Vertrae® 360

Kamal Woods
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  • Medicine

We take you behind the scenes of a neurosurgery private practice and talk all things spine-related.

  1. Will I Ever Be the Same After Lumbar Fusion? | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    2d ago

    Will I Ever Be the Same After Lumbar Fusion? | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    One of the biggest questions patients ask before lumbar fusion is: “Will I ever be the same?” In this Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive, we explain what life can feel like after modern lumbar fusion and why the answer depends on what problem the surgery is meant to solve. A single-level minimally invasive lumbar fusion is designed to stop painful abnormal motion at one unstable segment — not to make the entire spine stiff. You’ll learn why some patients may technically lose motion at one spinal level, but feel more mobile overall because the pain that was limiting movement has improved. This episode also explains why patient selection, clear expectations, minimally invasive technique, and trust in the recovery process all matter. At Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Kamal Woods uses a MotionFirst™ approach to determine whether fusion is truly the right solution based on symptoms, imaging, goals, lifestyle, and the full range of non-surgical and surgical options. Visit Vertrae.com to request your MotionFirst™ evaluation.

    4 min
  2. Not All Spinal Fusions Are Horror Stories | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    2d ago

    Not All Spinal Fusions Are Horror Stories | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    If you’ve been told you may need spinal fusion, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by scary stories online. But not all spinal fusions are the same — and not every outcome you read about reflects modern minimally invasive spine surgery. In this Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive, we explain why context matters when comparing fusion stories. A single-level minimally invasive lumbar fusion is very different from a large open multi-level fusion, and the reason for surgery, the patient’s anatomy, and the surgical approach all affect recovery and results. You’ll learn why modern techniques like MIS-TLIF, muscle-sparing access, and robotic guidance with the Mazor X™ system may help support more precise planning and a more efficient recovery for the right patient. At Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Kamal Woods uses a MotionFirst™ approach to determine whether fusion is truly appropriate — after considering symptoms, imaging, prior treatments, goals, and non-surgical options. Visit Vertrae.com to request your MotionFirst™ evaluation.

    5 min
  3. Lumbar Fusion Fear vs. Facts: What Patients Should Know Before Surgery | Vertrae® 360 Deep Dive

    2d ago

    Lumbar Fusion Fear vs. Facts: What Patients Should Know Before Surgery | Vertrae® 360 Deep Dive

    If you’ve just been told you may need a lumbar fusion, fear and uncertainty are completely normal — especially after reading spine surgery stories online. In this Vertrae® 360 Deep Dive, we explain why not every fusion is the same and why modern minimally invasive lumbar fusion is very different from older open or multi-level fusion procedures. You’ll learn what patients often ask before surgery, including: Will I ever be the same? Will my spine feel different? What could go wrong? This episode also covers single-level MIS-TLIF, adjacent segment disease, spinal hardware concerns, Mazor X™ robotic guidance, muscle-sparing surgical techniques, realistic recovery expectations, and how fear of movement can affect healing after spine surgery. At Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Kamal Woods uses a MotionFirst™ approach to consider the full spectrum of options — including physical therapy, ReActiv8®, BVNA, interventional procedures, and minimally invasive robotic fusion when appropriate. Visit Vertrae.com to request your MotionFirst™ evaluation.

    5 min
  4. 10 Questions Patients Ask Before Lumbar Fusion │ Vertrae® 360 (Ep. 47)

    2d ago

    10 Questions Patients Ask Before Lumbar Fusion │ Vertrae® 360 (Ep. 47)

    If you’ve just been told you may need a lumbar fusion, it’s normal for fear to take over — especially after reading spine surgery stories online. But not every fusion is the same, and not every outcome you read about reflects the reality of modern minimally invasive spine surgery. In this Vertrae® 360 Deep Dive, we break down the questions patients often ask before lumbar fusion: Will I ever be the same? Will my spine feel different? What could go wrong? You’ll learn why online horror stories can create a distorted picture, why single-level MIS-TLIF is very different from large open multi-level fusion, and why patient selection matters so much. This episode also explains adjacent segment disease, spinal hardware concerns, Mazor X™ robotic guidance, minimally invasive muscle-sparing techniques, and what recovery may realistically look like. We also discuss why fear of movement, or kinesiophobia, can affect recovery even when the fusion itself is healing well. At Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Kamal Woods uses a MotionFirst™ approach that considers the full spectrum of options — including physical therapy, ReActiv8®, BVNA, interventional procedures, and minimally invasive robotic fusion when appropriate. The goal is not to rush into surgery, but to determine whether lumbar fusion is truly the right solution for your specific condition. Visit Vertrae.com to request your MotionFirst™ evaluation.

