For some people, recovering from surgery is a fairly predictable journey. But for many, many others, the road to healing after surgery turns out to not be straight or easy. That can be disappointing, frustrating and even painful. What should you do if you find yourself taking two steps forward and one step back after a procedure? Dori Scanlon is here to tell us what she did and her doctor - Spine Surgeon Colin Haines - has tips too to get you off the recovery rollercoaster and back to living life the way you want.  Learn more about VSI at VSISpine.com ..read more

Interest in weightlifting and bodybuilding has skyrocketed in recent years. However, in a world where strength training has immense benefits, the fear of injury often looms large.   Nearly a third of people who lift weights say they had an injury in the last 6 months; and many shy away from seeking treatment for spine issues, fearing they'll be sidelined forever.   But one patient is here to dispel that myth. Join us in this episode as we delve into the journey of a former competitive weightlifter and CrossFit owner who refused to let spine surgery dictate his fate.   From a deb ..read more

Discover crucial insights and candid regrets from a seasoned doctor's perspective on knee surgery.  Long before becoming a doctor, Dr. Bharara was a patient himself, and his own experience undergoing two knee surgeries sparked a revelation – and some regrets. And he says, if he knew then what he knows now, he would never have chosen to have the knee surgeries. He openly admits that armed with his present knowledge, he would have opted out of the procedures altogether.  Join us for an enlightening dialogue with Dr. Bharara, a regionally-recognized Nonsurgical Sports Medicine Doctor an ..read more

What's in a name for medical practices? Turns out, there’s a lot. Their name, their brand, their tagline - and it all reflects the doctors, the treatment, and the approach that surgeons take in providing care. That means it's critically important for patients, too. In this episode we’re talking with Doctor Christopher Good, a spine surgeon and the CEO and President of VSI, about the what and the why behind revitalizing a major medical center like his VSI. It’s the ultimate Victory Story - launching a new chapter of VSI serving and supporting its incredible patients with the ultimate in spine s ..read more

In this episode - we sharing a powerful love story…not the kind that focuses on first dates, first kisses or over-the-top marriage proposals. We’re talking about partners in pain - and how you help the one you love when debilitating back pain takes over their life. 80% of Americans experience back pain at some point in their life so that’s a lot of partners impacted too. How do you love someone through that? An inspiring couple is here today to talk about how they did it and the lessons that helped them get through it and finally get to a pain free place in their lives.  Learn more about ..read more

Data shows that about half of adults in the US (49.1%) are trying to lose weight in any given year, and anybody who has tried it knows - it is not easy. But it’s not impossible and in this episode we’ve got a doctor with a personal story to prove it.  Spine Surgeon Ehsan Jazini was inspired to improve his own health last year. He successfully lost 30 pounds and he’s here to talk not only about how he did it - but how he helps patients when they want to do it too.  Learn more about VSI at SpineMD.com ..read more

It seems every time we turn around there's a new tool or technique to help you  recover from an injury or spine surgery. There are tons of gadgets out there to help you - from massage guns to compression boots, therapy machines or recovery pants - not to mention all the cardio and weight equipment you can use to get strong and flexible and back on the move.    But….is it possible for people to overdo it with all this stuff?  What do we need to think about in terms of our recovery… and are there any signs that what we are doing isn't helping at all? Spine-specializd physical ..read more

They say sitting is the new smoking, which might explain the enormous growth and popularity of walking pads or walking desks. Are they the key to solving the problem of our sedentary lives or are there risks to consider? We’re walking and talking about it with VSI Spine Surgeon Ehsan Jazini in this episode.  Learn more about VSI at SpineMD.com ..read more

Today we’re busting a big and long-held myth - that all surgeons just want to do surgery. The truth is, there are so many modern spine treatments and procedures out there that patients and their doctors have a lot of options to treat pain and injury - not just surgical but non-surgical ones too. A modern approach for patients involves finding a surgeon invested in your recovery, not a particular procedure. What does that look like and how do you find a doctor like that? We talk about it in this episode with a patient who worked long and hard to figure it out himself and has tips to share with ..read more

It’s never easy when you experience pain, but there’s no question it’s more difficult than ever when doctors can’t figure out the cause. When that happens, you need a doctor detective - one who is willing to take the time to help you figure out what’s going on and most importantly - what to do about it.  We’re talking in this episode about medical mysteries - what it looked like for one young woman with pain so bad she had to drop out of school, how she found her way to help and how others can too - especially when answers seem difficult or impossible to come by. Anna Greer and Dr. Nitees ..read more