The taped segment shows the innovative disc replacement surgery performed by Dr. Light just a few weeks prior to the show’s taping, and the patient’s remarkably rapid recovery.

Dr. Light says that spinal disc replacement can treat complicated back and neck injuries without the need to perform a spinal fusion. “The implants can maintain or normal or near normal range of motion for most patients, and most patients recover in a reduced amount of time, returning to most activities in a matter of days.” Dr. Light’s segment on “The Doctors” will be broadcast on May 31st. Check local listings for times.

For more information contact Gary Grasso, Director Doctor’s P.R. & Medical News – email ggrasso@doctorspr.com or visit www.doctorspr.com

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Dr. Kenneth Light recenty performed a 3-level spinal disc replacment on Robert Bosley, an active 47 year old pharmaceutical marketing professional living in San Anselmo, CA. For the last 18 years, Robert endured steadily increasing neck pain from “spondylosis”, a condition that he only learned the name of a year ago.

Cervical spondylosis (which affects the neck) is caused by chronic wear on the cervical spine. This includes the discs between the neck vertebrae and the joints between the bones of the cervical spine. There may be abnormal growths or “bone spurs” on the vertebrae which can press down on one or more of the nerve roots. In advanced cases, the spinal cord can be affected. Symptoms can occur in the arms and the legs as well. Everyday wear and tear may trigger these changes, and people who are very active may be more likely to have them. “I’m an extremely active person,” says Robert, “and I put a good amount of stress on my body through vigorous exercise.” Symptoms often develop slowly over time, but they may start or get worse suddenly, says Dr. Light. “The pain may be mild, or it can be deep and so severe that you are unable to move.”

“Over the years I have tried virtually every way to treat my condition,” says Robert. “I had chiropractic treatments, which ended up causing me to have more pain, not less,” he says. I tried pain medications, and although they helped, the medications cause problems of their own.”

“I also went to two different physicians; the first doctor wanted to fuse two vertebrae in my neck, and the other recommended fusion for three vertebrae,” says Robert. “After researching my options, I decided that fusion would be an outmoded, overkill treatment.” Dr. Light says that in Robert’s case “Fusion would have had long-term detrimental effects on the rest of Robert’s spine and future function. It would have placed further pressure on adjacent disc levels, causing premature deterioration, resulting in further fusion surgeries until his entire neck was fused.”

Dr. Light says that spinal disc replacement is also less painful than a fusion procedure, with a recovery time of 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the complexity of the surgery. “Robert had a 3 level disc replacement and was out of the hospital in less than 24 hours,” says Dr. Light. “Two weeks after surgery, I describe my pain as a 3 on a level of 1 to 10, with 10 being worst,” says Robert. “Before the surgery, the pain was about an 8,” he says. Dr. Light says a major advantage of disc replacement is that it avoids making the spine unnaturally stiff. “The surgery is less invasive and allows immediate movement and rehabilitation.”

Dr. Light says that disc replacement is the single greatest advancement in spinal surgery in the last 50 years.

Information: www.drkennethlight.com

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Dr. Light’s patient, Tim Taylor is recovering from a back problem so severe, he says it was ruining his life. ”I couldn’t stand up straight,” he says. “It was just too painful.” Tim was  suffering from spinal stenosis, a degenerative condition that strikes most often in people over the age of 50. The condition is impacting aging baby boomers in increasing numbers.

“It’s definitely an orthopedic epidemic,” says Dr. Light, who recently made news when he performed the first spinal fusion reversal procedures in the U.S. “Within the coming decade, the number of people reporting these types of back problems is only going to increase.” Dr. Light says spinal stenosis is caused by a narrowing in the spinal canal, often caused by bone spurs that form on the vertebrae, which compress surrounding nerves. “Correcting severe cases like Taylor’s can involve a combination of delicate procedures.”

Dr. Light says advanced technology is making it possible to safely reshape the spine with much better results. ”The hardware is better and we have stronger instruments that take up less room,” he says. “It allows us to manipulate the spine in ways we couldn’t have done before.”

For information on back pain and spinal treatments visit www.drkennethlight.com or call 415.673.4500.
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At least 70 percent of women will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives.

“Sleep, sex, sitting–I can’t imagine any activity that isn’t affected by the back. It’s involved in almost everything we do. You can’t get in and out of a car, run, jump or walk. Until you have back pain, you don’t realize everything that a back does for you,” says Dr. Light.

