Vertrae® 360

Why do some people still have pain after a successful spine surgery? In this Vertrae® 360 Deep Dive , we explore why back pain, leg pain, nerve pain, or discomfort can sometimes continue even when a spine procedure technically went well. Pain after back surgery does not always mean the surgery failed. Ongoing symptoms may be related to nerve irritation, inflammation, scar tissue, muscle weakness,...

Back pain can be confusing, especially when symptoms feel similar but come from different causes. In this Vertrae® 360 Deep Dive , we explain the key differences between mechanical back pain and nerve-related back pain , including common symptoms, how each type of pain may feel, and why identifying the source of your discomfort is important. Mechanical back pain is often linked to movement, postur...

What happens when back surgery is technically successful, but the pain does not go away? In this episode, we take a deep dive into spinal cord stimulation , also known as SCS , and why this treatment may help certain patients living with chronic nerve pain, persistent leg pain, or ongoing pain after spine surgery. Spinal cord stimulation is a form of neuromodulation that works by changing how pain...

For years, many patients with chronic low back pain have been treated as if their pain was nerve-related. But what if the real issue is mechanical? In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , we explore a specific type of chronic axial low back pain that does not shoot down the legs and often does not respond to physical therapy, medications, injections, chiropractic care, or traditional pain man...

Spinal cord stimulation is often described like one single therapy — but in reality, SCS is a family of different waveforms , and each waveform can affect the nervous system differently. In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , we break down the major spinal cord stimulation options patients may hear about: tonic SCS , 10 kHz high-frequency SCS , burst stimulation , and closed-loop ECAP-contro...

A failed spinal cord stimulator trial can feel like the end of the road — but for the right patient, it may not mean neuromodulation has failed. It may mean the therapy was aimed at the wrong anatomical target. In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , we explore why some patients who did not respond to spinal cord stimulation , or SCS , may still be candidates for dorsal root ganglion stimulat...

What if your chronic pain is not “unexplainable” — but coming from one tiny, specific structure near the spine? In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , we explore dorsal root ganglion stimulation , or DRG-S , a precision neuromodulation therapy designed for highly localized nerve pain. The conversation breaks down how the dorsal root ganglion acts like a sensory “tollbooth” between the body a...

Neuromodulation is often described as a “last resort” for chronic pain — but it is not one single treatment, and it is not right for every patient. In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , we break down Dr. Kamal Woods’ three-family framework for understanding advanced neuromodulation therapies: spinal cord stimulation , dorsal root ganglion stimulation , and ReActiv8® restorative neurostimula...

What happens when your MRI looks “fine,” your surgery is considered technically successful, but your back pain is still there — or even moving somewhere new? In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , we explore why chronic back pain often requires a deeper diagnostic approach than standard imaging alone. Through the lens of Dr. Kamal Woods’ MotionFirst™ philosophy, this conversation breaks down...

What if chronic back pain is not just about what appears on an MRI? In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , we explore the powerful connection between chronic pain, depression, anxiety, and hope fatigue — and why emotional exhaustion can be deeply tied to the way the nervous system processes pain. Inspired by insights from neurosurgeon Dr. Kamal Woods , this conversation takes a closer look a...

Pain after spine surgery can be confusing, discouraging, and emotionally exhausting — especially when the surgery was technically successful, but the pain remains. In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , we explore Persistent Spinal Pain Syndrome , or PSPS , the diagnosis that has formally replaced the outdated term “failed back surgery syndrome.” This shift matters because persistent pain af...

Chronic low back pain can be exhausting, frustrating, and isolating — especially when imaging looks “normal,” but the pain is still very real. In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , Dr. Kamal Woods explains why chronic low back pain is a label, not a true diagnosis. It describes where pain is and how long it has lasted, but it does not explain the underlying cause. Without identifying the ac...

When patients hear the word kyphoplasty , the reaction is often immediate fear: Are my bones failing? Is this the beginning of a downward spiral? In this episode of Vertrae® 360 Spine Talk , we break down the reality behind that fear—and separate emotion from clinical fact. Drawing on the framework of Dr. Kamal Woods, a double fellowship-trained neurosurgeon at Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, we explore...

