Meet Han Jo Kim, MD – Back Pain Specialist NYC

Spine surgery is extremely complex, and Dr. Han Jo Kim, a Back Pain Specialist NYC prides themselves on providing a comprehensive patient care approach when determining treatment options. He believes in having a dynamic approach to surgery and aims to provide the best surgical treatment for each patient based on an individual’s needs, expectations, and lifestyle. He works to help patients explore all other surgery alternatives before recommending patients for surgery.

While working as a spine surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), Dr. Kim mastered his craft. Specializing in cervical spine and scoliosis surgery, he has helped patients overcome spinal issues and injuries through surgery for many years. After serving as the Director of the Spine Fellowship, Dr. Kim has become the leader and founder of our practice.

Dr. Kim’s time as a spinal surgeon has not fallen exclusively within the United States. He has dedicated time to work as a volunteer surgeon at the FOCUS hospital in Ghana, West Africa. Doing so allowed him to treat some of the rarest and most complex spinal conditions in pediatric and adult patients. Those who find themselves dealing with extremely rare or severe spinal conditions should feel confident coming to our practice for care. Dr. Kim has successfully operated on hundreds of rare and complex spinal deformities and takes this valuable experience into every operation he performs.

Our practice understands how devastating spinal issues can become. We also know that the nature of spinal surgery is extremely invasive. We want our patients to trust that spinal surgery will only be recommended when all of the treatment options have been exhausted. Dr. Kim and the rest of our staff’s primary goal is to get each patient who visits us back to full strength. When surgery is required for this goal, there are few better teams to work with than the one here at Dr. Han Jo Kim’s office.

How Can We Help?

Here at the office of Han Jo Kim, MD, we specialize in treating ailments of the spine. The spine is a crucial structure of the body, which works to offer support while also protecting the nerves that control both movement and feeling. Injuries to this area can be highly detrimental to your health. That is why you need to work with a trusted expert who is well versed in this area of care. Dr. Kim is an expert in this field and will help provide the treatment options necessary to give patients the best chance at making a full recovery.

Cervical Spine Surgery

Patients who decide to work with us here at the office of Dr. Han Jo Kim will receive various treatment options based on the condition you are experiencing.

Dr. Kim is well versed in performing the following procedures:

Anterior Cervical Fusion
Posterior Cervical Fusion
Cervical Disc Replacement
Cervical Foraminotomy
Cervical Laminoplasty
Cervical Laminectomy
Cervical Osteotomies

When To Receive Cervical Spine Surgery?

Due to spinal surgery’s extreme invasiveness, this form of treatment should first be considered when all others have failed to deliver the desired results. Our Back Pain Doctor NYC understand this and will never rush to force a patient to undergo a procedure. However, he also understands that waiting too long to operate can have permanent ramifications on a patient’s health. Those dealing with the below symptoms who have been unable to find relief should seriously consider the surgical approach for healing and recovery:

Neck pain.
Tingling.
Numbness.
Weakness.
Suspected nerve impingement or damage.

Causes Of Cervical Spine Problems

Several problematic occurrences can cause previously mentioned symptoms and issues. The type of procedure that Dr. Kim administers will depend on the problem currently affecting your neck. Some of the most common problems that can lead to surgery may include:

Degenerative disc disorders.
Trauma.
Instability of the spine.
Cervical deformities.

What Takes Place During The Procedure?

Once your neck issue has been diagnosed, Dr. Kim can move forward with the surgery needed to get you back to full health. The process first involves removing the disc, bone, or deformity, that is causing unwanted symptoms to occur. In some cases, the affected vertebrae will be fused to improve the stability of the spine. Bone grafts are performed to achieve this task. However, in some cases, metal plates are also screwed into the vertebrae for further stabilization.

Getting Scoliosis Surgery

Scoliosis is a spinal condition that typically presents itself in a child during growth spurts that occur right before puberty. Although usually not a significant health concern, this condition can have many problematic results if left untreated. In severe enough cases, surgery will be required to improve the patient’s health. Dr. Kim will walk you through when scoliosis surgery is necessary and what steps are necessary to help complete this process.

Dr. Kim is well versed in performing the following procedures:

Spinal Fusion
Spinal Tethering
Growing Rod Placement
Spinal Osteotomies

Recent Blog Posts From Our Back Pain Specialist NYC

Common Causes of Back Pain

There are many causes of back pain such as overuse or even sitting and laying down too much. It is important to have a healthy balance. If you have been unfortunate enough to suffer from a back injury, you should consider reaching out to us, Han Jo Kim MD. He is our Back Pain Specialist NYC that’s well versed in solving the problems of your own back pain problems.

People often think that an isolated occurrence or injury is to blame for their back problems. But, a single cause usually can’t be pinpointed, preferably there are several underlying conditions that can contribute to pain in the back area.

