Stem cell therapy is among the most exciting developments in modern medicine. The science is still in its early stages, so it’s not quite time to make an appointment, but legitimate trials are beginning to show promising results. CAN STEM CELLS CURE PARALYSIS? Asterias Biotherapeutics conducted one of the largest human trials in 2016, using a sample group of six patients with varying degrees of paralysis. The trial’s results began to roll in in O…

Thank you to all those who donated their time, resources, products, and services to help this Albanian Catholic Religious Sister get her spinal deformity surgery done. Round trip air fare Albania to Phoenix - Hugues Malandain Logistical Support - Jan Revella, RN, Sonoran Spine Research Foundation Surgery Scheduling – Lori Lobell, Sonoran Spine Housing in Phoenix – Catholic Religious Sisters of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará Ima…

Chronic pain that lacks an obvious cause has confounded doctors for as long as medicine has existed as a field. Fibromyalgia (FMS) is thus one step forward in a journey that has lasted centuries. To answer the question of whether FMS is imaginary, you must understand the purpose of diagnostics: to give doctors an efficient way to treat patients. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SYNDROMES AND DISEASES Diseases with obvious causes such as diabetes and cancer are…

The first spinal fusion procedures were performed in 1911, using a strip of tibia to fuse the spine and provide extra stability. Medical research has focused heavily on developing more effective and less invasive ways to perform the surgery, but this hasn’t done much to make spinal fusion less contentious. Long-term improvement is hugely ranging depending on the condition the procedure is intended to treat. Spinal stenosis patients do as well wit…

Quality of life is something most doctors dream of offering their patients, but sorting through the risks and potential benefits of treatments must be done in partnership. For Jim Scheiter, however, invasive care provided the new life he hoped for. He came back from two tours in Iraq so utterly disabled that he couldn’t stand for longer than 15 minutes at a time. He spent years trying medication and physiotherapy to no avail. Then a spine surgeon…

Join Michael Chang, MD for a free seminar to get the facts and understand your options. Tuesday, January 24th5:30 – 7:00 pmScottsdale Shea Medical Center9003 E. Shea Blvd., Brady Conference Center, Scottsdale

The shift from inpatient to outpatient spine surgery has surged in recent years with the rise in innovative techniques that cost a fraction of what they used to. Anyone who’s spent time in a hospital will know that the flow of nurses, doctors, visiting hours, and meals are enough to exhaust inpatients, so our outpatient clinic provides precisely the rest our doctors prefer. On average, inpatient care in Arizona costs between $1,965 and $2,581 per…

Though we strive to build trusting relationships with our patients and to empower them with knowledge, spine surgery can be scary. Because of this, your preparations need to be practical and emotional. Household Preparations a Week Before Surgery Items that you use often should be placed at arm height so that you don’t need to bend down or stretch to reach them. Paper plates are useful to cut down on cleaning up, and a reacher will take care of t…

Scoliosis is a common condition in adults and teenagers. Most patients have mild curves that rarely if ever cause pain. For those who do experience pain, most benefit from conservative treatment. More severe curves (over 40-50 degrees, depending on your age) may warrant surgical intervention to improve quality of life. Whatever the severity, it's time to bust some myths concerning spinal curvature. 1. Myth: You Can't Have Children or will Suffer …

Adolescent scoliosis can be alarming to parents because curves progress quickly during growth spurts. Many parents feel guilty that they didn’t notice the curve sooner, and worry that the curve may continue to progress at a rapid rate. However, the ultimate level of curvature depends on how much more growing your child has to do. Once your child reaches their adult size, the curve will most likely stop growing, unless it was greater than 40-50 de…