For most, back pain is only a temporary problem that can be alleviated with conservative (non-surgical) treatment such as rest, medication, physical therapy, spinal injections and the use of orthotics. Patients suffering from chronic back pain that does not improve with conservative (non-surgical) treatment may require surgery.

Dr. Light says there are 9 Things women can do to keep their spines feeling fine:

Do an early morning stretch. It’s a good idea to start the day stretching while they’re still in bed,” says Dr. Light. “Remember that you’ve been lying prone for eight hours, and if you jump right up, you may be looking at a sore back.” So before you get up, slowly stretch your arms over your head, then gently pull your knees up to your chest one at a time. When you’re ready to sit up, roll to the side of the bed and use your arm to help prop yourself up. Put your hands on your buttocks and slowly lean back to extend your spine.

Walk. Walking and other aerobic exercises such as swimming, biking and running keep your back healthy by conditioning your whole body. They strengthen the postural muscles of the buttocks, legs, back and abdomen. Try doing an aerobic workout for 20 minutes a day, three times a week.

Take breaks from constant sitting. Sitting puts more strain on your back than standing. If you must sit at your desk for an extended time or you’re traveling, change position often and give your back a break by standing up and walking around every hour or so.

Kneel, don’t bend. Avoid bending over at the waist to pick up something. That creates tension in the back and increases your risk of injury. Instead, use long-handled tools and kneel on a cushion or knee pad to garden, vacuum or do other “low-level” activities.

Let your legs do the work. If you’re lifting something–no matter if it weighs 5 pounds or 50–bend your knees, keep your back straight, and lift with your legs. The legs are much stronger than the back and can lift a lot more weight without strain

Test the load. “How many of us have strained back muscles when we tried to pick up boxes that we thought were empty but were actually filled with encyclopedias?” asks Dr. Light. Always nudge a box with your foot or cautiously lift it an inch or so before really trying to heft it. If it’s too heavy for you, ask for help.

Straighten up. Maintaining good posture is one of the best ways to prevent back pain. To improve your posture, try this. Stand against a wall or sit in a dining room chair, making sure that your shoulders and buttocks touch the wall or your chair. Slip your arm into the space between your lower back and the wall or chair. If there is a point where your hand isn’t touching both your back and the wall or chair, tilt your hips so that the extra space is eliminated. Hold that position for a count of 20 while looking in a mirror to see what your posture looks like. Do that exercise once a day for three weeks to ensure that good posture will become a habit.

High heels change your gait, put additional stress on your lower back and adversely affect your posture. If you wear high heels on a daily basis try to wear them for no more than two hours at a time. Always have a pair of tennis shoes or flats available.

Check your mattress. Your mattress should provide proper support, be level and not sag.

But by far, the most common cause of back pain is muscle strain.

Lifting something when your back is out of shape is like someone pulling you out of the crowd at the New York Marathon and forcing you to run the 26-mile course. You’re probably going to get hurt, because you’re straining your back in ways that it’s not prepared for.

Of course, even well-trained athletes can get back pain, but in general, the better conditioned you are, the less likely your spine will cause problems. See your doctor if the pain is so intense that you can’t move, if it spreads to your legs or buttocks, if your legs or feet feel numb or tingly, or if you also have a fever or abdominal pain.

Dr. Light’s website: www.drkennethlight.com

Dr. Kenneth Light graduated from the Cornell University College of Medicine in New York City . He completed his residency in Orhopaedic Surgery at the University of California in San Francisco., and completed a fellowship in spinal surgery under the guidance of Edward H. Simmons at the State University of New York in Buffalo . Dr. Light was director of the spine clinic at San Francisco General Hospital, and was founder and medical director of the San Francisco Spine Center at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, is board certified with the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery and Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at University of California, San Francisco. He is currently in private practice in San Francisco where he specializes in reconstructive surgery in patients who have had failed back surgery.

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From defining the “me” generation to changing the way we think about aging and retirement, the Baby Boomer generation has been driving trends since they were born. Now these 50 and 60-somethings are making their mark on back and spine health care. “Estimates predict that during the coming decade the cases of spinal stenosis will double,” says San Francisco spine surgeon Dr. Kenneth Light.

“This generation, which is maintaining a level of physical activity undreamt of by their parents is fueling an increased demand for management of back pain as they inevitably begin to feel their age,” says Dr. Light.

