Evaluation and Treatment of Musculoskeletal & Neurological Conditions Managed By Dr. Scott Naftulin and Dr. Bruce Zhang
The Anatomy of a Disc The disc is like a jelly doughnut. There is jelly on the inside, known as the nucleus pulposus. The doughnut part is made up of strong, fibrous bands around the outside that surround and contain the jelly, known as the annulus fibrosis. Together they act as a shock absorber between [...]
What is the Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG)? The DRG (dorsal root ganglion) is a bundle of sensory nerves in the spine. These nerves transmit pain from the peripheral nervous system (arms and legs for example) through the spinal nerve and into the spinal cord and subsequently up to the brain. The DRG is believed to [...]
Definition Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) also previously known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) is a complex condition occurring after injury, surgery, stroke or heart attack. It is a chronic, painful condition that usually affects a single limb after an injury. It is believed to be caused by damage to or malfunction of the [...]
What is a Common Cause of Back Pain? If a patient suffers from chronic lower back pain, it becomes important to determine the exact anatomic cause of that pain so that other treatment options could be considered. Medical research has demonstrated that the most common cause of chronic lower back pain is a painful disc, [...]
What is a Diagnostic Block? Diagnostic blocks involve the precise placement of local anesthetic or numbing medication in or near the presumed painful structure such as the zygapophyseal or facet joints or spinal nerve. The patient’s pain is assessed both before and after the block and inferences can be made regarding the “pain generator” or [...]