PARAMUS, N.J. -- Back pain is a common ailment. Most of the time, with rest and good practices, backaches get better and people don't need surgery. Doctors may prescribe physical therapy, pain medicine, or injections of steroids or other medications to alleviate the pain. Patients are advised to adopt good habits to protect their backs and avoid activities that they know will lead to ...

PARAMUS, N.J. -- As a parent, you’ve probably received a school supplies shopping list for all the traditional items your child needs before returning for the coming school year. However, it’s just as important to make sure your child is prepared for the new school term from an orthopedic standpoint and to follow several tips to help prevent school-related injury.Find the Right Backpack ...

PARAMUS, N.J. -- If you've ever competed in organized sports -- at the recreational, high school, collegiate or professional level -- you have likely undergone a pre-participation examination (PPE). Though often a requirement for competition, athletes and parents may not always understand what a PPE is or why it is performed.The purpose of the PPE is to ensure that athletes are safe to ...

PARAMUS, N.J. -- In the summer, more athletes participate in outdoor sports such as basketball, soccer, baseball, flag football, biking, and hiking. It’s important to remember that activities involving more running, heavy impact, falling or overuse can be accompanied by a higher risk of various hip injuries.Athletes participating in sports with sudden twisting or pivoting motions such ...

PARAMUS, N.J. -- Many athletes train for countless hours to prepare for an upcoming competition, whether it’s a triathlon, marathon or other rigorous event. Is it possible for them to condition too much?Unfortunately, overtraining can be too much of a good thing. When athletes train too much, they can develop overuse injuries or even burnout. When an individual is active, they are ...

PARAMUS, N.J. -- HSS Anesthesiologist Dr. Semih Gungor provides an in-depth understanding of interventional pain specialists in the second of his two-part series. Part one can be found here.Who should see an interventional pain management specialist?Typically, these are patients who have failed conservative therapies and yet are not found to be a candidate for spinal surgery. Other ...

PARAMUS, N.J. -- Anesthesiologist Dr. Semih Gungor provides an in-depth understanding of interventional pain specialists in the first of his two-part series.Our spine is a complex structure with many types of pain generators. Everybody experiences neck or back pain, at some point. Most often, there are simple reasons for this pain, such as overuse injuries. Fortunately, in most cases, ...

PARAMUS, N.J. -- HSS rheumatologist Dee Dee Wu provides an in-depth understanding of rheumatoid arthritis in part two of a two-part series.How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is based predominantly on the presence of clinical symptoms. X-rays of affected joints may show abnormalities typical of RA, such as erosions, joint space narrowing or ...

PARAMUS, N.J. -- If you're prone to backaches, you know how frustrating they can be. Back pain can prevent you from engaging in activities you enjoy and may cause you to miss work. It can keep you awake at night and affect your mood. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor.Dr. Bernard Rawlins, a spine surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, who ...

PARAMUS, N.J. -- HSS rheumatologist Dee Dee Wu provides an in-depth understanding of rheumatoid arthritis in part one of a two-part series.What is rheumatoid arthritis?Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by joint inflammation, which can lead to progressive joint damage, deformities and disability if left untreated.Who is affected by rheumatoid ...