervical” involves the neck region of the spine. So, we know that this procedure must involve a frontal approach to the neck. A discectomy is a type of surgery in which the goal is to remove a damaged intervertebral disc from the spine. If you’re not up to snuff with spinal anatomy, a disc is basically the soft cushion-like material that rests between the bones of the spine. Surgeons usually perform a discectomy in conjunction with a spinal fusion. Fusion surgery involves implanting a bone graft between two vertebrae in order to fuse them together over a period of time. Why? Eliminating movement at the source of pain tends to resolve the discomfort. How is an ACDF Performed? To perform an ACDF, the surgeon begins with a frontal approach via a small incision near the affected area. Because the surgery is minimally invasive, instead of cutting through soft tissues (like muscles), the surgeon gently moves them to the side. Moreover, anterior approaches are much safer than approaches from the back (or posterior). That is because frontal methods like ACDF avoid disturbing the spinal cord, spinal nerves, and the larger muscles of the neck. At this point, the surgeon then removes the affected disc(s). Naturally, this means that the

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