Blog Archive

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. This is a great maxim for reaching your goals in life, but when it comes to surgical procedures, patients hope and expect to undergo a reparative procedure just once — and their surgeons hope for this, too.  Unfortunately, a significant number...

Your discs — the donut-shaped spinal shock absorbers between your vertebrae — have tough outer shells and softer centers. They’re essential for protecting your spine from injury and allowing you to perform movements like twisting and bending.  Unfortunately, one of the many side effects of aging is disc degeneration. Several...

Spinal surgery is the solution for many conditions when more conservative treatments, such as physical therapy and pain medication, cannot provide the relief the patient needs. We’re fortunate that minimally invasive surgery is an option for many. These procedures are significantly less traumatic to the body and offer numerous other...

There’s no doubt about it. When you feel off balance or dizzy, it’s a scary feeling — almost like being in a fun house at a carnival where the floor is moving — but these instances are anything but fun. If you’re experiencing balance issues, you’re at risk of falling and...

“Oh, my aching back.” If you’ve uttered these words, you might have experienced a herniated disc, a pinched nerve, or another painful spinal problem. But one thing is sure: Back pain is no joke — and when it becomes chronic, it can truly cramp your style.  Spinal fractures are particularly...

Although certain spinal conditions are unavoidable — such as scoliosis, spinal fractures resulting from trauma, and spinal tumors — numerous conditions stem lifestyle choices. Back pain is one of them.  If you choose habits that support your back, literally and figuratively, you can ease or eliminate back pain — or...

Scoliosis — abnormal spine curvature — affects 6-9 million people in the United States, with many between the ages of 10 and 18. Most have idiopathic scoliosis, meaning the condition’s cause is unknown.  The symptoms of scoliosis can be unnoticeable or mild, but they can also cause discomfort and worsen...

In the case of spine surgery, bigger is definitely not better. We’re referring to the size of the incision a neurosurgeon must make to access the area they need to treat.  In traditional or “open” surgery, the surgeon must make a long incision, which is considerably more traumatic to the...

If you’re older than 60, chances are you’ve developed arthritis in a place that might surprise you — your spine. Most think of hands or knees as arthritis hot spots, and they are, but about 95% of men and 75% of women have some amount of spinal osteoarthritis.  Not only...

Between 20%-40% of back surgeries fail — meaning that back instability and pain return either very quickly post-surgery or after some months. Unsurprisingly, you may think twice if your doctor suggests revision spine surgery.  Revision spine surgery can correct something that wasn’t done right in a previous back surgery, but...

Think of the discs in your spine as little shock absorbers. They’re the squishy-on-the-inside, sturdy-on-the-outside cushions between your vertebrae that safeguard your spine.  However, when some of that squishy matter (the nucleus) finds its way out of a tear on the outer part of your disc (the annulus), you have...

Hearing the word “tumor” is scary, and questions flood your mind. How serious is it? Is it cancerous? Will it affect my mobility? Can it be removed, and if so, what does that look like?  Benjamin R. Cohen, MD, specializes in spinal tumors and approaches your care with sensitivity and...

Ouch! A pinched nerve in your back can cause persistent pain and limit mobility.  Radiculopathy is another name for this condition, which arises when a nerve root is injured at the point where it exits the spine. If your pain is in your lower back, this is known as lumbar...

Though most cases of scoliosis — a problematic spine curvature – are diagnosed in adolescents, did you know that almost 9% of diagnoses go to adults?  Some cases can be left untreated, while others require medical intervention. That’s why having your child or you evaluated is critical if you’re experiencing...

Just as you can get dehydrated if you don’t drink enough water, the discs between your vertebrae become thirstier as they age, but unfortunately, you can’t replenish them with a cold jug of H20.  Along with this dehydration comes thinning of the discs, so they can no longer act as...

Feeling crowded is never good. Think about squeezing into the train or wearing tight clothing. The same thing happens with your spine, except the result is pain and other difficult symptoms when it gets pinched. Spinal stenosis is a condition that develops when your spinal canal narrows, and nerves get...

The word “tumor” stirs worry in everyone, but don’t panic — further testing reveals what you’re dealing with.  If a tumor is benign, it’s not cancerous, and if it’s malignant or cancerous, it calls for an individualized treatment plan that typically involves a combination of treatments, including surgery to remove...