A spinal compression fracture isn’t just an injury—it’s often a sign of underlying osteoporosis and low bone density. In this episode, we break down what proper bone health management looks like after a fracture—and why it’s critical for preventing future vertebral fractures. Learn how a DEXA scan helps diagnose osteoporosis, why calcium and vitamin D levels matter, and how osteoporosis treatment...

Could your persistent back pain be more than just a muscle strain? In this episode, we break down how spinal compression fractures are often misdiagnosed—and why that mistake can delay proper treatment and recovery. Learn the key warning signs that distinguish a vertebral fracture from a typical muscle injury, including sudden onset pain, band-like discomfort around the torso, and the critical rol...

Podcast Description: How Can Your Spine Fracture Without a Fall? The Truth About Osteoporosis & Compression Fractures How can your spine fracture when you didn’t fall, lift anything heavy, or experience any trauma? This episode breaks down one of the most confusing — and common — diagnoses patients face: osteoporotic compression fractures. We take a deep dive into the hidden mechanics behind t...

Episode Description: Kyphoplasty Explained — Fast Relief for Compression Fractures Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure designed to stabilize painful spinal compression fractures — often providing rapid relief when conservative treatments aren’t enough. But how does it actually work, and who is the right candidate? In this episode, we break down kyphoplasty step by step — from how a colla...

Episode Description: Understanding Spinal Compression Fractures A spinal compression fracture isn’t the dramatic “snap” most people imagine. It’s quieter — a vertebra that slowly crumples under pressure, often triggering sudden, intense back pain from something as simple as getting out of bed. In this episode, we break down exactly what’s happening inside the spine and, more importantly, what you...

A patient sits in her car, overwhelmed by fear of spine surgery… 24 hours later, she’s walking out of an outpatient center with a 1-inch incision. So what changed? In this episode, we unpack the massive gap between internet horror stories and modern surgical reality —and why fear, not facts, keeps so many people stuck in pain longer than they need to be. Drawing from clinical insights at Vertrae®...

What if your fear of spinal fusion is based on a version of surgery that no longer exists? In this episode, we break down one of the biggest misconceptions in spine care—and why outdated beliefs about fusion are keeping people stuck in pain longer than they need to be. Using real clinical insights from Dr. Kamal Woods at Vertrae®, we explore how modern spine surgery has evolved—and why it’s nothin...

Just diagnosed with spondylolisthesis and wondering if you need spinal fusion? You’re not alone—and the answer is often more nuanced than you think. In this deep dive, we break down one of the most anxiety-inducing questions patients face: “Do I need surgery?” Using insights from Dr. Kamal Woods at Vertrae®, we walk through how specialists actually make that decision—step by step. You’ll learn: Wh...

Spine fusion sounds intimidating—but what if stabilizing your spine is actually the key to getting your movement back? In this episode, we break down one of the biggest paradoxes in spine care: how locking two bones together through a minimally invasive lumbar fusion can restore mobility instead of taking it away. Using clear analogies and real clinical insight from Dr. Kamal Woods of Vertrae® in...

Just diagnosed with spondylolisthesis and not sure what it really means? This episode breaks it down in a simple, honest way—without the fear or confusion. We explain what “spinal slippage” actually is, why it’s often not as serious as it sounds , and the real issue doctors focus on: stability, not just what shows up on imaging . In this conversation, you’ll learn: What spondylolisthesis really is...

What if the key to spine surgery… isn’t your MRI? In this episode, we take a deep dive into the MotionFirst™ philosophy from Dr. Kamal Woods at Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio—and why your outcome depends more on how you move than what your scan shows. Because your spine doesn’t live on an image. It lives in motion. In this episode, we explore: • Why watching you walk can be more important than reading y...

What if the biggest factor in your spine surgery outcome… isn’t just the surgery? In this deep dive, we explore one of the most overlooked parts of recovery: your mindset before the procedure even begins. With insights from Dr. Kamal Woods at Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, this episode unpacks the fear many patients carry—that surgery won’t work—and how redefining expectations can completely change bot...