Blog Archive

Back pain affects more than 75 million adults in the United States. If you’re one of them, you know how debilitating it can be and how it keeps you from your favorite activities.  Your spine is a complex structure of vertebrae, soft tissues, discs, tendons, and more. It’s designed for...

Herniated discs can be so painful that ancient cultures often attributed the pain to demons. Of course, modern science finds herniated discs have a much more prosaic cause. They’re often the result of thinning discs related to age or injury.  At Premier Spine Institute in The Woodlands, Humble, and Baytown,...

If you struggle with neck pain, you’re not alone. Neck pain is a common complaint and has many risk factors ranging from chronic stress to autoimmune disease. However, some chronic neck pain can stem from your sleeping position. And, your sleeping position can alleviate some of your neck pain.  At...

Ouch! If you’ve grimaced because of shooting back pain, you’ve probably wondered why.  Is it a pinched nerve, or maybe a pulled muscle?  To diagnose the source of your shooting back pain and find relief, an orthopedist can help. At Premier Spine Institute, in The Woodlands and Humble, Texas, orthopedic...

Your shoulders are one of your most flexible body parts. Think about the mobility you have when your shoulders are pain-free. You can lift your arms in four directions and move them in many combinations.  Yet, the flexibility of your shoulders also makes them ripe for injury, and shoulder pain...

If you’re one of the millions of adults looking for more restful sleep, you may wonder what the best and worst sleeping positions are so you can be comfortable in dreamland. Back pain, lumpy mattresses, and pillows that don’t support your neck are all culprits that get in the way...

No one wants to live with persistent pain. If you’ve tried over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin to no avail, it’s time to dig deeper. Maybe your body has built up a tolerance, or it’s the wrong type of pain reliever for your pain or body chemistry....

One of modern life’s biggest challenges is how much time we spend sitting. When you spend hours slouching over a desk, you’re bound to find yourself in pain.  That’s because bodies are made to be in motion, and spending hours at a desk is a recipe for curved shoulders and...

Common overuse injuries can occur at any age. Anytime you repeat the same movements over and over, from sports to work or hobbies, it puts you at risk for injury. If you’re feeling pain in your neck, shoulder, or back, take steps to mitigate such pain and treat overuse injuries...

Neck pain often goes hand-in-hand with modern lifestyles. Take the infamous “tech neck,” when you spend hours a day bending over devices, you strain your neck muscles. Stress, a long time sitting in the same position, and osteoarthritis can all contribute to neck pain as well.  Dr. Bonaventure Ngu at Premiere Spine...

How can you reduce neck and shoulder pain? One way is to cut your screen time. Yes, it’s tough to ignore the siren call of the screen, but doing so will improve your mental and physical health.   “Tech neck” is a real thing. Hours spent at the computer, and...

Congratulations on your new little one! Your body’s shifting and shaping to accommodate your new growth, and with it, you may feel fluctuating emotions and possibly new pains.  One of those pains can be related to sciatica. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body, running from your...

If you’re one of the millions living with chronic pain, no one has to tell you how awful it is. Chronic pain of any kind can sideline you from daily life, and back pain is one of the most common chronic pain conditions.  What’s interesting is you may have pain...

Shoulder bursitis isn’t a specific diagnosis but rather a cluster of symptoms describing a more complex problem in the shoulder.  Shoulder bursitis affects the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that lies on the top of the tendons in the shoulder, between the bones. Its purpose is to reduce friction between moving...

Degenerative disc disease is the gradual wearing down of the discs that provide a cushion between your spine's bones. Affected discs become thinner and weaker; their internal contents sometimes leak and push on the nearby nerves, causing pain.  Depending on your lifestyle and genetics, degenerative disc disease can start as...

Sciatica is a cluster of symptoms — including pain, numbness, tingling, and loss of sensation — that occurs when the sciatic nerve in the lower back gets compressed or irritated. A herniated disc is the most common culprit, but bone spurs and tumors can also compress your sciatic nerve.  Diabetics...

When thinking about your painful, aching joints, exercise may be the last remedy on your mind. After all, how can moving your already-painful joints reduce pain?  To answer your questions and provide a conservative approach to joint pain, we asked Dr. Bonaventure Ngu — our expert at Premier Spine Institute with offices...

Sharp, burning, radiating pain in the back, often accompanied by tingling and numbness, could indicate a pinched nerve. Nerves cause symptoms when surrounding tissues compress them, which often happens when a herniated disk pushes on the nearby nerve.  You can experience pinched nerves anywhere on the body, but they’re more...

