Blog Archive

Also known as a Dowager’s Hump or “text neck,” the hump in your neck has several possible causes. From spending too much time hunched over your laptop and cell phone to medical conditions like osteoporosis, anyone can develop neck pain and curvature of the cervical spine or the appearance of...

Pain is often associated as a “normal” side effect of cancer. That’s untrue — many treatments are available. At Republic Spine and Pain, our team of pain management specialists offers personalized treatment plans for cancer pain from three convenient locations in Georgetown, Austin, and Leander, Texas. A few facts about cancer pain Like...

While an office may not be the first place to come to mind when thinking about work-related pain or injuries, the fact is that office workers are at risk of problems like low back pain and injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome. If your job requires you to spend several hours sitting at a...

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and wrists due to compression of the median nerve. While it can be caused by a variety of factors, like genetics and certain medical conditions, some job-related activities can also lead to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.  Our team...

A spinal cord stimulator is a device used to send low-level electrical currents to targeted points along your spine to treat significant and chronic back pain. Although it’s an outpatient procedure, there are still a few steps you’ll need to take to prepare for your appointments and ensure successful treatment. ...

The Minuteman® and Intracept® procedure are minimally invasive treatments designed to manage chronic low back pain caused by lumbar facet joint syndrome. But each targets a different area, and the rates of success and effectiveness depend on the unique needs of the patient. At Republic Spine and Pain, our pain management doctors and specialists offer customized pain management treatment plans at...

Neck pain is incredibly common, and almost everyone experiences an episode at some point. Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and can result from both biological (disease and injury) or psychological factors like stress, anxiety, and depression.  Like back...

Several factors make up a healthy spine. Soft, sponge-like discs act as cushions and shock absorbers between the vertebrae to keep the spine in alignment and facilitate movement. When everything is working as it should, you can walk, run, play sports, and sit in your favorite chair without worrying about...

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common nerve disorder that causes pain and numbness in the hands and wrists. It can also affect range of motion and mobility, making it painful and difficult to perform daily tasks. It affects 4-10 million adults in the United States according to the American College...

While surgery is sometimes the best action to treat an injury or medical condition causing chronic pain, it’s generally considered a last resort for extreme cases where other treatment options have failed or stopped working over time. Depending on the cause and severity, nonsurgical treatments are often the best way...

Of all the conditions causing Americans pain, sciatica is one of the most common. As many as 40% of adults in the United States experience sciatica pain at some point. Sciatica is a common complaint and ranges in severity from mild to severe. Depending on the severity and duration of...

Finding lasting and effective relief from chronic pain can be difficult and frustrating. If you’re one of the millions of American adults living with chronic pain, chances are you’ve experimented with various pain management plans and treatments. Maybe something that worked well in the past has become less effective at...

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Migraine headaches are complex and can be triggered by one or more factors. Depending on your situation, anything from consuming too much caffeine to changes in the weather can cause a migraine headache.  If you experience migraines, understanding your triggers is one of the first steps in preventing and managing the...

Chronic low back pain is a common health problem for millions of Americans. According to the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, as many as 16 million American adults experience chronic back pain.  Although there are many pain management plans available to manage back pain, various factors can complicate your recovery,...

Chronic low back pain is a growing epidemic that affects millions of Americans from all walks of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recent studies have found that as many as 25% of American respondents report experiencing low back pain in the previous three months. Back pain is...

If you’re one of the millions of Americans living with moderate to severe chronic back pain, you’ve probably tried multiple pain management treatments with varying degrees of success. Whether your plan was working and then lost its effectiveness, or you haven’t quite found the right treatment to manage your back pain, you don’t...

If you’re one of the tens of millions of Americans living with joint pain, chances are that your overall health and quality of life have diminished as a result. Whether your joint pain is the result of common conditions like osteoarthritis, the normal wear-and-tear of the aging process, or an old sports...

Migraines are a complex type of headache disorder that affects millions of people every year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of the three-quarters of adults between the ages of 18 to 65 who experience headaches, at least 30% have migraines. Like many health conditions, the best thing you...

Everyone deals with stress from time to time; however, chronic unmanaged stress can take a toll on your mental health and physical well-being. Stress is believed to be a potential trigger for sciatica and low back pain, which is one of the leading causes of missed work and workplace disability...

Millions of Americans are currently experiencing chronic back pain. According to the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, back pain is one of the leading causes of workplace disability and lost wages every year.  Along with the financial costs of missing work and medical costs associated with pain treatment, chronic...

Lower back pain is a common problem for a growing number of Americans. According to the Cleveland Clinic, as many as four out of five people will experience some form of lower back pain at some point.  While many cases of back pain resolve on their own with rest and...

If you experience moderate to severe muscle pain and tension, chances are that your quality of life and even your health has been (or will be) affected. From interfering with your ability to exercise and maintain an active lifestyle to preventing you from doing your job, untreated pain can be...

If you’re struggling with moderate to severe back pain, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 25% of American adults report low back pain over a three-month period. Chronic back pain (lasting more than 12 weeks) is one of the most...

