The New York Bone & Joint Specialists Blog

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic back and spine pain. In fact, it is the leading cause of disability in people younger than 45. While most of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives, it isn’t always easy to identify the source. To help you understand and treat this condition, we’ve broken down […]

Bad posture is all too common these days, as many office workers spend much of their time hunched over a screen. When the neck, shoulders, and back are misaligned, the muscles can’t work correctly to keep the body upright and balanced. This puts strain on those muscles and ligaments, which can lead to pain, injury, fatigue, […]

As New Yorkers, chances are you can bike just about everywhere, even to work. Biking is such a fun way to stay in shape, do something active with friends, and take in the fall scenery. While cycling is a great way for those with joint pain to workout, novices and expert cyclists alike commonly start […]

We all have days with hours spent sitting in a plane or at a desk, or lugging heavy bags on our shoulders. Instances like these can lead to days of back or neck pain. There are a few tricks your physical therapist may teach you to help avoid back pain and stiffness. Use a lacrosse […]

Upper back pain is, unfortunately, quite prevalent in our industrialized society. Most office jobs create numerous opportunities for it, and a largely sedentary lifestyle outside of work can further aggravate it. While it’s usually not a symptom of a greater injury, pain in the upper back can still interfere with your daily life and prevent […]

It is not uncommon for workers in office settings to sit at their desk for up to 40 hours each week, and perhaps more. If this sounds like you, you probably will also recognize the neck and back stiffness and pain that so often results from extended amounts of time spent sitting at a desk. […]

Thoracic pain may not be as common as neck pain or low back pain, but it can be just as debilitating and at times, even more dangerous. The thoracic spine is made up of segments between the cervical and lumbar spines. The rib cage is made of 12 ribs, with 12 thoracic vertebrae in the back, and the […]

If you’ve visited an interventional pain management specialist for chronic back pain, your physician may have suggested performing a Medial branch nerve block for pain. But what is it exactly? Many spinal conditions that affect our facet joints, or the joints that connect the vertebrae of our spine, can impinge upon the nerves that surround our spine. […]

The facet joints on either side of the five lumbar vertebrae are susceptible to arthritis in elderly patients. Lumbar arthritis is inflammation of these joints, often brought about after years of wear on the bones. Swelling in the facet joints will compress nerves in the area and irritate surrounding tissues as well as damage the […]

After a joint or muscle injury, it is common to treat inflammation, swelling, and pain with cold and/or heat therapy. When is it right to use cold therapy vs. heat therapy? Can you use both on the same injury? COLD OR ICE THERAPY Ice or a cold compress is recommended for severe muscle spasms, bruising, […]

Leaning over your bike for long rides will inevitably lead to lower back pain or stiffness. Low back pain from cycling can progress if you do not treat it properly, becoming chronic and causing further issues like spinal nerve compression or sciatica. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to prevent and treat low […]

Facet joints are small joints that connect our vertebrae and allow our spines to move. Like all the joints in our body, they are susceptible to arthritis and injury. In these cases, our facet joints can cause pain, inflaming tissues in the area and sometimes compressing nerve roots in the spine. A facet joint injection is useful for both […]

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy is an innovative non-surgical treatment option for people with chronic pains, strains and injuries. Once injected into the injured area, the platelet-rich plasma has been shown to positively affect healing and rehabilitation. To begin PRP injection therapy, a sample of the patient’s blood is drawn. The blood is then centrifuged to separate […]

When will my doctor refer me to a physiatrist? Many outpatient physiatry practices focus on musculoskeletal, sports injuries, and pain management. PM&R physicians will see patients referred by doctors from all specialties, including orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, rheumatologists, and of course internal medicine, family practice, and urgent center physicians. Injuries to any part of the body, or any […]

Weightlifters know back pain all too well. From belts to altered positions, to foam rolling, weightlifters need to constantly avoid and treat back aches and strains. Unfortunately, no method can guard your back and neck against injury 100% when you lift weights regularly. Because of this, the orthopedists and pain management specialists at New York Bone and Joint Specialists often […]