Epidural injections deliver medications that provide pain relief when oral medications and physical therapy fail to do so. In many cases, epidurals can delay the need for surgery.  Epidurals contain an anesthetic and steroids, and are injected into the epidural space. There are three layers of space in your spine. The...

An estimated 50 million American adults struggle with chronic pain. So, whether your pain is chronic or acute, it’s good to know which remedies work and which medications you can access without a prescription. Here, Dr. Bonaventure Ngu, our expert at Premier Spine Institute, identifies five of the most effective pain medications you...

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) have been recommended by medical providers for mild-to-moderate soft-tissue injuries since 1978, when Dr. Gabe Mirkin published his findings in the Sports Medicine Book. Today, RICE remains one of the preferred methods for treating and speeding up the recovery of sprains, strains, and bruises. Here,...

A spinal disc is a cushion between the bones of your spine. Discs ensure that your bones don’t rub against each other and are free to move. When a disc herniates, it bulges and enters the spinal canal.  Herniated disc symptoms vary depending on the severity of the bulge. Some people...

Patients who suffer from degenerative disc disease, sciatica, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, or fractures may benefit from surgery if other treatments fail to improve their symptoms. With surgery, most patients see an improvement in their pain, flexibility, and ability to function daily.  However, surgery is a big step. So, we asked Dr....

Bone spurs appear when the body attempts to fix joints or tendons that are unstable by adding bone tissue to stabilize movements.  In the spine, bone spurs grow along the edge of the joints of the spine, often as a consequence of joint damage caused by arthritis. As the cartilage...

Poor posture is common in people who have low muscle density in their core and people who work jobs that involve sitting down at a desk.  Aside from the aesthetic concerns it presents, poor posture can cause a series of unexpected health problems. Here, Dr. Bonaventure Ngu, our expert at Premier...

About 40% of American adults will experience sciatica at some point in their lives. Sciatica refers to the pain caused by the irritation or inflammation of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the human body.  Inflammation and irritation of the sciatic nerve is common because, with time, most people...

Laser technology comes with a lot of benefits when applied to fixing back problems. Surgeons who use lasers are able to make smaller incisions and reduce the risk for blood loss, scarring, and infections.  Here, we asked Dr. Bonaventure Ngu, our expert at Premier Spine Institute, to highlight which conditions...

Do you suspect a herniated disc is responsible for your back pain? Spinal discs are the round cushions between the bones of your spine that serve as a buffer and allow your spine to move and bend with ease.  These discs are fibrous and tough on the outside but have...

Whiplash is an injury caused by sudden extension of the neck. It’s a common injury developed by those involved in car accidents, because when cars collide, the force whips your neck back and forth rapidly.  However, this back and forth movement of the neck can also be caused by physical...

Pinched nerves occur when nerves in the body are compressed by surrounding tissues. Most commonly, nerves become pinched in the back and the neck. Nerves can get pinched due to localized trauma, degenerative diseases, repetitive movements (whether from work, hobbies, or sports), or obesity.  Pinched nerves can also occur in...

Do you often find yourself slouching forward when typing on the computer or watching a video on your phone? Tech neck is a term that describes repetitive strain to the neck due to improper neck position when using viewing, and facing screens.  However, even reading a book can lead to...

Back spasms are involuntary contractions of back muscles that fail to relax. Spasms can occur in any muscle in your body, and can cause sharp and intense pain.  Back spasm episodes may last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, and when your muscle contracts, it may also...

A spinal disc is a rubbery cushion located between the individual bones of your spine. These discs prevent the bones in your spine from rubbing against each other, and they make your spine flexible. A herniated disc is a disc that leaks its core fluid due to compression or injury....

Lower back pain is a common complaint among American adults, making it difficult to maintain a job or perform everyday activities without great discomfort. Often, sciatica and its characteristic lower back and leg pain, is the culprit. Caused by nerve irritation, nerve compression, or nerve injury, sciatica pain may feel...

Do you suffer from spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal? If so, laser spine surgery may be able to give you relief.  In this blog, Bonaventure Ngu, MD, of Premier Spine Institute explains what spinal stenosis is, what its risk factors are, and how laser surgery...

Your nervous system allows your brain and body to communicate. Included in your nervous system are nerves that branch out from your spinal cord and travel to all areas of your body. If these nerves get compressed, you may experience various symptoms, such as radiating pain, stiffness, weakness, and numbness....

