Pinched nerves are a common cause of neck or back pain.  Nerves can become compressed, irritated, or inflamed and this leads to a variety of uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms. Pinched nerves can happen when there is a herniated disc, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, muscle tightness, or repetitive motion injuries. The specific symptoms and their severity can vary depending on the location and degree of nerve compression. Common signs and symptoms associated with pinched nerve pain may include: Pain – Pinched nerves often cause pain at the site of compression. The pain can ra ..read more

Dr. Victoria Knoll was recently interviewed by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) for their November newsletter. She had one piece of advice as we enter this holiday season – Act with Kindness.  “What is a piece of advice you have received that has stuck with you?  How do you apply it professionally and/or personally?”  At first, I thought, this is hard.  I have received a lot of good advice over the years.  Then I thought more, and realized, this is actually quite easy.  The best advice I have received was as a young child.  Act with kindne ..read more

Neck and back pain are a problem for more than 16 million Americans.  It often results in chronic pain that can limit even everyday activities. In the past, the only surgical option was a fusion where the problem disc was removed, and the bones were fused together. Today, we have artificial discs that can replace the injured disc and can preserve motion in the neck or the back.  If you have chronic neck or back pain or radiculopathy, nerve pain that radiates to the arm or leg caused by the disc pressing on a nerve, your surgeon will first recommend conservative treatments such as ph ..read more

Dr. Michael Schwartz recently had the honor of being the first orthopedic surgeon in Texas to perform arthroscopic surgeries with the new wireless camera system from ArthroFree®.  This wireless camera is used in minimally invasive surgery to help the surgeon visualize the site they are operating on and the instruments they use. It eliminates conventional camera cables that tether surgeons to the surgical tower and hinder their movement. Because of that, the ArthroFree® Wireless Camera System is safer, faster, and requires less time for sterilization following a procedure. This can m ..read more

What is Ultra-Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery? Over the years minimally invasive spine surgery has become standard for most spine surgeries. That is because these surgical techniques are faster, safer and require less recovery time for the patient. However, “minimally-invasive” can refer to a wide range of techniques or procedures and now there is the option for ultra-minimally invasive spine surgery that has even smaller incisions. How do you know the differences between them? Minimally invasive and microscopic spine surgery utilizes incisions that are an inch or less and the surgeon can gu ..read more

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is one of the most common shoulder problems that an orthopedic surgeon treats.  In fact, a shoulder surgeon may see more than 5 patients a week with this condition. Frozen shoulder can affect both men and women, but it is more common in women, especially those aged 40 – 60 years old. The good news is that once someone has a frozen shoulder, it rarely comes back in the same shoulder again. The bad news is, that 50% of the individuals who get frozen shoulder may be predisposed to getting it in the other shoulder in the future. What is fro ..read more

Dr. Michael Schwartz was recently named to the Super Doctor Hall of Fame. This is an honor achieved after being named a Super Doctor ten years in a row in his specialty of Sports Medicine.  Dr. Schwartz is the President of the OrthoTexas executive board and is the team doctor for the Allen Americans professional hockey team. Also recognized as Super Doctors in 2022 are: Dr. Christopher Allmon –  Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Hand, Wrist and Elbow Dr. Mitchell Fagelman – Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Shoulder and Elbow Dr. Keith Heier – Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in Fo ..read more

Do You Know the Three Most Common Athletic Injuries? Orthopedic Surgeons who specialize in sports medicine commonly see and treat injuries of the knee and the shoulder.  In fact, these two areas of the body are some of the most frequently injured. There are three injuries that orthopedic surgeons see and treat regularly. Knee Injuries When the knee gets injured, many times it is just a sprain, often caused by twisting injuries. In some sports pivoting quickly or twisting and getting struck on the side of the knee from another player can be the cause of more serious injuries to the menisc ..read more

Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common sources of shoulder pain and disability affecting adults in the United States. Rotator cuff tears are most often seen in people as they age, and usually occur in individuals over the age of 40.  It is very important to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for rotator cuff tears to prevent shoulder pain from getting worse and impairing your function.  The rotator cuff tendons are a group of four tendons that attach to the upper end of the humerus bone in the shoulder.  The primary job of the rotator cuff tendons is to center the ..read more

Shoulder replacement surgery can be a life changing for people with significant shoulder pain and dysfunction. Shoulder replacement can be a great solution for common shoulder problems such as arthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rotator cuff tears that are unable to be repaired. In general, shoulder replacement involves removing just the ends of the bones and replacing them with metal and plastic. This allows patients to regain their range-of-motion and minimize pain, often allowing them to resume all previous activities. In the United States, there are two main types of joint replacem ..read more