Spinal stenosis is a degenerative condition, often linked to arthritis, that causes a narrowing of the spinal canal and compression of the nerves. “Spinal Stenosis usually affects people about 60 years of age and older, but it can affect younger people who are born with small spinal canals,” says Dr. Light. “The condition denotes narrowing of the spinal canal,  and / or narrowing of the nerve root canals, which conduct the individual spinal nerves.”

Stenosis occurs as a result of the growth of bone spurs and intervertebral discs  bulging into the spinal canal, which take up the space normally occupied by the spinal cord and / or spinal nerves.  “The symptoms can come on slowly or rapidly,” says Dr. Light.

“We are seeing patients who are developing these problems at much earlier ages. People are more active than their parents and are remaining so much later in life. They’re simply expecting more from their bodies, even as they age,” he says.

Treatment for spinal stenosis can include conservative approaches such as physical therapy and medication. If these treatments don’t bring relief, surgery is the next option. ”There are some newer treatments with surgery that are less invasive or more conservative techniques that may be beneficial, especially for the patient who wishes to maintain an active lifestyle.” says Dr. Light.

A modified version of a “laminectomy” involves removal of a smaller amount of bone than is commonly removed in the standard procedures in order to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and lumbar nerves but maintain the maximum possible spine stability and strength. Dr. Light says this modified procedure allows patients to maintain active lifestyles.

“The boomers want relief from the pain, but they don’t want to lose their ability to keep playing,” says Dr. Light. “That’s their next challenge.”

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Until recently, the only course of treatment for many patients has been a spinal fusion procedure which is done to stabilize the spine and to prevent further damage to the injured area. However, spinal fusion has disadvantages, including a variable loss of range of movement in the treated areas and in many cases, recurring pain and further damage to the spine.

Arrow pinpoints the area of a failed spinal fusion.

Dr. Light says that total disc replacement using a device called the ProDisc Implant can be beneficial for revision, or “reversal” of a previous spinal fusion as well as an alternative to fusion in the first place. “Spinal disc replacement is done to address complicated back problems without resorting to a spinal fusion.”  The implants are designed to maintain the physiological range of motion in the spine, which can greatly improve the patient’s quality of life. An added benefit is shortened recovery time for most patients. “I believe that artificial disc replacement will eventually replace the majority of spinal fusions,” says Dr. Light. “Most patients experience little downtime and are able to return to their regular activities in a matter of days.”

With total disc replacement (TDR) surgery, surgeons can offer their patients an attractive alternative to spinal fusion surgery for the treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD) in the lumbar spine, or the treatment of symptomatic cervical disc disease (SCDD) in the cervical spine. The TDR procedure is intended to relieve pain and preserve motion.. During both TDR surgery and spinal fusion surgery, the pain-generating disc is removed and the disc height is restored. During a spinal fusion surgery, the spinal segment is stabilized with an implant and plate and/or rods and screws. Bone grafts may be used to promote fusion of the vertebrae.  However, during a TDR surgery a spinal implant, or artificial disc that allows the potential for motion is inserted into the disc space, rather than “fusing” the vertebrae.

For more information, call the office of Dr. Kenneth Light at 415.673.4500 or visit www.drkennethlight.com

Media inquiries, contact Gary Grasso, Doctor’s P.R. email to ggrasso@doctorspr.com or visit www.doctorspr.com

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For most people, back pain is only a temporary problem that can be alleviated with conservative (non-surgical) treatment such as rest, medication and physical therapy. Patients suffering from chronic back pain that does not improve with conservative (non-surgical) treatment may wish to consider a new approach, according to San Francisco spine surgeon Dr. Kenneth Light: “Total disc replacement using a device called the “ProDisc” implant may be appropriate for many patients to fix complicated back problems without resorting to a spinal fusion.”

With the introduction of total disc replacement (TDR) surgery, surgeons can offer their patients an alternative to spinal fusion surgery for the treatment of degenerative disc disease in the lumbar spine, or the treatment of symptomatic cervical disc disease in the cervical spine. The TDR procedure is intended to relieve pain and preserve motion in the spine.

During TDR surgery the pain-generating disc is removed, the disc height is restored and an implant that allows the potential for motion is inserted into the disc space. Dr. Light says that back pain from injury or disease can be relieved with the benefit of rapid recovery time for most patients, as compared to undergoing a spinal fusion. “Most patients experience little downtime after undergoing the procedure and they can often return to most regular activities in a matter of days.”

