Spine Conditions Treated at The Advanced Spine Center If you experience back pain for any amount of time, you know just how debilitating it can be. If your back hurts, then it makes everything hard and painful to do making life unenjoyable. The spine is the basis of the whole...
Unnecessary Suffering from Back Pain Back pain decreases quality of life socially, at work, and at home. If you suffer from back pain your pain is no doubt chronic or long-term. Decompression in the spine means that a lumbar vertebra has slipped out of place. What happens is, the vertebra...
Most of us have had the unpleasant experience of waking up one morning to discover that our back is aching. Maybe when you find yourself suffering from back pain, you try to just power through. Sometimes, though, trying to get through normal activities while your back is hurting can lead...
People commonly associate epidural injections with labor – but did you know they can help your back pain? Epidural steroid injections provide powerful, temporary pain relief in the spine. Doctors inject the steroid into the body’s epidural space, located just outside of the sac that contains your spinal fluid. If...
Your spine consists of 33 vertebrae. Between each vertebra, there is a disc of cartilage. These discs are the shock absorbers for the spine. If injury, age, or weight strain causes one of these discs to slip out of place, it is called a herniation. Specific surgeries, such as Micro...
There are many problems that happen in the spine and the back. Many people suffer every day because of these problems. People from all walks of life, from all over the globe, people like you looking for relief every day. For some of these types of issues, there are surgeries...
Though sometimes overlooked, the body’s sacroiliac joint plays an important role in a person’s comfort and mobility. Should problems develop in this structure, a stricken individual could experience numerous difficulties. Advanced Spine Center, a collection of back and spine specialists who treat sacroiliac joint pain Plano, Texas, invites you to...
Sometimes called a pinched nerve, cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in your neck is either compressed or becomes irritated. When this happens, you may experience pain in your shoulder, as well as numbness, tingling and weakness in your shoulder, arm and hand. What is Cervical Radiculopathy? Cervical radiculopathy occurs...
Trauma or injury to the back is likely to occur to anyone. Your back can become injure from a strain that heals quickly or hurt from a permanent injury that causes chronic pain. However, it is not common for children to have injuries to their vertebral disc. As a child’s...
Christmas Cops is a program created and operated by the Plano Police employees and their families to assist Plano families in need during the Christmas Season. Throughout the year, Officers come in contact with families in need. However, during the Christmas Season, the need is often much more profound. The families...
18.4 to 30 pounds: that is how much weight one study found that 6th graders were carrying in their backpacks. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child’s backpack weigh no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child’s weight. “I switch out at lunch. It is 22...
Texas Medical Board Dismisses Meritless Claims Filed Against Dr. Stephen Courtney of Plano More than 20 claims were dismissed by the Board after years of harassment and personal loss to Dr. Courtney and his business PLANO, TEXAS (August 2, 2018) – Finding them meritless, the Texas Medical Board (“TMB”) has dismissed...
It is common for children to experience back pain, especially if they are involved in athletic pursuits. But that does not mean the issue should be taken lightly. If your child is experiencing pain in their spinal region, that very well may indicate that they have suffered a serious back...
A Guide on the Micro Endoscopic Discectomy Procedure Blunt force or any other form of trauma may cause your spine to rupture. Notably, the herniated disc on your lower back will press on the nerve root and cause tremendous pain. A specialist will recommend micro endoscopic discectomy for treatment. This...
What are common back injuries facing young athletes? What are the symptoms to look for and are there non-surgical treatment options available? See Dr. Stephen Courtney on Good Morning Texas on WFAA where he answers these questions to help your teen athlete prevent serious injury when playing their favorite sport.
A medial branch block is a procedure used to inject a local anesthetic near the nerves connected to facet joints of the spine. If the pain goes away immediately, the facet joints can be identified as the source of the pain. Pain from the facet joints can be acute or...
Lumbar radiculopathy simply means a radiating pain caused by the irritation of a nerve. Lumbar means that it originates in your lower back, shoots down through your buttocks, down the back of your leg and even as far down as your foot. It is a deep pain that accompanies activities...
The term spondylosis is used to describe any manner of spinal degeneration, and is more of a descriptive term than an actual diagnosis or condition. It may or may not be causing a patient’s pain, and a diagnosis should still be found by a doctor to begin treatment. CausesThere are...
Advanced Spine Center is Dr. Stephen Courtney’s new practice located just south of W Park Boulevard on Ohio Drive. Dr. Courtney is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon and has been practicing for 23 years in Plano, TX. Offering surgical and non-surgical treatments for your back and neck pain, Dr. Courtney...