Common Causes of Back Pain

Heavy lifting
Poor sitting posture
Frequent bending forward
Old age
Obesity
Herniated disc

Obviously, these are not the only causes of back pain, but they are pretty common among individuals who struggle with this. There are ways to prevent back pain but also it could be genetic and there is no way to prevent, only treat. Dr. Han Jo Kim, our Back Pain Specialist NYC will be able to treat your pain and help you feel as good as new.

Why Does Pain Occur?

Heavy Lifting

Repeated heavy lifting in awkward or wrong positions can strain your back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you are in poor physical condition, constant heavy lifting can cause muscle spasms that can be painful. If you feel this happening, make sure to rest your back and apply heat and or ice to the pained area. If the pain continues, make sure to call Dr.Han Jo Kim and he will be sure to treat you.

Poor Sitting Posture

Poor posture will not immediately cause pain to your back. But, over time it could cause changes to your spine which will lead to back aching. It could also cause nerve damage because after a while, the pressure on your spine will cause it to move, causing pain.

Frequent bending forward

The worst posture is sitting and leaning forward. This will cause your pelvis to lock and put pressure on the vertebrae. The further you lean forward, the more wear and tear you put on your discs. To prevent this, make sure to try to move around every 20 minutes to stretch out your back. Especially with working from home you have to make sure you get out on your break and move around. That is the best way to prevent these back aches. Learn more here.

Old Age

As we get older the chances for back pain increases. The disks that are between the vertebrae start to rub together causing them to shrink. This will create that back paint that no one is looking for. This pain can be excruciating yet there is no way to prevent it. In addition, over time, the space around our spinal cord gets smaller. This condition, known as spinal stenosis, is known for putting pressure on the cord and spinal nerves, creating pain.

Obesity

Back pain tends to affect about one third of people that are considered obese. When you carry more weight than you’re supposed to, particularly around the midsection, your pelvis will be pulled forward. Every additional pond that you gain will add more strain to your back muscles. Call our Back Pain Specialist NYC to get treated immediately!

Some At Home Solutions

Try to stretch to strengthen your back muscles. The more flexible you are the more you can move and use your back without feeling that strenuous pain. You can take OTC pain relievers to try and relieve some of the pain. But, if this is going on for a while then I would not recommend taking a pain reliever everyday. It’s not good for you and you will end up building a tolerance and will need more and more of the drug. If your pain is persistent then call Dr. Han Jo Kim and you will be assisted. For more information on ways to treat yourself click here.

Contact Our Back Pain Specialist NYC

While taking all of the preventative measures listed above and practicing good health, pain may still persist. If this is the case, we urge you to visit our Back Pain Specialist NYC, so that you can get the care you need. We will work to assess your condition and determine a treatment plan that works for you. If you would like your pain to subside, be sure to contact us today!

Do Orthopedic Doctors Treat Scoliosis?

Scoliosis can be an unfortunate condition that, when left untreated, can cause an individual a lot of discomfort. Dr. Han Jo Kim is an experienced Back Pain Specialist NYC that specializes in scoliosis surgery. We believe that you should not hesitate to seek treatment. To learn more about this condition and how Dr. Kim can help you treat it, contact us today!

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine. Scoliosis is a very common condition that most often occurs in children during the growth spurt before puberty. Most of the time, scoliosis cases are mild, but sometimes the spine deformities can become more severe as an individual grows. This condition can be very debilitating because a severe spinal curve can reduce the amount of space in your chest, hindering lung function. Some of the most telling signs and symptoms of scoliosis include:

Uneven shoulders. One shoulder blade will typically appear more raised than the other.
Uneven waist. One hip will be higher than the other.

If the curve worsens, the spine can also twist, which can cause the ribs on one side of the body to stick out. Scoliosis is also found in adults. In many cases, the condition actually starts to develop during childhood, but will be undetected and untreated. Several factors can cause scoliosis in adults. Some of these include trauma to the spine, arthritis, and osteoporosis. If you notice any of these signs of scoliosis, it is a good idea to contact our Back Pain Specialist NYC for proper evaluation. They will be able to determine the best course of action for your condition.

Do Orthopedic Doctors Treat Scoliosis?

