Resources

Insights, education, and guidance to help patients better understand brain, spine, and neurological care.

Woman in an orange sweater sitting at a home office desk, holding her leg in pain

Sciatic Pain vs. Nerve Compression: What’s the Difference?

Sciatica and nerve compression are related, but they describe different things. Sciatica is a...

Older man in a navy henley and gray pants walking across a sunlit living room

Microdiscectomy Recovery Week by Week

After a lumbar microdiscectomy, many people walk the day of surgery and go home that day or the...

Man reviewing a lumbar spine MRI printout on a patio while two children play in the yard

Spinal Cysts: When Is Surgery Actually Necessary?

A spinal cyst on an MRI does not automatically mean you need surgery. An operation may help...

Lumbar spine model showing vertebrae and discs for an article about degenerative disc disease

Degenerative Disc Disease: Normal Aging or Something More?

“Degenerative disc disease” on an MRI often describes changes that become more common with age....

Patient smiling with loved ones at her bedside while recovering in a hospital after surgery.

LLIF vs. PLIF vs. ALIF vs. TLIF: Which Lumbar Fusion Approach Is Best for You?

There is no single lumbar fusion approach that is best for every patient. ALIF, TLIF, PLIF, and...

Side-by-side spine illustration comparing a broad bulging disc with a focal herniated disc pressing on a spinal nerve

Bulging Disc vs. Herniated Disc: What Your MRI Terms Mean

Quick Answer: Bulging Disc vs. Herniated Disc on MRI The main difference between a disc bulge...

Older woman carefully walking down outdoor steps while holding a handrail for balance and support.

Does a Spinal Cyst Need Surgery?

Not always. A spinal cyst found on MRI does not automatically need surgery. Treatment depends...

Is All Leg Pain Sciatica?

No, you can have pain in your leg that may not be caused by a nerve. “Sciatica” describes a...

Father walking his daughter to school while experiencing neck discomfort.

Neck Pain With Movement

Pain that appears or worsens when you look up or down is sometimes called neck flexion pain. It...

Why Did My Spine X-Ray Come Back Normal If I’m Still in Pain?

A spine X-ray reported as normal or unremarkable means the radiologist did not identify a...

Pinched-nerve-causing-neck-and-lower-back-pain-woman with neck and lower back pain and illustration of lumbar nerve root compression

When a Pinched Nerve Won’t Go Away

Quick Answer: Why Is My Pinched Nerve Not Going Away? A pinched nerve may not go away because...

Woman experiencing neck and lower back pain with an anatomical illustration highlighting the cervical and lumbar spine.

Your Spine and Back Pain: What Your Symptoms Can and Cannot Tell You

Your spine includes bones, discs, joints, muscles, ligaments, the spinal cord, and nerve roots....

Schedule a Consultation With a Spine Surgeon in Stockbridge

If neck or back symptoms continue, you have been told you may need spine surgery, or you want another opinion, schedule a visit with Dr. Shannon at De Novo Brain & Spine.

Schedule an Appointment Request a Second Opinion

    
 
 
         
   Anthony J 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’m grateful to Dr.Larry Shannon for accepting me as a patient considering the fact that he only had short notice of my condition .
  
 
        
   Shelley G 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very thorough exam with a treatment plan in place. Dr. Shannon explained what my issues were and how we would treat them. Consummate professional.
  
 
        
   Mary H 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Quick, to the point, ready with the next step toward treating the problem, sending me to next doctor.
  
 
        
   Carl C 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dr Shannon is awesome!!
  
 
        
   Sandra g 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Hablo español e hicieron todo lo posible para una buena comunicación
  
 
        
   John M 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Put forth clear and concise pre-surgery options, then performed surgery which successfully addressed painful conditions which prompted consideration of surgery in the first place. Recovery, so far at almost two weeks, has been very smooth.