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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.
Questions to Ask your Spine Surgeon to See if MIS Surgery is Right for You
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a relatively new category of spine surgery that is widely known to be faster and safer than other types of spine surgery. Recovery times are also usually reduced. But MIS isn’t necessarily right for everyone. In fact, on a more...
What is Spinal Stenosis?: Your Questions Answered
Sometimes, it’s not the presence of something, but the lack of it, that is problematic. This is often the case when it comes to space. For instance, standing in a crowded room with no space around you can be bothersome. Trying to fit items into an overstuffed...
Is Heat or Cold Better for Back Pain?
If you are struggling with back pain, you may wonder whether ice or heat is better to treat it. It’s a tricky question to answer because it depends on what is causing your back pain and where the pain is located. Either heat or ice may be better for certain types of...
Yes, Losing Weight Really Can Help You Decrease Back Pain
There are many reasons people put on extra weight, all of them valid. Let’s face it: life can be difficult. And food is delicious! If you are overweight, you’re probably already familiar with the idea that losing weight could benefit your health. You’ve probably been...
How to Relieve Your Sciatic Nerve Pain
Sciatica can be debilitating. One day, you feel fine. The next, you experience a flare-up, and you’re laid up, feeling like you can hardly move. Even mild sciatic nerve pain can be disruptive, affecting “your lower back, hips, buttocks or legs. Some symptoms may...
What is a Synovial Cyst?
Synovial cysts are abnormal sacs filled with fluid that usually occur due to age-related spine degeneration. As Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center notes, “Synovial = having to do with a type of joint that is lubricated by synovial fluid”. Meanwhile,...
What is a Slipped Disc (AKA Herniated Disc)?
Slipped discs are also commonly referred to as: Herniated discsBulged discsRuptured discs However you choose to name them, slipped discs are never fun. They are, in fact, usually more than a little bothersome, resulting in localized or radiating pain, numbness, and...
What Is Endoscopic Spine Surgery (ESS)?
Endoscopic Spine Surgery, or ESS for short, is a cutting-edge approach to spine surgery that, when compared to minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS), and “traditional” open spine surgery, often results in fewer scars, less time on the operating table, and a less...
What Are the Best Foods for Spine Health?
Hippocrates, the founder of the Hippocratic oath, is often credited with coining the saying “Let food be thy medicine”. The idea behind the saying is that choosing our diet carefully can have an impact on overall health and well-being. While there are certainly...
7 Common Causes of Neck Pain That Aren’t Usually Reason for Concern
Neck pain is very common and can vary widely in severity. There are a number of causes of neck pain, as the American Association of Neurological Surgeons notes, and these can include: Muscle inflammationStrain TraumaArthritisDisc degenerationNarrowing...
The Connection Between Bone Density & Spine Surgery: What to Know
If you’re a candidate for spine surgery, such as endoscopic spine surgery (ESS), then you should be aware that your bone density (or relative lack thereof) does have an important impact on the risk level of being operated on. That’s because the...
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...