In the past, the only course of treatment for many patients has been spinal fusion, done to stabilize the spine and to prevent further damage to the injured area. However, he says spinal fusion has several disadvantages including the loss of range of movement in the treated areas and, in many cases recurring pain and further damage to the spine.

With the introduction of total disc replacement surgery, Dr. Light says that surgeons can offer their patients an alternative to spinal fusion for the treatment of injuries or degenerative disc disease. And yet he says, to the patient’s detriment many insurance companies have been reluctant to pay for disc implants even though they have been used efficiently outside of the country for years, and are being used in the U.S. by a small number of spine surgeons. Some of theses surgeons, including Dr. Light   have served as advocates for their patients to gain partial or full reimbursement from their insurance companies for their procedures..

“I believe that artificial disc replacement will eventually replace up to 80% of all spinal fusion surgeries,” says Dr. Light. For information call 415.673.4500 or visit Dr. Light’s website: http://drkennethlight.com

The procedure relieved years of pain for “Bobbie Jo”, a 40 year-old Santa Rosa, CA woman who had a cervical (neck) fusion performed years ago after suffering an injury. She now shows a greatly improved range of movement than was possible with the fusion in place. Bobbie Jo’s story was recently taped at Dr. Light’s office by KGO 7 News.

“Many fusions should not be done as a first choice”, says Dr. Light.  In the past, the only course of treatment for many patients has been a spinal fusion procedure which is done to stabilize the spine and to prevent further damage to the injured area. However, spinal fusion has several disadvantages including a variable loss of range of movement in the treated areas and, in many cases, recurring pain and further damage to the spine.

Dr. Light says that fusions are appropriate in many cases, especially where no other treatment will help. “However, there are now alternatives that can help a person regain full movement and mobility, rather than having their vertebrae “frozen”, which can lead to significant side effects including pain and increased stress to adjacent vertebrae,” says Dr. Light. “In some cases the fusion will heal in the wrong position, causing a tilting of the spine.”

After examination, Dr. Light suggested that Bobbie Jo consider another approach – total disc replacement using a device called the “ProDisc-C Implant”. Says Dr. Light, “Artificial disc replacement is an attempt to fix complicated neck and back problems.”  The implant has been designed to maintain the physiological range of motion in the spine.  An added benefit is shortened recovery time for most patients. “I believe that artificial disc replacement will eventually replace 70% to 80% of all spinal fusion surgeries,” says Dr. Light.

Over 150,000 spinal fusions are performed in the U.S. each year to treat injuries or degenerative disease. Dr. Light says that is way too many.

Dr. Light believes that many more physicians will soon consider alternatives to spinal fusion in order to give patients an improved quality of life.

It occurs as a result of the growth of bone spurs and intervertebral discs  bulging into the spinal canal, which take up the space normally occupied by the spinal cord and or spinal nerves.  In older patients it produces weakness and pain in the legs usually brought on by walking, and relieved by rest.  Specifically sitting down and bending forward temporarily relieves the condition. The symptoms can come on slowly or rapidly.  If the pain or weakness is disabling you need to have your hips checked for arthritis, and your circulation checked since hip arthritis, poor circulation, and spinal claudication (the symptoms of spinal stenosis) can often be confused.

Axial myelo-CT showing enlargement of facet joints with severe compression of dural sac.

The need for surgery does not depend on the MRI scan, it again depends on the severity of the pain and the distance you are able to walk.  If you can only walk 1 block, and you are in good condition, consider surgery.  If you have little pain and normal function, do not have surgery merely because your MRI scan is abnormal.  Also symptoms of back pain alone, without leg weakness or numbness, respond poorly decompressive surgery alone.

Sagital Myelogram and CT scan of patient with severe spinal stenosis. Arrowheads show severe compression of dural sac.

The most successful operation for spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine is laminectomy, or removal of parts of the posterior portion of the spine, which compress the spinal nerves.  This can predictably improve your ability to walk.  It does not cure symptoms of back pain.  It is important for you to have a general check up to make sure you are a reasonably good surgical risk.  Remember this operation is reserved for patients severely disabled by leg pain and weakness, who are healthy enough to undergo a surgical procedure.  If you have other severe medical conditions, or if the problem is back pain alone, this type of surgery may not be indicated.

For more information see doctorspr.blogspot.com/2011/08/spinal-stenosis-may-be-next-baby-boomer.html