Blog Articles

If you’re dealing with back pain and wonder if minimally invasive spine surgery is right for you, keep reading to learn more about this amazing surgical approach and what it can do.

At Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery, Drs. David Tran and Shane Mangrum performed the first commercial Intracept case in Georgia on February 13, 2020. As of today, Polaris has treated more patients using Intracept than any other group in the Southeast.

Congratulations to Dr. Max Steuer for being named “Top Doctors” in Atlanta Magazine’s annual guide of Atlanta physicians!

With guidance from the Center for Disease Control and local public health departments, our Outpatient Surgery Center (OSC) has taken great care to create its own set of guidelines to promote a safe option for surgical intervention.

In recent years, regenerative injection therapies (like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma, or PRP) have become very popular as treatment options for back, spine and sports injuries.

These days, when someone suffers an injury or experiences pain in their spine, neck, back or joints, the default assumption is, “I’ll just get an X-ray, and that will tell me what’s wrong.” However, an X-ray is just one of several types of medical imaging

For athletes, sports injuries are a fact of life. When you’re depending on your body to push it to the finish line and meet extraordinary physical goals, there’s bound to be some collateral damage along the road.

I subscribe to a newsletter by James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, entitled “3-2-1 Thursday.” Mr. Clear includes 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question in a regular email newsletter.

Because the nerves in the spinal column eventually travel down the legs, pain in one of these regions is often related to a problem in the other.

Bulging disk. Herniated disk. Ruptured disk. All three of these terms tend to strike fear into the heart, especially among patients suffering from back pain.

If you are experiencing significant back pain, perhaps from a back-related sports injury or by some other accident, you don’t need to assume you need surgery to correct the problem.

While minimally invasive surgical techniques have made spine surgery more accurate, less painful and less traumatic in recent years, robotics are now changing spine surgery for the better in ways we could only imagine just a few years ago.

“Sciatica” is a term that many people use loosely without truly understanding what it is or what its ramifications might be.

As many as 80 percent of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. However, the fact that back pain is common doesn’t lessen its impact on our quality of life.

Spine curvature disorders affect millions of Americans, but many people still don’t understand what curvature is, what causes it or how it can be treated.

Regenerative injection therapy is a powerful modern medical technique that helps enhance the body’s own natural healing processes.

For patients suffering from neck or back pain, the idea of surgery can be quite intimidating. Indeed, in earlier days, spine surgery could be quite involved and complicated, and the rates of success were inconsistent at best.

Neurosurgery is not to be taken lightly. While some procedures are riskier than others, even the most “routine” of surgeries are not going to feel routine to you.

Every so often, a technological advance or discovery will revolutionize an industry, radically changing the way things are done, as well as changing expectations for success.

When some people hear the term “robotics” in the context of surgery, their minds jump into the realm of science fiction, perhaps picturing an artificially intelligent machine performing a delicate procedure on them.

When performing back and spine surgery — particularly with spinal screw placements — precision is key to a successful operation with minimal risk to the patient.

The use of robotics in surgery isn’t exactly a new concept, but with the technological advances of recent years, it is just now making its first inroads into the mainstream.

If you have been paying attention lately to the buzz coming from our office, you’ve already heard us talk about how proud we are to be one of the first clinics in our region to offer robotic-assisted surgery with ExcelsiusGPS.

After the sudden closure of the Laser Spine Institute, based in Tampa, Florida, many people are now asking, “Was laser spine surgery just a fad? Just a bunch of hype?”

No matter the specific procedure, any surgical operation on the spine is a delicate procedure requiring the highest levels of precision.

As modern medicine continues to improve on the way we perform spinal procedures, robotic spine surgery represents a huge leap forward.

The human body has a remarkable ability to heal itself — sometimes better than any treatment could.

Not that long ago, spine surgery typically meant time in a hospital and long recovery times afterward.

Thanks to modern medical advances, many spine surgeries, and other procedures can be performed with minimal invasiveness and on an outpatient basis.

