SAVANNAH, GA (Aug. 15, 2019) – Orthopedic spine surgeon Thomas E. Niemeier, MD, has joined the team of renowned surgeons at Optim Orthopedics and is seeing patients at Optim’s Bluffton, Savannah and Claxton locations. Dr. Niemeier provides consultation and treatment for patients with all spinal disorders, including cervical spine and complex spinal deformities. “We are
Kevin Stevenson, MD, from Optim Neurosurgery in Macon was interviewed this week by Troy Thompson, host of 41Today Lifestyle on WMGT 41 TV. View the Segment on WMGT 41 Here’s a portion of the interview: What’s a neurosurgeon? A neurosurgeon is a doctor that takes care of problems associated with the brain, spinal cord and
You’ve been suffering for a long time with back pain from arthritis. Doctors have told you there’s nothing they can do or that your only option is major surgery. But, as far as Optim Neurosurgery’s Kevin L. Stevenson, MD, is concerned, that’s just not good enough. He believes that an active life free of spine pain may be possible for patients of all
Are you suffering with back pain from arthritis? Have doctors told you there is nothing they can do for you? Or, that your only option is major surgery? You may find relief from a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure called endoscopic rhizotomy. Meet Optim Neurosurgeon, Kevin L. Stevenson, MD. He believes an active, pain-free life may
We’ve compiled a glossary of spine terms to help you learn more about our conditions and treatments. A Anatomy of the Spine: The spine is made up of 33 bones stacked on top of one another creating the main support for your body. It is divided into five regions, starting with the Cervical area (neck) which connects the spine
Why you may need lumbar spine fusion surgery A minimally invasive lumbar spine fusion can be recommended for you after one or two of the lower back disk complexes degenerate and destabilize. Disk complexes, located between the vertebrae, are composed of tissue that give a person the ability to tilt, bend, and rotate as they
Why you may need a lumbar microdiscectomy A lumbar microdiscectomy is a type of spine surgery performed to relieve pressure on the nerve roots, or spinal cord, caused by a herniated disk, the effect of which is a tearing in the outside casing of the rubbery disks cushioning the vertebrae. When the casing (annulus) tears,
Immediately Following Surgery Wear your brace for comfort and stability. You may remove the brace to eat, sleep, and when seated or resting. You may begin to transition out of the brace as your comfort level allows beginning at the two week mark following surgery (unless instructed otherwise). As you transition out of the brace,
Why you may need a lumbar fusion A lumbar fusion is performed to ensure the greatest function possible for a failed spine. This is done by fusing together vertebrae to prevent overgrowths of bone spurs, and compression of spinal nerves, that typically result in back and leg pain. What causes a failed spine? The structural
Why you may need a lumbar laminectomy A lumbar laminectomy is performed to alleviate back and leg pain caused by a condition called lumbar spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis develops when the disk degenerates, osteophytes (bone spurs develop) and facet joints enlarge narrowing the spinal cord resulting in pinching the spinal nerves. Performing a lumbar