Joint pain is defined as discomfort arising from the tissues involved in connecting two or more bones in the human body.

Joint pain is incredibly common: In one study of people over the age of 40, more than 70 percent of women and 65 percent of men reported having some type of joint pain within the last 12 months, with hip and knee being the most commonly affected joints.

Contrary to what many joint pain sufferers believe, relief is possible! Joint pain can be successfully treated – regardless of age – through non-surgical and surgical means, at home and/or in conjunction with an orthopedic medical team.

Every month, the medical device industry introduces some innovations into the world of spine surgery that they are promoting as the next big thing. While I watch these trends closely, I take a conservative approach to using any new technology in my practice. I wait until an innovation is proven to be effective, safe and better for patients than classical approaches before I consider them.

Two major innovations in spine surgery over the last decade that meet my criteria are: minimally invasive surgeries and disc replacement. Both are commonly used and have a track record of providing benefits for suitable patients. I use both procedures in my practice after carefully screening patients to ensure that they’ll benefit from the new approach.

Sports and exercise are healthy activities for people of all ages. Recently, there has been an increasing trend for more active lifestyles through a wide variety of exercise programs and sporting activities. However, this increased involvement does carry the risk of injury. The most common sports injuries sideline millions of people each year, and this number is expected to rise along with the number of participants.

The term "sports injuries" refers to the types of injuries that occur during sports or exercise. Some result from accidents, while others are due to those that overdo or who don't properly train or warm up. Fortunately, most sports injuries can be treated effectively with return to the preinjury level of activity. Additionally, many can be prevented if people take the appropriate precautions.

For many patients who are experiencing pain or discomfort from a spinal condition, spine surgery can be an excellent option to relieve pain and return to every day activities.

Before having surgery, patients must be properly qualified by an experienced orthopedic spine surgeon and fully informed of their treatment options. Any surgery can be scary, and knowing the facts is an important step on the road to recovery. 

Here, I’ll describe the most common types of spine surgery. 

Dr. Leonard recently appeared on a segment of the WGN-TV series "Living Healthy Chicago" about a local father of three recovering from an ACL tear. Dr. Leonard discussed the nature of the injury, how surgery is performed and what part patients play in their recovery.

“I can do the best ACL surgery in the world, but it’s all about how they approach the rehab,” he said. You can watch the full segment entitled "Bouncing Back From an ACL Tear" below.

The prospect of any surgery can be scary for patients, and that’s especially true for spine surgery. Patients wonder whether surgery will negatively impact their mobility, increase their pain or require a long recovery.

What’s scary for patients, though, is routine for experienced orthopedic surgeons. We’re always developing new techniques to lower pain and enhance patients’ well-being.

Below, I’ll address patients’ 10 most frequently asked questions about spine surgery. You can also learn more about how to prepare for spinal surgery here.

Shoulder pain is a common complaint shared by people of all ages and activity levels. By far the most common diagnosis, shoulder impingement syndrome accounts for 44-65% of all shoulder complaints.

When the arm is raised to shoulder height and above, the space between the roof of the shoulder (acromion) and the upper arm bone (humeral head) narrows. This space contains the muscles of the shoulder (rotator cuff) and a sac of lubricating fluid (bursa). Shoulder impingement occurs when the rotator cuff and bursa get pinched between the two bones as the arm is raised, leading to irritation and pain.

Outpatient joint replacement surgery for hips and knees is becoming increasingly common for eligible patients, eliminating the need for long hospital stays and inpatient care. I began performing outpatient hip and knee procedures in 2013, and a third of my practice is now outpatient.

MCL sprain is a fairly common sports injury. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is a band of tissue that connects the thighbone (femur) to the shinbone (tibia) on the inside part of the knee. The MCL prevents the knee from buckling inward, and is the ligament most commonly injured in sports. The term "sprain" means an injured ligament. MCL is usually the result of a direct blow to the outside part of the knee commonly seen in contact sports such as football, soccer or rugby.