Back pain affects 84% of people at some point in their adult lives, translating into widespread pain, mobility problems, and lost productivity.  Highly skilled neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Cohen performs an innovative surgery that addresses a range of painful symptoms. Artificial disc replacement therapy, or arthroplasty, may be the solution if...

In the United States, each year, about 2-3% percent of children and adolescents are diagnosed with an “S” or “C”-shaped curvature of the spine, or scoliosis. At first glance, this statistic might not seem alarming, but it’s shocking when you realize that it translates to about 3 million kids. What...

Your discs act as natural shock absorbers since they protect your spine. They’re located between each of your vertebrae and have tough exteriors but soft, cushiony middles — reminiscent of a jelly donut. When you suffer from a herniated or slipped disc, it means that part of the softer center...

“Step on a crack, break your mother’s back” is a harmless childhood warning to avoid pavement cracks when walking, but if kids only knew that spinal fractures have serious ramifications, they might choose their words more carefully.  When we think of back problems and pain, issues like disc degeneration or...

It can be alarming to experience sudden numbness or tingling in your arms or legs, known as radiculopathy, but if you do, you might have spinal bone spurs — bony protrusions on your vertebrae. Spinal bone spurs are common. By the time most folks reach age 50, approximately 80% of men...

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with a primary spinal tumor, it’s important to learn all you can about the major types of these tumors — there are three — and seek treatment from a highly respected and skilled surgeon as you move forward. As a board-certified...

Back surgery restores mobility and comfort for many patients — but not all of them, unfortunately. According to the American Association of Anesthesiologists, research shows that 20-40% of back surgery procedures are unsuccessful at achieving long-term relief for patients.  The statistic is sobering, and revision spine surgery to correct problems...

Spinal surgery has undergone a transformation since the days of routine “open surgery,” where the surgeon makes a single long incision through muscle and other healthy tissue to make the repair.  Now, minimally invasive surgery is the norm, requiring only a few incisions that don’t disturb healthy muscle tissue. This type of...

If you notice that your child or teen’s shoulders seem unbalanced, hips are high, or clothes hang unevenly, it is a good idea to have them checked out for scoliosis, a common condition most often diagnosed in adolescents. Even though this condition affects children and teens most often, it is...

Spinal surgery — and all types of surgery for that matter — have advanced by leaps and bounds in the last several decades, thanks to minimally invasive techniques, which are surgical methods that cause markedly less trauma to the body. Dr. Benjamin Cohen employs minimally invasive surgery to correct many...

Each year approximately 10,000 individuals develop a cancerous spinal tumor that either starts in the spine or is the result of cancer spreading from another site. There’s encouraging news about spinal tumors, however: They’re relatively rare compared to other forms of cancer.  For example, this year, about 287,850 women are...

Your body is susceptible to a multitude of changes as you grow older, and many are unwelcome. Degenerative conditions like osteoarthritis and osteoporosis affect millions, causing pain and limited mobility. Another condition that’s linked with how many trips around the sun you’ve taken is spinal stenosis, when your spinal canal narrows...

Most people with scoliosis, curvature of the spine, are preteens and teens around 10-15 years old. Unfortunately, most of these cases are idiopathic, meaning that we don’t know the reason for why the condition developed.  Adults can also develop scoliosis, and in these cases, the cause is mainly due to spinal...

Surgical techniques and procedures have changed dramatically over the past several decades. One transformative innovation has been the rise of minimally invasive surgery, which, as its name suggests, is markedly less traumatic to the body than traditional open surgery. Dr. Benjamin Cohen performs minimally invasive procedures whenever possible because of...

Remember when your parents or teachers implored you to “stand up straight” or “stop slouching?” Somehow it seemed that this was just an empty directive, but did you know that working on good posture actually benefits your health? Dr. Benjamin Cohen treats patients experiencing many types of painful conditions, from...

A spinal tumor can cause a range of symptoms, and if you suffer from any or all of them, it’s critical to seek care from a highly skilled, board-certified neurosurgeon like Dr. Benjamin Cohen.  Dr. Cohen’s expertise can meet the considerable demands of a delicate spinal tumor removal surgery. If...

The discs between your vertebrae are your spine’s shock absorbers, but wear and tear over the years often leads to degenerative disc disease. As your discs wear away, your vertebrae start rubbing together. That’s when the problems start: neck and back pain, as well as other symptoms. The condition certainly...

Scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, is most often discovered in adolescence, though about 9% of adults receive the diagnosis as well. The condition’s emergence is more likely during adolescence, though, because of the sudden, dramatic jumps in growth that kids and teens typically experience.  No matter when you’re diagnosed...

If you fracture your spine, the compression on your vertebrae must be addressed to prevent permanent nerve damage. Injuries like this are often due to car accidents, falls from a great height, a gunshot wound, or even a serious sports injury, but osteoporosis is the most frequent cause. Infections and...

The ligaments around your spine serve as strong foundational supports and hold your vertebrae in place. Unfortunately, it’s common for these ligaments to thicken due to age-related degeneration. The resulting pain can affect your upper or lower back.  This ligament thickening means that there’s much less room for the nerves...

Everyone who undergoes spinal surgery has high hopes for an outcome that offers freedom from pain and ease of movement, but sometimes the results are disappointing. You may even suffer more than before your surgery.   This is nothing short of devastating. As a highly skilled and respected board-certified neurosurgeon with...

Do you feel like your body is asymmetrical? If you notice that one shoulder appears taller than the other, one hip seems higher than the other, or your ribs protrude, you may not be imagining it. You might have scoliosis, a curvature of the spine that can be located in...

Tumors in the brain or on the spinal cord are known as central nervous system tumors. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) releases annual data about how many people are diagnosed with them.  The vast majority — between 85% and 90% — of the 359,000 people diagnosed with central...

A staggering 1.5 million individuals suffer spinal fractures on average each year, and about 750,000 of them are experienced by osteoporosis patients. These are not minor nuisance injuries, but traumatic, in that they’re most often the result of serious, high-impact injury.  If a fracture isn’t severe, it may heal on...

Both patients and surgeons are fortunate today that great strides have been made in making surgical procedures less traumatic to the body. Minimally invasive surgery, or surgery that isn’t as drastic in its intrusiveness to your body, offers a multitude of advantages as compared to traditional, or open surgery. Dr....

The origins of spinal tumors vary. Some are primary tumors, meaning that they originated in the spine, while others develop as secondary, metastatic tumors, when a patient’s cancer starts in another part of their body. For example, a person originally diagnosed with breast, prostate, or lung cancer has a higher...

A spinal fracture can result from a traumatic event, like a fall or sports injury, or be linked to degeneration of the spine due to osteoporosis. Although many spinal fractures heal on their own, it’s crucial to get your symptoms evaluated early on by a professional in case you’ve suffered...

Time is the enemy of the discs in your spine, and the wear and tear on them intensifies as you age. A traumatic incident, like an auto accident or a fall, a genetic predisposition to musculoskeletal problems, and certain lifestyle practices can also exacerbate the damage.  The pain and discomfort...

Of the nearly 3 million individuals diagnosed with scoliosis each year, about one-third of them are tweens between ages 10 and 12. The spine condition is characterized by an abnormal sideways spinal curvature, and even though many cases aren’t severe enough to require treatment, it’s critical for parents to know...

As with other types of tumors, spinal tumors can be benign or cancerous, and they’re uncommon, which is good news. These tumors can grow inside or around your spine, and while most are the result of having cancer in another part of your body, they sometimes develop on their own. ...

Lower back pain sufferers number in the millions, unfortunately. According to one study cited by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a staggering one quarter of adults in the United States experienced it in the course of the three months prior to when the group surveyed was questioned.  Degenerative back...

There are a number of things that may surprise you about scoliosis, which is a spine abnormality where a sideways spinal curvature develops. Over 3 million cases are diagnosed each year. Although the majority of cases are diagnosed when adolescents experience a growth spurt between 10 and 15 years of...

Even though there’s evidence that crude skull surgery dates as far back as 6,500 BC, the surgical procedures that we’d recognize as somewhat similar to today’s methods have only been prevalent since the late 19th century. Before the advent of modern surgery, if you got an infection such as appendicitis,...

When your spine fractures, it’s anything but normal. It means that something serious has happened — a fall, sports injury, car accident, or maybe even a bullet wound. Chronic conditions like osteoporosis can also lead to fractures. There’s more than one type of spinal fracture, and each requires different treatment....

Scoliosis, a condition marked by a sideways curvature of the spine, is most commonly diagnosed in children and teens, particularly when they’re at the point of entering puberty. It’s important, when a diagnosis is made, that a sound treatment plan is created, because the earlier you receive treatment, the better...

