Posts by Neel Anand MD
Aching Disparities in Managing Back Pain Within Minority Communities
Back pain is an unfortunately universal experience, affecting millions of Americans regardless of background. But for minority populations in the United States, back pain can be present as more than just physical discomfort – it can be a complex issue intertwined with cultural norms, social determinants of health, and wide variations in access to high-quality…
Read More4 Everyday Habits That Can Unintentionally Invite Back Pain
Many articles about back pain today involve long-discussed spine irritants such as carrying excess weight, recreational and sports injuries, and commonplace “accidents” such as lifting an object the wrong way or not standing up frequently enough while attending to a chore. But many episodes of back pain, even pain that can become chronic, severe, and…
Read MoreBUYER BEWARE! The Hidden Potential Dangers of Neck and Back Pain “Tools”
It’s no surprise that neck pain and back pain are a universal struggle. The experience of spinal pain is nearly guaranteed at some point in life and so severe in some cases that the people experiencing it are desperate for relief. Unfortunately, today’s online marketplace is flooded with “miracle” cures promising instant relief, all while…
Read MoreClass is in Session! How to Enhance Your Personal Spine Health Literacy
While back pain is a health concern that will impact just about everyone at some point in life, it’s also a condition that can have people desperately searching for relief – sometimes in the wrong places. A quick Internet search of “fast back pain treatment” can yield accurate information for some and perhaps inaccurate information…
Read MoreTurning Back The Hands of Father “Spine”
How You Can Help Your Spine Age Gracefully – 5 Practical Tips The overall population of the United States is getting older. Sixty years ago, approximately 17 million Americans were aged 65 or older. Today, those numbers have skyrocketed to over 55 million. The number of older people in the United States is predicted to…
Read MoreWARNING: Preventing Traumatic Spine Injury – 4 Factors of Focus
Over the years, I’ve written extensively on how people can avoid spine surgery for various conditions that cause back pain and, when they can’t, how surgery can often be performed using a minimally invasive approach. Most of those articles have an asterisk disclaimer that comes with them because traumatic spine injuries are an “exception to…
Read MoreArtificial Disc Replacement Surgery – 4 Key Considerations
The decision to undergo spine surgery is a deeply personal one. Having performed procedures now numbering in the thousands, I can state with genuine humility that all cases are unique. While the patients’ anatomy may be similar, each decides to undergo surgery from a unique set of circumstances, backgrounds, and life goals. However, if you…
Read MoreMen’s Health Month: Turning BACK the Hands of Father Time
No matter your gender, back pain can be one of the most frustrating medical conditions around. And though we often talk about how it affects people in general, it’s necessary sometimes to point out the differences in how back pain presents itself, sometimes uniquely, in men and women. With June as Men’s Health Month, this…
Read MoreUnderstanding Spinal Osteoarthritis
Of the more than 100 different types of arthritis known to the world, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common and affects millions of people around the globe. Often, people think osteoarthritis affects the hands, knees, and sometimes the feet of older people. However, the degenerative bone condition also impacts the spines of many humans worldwide,…
Read MoreWhy Does Back Pain Seem to Rise When Temperatures Drop?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but as of this blog’s publishing, we’ve still got almost two months of winter left in the United States. Unfortunately, the extreme cold of the winter can give rise to back pain episodes for many Americans. There are various reasons this may be the case –…
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