If you have back pain, you’re not alone. Estimates suggest that back pain is the leading cause of missed work days in the United States. Back pain often goes away on its own within a couple weeks, but if your pain lasts longer than this, is severe, or is associated...

Do you experience persistent pain and stiffness in your shoulder that worsens during the night? If so, you may be suffering from a condition referred to as frozen shoulder, in which the tissues around the shoulder joint become inflamed. If left untreated, a frozen shoulder can persist for years. At...

Few people associate sitting at the desk with injuries. However, sitting in one position for hours at a time can put a strain on the muscles and tendons in your back, shoulders, and neck.  Something as small as placing your computer too far away or too close may lead to...

Stem cells are unspecialized cells that develop into specialized cells when they receive certain chemical signals. For example, you may be aware of neurons, which are the cells that make up your brain, and osteoblasts, which are the cells that make up your bones. Stem cells are the raw materials...

Does the cold make your joints painful and stiff? Winter can lose its charm if you suffer from conditions that are worsened by cold temperatures and reduced sun exposure. To help you out, Bonaventure Ngu, MD, of Premier Spine Institute in The Woodlands, Humble, and Baytown, Texas, explains five ways...

Herniated discs are common, especially among people ages 35-55. Being overweight, smoking cigarettes, suffering from a degenerative disease, or carrying heavy items regularly can also increase your chances of suffering a herniated disc.  In between each of your vertebrae are rubbery discs. These discs absorb shock and allow your spine...

In the United States, shoulder pain is the third most commonly treated musculoskeletal condition.  Sleeping in a bad position or carrying heavy weights can strain your shoulder. However, if the issue becomes chronic, it’s worth looking into what’s causing it.  Bonaventure Ngu, MD, at Premier Spine Institute in The Woodlands,...

Do you often suffer from pain, numbness, or stiffness in your back? If so, you’ve probably wondered what causes the symptoms. To help you get a better understanding of what may be causing your discomfort, Bonaventure Ngu, MD, of Premier Spine Institute explains the structural components of the spine, how...

When tissues that surround a nerve apply too much pressure, the result is a pinched nerve, which can result in pain, tingling, numbness, and other symptoms.  There are many reasons why nerves can become compressed. For example, if you feel pain in your lower back, it could be due to...

The expanding waistlines of Americans has become a major health issue in this country. In Texas alone, nearly 70% of adults are overweight or obese. You may know that having excess body fat can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease. But, excess body weight can...

Chronic neck or back pain may not only affect your physical health, but it may affect your emotional, mental, and social well-being, too. If conservative medical treatments fail to get you relief from your pain, surgery may be your only option. Surgery of any kind can cause anxiety and fear,...

Pain is an unpleasant sensation your body uses to indicate something is wrong. Instinctually, you may limit movement to prevent the painful sensations. Though immobility may be recommended initially, you don’t want to remain inactive for too long.  Whether you’re recovering from an injury or suffering from chronic neck or...

Are you between the ages of 30 and 50? Do you have a job that requires heavy lifting or driving for long periods of time? If you answered yes to these questions, you may be at risk of developing sciatica, which is a radiating pain condition that involves your sciatic...

Neck pain, tingling sensations in your arms, and poor balance when walking are some of the common symptoms of cervical stenosis. Unfortunately, for many people, these symptoms don’t improve over time. In fact, they usually worsen.  At Premier Spine Institute, our board-certified orthopaedic surgeon Bonaventure Ngu, MD, specializes in conditions...

If medications or physical therapy don’t provide relief from your back pain, you may need surgery. Fortunately, modern methods ― such as laser spine surgery ― have greatly improved how back surgery is performed. Laser spine surgery allows for smaller incisions, less blood loss, and shorter recovery times.  Our orthopaedic...

The throbbing and aching pain you feel in your joints may make you think twice about engaging in your daily activities, including your nightly walks or golf game. However, not exercising is rarely the best treatment for joint pain. At Premier Spine Institute, with offices in The Woodlands, Humble, and...

As one of the hardest-working (and most overworked) joints in the human body, your shoulders handle a lot of weight and strain through the course of a normal day, especially if you’re physically active and participate in certain sports like tennis or basketball.  But you don’t have to be an...

Have you been experiencing pain in your legs or back? You may have a pinched nerve. If not treated properly, a pinched nerve can leave you incapacitated. Bonaventure Ngu, MD, is an experienced orthopedic surgeon at Premier Spine Institute. He and his staff can evaluate your symptoms and create a...

