Sometimes more than one disc in the neck needs treatment. Here is what changes when an ACDF is done at two levels...
Endoscopic Discectomy vs. Microdiscectomy
Endoscopic discectomy and microdiscectomy both remove the part of a herniated disc pressing on a nerve. Here is how they differ and what the research shows...
Endoscopic Spine Surgery (UBES) Recovery: What to Expect
Endoscopic spine surgery is almost always outpatient, and many people are back to normal activities within a few days to a few weeks. Here is what recovery usually looks like...
ALIF vs. TLIF: Two Ways to Fuse the Lower Back
ALIF and TLIF both fuse two vertebrae in the lower back. The main difference is the route to the spine. Here is how they compare...
Lumbar Corpectomy and Vertebral Body Replacement for Spinal Fractures
When a fractured vertebra is too badly damaged to support the spine, it can be removed and replaced with a cage and bone graft. Here is when that is needed and what recovery involves...
Microdiscectomy vs. Laminectomy: Which One and Why
Microdiscectomy and laminectomy are both decompression surgeries for the lower back, but they treat different problems. Here is how to tell them apart...
Spinal Decompression Surgery vs. Decompression Therapy
Spinal decompression can mean an operation or a non-surgical traction treatment. Here is how the two differ and when each is used...
Posterior Cervical Laminectomy and Fusion: What to Expect
Posterior cervical laminectomy and fusion relieves pressure on the spinal cord from the back of the neck, then stabilizes the spine with screws and rods. Here is what to expect...
L5-S1 Fusion: Why This Level and What Recovery Involves
L5-S1, where the lumbar spine meets the sacrum, is one of the levels most often fused. Here is why, how the fusion is done and what recovery involves...
Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy: Relief for a Pinched Nerve Without Fusion
A posterior cervical foraminotomy widens the opening where a nerve leaves the spine, relieving a pinched nerve in the neck without a fusion. Here is how it works...
Laminectomy Recovery: What to Expect After Lumbar Decompression
Most people walk right after a lumbar laminectomy, and many go home the same day. Here is what recovery usually looks like week by week...
Cervical Laminoplasty: How It Makes Room for the Spinal Cord
Laminoplasty opens up the spinal canal in the neck to take pressure off the spinal cord, while preserving motion. Here is who it helps and what recovery involves...
Kyphoplasty vs. Vertebroplasty for Spinal Compression Fractures
Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty both stabilize a painful compression fracture with bone cement. Kyphoplasty adds a balloon step. Here is how they compare...
Microdiscectomy Recovery: What the First Six Weeks Look Like
Most people go home the same day after a microdiscectomy, and many are back at work within a few weeks. Here is what the first six weeks usually look like...
ACDF Recovery: A Week-by-Week Guide
Recovery after ACDF happens in stages: the soft tissues heal over the first weeks, and the bones fuse over the months that follow. Here is what each stage usually looks like...
Clumsy Hands and Poor Balance? Signs of Cervical Myelopathy
Cervical myelopathy is pressure on the spinal cord in the neck. Its earliest signs often show up far from the neck: trouble buttoning a shirt or using a zipper, dropping things, numb fingers, and a less...
Understanding Neck Pain: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options
Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal issues people experience. Identifying its source is key to effective treatment and long‑term relief. Dr. Charla Fischer, a board‑certified orthopedic spine surgeon in New York City, helps patients understand what causes neck pain and which...
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF): A Guide to Surgery & Recovery
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) is an advanced spinal fusion procedure used to treat lower back instability and pain when non‑surgical treatments haven’t provided relief. Dr. Charla Fischer, a board‑certified orthopedic spine surgeon based in New York City, performs TLIF and other...
Osteoporosis & Spinal Fractures: What You Should Know
Osteoporosis causes bones to weaken and become brittle — sometimes leading to painful spinal fractures. Knowing the risks, symptoms, and treatments can help you protect your spine and maintain a high quality of life. Dr. Charla Fischer, a board‑certified orthopedic spine surgeon in New York City,...
What Is a Herniated Disc?
A herniated disc — also called a slipped, bulging, or ruptured disc — occurs when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through its tougher exterior. This can irritate nearby nerves and cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the back, neck, arms, or legs. Dr. Charla Fischer, a board‑certified...
What Cervical Spondylosis Means for Your Neck
What Cervical Spondylosis Means for Your Neck Cervical spondylosis is degenerative change in the neck’s spinal joints and discs that can lead to pain, stiffness, and nerve compression. Understanding the condition can help you recognize symptoms and choose the right care path. Dr. Charla Fischer, a...
Can Sciatica Resolve Without Treatment?
Sciatica can be a painful and disruptive condition, but many cases improve with time and self‑care. Understanding when symptoms resolve on their own — and when professional treatment is needed — helps you take control of your spine health. Dr. Charla Fischer, a board‑certified orthopedic spine...
Spondylolisthesis Explained: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips out of its normal position — a condition that can lead to pain, instability, and changes in posture. Understanding this condition can help you make better decisions about your spine health. Dr. Charla Fischer, a board‑certified orthopedic spine...
Spondylolisthesis Explained: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options
Spondylolisthesis Explained: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips out of its normal position — a condition that can lead to pain, instability, and changes in posture. Understanding this condition can help you make better decisions about your...
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery: What to Expect & Why It’s Effective
If you’re living with chronic back or neck pain, minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) may offer the pain relief you need — with smaller incisions, faster recovery, and fewer risks. At Dr. Charla Fischer’s spine surgery practice in New York City, we specialize in minimally invasive procedures...
Ouch, I got a crick. Neck pain 101
Have you ever woken up with a crick in your neck after a bad night's sleep? Or feel like you can't rotate your head? Many people will experience neck pain at some point in life. Luckily, there are science-backed treatments and exercises to ease those nagging aches. Dr. Fischer a spine surgeon and...
« Older Entries