Robotic technology is changing the way many neurosurgeons approach minimally invasive spinal procedures.

The human body is designed to heal itself — but sometimes the process is slower than expected.

It wasn’t that long ago that patients suffering from spine pain and injury had a limited number of treatment options, none of which was optimal.

As modern medical advances in recent years have made spine surgery much less invasive and more precise, the latest technology takes this trend to a whole new level.

When you’re experiencing chronic spinal pain, the first thing on your mind is how to find relief.

The emergence of robotic-assisted spine surgery is an exciting development that promises higher levels of accuracy and success with spinal procedures, as well as reduced risks and decreased recovery times for patients.

Robotic-assisted spine surgery is an advanced technology that makes minimally invasive spinal procedures even less invasive, safer and less painful.

The spinal column is designed to protect the spinal cord while providing skeletal support and balance to the body, allowing humans to stand upright.

Robotic-assisted surgery is a revolutionary medical/technological advance that may transform the way many back and spine procedures are performed.

The use of robotics in spinal surgery is getting a lot of attention these days as a revolutionary medical advance — but the beginnings of robotic spine surgery actually go back almost 20 years, and the roots of robotic surgery in general date back decades.

An injury of any kind can be highly painful and very life-disruptive. However, in some cases, the recommended treatment (surgery) can be just as disruptive and painful, and it may only be partially effective.

If you’re experiencing spinal pain to the point that you’re seeking out medical help, chances are your quality of life is being affected.

Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Ambulatory Health Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its nationally recognized standards.

The idea of robot-assisted surgery certainly raises a number of questions, most notably by people who may be considering such a procedure.

“Doctor, how long before I can get back in the game?” When treating athletes for back injuries, this is one of the most common questions we hear.

Robotic spine surgery is one of those significant medical advancements with the potential to completely revolutionize the way spine and neurosurgeons approach surgical treatment for their patients.

Many types of back injuries can be healed over time without the need for surgery.

Touted as a major medical advance in our field, robotics has the potential to significantly change the way many spinal surgeons perform procedures.

There’s an increasing amount of chatter, excitement (and yes, sometimes hype) these days about stem cell therapy as a method of accelerating the healing process for injuries.

To understand how steroid injections work, we must first understand what is going on in the spine to cause back and nerve pain.

Ever since the first robotic surgical system was approved in 2000 by the FDA, robotic surgery has seen a rapid adoption rate in hospitals and outpatient clinics throughout the country.

It’s tempting to treat illnesses and injuries in a compartmentalized, almost quick-fix fashion.

There are few physical conditions that can be more disruptive to your life than a significant back injury. Mobility can be severely limited, and the pain can be excruciating

Robotic technology is changing the way surgeons perform surgical spine operations, and Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center is excited to be at the head of this new technology with the adoption of Excelsius GPSTM.

The opioid crisis is one of the biggest problems our society is facing. Stories of celebrity overdoses, high-profile drug busts, and lethal new compounds of fentanyl are constantly in the media.

Modern medicine has given us many positive options for treating back pain, but perhaps one of the most innovative and promising among them is regenerative injection therapy.

When you get involved in sports, whether seriously or for fun, back strains and injuries are a common potential pitfall.

Participating in one or more sports is a vital part of a healthy, active lifestyle — good for the heart, good for the respiration, good for building and maintaining muscular strength, etc.

Recent advances in medical technology tend to excite healthcare professionals — but at the same time, they can intimidate patients who don’t fully understand it.

When it comes to sports-related injuries and recovery times, athletes can be naturally impatient.

Congratulations to Drs. Christopher Tomaras, Max Steuer, and Thomas J. Morrison, III for being named “Top Doctors” in Atlanta Magazine’s annual guide of Atlanta physicians.

Recently, Polaris Spine & Neurosurgery Center became the first outpatient surgery center in the southeastern U.S. — and the second nationwide — to utilize Excelsius GPSTM

In recent years, stem cell therapy has come into wider use as a viable treatment option for healing injuries and regenerating damaged tissues.

