by Dr. Larry Shannon | Oct 7, 2026 | Blog
Not always. A spinal cyst found on MRI does not automatically need surgery. Treatment depends on the cyst type, whether it explains the symptoms, whether it affects a nerve or the spinal cord, and whether nerve function is worsening. The phrase “spinal cyst” does not...
by Dr. Larry Shannon | Sep 28, 2026 | Blog
No, you can have pain in your leg that may not be caused by a nerve. “Sciatica” describes a route of pain and related symptoms into the buttock or leg. It does not identify one cause. A lower-spine nerve root may be inflamed, irritated, or compressed. A problem...
by Dr. Larry Shannon | Sep 14, 2026 | Blog
Pain that appears or worsens when you look up or down is sometimes called neck flexion pain. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The movement alone cannot reveal whether the discomfort comes from sensitive muscles, a joint or disc, a nerve root, the spinal cord, or...
by Dr. Larry Shannon | Sep 14, 2026 | Blog
A spine X-ray reported as normal or unremarkable means the radiologist did not identify a notable abnormality on the views obtained. It does not mean your pain is imaginary or that every possible cause has been ruled out. X-rays are useful, but they have limits. They...
by Dr. Larry Shannon | Sep 8, 2026 | Blog
When a pinched nerve won’t go away, the calendar is only part of the picture. Some symptoms improve within several weeks, while numbness or tingling may linger after pain begins to ease. What matters most is whether the symptoms are improving, staying the same, or...
by Dr. Larry Shannon | Sep 8, 2026 | Blog
Your spine includes bones, discs, joints, muscles, ligaments, the spinal cord, and nerve roots. Understanding that anatomy can make back and neck symptoms less confusing. Still, pain location, intensity, movement triggers, and MRI findings cannot identify the source...
