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Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center Blog View all posts

Kyphoplasty vs Vertebroplasty: Which is Right for Me?
Back problems are pretty common, especially as you get older, but often they don’t require surgery. If your spine fractures and you need surgery, it’s important to know whether your condition needs kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty.
Jan 1st, 2023

5 Different Surgeries That Help Severe Neck Pain
When severe neck pain doesn’t respond effectively to conservative care measures, it may be time to consider surgery. Explore some of the most common surgical techniques for chronic neck pain, and find out which may be right for you.
Nov 1st, 2022

How Do You Know If You Have a Disc Injury?
Back injuries are quite common, whether they come from sports injuries, exercise, or just lifting something the wrong way. When dealing with problems related to back injuries, how do you know when it’s caused by a spinal disc?
Oct 1st, 2022

What Is Spinal Stenosis?

Many people have backaches from time to time, and nearly everyone has had the uncomfortable experience of having a sore neck. Sometimes, though, such problems persist, and you need an expert. Spinal stenosis could be to blame.
Sep 1st, 2022

5 Ways To Help Prevent Your Sciatica From Flaring Up
Do you suffer from sciatica? Getting your symptoms under control is just the first step to managing this painful condition. Once you do, you can help avoid problems altogether by adopting these simple practices.
Aug 1st, 2022

Tips for Avoiding Arthritis
Do you have a family history of arthritis? Is it something you worry about developing? Although you can’t control all of the factors that contribute to arthritis, there are a few things you can do that may help limit your risk.
Jul 1st, 2022

These Bad Habits Are Making Your Neck Pain Worse
Does your neck seem to hurt far too often? Modern life puts a lot of strain on your neck, including some of your own actions. Learn more about the bad habits that may be causing your neck pain.
Jun 1st, 2022

The Importance of Exercising When You Have Arthritis
Millions of Americans have arthritis, a condition that causes joint pain and stiffness. If your joints hurt, you might dread the thought of exercise. However, regular exercise can significantly reduce joint pain. Read on to learn more.
May 1st, 2022

All About Motion Preservation Spine Surgery
Motion preservation spine surgery allows you to keep your spine's natural flexibility. This state-of-the-art technique is minimally invasive with reduced recovery time so that you can return to life with less pain and an improved range of motion.
Apr 1st, 2022

What To Do If You Break a Bone at Work
Despite your best efforts to stay safe at work, accidents and injuries can happen. If you suffer a broken bone while on the job, you can better deal with the situation if you’ve considered the possibilities in advance.
Mar 1st, 2022

Pros and Cons of Artificial Disc Replacement
If you suffer from chronic lower back pain, you may be a candidate for a minimally invasive surgery called motion preservation. Motion preservation replaces a diseased disc with an artificial one that allows you to move your spine normally.
Feb 1st, 2022

Can Sciatica Stem From a Serious Disease?
Sciatica causes pain in your lower back, down your hip and buttock, and along your leg. Most of the time, you feel sciatica pain on one side or the other, but not both. The pain can be severe, but is it caused by a serious disease?
Jan 1st, 2022

What to Expect During and After Your Discectomy
A discectomy is a surgical procedure that can provide long-lasting relief for people suffering from severe disc problems. Here’s when a discectomy is performed and what to expect during and after your surgery.
Dec 1st, 2021

5 Signs of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
What do diabetes, tennis, and painting have in common? They can all increase your risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Learn more about CTS and an advanced, micro-invasive surgery that can relieve your discomfort immediately.
Nov 1st, 2021

Best Treatment Options for Your Arthritis
Arthritis is a common pain condition that tends to worsen over time, especially when left untreated. The best treatment options for your arthritis are the ones you start right now. Read on to learn more.
Oct 1st, 2021

Curing Your Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome can be painful and can affect your ability to live a normal life. But this condition doesn’t have to affect you forever. Fast and effective treatments are available that can eliminate your carpal tunnel syndrome.
Aug 5th, 2021

Help, My Hip Hurts! And Other Signs of Sciatica
If sitting at your desk, riding in a car, or even sleeping on your side cause pain and discomfort, it could be sciatica. Understand the signs of sciatica, and learn what you can do to naturally relieve the pain long-term.
Jul 1st, 2021