Patients needing back surgeries now have a safer, more accurate alternative to traditional surgery in their quest for healing and long-term relief.

Maintaining an active lifestyle is always important to good health, but it can also come with the occasional risk.

The use of robots in surgery might be one of the most exciting medical innovations of our time — and yet many patients are unaware of the benefits or are concerned about the outcomes.

Back pain affects about 80 percent of us at some point in our lives, and when it happens, it can disrupt our routine and lessen the quality of life.

The vast majority of us will suffer some sort of lower back pain at some time in our lives. In many cases, back pain occurs due to overuse, strain and injury due to sports activities.

Eighty percent of adults experience back pain at some point. Worldwide, it is the most common reason to see a doctor or miss work.

When considering regenerative injection therapy to treat a sports-related injury, the top priority initially is to alleviate the pain and heal the injury itself.

While regular exercise is a critical element of a healthy, active lifestyle, it’s still possible to overdo it on occasion.

Our patient Debi Neisess, is a hands-on woman. She has been in the real estate business for 32 years and fixes up most of the properties she sells.

Patients who are recovering from a spinal injury must typically walk a fine line between restoring flexibility and strengthening muscles without aggravating their injury.

It’s the bane of the athlete’s existence: The ongoing threat of injury. When a season-ending back injury pulls you out of the game, the frustration can be just as torturous as the pain itself.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP therapy, for short) has become immensely popular as a treatment for various injuries, especially athletic-related injuries.

When you’re experiencing back pain, there’s nothing wrong with continuing some sort of exercise routine. In fact, exercise in general is encouraged because it helps increase strength and flexibility to support the back and promote healing.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP) has gained a lot of attention in recent years as a way to accelerate the healing of various injuries by injecting a patient’s own platelet cells into the injury site, enabling the body to heal itself more quickly.

There’s something about the term “laser surgery” that automatically suggests “cutting edge,” the apex of technology. We automatically assume that the use of lasers suggests unmatched surgical precision.

If you’re experiencing back pain, you’re in good company. Experts at the Mayo Clinic estimate that as many as 80 percent of Americans will experience low back pain at some point in their lives.

If you’ve suffered a moderate to severe back injury, you already know that the pain can be at times overwhelming and unbearable.

When other, non-invasive treatments have not sufficiently lessened the pain, many patients ultimately find back pain relief with spinal surgery.

Spondylolisthesis — it’s a mouthful to say, but it is nothing to smirk at. It can be a source of significant pain, causing restricted mobility, numbness and in rare cases even incontinence.

As an alternative to invasive surgical procedures, many patients suffering from back pain are able to manage the pain with regenerative injection therapy.

Anyone who has suffered from low back pain knows how disruptive and demoralizing it can be, especially if left unchecked.

Platelet-rich Plasma Injection Therapy is growing in popularity as an effective treatment for various types of injuries, including ailments of the back and spine.

"I was having a lot of trouble with my left knee after playing golf or snow skiing..."

Thanks to modern medical advances and research, regenerative medicine is currently revolutionizing the way we treat injuries in the body.

When a person develops significant or acute back pain, it also quite often is accompanied by fear of painful, invasive surgical procedures that may or may not even work.

It’s a bit of a paradox: Having chronic lower back pain can make it difficult to sleep, yet sleeping well at night is one of the keys to promoting good back health overall. How do you break the vicious cycle?

Thanks to modern medical advances, many spine ailments and injuries can be medically addressed with minimally invasive surgery.

In the not-too-distant past, the baseline treatment for people suffering from chronic back pain was for doctors to prescribe some form of pain medication.

Scoliosis is a condition affecting the curvature of the spine, either to the right or to the left.

When it comes to treating lower back pain, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment plan.

One of the most remarkable wonders of nature is the body’s own ability to heal itself.

It seems like most people recoil at the very hint that their back pain might point to an injury or deformity of the spine.

People often assume that once they develop lower back pain, their athletic days are pretty much over.