What we call a herniated disc refers to a disk between the vertebrae that make up your spine. Also called a ruptured or slipped disk, herniated discs occur when the gelatinous insides ooze out of the exterior. When you have this condition, it can cause pain to nearby nerves and...
At age 12, Sydney Ewing, a member of the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Plano and current Allen High School senior, was already at the top of her game. A competitive gymnast, Sydney was placing at the top in her level at gymnastics competitions and won gold medals on...
Cervical facet syndrome is a type of osteoarthritis that occurs when the structure of one or more of the vertebral facet joints begins to deteriorate. The cervical vertebrae compose the upper segment of the spine and are mostly located near in the neck. Symptoms Cervical facets can present with a...
Degenerative disc disease refers to changes in the spine as a result of the normal aging process. At Advanced Spine Center, Dr. Stephen Courtney and his skilled team are specialists in treating degenerative disc disease with our state-of-the-art approaches, including both nonsurgical and surgical options to relieve pain and associated...
Great news for residents of Plano, TX and the surrounding areas: acclaimed spine surgeon, Dr. Stephen P. Courtney, has opened his first spine center right here in Plano! Conveniently located at 1705 Ohio Drive, Advanced Spine Center is dedicated to developing superior operative techniques to treat neck and back disorders....
If you’ve been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, you’re likely wondering exactly what causes this spine condition and the treatment options available to you. At Plano Orthopedic Sports Medicine and Spine Center (POSMC), Dr. Stephen Courtney and our team believe in educating our patients, so you can play an active role...
Most everyone experiences back pain – and in most cases it resolves itself within a few weeks with the aid of rest, applying cold or heat, and perhaps an over-the-counter ibuprofen. However, there are times when back pain should be reason for concern and a visit to your physician. Such...
When you’re seeking an orthopedic spine surgeon, you want the best-of-the-best — and that means a surgeon with impeccable credentials who is fellowship-trained. Dr. Stephen Courtney is a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon who has dedicated his life to excellence in the field! What does it mean to be fellowship-trained?To...
When undergoing spine surgery, you want a physician who is experienced and highly trained in the most state-of-the-art techniques to help ensure a positive outcome for years to come. In order to provide increased stability of the spine after surgery, Dr. Courtney may use cervical spine instrumentation such as: ·...
When considering spine surgery, it’s essential for every patient to do their due diligence in selecting the most qualified and experienced spine surgeon in their area. Following are some important points to consider when selecting your orthopedic spine surgeon: · Research the surgeon’s qualifications and experience – and don’t be...
A herniated disc is a common injury that can affect any part of the spine. People often refer to a herniated disc as a slipped or ruptured disc and typically are feeling pain in the neck, back, arms or legs. When the disc ruptures or herniates, part of the fluid or...
The single most important person in the process of spine surgery is you, the patient. Well-informed patients are more successful in following through on their rehabilitation and have better outcomes. The first step to a successful procedure is in knowing what to expect. Following is some useful information as you...
If you’re suffering from disc herniation or degeneration in the upper part of your spine (known as the cervical area), an Anterior Cervical Fusion (ACF) may be recommended. ACF involves surgically entering the front (anterior) of the neck and removing a damaged cervical disc. Implants of bone and/or metal are...
A nerve root can become irritated from either a disc herniation or a bone spur, and when that happens, they can give you different patterns of symptoms radiating down your arm. An irritated nerve root can cause pain, numbness, tingling and even cause you to lose some of the strength...
“Pain in the neck” is a metaphor that people commonly use when referring to something that’s an annoyance or inconvenience. But it’s also a very real physical pain that can cause extreme discomfort. Likewise, pain in the shoulder can be just as physically debilitating – and it’s often rooted in...
Back and neck pain is one of the leading causes of lost work time and affects approximately 75% of the population of the United States at some point in their lives. The most common causes are sprain, strain, or spasm – but it can also be due to disc problems...
If your back hurts, you’re not alone! More than 86 million Americans suffer from back pain – and one third of all adult Americans have experienced back pain in the last thirty days. Back pain is also the number one reason why people stay home from work and the number...
My name is John R and I’m a certified surgical technologist. I’ve worked with dr Courtney for the past few months at Baylor Frisco. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. He’s a great surgeon and I’ve never seen him do anything other than...
As we age, many of us begin to experience back pain. Studies show that 80% of all Americans will experience back pain at least once in their lives. There are numerous causes of back pain – and many effective treatment options including anti-inflammatory medications, heat, rest and physical therapy. However,...