The Benefits of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
Your doctor tells you that your back pain could be improved or resolved if you undergo minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). What does that mean, and can it really be as effective as traditional surgery? MISS is just as effective and safer, too.
Jun 17th, 2021

What's the Difference Between Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty?
When you find out you have compression fractures, you panic. Are you doomed to continual pain? Or will you develop a “dowager’s hump”? Or shrink in height? In-office vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty ends your pain and restores your spine.
May 17th, 2021

When You Need Surgery for Disc Herniation (21046)
Herniated discs are common, particularly if you’re athletic or aging. Or both. Most of the time, a slipped disc heals on its own with physical therapy and medications. If it doesn’t, you may need surgery to fix the herniation and relieve the pain.
Apr 4th, 2021

Help! I've Been Hurt on the Job
Nobody goes to work expecting to be injured or sickened. But almost 3 million times per year, that’s exactly what happens. What should you do if you’ve been hurt on the job? First, get to a doctor as soon as possible.
Mar 21st, 2021

What Are Preop Protocols?
Your doctor tells you that you need surgery. But successful surgery requires more than just showing up to the hospital on the right day. You and your doctor must make preparations to ensure the best outcome. Here’s what you — and they — have to do.
Feb 8th, 2021

The Many Benefits of an Independent Medical Evaluation
You’ve been injured in a work-related accident, a car wreck, or other incident. When you file your worker’s compensation or other claim, you’re assigned an independent medical evaluator. But should you trust someone else’s IME?
Jan 17th, 2021

5 Tips to Manage Your Joint Health
Your joints let you move freely and painlessly throughout your day. But joints, like all body parts, are subject to degradation and disease. To keep your joints healthy both now and in the future, adopt these habits.
Dec 14th, 2020

Injured at Work? Here Are Your Next Steps
When you get hurt at work, you might suffer pain, emotional trauma, and even embarrassment. Accidents happen for many reasons. But whatever the reason, you have to take steps to protect yourself — medically and legally — right after the accident.
Oct 7th, 2020

Backpacks and Back To School
Whatever downside Zoom classes have for parents and school-aged kids, at least the kids don’t have to carry their books. If your kids are heading back to school with a knapsack on their back, here’s what you need to know to keep their spine safe.
Sep 9th, 2020

You Shouldn't Have to Suffer From Osteoarthritis. We Can Help!

You may think that aching, swollen joints are just a part of getting older that you have to tolerate. Although there’s no cure for osteoarthritis, that doesn’t mean you need to suffer. You can control your pain and increase mobility. Here’s how.
Aug 31st, 2020

Tips for Traveling With Back Pain

Whether you’re setting out for a camping trip or finally reuniting with relatives across the country, traveling comes with caveats when you have back pain. With a little planning and packing, though, you can travel pain-free.
Jul 24th, 2020

5 Tips to Prevent a Herniated Disc
You’re more at risk for a herniated disc the older you get, but herniated discs aren’t an inevitable part of aging. Find out how you can protect your vertebral discs and stop a painful rupture.
Jun 8th, 2020

Changing Lives Through SCS
I recently had the honor and privilege to take care of one of our finest veterans. Please see this most recent Press Release on Technical Sgt.
May 2nd, 2018

Riding the Wave Into the Future
Yesterday, I was able to “Ride the Wave – WaveWriter, that Is”. I wanted to give Kirk McMullen, Jesse Kalkstein, Kristin Ribelli, and the entire Boston Scientific team a big thank you for allowing me...
Mar 8th, 2018

New Approach to Arm Pain
Please see this video from 2 months ago about how artificial disc replacement is changing our approach to arm pain.
Feb 9th, 2018

Facebook
I’ve been working hard to link my webpage to my social media accounts and wanted to let you know of the various Facebook Pages that I have available for the latest and most up-to-date information in the world of Spine care.
Nov 29th, 2017

The Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Spine Surgeon
Are you considering having spine surgery in the near future? There are often many questions left unanswered prior to having any surgery and many things that need to be done in preparation before the big day.
Oct 13th, 2017

Is Running Good for Your Back?
“People who regularly run or walk briskly appear to have healthier discs in their spines than people who do not exercise, according to one of the first studies to closely examine links between movement and disc health.”
Jul 15th, 2017

Osteopenia & Osteoporosis
Osteopenia & Osteoporosis….what can I say about them in a few short sentences? Other than the fact that I drink at least 2 gallons of milk a week, is that really enough? The short answer is “no” that’s not enough. In fact, there are many factors...
Jul 13th, 2017