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, a startling 50 million+ Americans suffer with osteoporosis, the condition characterized by weakened, brittle bones. Your bones lose so much integrity, in fact, that you can suffer a fracture from doing something as harmless as coughing.  Osteoporosis affects the bones in your limbs, your...

Sure, spine problems and pain can be linked to sudden injury, like a car accident, but did you know that the little things you do every day can add up to real trouble for your back? The damage you do this way is like “death by a thousand cuts” to...

If you have gone through spine surgery that ultimately wasn’t unsuccessful, it’s cause for considerable grief, but you’re certainly not alone. A surprisingly significant percentage of spinal surgeries don’t yield the results hoped for by patient and surgeon.  Failed back surgery syndrome, or FBSS, is the condition that plagues many...

The health perils of sitting for lengthy periods are well-documented, but studies conducted in the past have focused primarily on sitting in a work setting, at a desk. That discovery led to the development of now-popular standup desks, ergonomic office stools, and exercise balls to give us healthier options. Now...

Not very long ago, we were accustomed to grocery shopping with ease, dining out with friends, and celebrating holidays with family. Not so after the arrival of COVID-19. We now know that an essential requirement for “flattening the curve” is social distancing, or drastically limiting our contact with other people...

When we think of our spine, we often forget the components between our vertebrae that allow us to move fluidly and easily — our discs. They sit in between each vertebra and act as cushions. Unfortunately, a condition called degenerative disc disease causes your disc to become worn and damaged,...

Great advances have been made in spinal surgery in the last couple decades, to the point where a good number of surgeries are now considered to be minimally invasive. This means your body experiences less trauma, which makes for a quicker recovery. Unfortunately, whether you undergo minimally invasive surgery for...

Your spine is a complex part of your anatomy with a lot of small moving parts in close proximity to a hub of nerve roots — what could possibly go wrong? If you have chronic back pain, you know the answer to that. From degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis...

You’re not yourself if your back is hurting. Back pain is often caused by compression in the spine, and many options for relief and treatment are available. One of the most effective treatments for your back pain is spinal decompression therapy. The team at Benjamin Cohen, MD has put together...

A spinal fracture, or “broken back,” is a major trauma that can leave you in serious condition — but it doesn't have to be the end of your life. With the right treatment, you can find your balance again after the trauma of your spinal fracture.  Dr. Benjamin Cohen has...

Millions of Americans live with back pain, and WebMD reports that lower back pain is the most common cause of chronic pain in older adults. Back pain does tend to get worse as people age, especially because many adults are sedentary, which takes its toll. However, even if back pain...

Adolescence is a challenging time for boys and girls — the hormonal changes, the social pressures, and the increasing desire for independence are all part of it. For many preteens and teens, this is also the time when scoliosis of the spine first becomes obvious.  Families in Garden City, New...

Among the natural effects of getting older, the discs of your spinal column lose moisture and volume, and they become less protective of the stresses your body faces. For many people, this may mean a bit more morning stiffness, perhaps some reduced mobility, or they get sore more quickly after...

Spinal stenosis is a painful condition that develops when the spaces within your spine narrow. These changes put pressure on your spinal canal and constrict your nerves or nerve roots. In most cases, spinal stenosis develops because of degenerative changes in your spine, including: Thickened ligaments Herniated or slipped discs...

Spinal fusion is a specialized surgical procedure that relieves back pain by reducing movement in the spine. To perform spinal fusion, Dr. Benjamin R. Cohen fuses two or more vertebrae in your spine together using a bone graft held in place by metal plates, rods, or screws. This strategy increases...

Scoliosis affects 6-9 million people in the United States. While it’s most common in children, it can develop in adults, too. Scoliosis describes a sideways curvature of your spine that resembles the letter “S” or “C” instead of a straight line. The severity of these spinal curves varies from person...

After failing all means of conservative treatment for back pain, a man in his 40s presented with neurological deficits and spinal instability as well as intractable, worsening pain that traveled from his right hip and buttock down the posterolateral aspect of his right leg to the foot. A needle biopsy...

Recent Advances in Techniques & Technology Transform Adult Spine Stabilization Surgery   Advancements in fixation techniques and technology are revolutionizing spine stabilization surgery for adults with spinal column deformities. Marc Agulnick, MD collaborates at Winthrop-University Hospital with neurosurgeon Benjamin Cohen, MD to correct adult spine deformities that cause progressive, debilitating...