Maybe you’ve heard the phrase that “sitting is the new smoking.” According to numerous studies on the growing phenomenon of sedentary lifestyles, people are spending more and more time at their desks and hunched over tablets and smartphones. The result is a growing number of health problems and issues with...

Millions of Americans are living with chronic pain. In addition to impacting quality of life, pain can also wreak havoc on careers and financial well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), workplace disability related to chronic pain accounts for billions of dollars in lost productivity each...

PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a complex and increasingly common mental health issue, affecting millions of American adults from all walks of life. Although PTSD has traditionally been associated with returning combat veterans and people that have experienced catastrophic events, the truth is that anyone can develop and struggle with...

Cancer is a complicated illness, where both the disease and its treatment can cause ongoing pain. Cancer pain can range from moderate to severe, and it is often debilitating enough to interfere with your ability to work and maintain your quality of life throughout treatment. That said, one of the...

Arthritis is a common condition that affects millions of Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 50 million Americans (one in four adults) experience some form of arthritis. While the most common form is osteoarthritis (OA), there are many other types of arthritis, such as...

The stellate ganglion nerve cluster sounds confusing and intimidating. But this important nerve bundle is actually located at the base of the neck. These nerves direct movement and impulses in the face and neck.  A stellate ganglion block consists of medication to numb the related nerves to treat pain and...

Many people living with cancer experience some type of pain on varying levels. While some people are fortunate enough to only experience mild to moderate pain, many cancer patients deal with significant and debilitating pain throughout their treatment and healing process.  However, one of the most common myths related to...

Millions of Americans experience migraine headaches. While the causes and biological mechanisms behind migraine headaches aren’t entirely understood, medical professionals and researchers have identified some of the lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors that trigger migraines.  Migraine headaches can be chronic for some people. They tend to be more common in...

Millions of Americans are living with pain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 20% of adults in the United States (about 50 million people, or one in five adults) are living with chronic pain.  Everyone experiences pain differently but even mild to moderate pain can interfere...

Even if your carpal tunnel symptoms are mild to moderate, getting treatment as soon as possible is essential to avoid long term nerve damage. The sooner you get treatment to manage your carpal tunnel pain, the less likely your symptoms are to progress and become debilitating. In many cases, carpal...

Sciatica is one of the most common sources of pain, and many people are unsure or unaware of the symptoms and the underlying causes that triggers that lead to a sciatica flare-up. Fact is, it affects as many as 40% of American adults, and the chances of experiencing a sciatica...

If you regularly experience migraine headaches, you’re not alone. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, migraines are the third most common health complaint in the world and one of the most debilitating. As many as 18% of American women experience migraines, almost twice the number of men and children. Migraine...

Millions of Americans struggle with arthritis pain. If you’ve ever had to miss work, modify or cancel certain activities, or struggled to find relief for your arthritis symptoms, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 50 million Americans are living with some form...

Neck aches are usually caused by muscle strains or tension and can often be treated conservatively with a little self-care. While anything from turning your head too quickly to sleeping in an awkward position can cause neck pain and stiffness, personal technology and modern work and recreational habits have made...

Sciatica is one of the most common sources of pain, and anywhere from 10% to 40% of American adults experience it at some point during their lives. Though common, sciatica is a complicated condition that can cause many symptoms ranging from mild to severe. It often occurs in conjunction with...

Shingles (also known as herpes zoster) is fairly common in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one million people come down with shingles every year, and one in three will develop shingles over their lifetime. While some people may have higher risk...

Although back pain due to conditions like spinal stenosis is incredibly common, pain affects everyone differently. While surgery is sometimes the best or only option to relieve back pain, it’s generally reserved as a last resort when more conservative forms of treatment and pain management have failed or are no...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 50 million American adults experience arthritis, and at least half of these cases experience enough pain to affect their mobility and quality of life. Drugs and pain medication are just one of several options available to manage arthritis pain....

Several factors contribute to cancer pain. Depending on the type, location, and stage of the cancer, the disease itself may be one source of pain. Cancer pain can also be a side effect of treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. If you’re experiencing cancer-related pain, we can help. At Republic...

Smartphones and personal technology like tablets have become so ubiquitous that they’ve created a new phenomenon: tech neck. Like most people, you probably spend several hours every day with your head bent over your laptop and phone, working and communicating with your coworkers and friends. While the convenience that modern...

Over 35 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches according to statistics. While migraines can affect anyone, some factors can increase the risk and make some people more vulnerable than others. The duration and intensity of a migraine can range from moderate to severe, and many people experience symptoms for several...

You may not realize it, but your body includes a nerve called the median nerve that runs from your wrist into your hand. It gives feeling ability to several fingers, including your index finger, your middle finger, parts of your ring finger, and your thumb. If this median nerve becomes...

When you have sciatica, even the smallest tasks of daily living can seem impossible. For example, sciatica can prevent you from simply putting on your shoes. Even though more Americans experience back pain than don’t, there are things you can do to protect yourself and to perhaps avoid sciatica altogether. ...