Chiropractic Care & Spinal Manipulation
Chiropractors have long been recognized as professional entities that are an integral part of any spine care team, including mine. However, I was unaware of the vast differences in chiropractic theories as it relates to the approach to care.
Jul 11th, 2017

Signing Out AMA
In healthcare, we are all working towards the team work ethic of central and common principles of healing and health promotion. However, during that process of healing patients, we also worry about the safety and well-being of each people we care for.
Jul 10th, 2017

Is Emergency Acupuncture for Real?
I know, I know – Emergency Acupuncture? I have never heard of it or considered this an emergency treatment for ailments. What ailments can it really treat?
Jul 8th, 2017

First 3D Printed Spinal Implant
PITTSBURGH…June 27, 2017 – Advanced Orthopedics and Rehabilitation (AOR) announced today that Dr. Jocelyn Idema is now using a new medical device created with an advanced additive manufacturing technology, also known as 3D printing, as part...
Jun 30th, 2017

First in Pennsylvania
Last week, I was notified by Aesculap medical device company that I am the first in Pennsylvania to implant the new generation of lumbar disc replacement – the activL®.
Apr 26th, 2017

Gender Differences With Implants?
Please read this article below about gender differences and the implants we choose. There is a big push in the medical device community to separate differences between the male knee versus the female knee etc.
Apr 21st, 2017

MIS Vs Open Surgery
As many of you may know, my surgical practice is at least 90% or more Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MIS or MISS) compared to the old, traditional way of spine surgery or “Open” spine surgery.
Mar 1st, 2017

Think Flag Football is Safer Than Tackle?
My son wants to play football this coming fall and I keep going back and forth whether we should start him in flag football or just get him started in tackle football like my husband did at age 6.
Feb 21st, 2017

New Location – Pennsylvania
Welcome, my apologies for not writing recently as I’ve been a little busy with my practice moving from Maryland to Western Pennsylvania.
Jan 19th, 2017

Quit Smoking Forever
There’s no doubt that quitting smoking at any point in your life is better for your overall health. A small study recently reported that 40% of patients after their spine surgery were able to remain non-smokers.
Oct 6th, 2016

"Poke’mon Go”
The craze continues to grow and so does the digital age! Everywhere I go, I see more and more people using their smartphones and tablets scavenging the countryside looking for different Poke’mon’s.
Aug 11th, 2016

A Changing Landscape
I just returned from the 14th Annual Becker’s Spine, Orthopaedics, and Pain Medicine conference and is there every some drastic changes expected for medicine. The shift in care to outpatient surgery centers where patients can often receive...
Jun 13th, 2016

Lumbar TDR – is It Time?
I recently read some updates on lumbar total disc replacement (LTDR) and have to admit that I was skeptical as to the history behind the elusive lumbar disc replacement and all of the problems associated with the FDA and discs in the mid-2000’s.
Apr 16th, 2016

Is Orthopedics a Changing Field?
Becker’s Spine Review,”Is orthopedics a changing field?Drs. Juliet DeCampos, Jocelyn Idema & Barbara Bergin tackle the gender gap in orthopedics”
Jan 25th, 2016

Spine Surgeon’s to Know – 2016
Becker’s Spine recently highlighted “Spine Surgeon’s to Know – 2016” This is a great National honor and ranks alphabetically, those spine surgeons, that continue to make a difference in the quality of life for our patients.
Jan 24th, 2016

New Year’s Resolution
Happy New Year! I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. Around this time of year, every year, most people when asked “What is your new year resolution(s)?” Most people will say that they would like to exercise more...
Dec 31st, 2015

Heterotopic Ossification and Your Cervical Spine
Heterotopic Ossification (HO) is one of the most common complications following hip arthroscopy. It is estimated that up to 44% of do not receive medication prophylaxis will experience some form of complication following this procedure.
Dec 28th, 2015

Back Pain, Pregnancy, and Childbirth
As a mother of two wonderful children, I can personally attest to how being pregnant, childbirth, and the postpartum recovery period can affect a woman’s body. As you are aware, many changes occur during the multiple phases of pregnancy from a mental...
Nov 5th, 2015

