Living Well Insights for health & well-being

When it came to back pain, miles didn’t matter to active 39-year-old Ashleigh Tagliaferri. She traveled from Las Vegas, NV to Plano, TX for artificial disc replacement surgery to help relieve debilitating back pain.…

As one of the key joints in our leg, our knees are exposed to considerable wear and tear on a daily basis. Two of the key components in helping us deal with this wear and tear are the meniscus and the anterior cruciate ligament, more commonly known as the ACL.…

Meniscus tears are one of the most common cartilage injuries that can affect your knee. Causing pain, swelling, discomfort, and potentially preventing you from walking properly, they can be a serious short and long-term issue. But just what is the meniscus?…

One factor that is consistent between both men and women golfers is that, back pain will often result when improper body mechanics and equipment is used for the sport. Dr. Scott Blumenthal, an orthopedic spine surgeon on the medical staff at Texas Health Center for Diagnostics and Surgery, has treated a number of men and women for back pain caused by playing golf. He outlined some gender differences that should be taken into consideration.…

"Our process can start before a patient even sees the doctor. We offer a joint replacement assessment and complete guide to joint replacement surgery on our website. Often patients reach out to ask questions about joint replacement and request assistance with finding a joint replacement surgeon. If the surgeon determines the patient is a surgical candidate, we reach out to the patient to schedule their Pre-Assessment appointment and their personal educational class. We offer both in person and virtual classes for the patients convenience. We are in contact with the patient every step of the way. We visit with them the day of surgery, we visit them in their hospital room and once they are discharged, we continue to follow up with them on their progress and give encouragement throughout their recovery."…

Currently, around 7 million or so Americans are living with some variety of knee or hip replacement, with around 600,000 more undergoing a knee replacement each year. This number has been steadily growing in recent years for a variety of reasons; people are living longer and accordingly, may need some replacement parts as their originals wear out. Additionally, technology and surgical techniques are improving, which enables the procedure to be carried out less invasively and with a shorter recovery time. This makes it a considerably more attractive option than it might have been in previous decades.…

For more than 35 years, surgeons have been enhancing their skills in the operating room with robotic technology. Whether it’s simple mechanisms used to hold patients in place or utilizing multifaceted systems to carry out delicate procedures, the intertwining of human and machine has helped surgeons perform better work — and deliver better patient outcomes.…

Studies have indicated that as much as 80% of the population can expect to suffer from back pain at some point during their life, with some of the most severe cases primarily affecting the lower back. If you are currently experiencing problems and are interested in finding out how to relieve lower back pain or what is causing it, this guide should prove to be useful. However, we recommend that you visit a local spine specialist if you are suffering from chronic or severe lower back pain, so you can discuss all the treatment options and choose one that meets your needs.…

There are a number of conditions that cause upper back pain, some of which are more common than others. In this short guide, we are going to look at the main causes and what can be done to alleviate the pain in each case. A qualified and experienced doctor should be consulted to find out what causes upper back pain and how best to deal with it in each individual case but the information below may help you to decide which type of doctor you should approach first.…

Artificial disc replacement (ADR) offers patients suffering from chronic, severe back and neck pain the opportunity to retain mobility and resume their lives with minimal pain or discomfort. This type of arthroplasty is an alternative to the traditional surgical procedures that require a lengthy recovery period, loss of mobility and the potential for additional surgeries.…