    15 min
  5. BVNA for Vertebrogenic Pain: Treating Back Pain Inside the Spinal Bones | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    4d ago

    BVNA for Vertebrogenic Pain: Treating Back Pain Inside the Spinal Bones | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    What if your chronic low back pain is not coming from the disc, muscle, or nerve root — but from inside the spinal bones themselves? In this Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive, we explain basivertebral nerve ablation, or BVNA, a targeted treatment option for vertebrogenic pain. This type of back pain can come from damaged or inflamed vertebral endplates, the area where the spinal disc meets the vertebral bone. You’ll learn how Modic changes on MRI can help identify vertebrogenic pain, how the basivertebral nerve carries pain signals from inside the vertebral body, and how BVNA uses radiofrequency energy to interrupt that pain signal without leaving an implant behind. This episode also explains why BVNA is not a general treatment for every type of back pain or lumbar instability. It is designed for a specific pain generator, which is why careful diagnosis, imaging review, and patient selection matter. At Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Kamal Woods evaluates chronic low back pain by looking at symptoms, imaging, movement patterns, anatomy, and patient goals to determine whether BVNA, ReActiv8®, physical therapy, injections, or minimally invasive spine surgery may be most appropriate. Visit Vertrae.com to request your MotionFirst™ evaluation.

    6 min
  6. Robotic Spinal Fusion: How Precision Technology Changes Lumbar Instability Surgery | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    4d ago

    Robotic Spinal Fusion: How Precision Technology Changes Lumbar Instability Surgery | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    What does “robotic spinal fusion” actually mean — and how is it different from traditional open spine surgery? In this Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive, we explain how robotic-assisted spine surgery can help make lumbar fusion more precise, planned, and minimally disruptive. For patients with advanced lumbar instability, degenerative spondylolisthesis, nerve compression, or painful abnormal motion, surgery may become the right conversation when conservative care is no longer enough. You’ll learn how MIS-TLIF, or minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, uses small incisions and muscle-sparing tubular retractors to stabilize a painful spinal segment while reducing soft tissue disruption compared with traditional open fusion. This episode also explains how robotic guidance, including the Mazor X™ system, helps the surgeon plan screw placement in 3D before surgery and guide instrumentation with a high level of precision. The robot does not replace the surgeon — it supports surgical planning, accuracy, and consistency. At Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Kamal Woods evaluates each patient’s symptoms, imaging, function, goals, and anatomy to determine whether minimally invasive robotic spine surgery is appropriate. Visit Vertrae.com to request your MotionFirst™ evaluation.

    5 min
  7. Why Standard Physical Therapy Fails Lumbar Instability | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    4d ago

    Why Standard Physical Therapy Fails Lumbar Instability | Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive

    Why does physical therapy sometimes fail for lumbar instability — even when you do the exercises, show up consistently, and put in the work? In this Vertrae® 360 Short Deep Dive, we explain why lumbar instability is not always a simple “weak core” problem. Standard physical therapy often focuses on general strengthening, but instability usually requires a more specific approach that targets the deep stabilizing muscles of the spine, especially the multifidus and transversus abdominis. You’ll learn why traditional core exercises like crunches, planks, or generic back-strengthening routines may not fully restore spinal control when the multifidus has become inhibited by chronic pain or injury. We also discuss why stability-directed therapy must focus on timing, coordination, endurance, and neuromuscular control — not just strength. For some patients, the deep stabilizing system does not respond enough to voluntary exercise alone. In those cases, options like ReActiv8® restorative neurostimulation may be considered to help activate and retrain the multifidus muscle. When structural instability is more advanced, additional treatments may be needed. At Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Kamal Woods evaluates lumbar instability by looking at symptoms, imaging, movement patterns, function, and patient goals to determine which treatment path makes the most sense. Visit Vertrae.com to request your MotionFirst™ evaluation.

    6 min
  8. Treating Lumbar Instability: Every Option Explained | Vertrae® 360 (Ep. 46)

    4d ago

    Treating Lumbar Instability: Every Option Explained | Vertrae® 360 (Ep. 46)

    If you’ve been diagnosed with lumbar instability and you’ve already tried physical therapy, injections, or other treatments without lasting relief, it can feel overwhelming when surgery enters the conversation. In this episode, we break down the full treatment spectrum for lumbar instability — from stability-directed physical therapy to ReActiv8® restorative neurostimulation, basivertebral nerve ablation, injections, and minimally invasive fusion surgery. You’ll learn why treatment should follow the patient, not just the MRI, and why two people with similar imaging may need very different care plans. We explain why standard core exercises may not fully address lumbar instability, especially when the deep stabilizing muscles like the multifidus and transversus abdominis are inhibited or underactive. We also discuss how ReActiv8® may help selected patients retrain the multifidus muscle, how BVNA targets vertebrogenic pain from Modic changes, and how injections can support the treatment plan without “fixing” instability itself. When a structural problem is advanced — such as significant spondylolisthesis, nerve compression, or progressive weakness — minimally invasive stabilization may become the right conversation. This episode explains MIS-TLIF, how it differs from traditional open fusion, and how robotic guidance with the Mazor X™ system helps support precision in modern spine surgery. At Vertrae® in Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Kamal Woods evaluates each patient personally, using a full-spectrum approach that considers symptoms, imaging, function, lifestyle, goals, and anatomy before recommending a path forward. Visit Vertrae.com to request your MotionFirst™ evaluation.

    20 min
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About

We take you behind the scenes of a neurosurgery private practice and talk all things spine-related.

Information

  • Creator
    Kamal Woods
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Kamal Woods
  • Show Website
    Vertrae® 360

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