Each case of scoliosis is unique. Your Back Pain Specialist NYC specializes in this condition and will help outline the best course of treatment for you and your lifestyle. There are a few forms of treatment that can be effective in dealing with scoliosis. The treatment you receive will be based on the severity of your condition. These treatments include:

Braces: Braces are usually worn during childhood while the individual is still growing. Wearing a brace will not reverse the spinal curve, but it will typically prevent the curve from progressing. The most common type of back brace is plastic and conforms to the patient’s body. It is made to be invisible under clothes and is usually worn both day and night. Once the bones stop growing, braces are discontinued.
Surgery: Severe scoliosis progresses over time. Surgery is usually only recommended if nonsurgical treatments were unsuccessful and pain is still an issue. Your Back Pain Specialist NYC might suggest getting surgery to reduce the spinal curve’s severity and prevent it from worsening. The most common type of scoliosis surgery is called spinal fusion. In this surgery, your surgeon connects two or more vertebrae together so that they can’t move independently.

Orthopedic doctors can effectively handle scoliosis because orthopedics is the area of medicine specializing in the treatment of bone, joint, nerve, and tissue disorders, including those in the back and spine. To learn more about which course of action is best for your scoliosis, talk to our Back Pain Specialist NYC.

Contact Us For Pain Management

If you are looking for a Back Pain Specialist NYC, look to the offices of Dr. Han Jo Kim. Dr. Kim is a spine surgeon who specializes in cervical spine and scoliosis surgery. Dr. Kim believes in a comprehensive approach to patient care so each outcome is optimized. If you or a loved one has scoliosis, you should not hesitate to contact us today. We will help you determine if spinal surgery is right for you.

Long Term Benefits of Back Surgery

After trying every nonsurgical way to resolve your back pain, back surgery seems like the only option left. Like any surgery, back surgery comes with its list of cons; however, back surgery can also open up an abundance of opportunities for you that your back pain previously prevented. An exceptional Back Pain Specialist NYC can help you get the most benefits out of your back surgery so that you can live your life pain-free! If you need back surgery, the office of Dr. Han Jo Kim, MD, can help! At our office, we can ensure that you’ll get top-quality care so you can get back to doing what you love!

Types of Back Surgery

Depending on your issue, a different type of surgery may be required. Each surgery has varying recovery times. Talk to your Back Pain Specialist NYC to discuss which back surgery will work best for you.

Diskectomy: If you have a herniated disk or a disk has slipped out of place, your doctor may recommend a diskectomy. The surgeon will remove the herniated portion of the affected disk to relieve pain and inflammation of the disk.
Laminectomy: Pain caused by spinal stenosis can be cured with a laminectomy. This procedure enlarges the spinal canal by removing the bone overlying it. This procedure results in reduced pressure on the spinal nerve.
Foraminotomy: If a nerve in the spine becomes compressed, it can cause pain. A foraminotomy can help relieve that pain by widening the space in your spine where the nerve exits your spine.
Spinal Fusion: If you have a degenerative or injured disk, a spinal fusion may be necessary. During a spinal fusion, your surgeon will connect two or more bones in your spine. This procedure will stabilize the spine, relieving pain.
Artificial Disks: Another option to fix an injured disk is to replace it with an artificial one. Unlike other surgeries, you should still be able to move your spine after this procedure. The recovery time is also usually shorter than other similar procedures.

Your Back Pain Specialist NYC can determine which surgery is necessary based on your needs. Sometimes multiple surgeries will need to be performed at once, depending on the severity of your issue. Even with these downsides, the long-term benefits of back surgery make surgery worth it!

Long-Term Benefits of Back Surgery

Back surgery can do more than solve your back problems in the short term. The long-term benefits are a huge motivating factor to get surgery. Some benefits of back surgery include:

Relief from your pain: The number one reason to get back surgery is to get rid of your back pain. After you recover from the surgery, your back will feel better than ever!
You can take less pain medicine: After your surgery, you can say goodbye to taking powerful painkillers every day! Your pain will soon dissipate, making all that pain medicine unnecessary. Your Back Pain Specialist NYC may still prescribe pain medication after your surgery, but the surgery will drastically reduce your pain after your recovery period.
Increased mobility: After your surgery, nothing will stop you from bending and stretching your back. As a result, you can become more physically fit as working out won’t be as difficult.
Your mood improves: A more obscure but equally important benefit of back surgery is a noticeable improvement in your mood. Severe back pain would give anyone a bad attitude, especially if the pain occurs every day. With the relief of your back pain, your mood will improve as well!
You can go back to work: Another motivating factor in getting back surgery is the ability to go back to work. Without your pain holding you back, returning to the workforce is a possibility.

If you have chronic back pain and tried all nonsurgical treatments available to you, talk to your Back Pain Specialist NYC about back surgery! Don’t let your pain hold you back from living your life!

How Our Back Pain Specialist NYC Can Help

Choose the office of Han Jo Kim, MD, for your spine surgery. Dr. Kim specializes in all ailments of the spine, making him the best option for your back surgery. Dr. Kim and his team will ensure you get the best care and help you recover as fast as possible. To schedule an appointment with the office of Dr. Han Jo Kim, MD, give us a call or visit our website.