blogs Archives

C5-C6 ACDF: What It Means When Surgery Is at This Level

Oct 10, 2026 | blogs

C5-C6 is one of the most common levels for a pinched nerve in the neck. Here is what an ACDF at this level involves...

Two-Level ACDF: What Changes When More Than One Disc Is Treated

Sep 28, 2026 | blogs

Sometimes more than one disc in the neck needs treatment. Here is what changes when an ACDF is done at two levels...

Laminectomy With Fusion: When Is Fusion Added?

Sep 20, 2026 | blogs

A laminectomy takes pressure off the nerves. A fusion holds the level steady. Here is when the two are done together...

Endoscopic Discectomy vs. Microdiscectomy

Sep 14, 2026 | blogs

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

Aug 28, 2026 | blogs

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

Aug 14, 2026 | blogs

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

Jul 28, 2026 | blogs

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

Jul 14, 2026 | blogs

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

Jun 28, 2026 | blogs

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

Jun 14, 2026 | blogs

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

May 28, 2026 | blogs

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

May 14, 2026 | blogs

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

Apr 28, 2026 | blogs

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

Apr 14, 2026 | blogs

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

Mar 28, 2026 | blogs

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

Mar 14, 2026 | blogs

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

Feb 28, 2026 | blogs

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

Feb 14, 2026 | blogs

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

Jan 28, 2026 | blogs

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...

Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF): A Guide to Surgery & Recovery

Jan 14, 2026 | blogs

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...

Osteoporosis & Spinal Fractures: What You Should Know

Dec 20, 2025 | blogs

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...

What Is a Herniated Disc?

Dec 14, 2025 | blogs

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...

What Cervical Spondylosis Means for Your Neck

Nov 28, 2025 | blogs

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...

Can Sciatica Resolve Without Treatment?

Nov 14, 2025 | blogs

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...