Lateral Extracavitary Corpectomy for Spine Tumors is Effective & Safe    A patient presented with persistent, progressive back pain unrelated to level of activity and refractory to medication. An X-ray and MRI revealed the presence of a tumor on his spine. To stabilize the spine and resect the tumor, Dr....

Pilot Study Explores Efficacy of Hypothermia for Spinal Cord Injury  One of the latest approaches to treating traumatic brain injury, hypothermia has been gaining increasing attention for its potential use after spinal cord injuries. Recent media reports featured the remarkable recoveries of a young gymnast and professional football player who...

A Novel Approach to Revision of Anterior Cervical Instrumentation    Following a motor vehicle accident, a man in his 40s presented with bilateral facet fractures. He had undergone an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) nearly a decade earlier. An MRI showed that his spinal cord was being stretched; flexion...

Choosing the Best Spine Surgeon   If you have seen your primary care physician and they recommend that you see a surgeon for further examination what is the next step? Your health is not something to take lightly, therefore you should spend time researching your best options. Research, Research, Research......

How to Approach Back Pain   Most of us experience acute low back pain at some point in our lives. While these episodes can be extremely painful and cause significant disruption in our daily lives, most episodes of low back pain will get better with time (about 2 to 12...

Scoliosis Myths and the Truth   Scoliosis, while a common problem for people of all ages, is frequently misunderstood. We would like to clarify some of the misunderstandings about this spine condition, one we commonly treat with great success. 1. Having scoliosis does not mean that you will be unable...

Spinal stenosis is a painful condition resulting from the compression of spinal cord caused by bone degeneration and the loss of dura space surrounding the spinal cord. The condition tends to worsen with age. Cervical Spinal Stenosis Cervical spinal stenosis occurs in the neck area, from C1 to C5, and affects the...

Spinal fusion is a surgical technique that fuses affected vertebrae together in order to stop motion between them. A spinal fusion may be done to relieve symptoms of many back conditions, including: Degenerative disc disease Spinal stenosis Scoliosis Fracture Disc slippages Disc herniations     Procedure   During the procedure,...

We all get stressed sometimes, but how that stress affects us is different for each individual. I’m sure you have all heard the saying “Where do you hold your stress?” For some it can be mentally fatiguing and for others it can have physical effects. What you will learn in...

Back Pain is the leading cause of disability in the United States with 80% of Americans being affected by back pain in their lifetime. Dr. Benjamin Cohen and his team are adept at diagnosing and treating the many causes of back pain. Dr. Cohen is a diplomate of the American...

Spinal Fractures Information Spinal injuries can range from as mild as a minor whiplash, to as serious as a spinal cord trauma. Spinal fractures are one type of spinal injury which can benign as a simple compression fracture or as serious as a “burst fracture” or other complex fracture which...

Back and neck injuries are possible in any sport – from football all the way to golf. In fact, 1/5th of all sports injuries occur in the lower back or neck. It’s important to understand how and why these injuries occur in order for us to do everything that we...

During an average snowfall, a person with a normal sized house and driveway will usually end up shoveling over a thousand pounds of snow. This makes it quite easy to strain or hurt your back. If you do hurt your back, stop shoveling immediately and take a hot shower or...

Occasionally, young athletes who play sports injure their neck or backs. Many issues occur after repeatedly overusing the structures of the spine. Consequently, suitable treatment of a young athlete is comprised of a thorough doctor evaluation with imaging studies whenever necessary. Although the vast majority of athletic injuries to the back...

The thoracic spine is made up of the 12 vertebrae between the lower back (lumbar spine) and neck (cervical spine). Injury to the thoracic spine is much less common that lumbar and cervical injury because the thoracic spine is more heavily protected by the rib cage and other internal organs....

Our spine glossary explains some common terms related to spine surgery and back conditions. 1. Arthritis – Inflammation of a joint usually characterized by swelling, pain, and restriction of motion.2. Bone Plate – Usually a relatively thin metal device which is affixed to bone via screws. Bone plates are used to immobilize...

While the internet age has offered up many modern-day conveniences, if often proves futile when patients research their health issues, self-diagnose and subject themselves to a myriad of inappropriate, and occasionally harmful, treatment methods. A patient may be taking over the counter medication for head pain or using a hydrocollator...

Herniated discs can be a trying injury to overcome for many people. Approximately one out of three adults who do not have current or previous back pain has significant disc abnormality. This means that there is a very good chance that they have or will develop a herniated disc sometime...