An estimated 40 million Americans are living with arthritis, an inflammatory condition affecting joints. While there are over 100 types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common. Both types cause joint inflammation and pain and can cause disability if left untreated. An arthritis diagnosis means you have...

Just like your car, the older your body gets, the more likely you are to lose functionality. But also just like your car, the better care you take of it when it’s young, the better chance you have of avoiding the aches and pains of aging. Dr. Bonaventure Ngu at...

Car accidents can happen in a blink. But their impact on your body can last a lifetime. So why does it take so long for these injuries, such as whiplash, to develop? At Premier Spine Institute, our founder, Dr. Bonaventure Ngu, brings his expertise as an orthopedic surgeon to diagnosing...

If you suffer from lower back pain or neck pain, spinal stenosis could be the root cause of your discomfort. As many as 11% of Americans have spinal stenosis and live with back pain and symptoms such as numbness and tingling sensations in their arms and legs.  While spinal stenosis...

Back pain is tricky business. It can stem from a variety of causes and result in an array of symptoms. Sometimes your back’s just achy from overuse, and a gentle massage or a warm bath can relieve your pain. But if your back has been bothering you for more than...

Sciatica is a painful medical condition that’s caused when your sciatic nerve — the largest nerve in your body — gets compressed or irritated, causing pain anywhere from your lower back to your legs. Usually, just one branch of your sciatic nerve is affected, which is why you may only...

Do you wake up with a pain in your neck? Your pillow may be partly to blame. A poor pillow fit for your preferred sleeping mode can make neck pain worse, contribute to headaches, and more. The human neck has a wide range of motion, making it prone to injury....

Industrialization, modernization, digitalization — all have been boons for American life, allowing us to sit back and reap the benefits. But this shift toward a more sedentary, and seated, lifestyle may be wreaking havoc on our bodies, especially our backs. At Premier Spine Institute, under the experienced guidance of orthopaedic...

If the thought of spinal surgery leaves you thinking you’d rather put up with back pain, you may want to reconsider. While traditional spine surgery certainly doesn’t sound appealing with its large incisions and long recovery period, laser spine surgery is a minimally invasive alternative that can alleviate many common...

Chronic pain caused by aging or injured joints may be part of your everyday experience now, but innovative stem cell therapy based on the principles of regenerative medicine can help get you moving pain-free again. Dr. Bonaventure Ngu is a board-certified orthopedic specialist who is well known for his expertise...

Pinched nerves can occur nearly anywhere in the body, from your neck throughout your spine and into your wrists. The location of a pinched nerve determines the symptoms and problems associated with it. The most common symptoms include numbness, tingling, sharp pain, muscle weakness, and a pins-and-needles feeling in the...

Neck pain is one of the most common medical complaints among both women and men, and thanks to an increasing use of computers and mobile phones for just about any activity under the sun, those complaints are becoming more common. Lots of factors can contribute to neck pain, including spending...

We use our back for lots of activities — probably more than we realize. When we lift, bend, walk, climb stairs, even sit still — the back plays a pivotal role. It’s no real surprise, then, that back pain is one of the most common medical complaints among both men and women in the...

Thanks to technological and medical advances, physicians are now able to treat a number of common back and neck conditions with laser spine surgery, which is often less painful and heals more quickly than traditional open spine surgery. Laser spine surgery, or minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), is performed without...

Studies show that exercises to strengthen your core are one of the most effective treatments for back pain, and the reverse is also true: A strong core is your best defense against developing back pain.Strong core muscles are indispensable for every movement you make, from bending over to pet your...

The amount of time Americans spend using technology is steadily rising, and with it so is the amount of neck strain and pain they are feeling. Using computers and mobile devices puts strain on your neck, and that consistent strain can lead to complicated, painful problems later in life. Why...

How To Warm Up a Frozen ShoulderFrozen shoulder is a relatively common but somewhat mysterious problem. Experts estimate that 2-5% of the general population will have frozen shoulder, but they aren’t sure why some people get it and others don’t. Some things appear to raise your risk, including: Suffering an...

If you’re one of the 31 million Americans who suffers from chronic back pain and you haven’t been able to find relief, you may wonder what your options are. Sure, there’s traditional back surgery, but what if you don’t want an invasive surgery with a long recovery and no guarantee...

Over 54 million Americans struggle with some form of arthritis, and it’s a leading cause of disability across the nation. Adults with arthritis often suffer from chronic pain and decreased mobility in affected joints, which can lead to declining productivity. Fortunately, there are treatments available that aim to decrease pain...