herniated disc

Cowboys’ Romo Looks to Rebound After Back Surgery

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

Tony RomoThe National Football League kicks off exactly one week from today when the Green Bay Packers travel to Seattle to take on the defending champion Seahawks. With the regular season fast approaching, teams are doing everything in their power to ensure their players enter the season with a clean bill of health. One such player is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who missed the end of last season after undergoing surgery to address his ailing back.

Romo initially hurt his back right before Christmas last year, and he needed an epidural injection and eventually surgery to fix a herniated disc in his lower back. Romo has been rehabbing ever since, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said it won’t be an issue for the quarterback in 2014.

“No issue with his back at all,” said Jones. “As a matter of fact, we all were pleased that he got the kind of test he got, and he is too. There is no issue, after being sacked three times, other than we need everybody to get in there and move in ways that we can keep that from happening.”

The three sacks Jones is referring to occurred during the team’s third preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. Keeping Romo upright will be key for the Cowboys, something they were able to do well last year. The Cowboys allowed the seventh-fewest sacks in the league in 2013, and the third-fewest quarterback hits.

“I took some hits; that was good just in regard to getting up and keep playing,” Romo said about the shots he took in the third preseason game. “That part of it was positive. The hits in general, hopefully we can avoid, but it was good to get back up and keep going and see how I felt and go play football.”

The Cowboys are set to play their final preseason game tonight against the Denver Broncos, but don’t expect to see Romo under center. Regardless of previous injuries, the majority of teams hold most of their starters out of the final preseason game to help their bodies recover before playing 16 games in 17 weeks. The Cowboys have already announced that Romo won’t play.

It will be interesting to see how Tony Romo preforms this season. He’s getting up there in age – he’s 34 years old entering this season – and although geezers like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have proven that you don’t need to be young to preform at the highest levels, recovering from a back injury to play on the biggest stage can be extremely difficult. Don’t believe me? Just ask Tiger Woods.

Related source: ESPN

Top 4 Causes of Back Pain

/ Thomas Cohn, MD

Back Pain Causes

The human spine consists of roughly 30 bones, known as vertebrae that are stacked on top of each other. In between each of these vertebrae are discs – bits of cartilage that prevent the bones from rubbing against one another. When something disrupts the organization of the spine, it often results in back pain.

Many people suffer from back pain, but it’s often difficult to pinpoint what exactly is causing the pain. Here are four of the most common causes of back pain:

  1.  Injuries to the muscles, and ligaments. This can include injuries from sports, car accidents, or simple slip and fall accidents. Jarring your back in an unnatural way can result in move the vertebrae or discs out of their place, resulting in chronic back pain.
  2. Herniated Disc. This is also known as a slipped disc. It happens when a spinal disc expands and presses against the nerves in the spinal column.
  3. Degenerative Changes. Over time all areas of the body gradually break down. The spine is no exception. As a person ages their bones generally weaken, and the spinal discs can weaken or shrink (causing vertebrae to rub against each other).
  4. Pinched Nerve. When discs bulge or shift, they can press against or pinch nerves, resulting in sometimes extreme pain.

You don’t have to live out your life just dealing with back pain. There are numerous treatment options available that can help you get back on the road to a pain free life.