Spinal decompression is essentially a surgery to remove pressure on the spinal cord or nerves within the spinal canal. Depending on the location and severity of the problem, the surgery involves removing parts ... continue reading  about  Could you explain a surgery named spinal decompression, and describe the risks?

Your symptoms sound consistent with upper respiratory infection rather than allergy. The negative allergy test confirms this. These infections are treated according to symptoms. Medications can include Tylenol ... continue reading  about  For 15 years I've gotten sinus infections in spring and fall. Symptoms include sore throat, fever, nasal drainage, respiratory infection, and rash. I've been tested for allergies (negative). Do you have any idea what this is and how I can treat it?

Losing weight and becoming more active are fantastic goals! If you are mostly sedentary and knee pain is an issue for you, then I would start exercising with simple walking. Research shows that just 30 minutes ... continue reading  about  I am 51 years old and weigh 256 lbs. I have several medical problems, including knee pain. I also sit all day in my job and my long commute. I want to lose weight - where do I start?

Type 2 diabetes does run in families. Genetics plays a part in increasing one's risk for developing the disease but there are other risk factors involved. Lifestyle also influences the development of type 2 dia... continue reading  about  I'm a woman and diabetes runs in my family. So I've made an effort to watch what I eat, keep my weight down, and exercise. But now I've read that with a family history, my risk of pre-diabetes is increased - even if I'm slim. How can I prevent this?

Ten years ago, the only option we had to lift and tighten sagging skin was surgery. Today, there are a number of noninvasive skin treatments that can lift and tighten the skin without surgery. These noninvasive... continue reading  about  I read about a new procedure that heats up layers of facial skin using radiofrequency. It's supposed to help promote collagen on wrinkles and sags. Can you tell me if this really works, is it painful, and what is the cost?

Knee pain is an extremely common complaint in an orthopedic surgeon's office. Some of the questions that we use to help sort out the cause of knee pain include:Is this an acute problem, or has is it started slo... continue reading  about  My knee locks up on occasion and pain radiates up to my hip and down my leg into my ankle. Is this something to be alarmed about? I do not have trouble walking, but it does ache more when sitting or laying in bed.

Lactose is the sugar found in milk. If you have been told you are lactose intolerant, you are unable to digest this sugar. Some people can eat or drink small amounts of lactose, while others can not tolerate an... continue reading  about  Does goat cheese contain lactose? If I am lactose intolerant, is it safe to eat?

Thanks for the great question. Osteoarthritis is a common cause of knee pain - it is the "wear and tear" degeneration of the knee's cartilage layer that occurs over time. In basic terms, it is like the brake pa... continue reading  about  I recently heard about a new knee procedure that uses medical separators rather than total knee replacement to relieve pain from osteoarthritis degeneration. Can you tell me about this and where to find out about getting it done?

Corns are areas of hard, thick skin and are caused by pressure. The pressure is usually from our shoes, but can also be caused by the toes pressing on each other. There is often an underlying prominence such as... continue reading  about  What causes corns on feet, and is surgery always required to remove them?