Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), also known as Tic Douloureux and or the suicide disease, is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal or 5th cranial nerve, one of the most widely distributed nerves in the head.
Trigeminal Neuralgia is often misdiagnosed as dental pain, since pain is frequently triggered when someone chews or talks. However, pain can also occur when someone touches their face, shaves or simply feels the wind.
THE WORLD’S LEAST INVASIVE LUMBAR FUSION SURGERY: the S-LIF, Developed by and available exclusively at Legacy Spine & Neurological Specialists.
Sciatic nerve pain can be disruptive. Constant pain and numbness due to a compressed nerve with spine instability can hinder your daily life. So can invasive spinal surgery and the recovery time that comes along with it. But not anymore, thanks to S-LIF technology.
The S-LIF is the least invasive option for lumbar fusion surgery available anywhere in the world. When Dr. Schlesinger developed the MIG-LIF procedure in 2015, it was the least invasive fusion option also done through a keyhole outpatient surgery. While this was a great breakthrough at the time in MIS spine surgery, Dr. Schlesinger felt that the next logical step was to achieve the same outcome with even less surgery.
Through application of his microsurgical skills and experience in delicate surgery on aneurysms and tumors of the brain, this next step became a reality. The S-LIF is the least invasive option in the world for many patients with the need for a decompression and fusion of the lumbar spine. It is not for all patients as some still require more invasive surgery. But for those that are candidates for MIS surgery, this is an outstanding option.
The S-LIF procedure is performed by our two talented neurosurgeons Scott Schlesinger, MD, and Dominic Maggio, MD. Scott Schlesinger, MD has practiced neurosurgery since 1992. He trained in Neurosurgery at UT Southwestern with a fellowship in Lausanne, Switzerland. He has received multiple awards and multiple recognitions as the Best Neurosurgeon in the state. Dr. Schlesinger is the founder of Legacy Spine and Neurological Specialists and the developer of the S-LIF procedure.
Dominic Maggio, MD joined the Legacy team in July 2021. He is an excellent surgeon who specializes in the S-LIF procedure as well as a wide variety of other spinal surgery. He trained at the University of Virginia-National Institutes of Health neurosurgery program and received multiple awards for his research and clinical skills. He subsequently did a fellowship at Ohio State University in complex and minimally invasive spine surgery techniques.
To find out if the S-LIF is an option for you or for more information call us today at 501-661-0077 or email contactus@wordpress-967348-3758640.cloudwaysapps.com. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you!
Sciatica is a painful condition of the nerves in the lower back that is associated with a variable degree of pain, numbness, tingling and weakness of one or both legs. Often it is self limited and resolves on its on. However, it can be persistent and need treatment. It is usually due to a ruptured or herniated or bulging disc. Discs are the cushions between our vertebrae of the spine. Normally these function as shock absorbers of the spine but over time the normal covering of the disc- the annulus- can become weak and allow the central part of the disc- the nucleus- to become displaced outside its normal location. If this displacement is adjacent to one of the nerves that run from the lower back into the legs it can produce sciatic pain.
Non-operative Treatment can consist of any or all of these options for those cases that do not spontaneously resolve:
* Spinal Exercises, Traction and other forms of spinal therapy
* NSAIDS
* Neuropathic medications such as Gabapentin
* Course of oral steroid medications
* Spinal Epidural injections In refractory cases minimally invasive microsurgical decompression and/or discectomy is a very safe and effective treatment.
At Legacy we offer this surgery for most patients at the outpatient surgery center through a MIS (minimally invasive) 1 inch or less incision. The success rate in terms of pain relief, return to work, return to ones sports or other activities of life are outstanding. Usually within 4-6 weeks most patients are able to resume normal activities. Patients with sedentary type work can usually return to their job in 2-5 days.
Arkansas is ranked 4th among the nation in adult diabetes rates. This is somewhat of an alarming statistic. There are different forms of diabetes but type 2 diabetes is the one I would like to highlight. One complication that can be associated with type 2 diabetes is neuropathy.
A bone spur or ‘osteophyte’ is new bone that forms at the end of bones or joints. Bone spurs form in response to movement when one bone comes into contact with another bone across a joint or disk space. Bone spurs can occur throughout the body but are common in the spine because of numerous bony joints and disks that make up and support the spine. Bone spur formation occurs to varying degrees and is expected in the aging spine but will be more common in patients that have significant arthritis.
As our bodies age so do our spines. Arthritic changes will be present in the spine which include bulging disks, degenerative disk disease and joint changes. The degree that these changes occur are often related to genetics. A simple bulging disk is actually an extremely common finding on MRIs of the spine and is not an indication for surgery. There are many other structures in the low back and neck that are very sensitive to pain especially the muscles and numerous joints that support the spine. These are more often the cause of low back and neck pain and are treated with conservative therapies. Occasionally a disk will actually herniate out of the normal position between the vertebral bones and cause pressure on spinal nerve resulting in extremity pain. The disk herniation itself is not painful but can result in pain by causing inflammation and/or pressure on these spinal nerves. If extremity pain from a compressive herniated disk cannot be fixed with conservative treatments sometimes surgery is indicated. Our neurosurgeons are trained to read spine MRIs, understand the complicated anatomy of the spine and perform neurological exams to determine appropriate treatment options.
Peripheral Neuropathy is a disorder caused from damage to the endings of the nerves. Peripheral Neuropathy is a symptom of an underlying disease or process and tested to find out the underlying cause.
Patients frequently report burning, itching, or shooting pain that often begins in the feet and gradually progresses to other areas.
EMG and nerve conduction testing performed by a trained physician can help rule out other causes of these symptoms and help plan for the best course of treatment. Our neurologists are trained in advanced EMG and nerve conduction testing and are well-versed in diagnosing and managing peripheral neuropathy.
Most of the time when one is experiencing back pain, they often stay sedentary all day, because they think being active or stretching will hurt them more rather than elevate their back pain. Here are some great stretches and exercises that will increase core strength to support a healthy back.
Foot drop is a term used to describe difficulty raising your foot upwards (dorsiflexion). This may be most noticeable when trying to walk as people with foot drop often complain of tripping and dragging their foot. Foot drop can be caused by a number of underlying neurological problems and should be evaluated by your physician.
Our primary goal is to relieve patient’s pain, while taking the least invasive route. Often times when someone has neck pain, it is best to start with Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections. Cervical Epidural Steroid injections are often used to relieve pain in the neck, arms and shoulders. Neck pain is often caused by conditions like herniated discs, bulging discs, arthritis and spinal stenosis, which can cause compression and pinched nerves. To relieve pain associated with these, we often times recommend getting a series of three injections