While some pain is to be expected after spinal surgery, the idea that you just have to “live with the pain” is misguided, especially in today’s world of modern medicine.

Whether you’ve experienced a recent injury or have been grappling with chronic low back pain for years, choosing the right Atlanta spine wellness center is a critical decision.

Congratulations to Dr. Chris Tomaras, Dr. Max Steuer, and Dr. Thomas J Morrison III for being named “Top Doctors” in Atlanta Magazine’s annual guide of Atlanta physicians.

If you need surgery of the brain or spine, it’s important to work with a clinic that is known for the best neurosurgery in Atlanta, with proven experience and skill, someone you can trust.

Regardless of whether you are using surgical or non-surgical treatments, recovering from back pain can be a long road.

Spine surgery can be serious business, but if you have chosen an experienced and knowledgeable spine surgeon, you’ll be in good hands.

If you’ve ever experienced back pain, you know that even in mild cases it can have a profound impact on your lifestyle.

If you live in Atlanta and are experiencing back pain and/or spine issues, the task of choosing a spine specialist in Atlanta is not necessarily an easy one.

Regenerative injection therapy is a groundbreaking form of medicine that injects natural substances into strategic parts of the body to help it heal itself without drugs or invasive surgeries.

Scoliosis is a common spinal deformity that usually manifests as a curvature of the spine. It affects approximately 3 percent of the population and usually appears during childhood.

If you need a spine procedure performed, you don’t want to entrust yourself to just anyone.

Not that long ago, finding relief from chronic neck pain required open neck surgery, which is an invasive procedure accompanied by hospital stays and long recovery times.

Your initial appointment to see a spine doctor can feel a bit daunting at first. If you’ve never been treated for back and spine issues, you might be unsure of what to expect.

Issues with the brain, spine, and neck can have a ripple effect on so many other parts of the body, which is why you should only entrust your care to the most qualified medical professionals when you need a neurosurgical procedure.

Morrison: The regenerative medicine space is ill-defined, but it has a lot of potential therapies. Here at Polaris, we’ve focused on administering injectable therapies in joints.

Yes, adults develop scoliosis more often than you think. Scoliosis refers to a curvature of the spine, either to the right or left, caused by any of a number of factors.

Kyphosis is a rounded curvature of the upper spine that contributes to a “stooped” or “hunched” look.

Regenerative Injection Therapy (RIT) does not directly repair an injury. Rather, it stimulates the body to begin healing itself.

An epidural steroid injection (ESI) is an injection used for the purpose of relieving back, leg or arm pain caused by a number of conditions.

Acupuncture is an ancient practice from traditional Chinese medicine that is used to relieve pain and other symptoms on the premise of restoring the flow of energy (“qi”) along the pathways of the body.

Electromyography (EMG) is a test that measures and graphs the electrical activity in your muscles as they move. Muscles contract when nerve cells (called motor neurons) send a small electrical impulse into them.

A laminectomy is a surgical procedure in which your spinal surgeon removes a portion of one or more of your vertebrae to relieve pressure on the spinal cord. This is performed under general anesthesia.

Spondylolisthesis is a condition of the back in which one vertebra slides forward or backward onto an adjacent vertebra, often causing significant pain, weakness or numbness in areas ranging from the lower back and buttocks to running down the legs.

Dr. Thomas J. Morrison, III: I see a lot of patients that have complex spinal problems, which include things from lumbar deformity, kyphosis and scoliosis or herniated discs in their lower back.

If you have been suffering from lower back pain for an extended period of time and non-surgical treatments have not helped enough, you may be wondering about your options for spinal disc replacement surgery.

Almost everyone experiences back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, recent estimates suggest that a third of the population — as many as 100 million Americans — experience chronic back pain.

The back is one of the more complex parts of your body. It is composed of the spine, discs, tendons, muscles, and ligaments.

The thoracic area of the spine resides within the upper back and abdomen, between the cervical spine in the neck and the lumbar spine in the lower back.