Halloween – Icd-10 Codes
Approximately 1 month ago, our medical coding system changed from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes. Essentially these codes have changed from 13,000 codes (ICD-9) to over 67,000+ codes (ICD-10).
Oct 28th, 2015

Cervical Disk Replacement
Approximately two weeks ago, I was able to attend and lecture at the AOAO Annual Conference on cervical spine pathology and symptoms – My portion of the lectures had to do with ACDF with stand-alone interbody or whether a plate for cervical fusions was...
Oct 28th, 2015

Healthcare Internet?
In the next few months and it is no surprise, the entire healthcare coding sector will be overhauled to ICD-10. Many in healthcare are concerned with the many changes for better or worse that will occur and let’s face it, the current coding system...
Jul 29th, 2015

Med Technology Gadgets
The other day, I was using Google to help seek out some of the newer technologies that are becoming available in the world of medicine and most specifically, Orthopaedics and Spine.
Jul 20th, 2015

Becker’s Spine Article Highlight
I recently had an opportunity to sit down with Becker’s Spine and was interviewed about the business/personal balance of my life and was honored that they posted this account.
Jun 13th, 2015

Space Travel and Your Back
I know this may sound like a bazaar subject to talk about but I recently read this in one of my journals. The Orthopaedic Research Society or ORS at their annual meeting recently highlighted how our astronauts have an increased risk for herniated disks.
Jun 7th, 2015

Crossfit – is It the Best Series of Exercises?
CrossFit-has exploded in the past few years and unfortunately, so have the numbers of injuries related to CrossFit as well. I admit, I’ve tried some of the exercises and remember doing some of the same exercises while swimming on...
May 28th, 2015

Should Patient’s Hit the Record Button?
I just finished reading an article posted in the Washington Post last week that discussed whether patient’s should “record” their discussions while being evaluated by their physician.
May 17th, 2015

Ultrasound for Orthopaedics
While recently attending an Orthopaedic conference, I happened to listen to an interesting lecture on the many uses of ultrasound.
Apr 18th, 2015

Liposomal Bupivacaine
With the vast number of changes that have been occurring through healthcare, it is no surprise that hospital systems are trying to limit and cut costs on certain technologies and advancements that have made an impact in healthcare.
Apr 7th, 2015

Medical Students and Orthopedic Training
Medical schools and Orthopedic Residency programs are constantly trying to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and teaching techniques for our future practitioners. Having completed my Orthopedic surgical residency and further my spine fellowship...
Jan 30th, 2015

Risk Factors for Poor Outcomes
The newest JBJS ( The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery) just arrived and as usual I started to look through the newest literature being published on the various Orthopedic specialities, in particular, Spine surgery as expected.
Dec 24th, 2014

Video Games Do Help Minimally Invasive Spine Surgeons!
I’m not a serious video gamer by any means but do occasionally play some games with my family. This article highlights the benefits of playing video games and builds a case for surgeons to improve upon their skills or at the very least...
Nov 26th, 2014

Bone Autograft
I know it’s been over a month since I posted a new blog but I had to write something about an article I just read in one of my Orthopedic journals talking about the trends of bone graft and what we can expect in the future.
Sep 30th, 2014

“9 for Spine”
I was surfing the web for through some of my material and came across a video – PSA that the North American Spine Society (NASS) has compiled to further educate patients on proper back mechanics.
Aug 25th, 2014

First Day of School – Back Packs
Today – marks the first day of Kindergarten for my son. He’s been looking forward to going to the “big school” and now that day has finally arrived. I and like most parents, have not been looking forward to this day – as it reminds us of days...
Aug 24th, 2014

Prior Authorizations for Care
A few times a week, I’m on the phone during office hours (and sometimes after-hours) working with insurance companies through pre-authorizations or peer-to-peer reviews advocating for the need and necessity for my patients as to why we need this test...
Jul 31st, 2014

The New Digital Age
I just read an interesting article about a new coined term called “Digital Immigrants” and “Digital Natives”. The article highlights many differences between the key date of 1985 with anyone born before 1985 being an “immigrant” and anyone after being...
Jul 18th, 2014

Top Five Travel Tips for Your Back on Car Trips
Since we are at the height of travel season during these hot summer months, I thought it would be a good reminder to think about your back during long car trips, especially if you suffer from chronic back pain or have had previous back surgery.
Jul 13th, 2014