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The Baig Idea
Welcome to The Baig Idea! Your resource for addressing chronic pain and getting back to real living, including insights from our resident expert surgeon, Dr. Rafath Baig.
Compare Spondylosis vs. Spondylolysis vs. Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis vs. spondylosis vs. spondylolysis…what a mouthful! We’d understand if you were to confuse any of these three — very different — issues of the spine. After all, they sound so similar. Two are conditions, one is a type of spinal fracture that may...
XLIF vs. TLIF: What’s the Difference?
Are you and your doctor exploring whether you are a better candidate for XLIF vs TLIF? Are you wondering how they are different? Spinal fusion surgeries play a crucial role in the treatment of various spinal conditions, providing much-needed stability and relief to...
ALIF vs TLIF: What’s the Difference?
When exploring spinal fusion surgery procedures, comparing ALIF vs TLIF is important. But how are these procedures similar, and how are they different? Spinal fusion techniques are designed to weld together two or more vertebrae. Generally, these procedures offer...
PLIF vs TLIF: What’s the Difference Between These Two Types of Spine Surgeries?
It can sometimes be hard to differentiate between different types of surgical spinal medical procedures, for example, PLIF vs TLIF. It can be easy to confuse the two, as the acronyms are so similar. Spinal fusion surgery is a complex procedure designed to treat...
What is Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery?
If your doctor has recommended spine surgery, you may be wondering what minimally invasive surgery is, and if it might be right for you. Because there are so many benefits of minimally invasive surgery for those who are candidates, we wanted to look at the procedure a...
9 Alternatives to Back Surgery
Many people with back pain wonder about alternatives to back surgery. The good news is that wherever possible, and especially at Desert Spine and Scoliosis Center, back surgery is often treated as a last resort for those suffering from chronic back pain or injury. Dr....
Nerve Pain in the Neck and Shoulder: What To Do
Nerve pain in the neck and shoulder can be uncomfortable, and even unsettling. The good news is that often neck and shoulder nerve pain can be treated without surgery. Let’s take a closer look at nerve pain in the shoulder and neck. We’ll discuss some of the...
Nerve Pain: What is it and What Causes it?
Nerve pain can be confusing and even frightening. But what causes nerve pain, how do you know you have nerve problems, and what does it feel like? Nerve pain is a type of pain that is caused, as you may expect from the name, by damage or injury, or compression of the...
How Long Does It Take to Recover From Back Surgery?
One of our most frequently asked questions is “how long does it take to recover from back surgery?” It’s easy to understand why. Back surgery is a significant procedure, and it’s important to understand what the recovery process looks like. The matter of how...
How Long After Back Surgery Can I Bend Over?
Those facing back surgery often ask “how long after back surgery can I bend over?” Partially, what they are asking is what their recovery looks like, and when they can expect to return to daily activity. We completely understand these concerns and want to discuss...
The 8 Most Common Causes of Back Muscle Pain
If your back hurts, it can sometimes be challenging to tell if your back pain is muscular or coming from your spine. The treatment for muscle pain is different from the treatment for bone or nerve pain, so determining the underlying cause of your discomfort is...
Pinched Nerve in the Neck and Arm: How to Relieve Pain
If you have a pinched nerve in your neck, arm pain may be one of the first signs of trouble. Let’s look at what causes a pinched nerve in the neck, its symptoms, and how you can relieve your discomfort. What causes a pinched nerve in the neck and arm? Pain can be a...