Jack E. Jensen, M.D., F.A.C.S.M., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and medical director of the Athletic Orthopedics and Knee Center, an integrated health care plaza specializing in the care of knees. After performing as a collegiate athlete, Dr. Jensen attended medical school at The University of Kansas.
With winter and the holidays fast approaching many of you already have your annual ski trips booked. Whether or not skiing is something you partake in on a regular basis it can be a dangerous sport if you are not careful.
Did you know that AOK Spine and Pain is only one component of a much larger, privately owned medical center? That′s right! In addition to AOKS&P the AOK Medical Center proudly hosts Athletic Orthopedics and Knee Center: a world renowned orthopedic practice, AOK Emergency Room: a FULL SERVICE freestanding ER, and Special Surgery of Houston: a state-of-the-art outpatient surgical center.
To help better understand the topic at hand here is a small anatomy lesson on the back: The bones that form our backs are called vertebrae. Each vertebra is cushioned and surrounded by discs. Discs provide cushion and support between each vertebra in our spinal columns. Over time and with injuries, the discs can become herniated and/or slip.
With fall, and the cooler weather that accompanies it, in full swing many people are experiencing a few more aches and pains than usual. For years and years those who experience arthritis and joint pain claim they can predict a cold front on the horizon long before the local weather man catches wind of it.
I know, I know, when you hear the words "pain management" the misconceived notion that you′re going to become addicted to pain medication or require a lifetime of back injections pops into most of your heads. However, I can promise you that great strides have been made in the understanding of pain and its treatment in the last decade.
For many people that suffer from back pain they′ve thrown in the towel and determined it′s something they′re just going to have to live with. Not so fast ladies and gentlemen, you may have more control over your discomfort than you think.
Scoliosis is a medical disorder that causes an abnormal curvature of the spine. Patients with this condition develop curves in either a "c" or "s" shape to either side of the spine causing the bones to twist. Scoliosis most commonly affects people over the age of ten although it can be seen in younger children. It is also twice as common in girls than it is in boys.
Contrary to what many people believe AOK Spine and Pain does not exclusively treat back pain conditions. Arthritis, the primary cause of disability for people over the age of fifty-five, is a condition we see patients for daily.
Arthritis is inflammation of any joint, and it can be traced to infectious, metabolic, or constitutional causes in adults or to heredity in young people. Thus, came the term arthr- or arthro–, which is the Latin combining form meaning "joint," and–itis, indicating inflammation. One or more joints become painful, stiff, and less functional or nonfunctional.
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday: Closed
