Meet Han Jo Kim, MD – Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut

Spine surgery is extremely complex, and Dr. Han Jo Kim, offering Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut prides himself 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.

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 SBack Pain Doctor Long Island 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 Pertaining To Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut

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 that specializes in Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut. 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 us Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut 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. Dr. Han Jo Kim specializes in Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut 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 might suggest getting surgery or Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut 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 us about Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut.

Preventing Back Pain

If you have ever experienced any back pain, then you’re not alone. At some point in their lives, everyone experiences some back pain, which can occur at any time. Most of the time, it can take days to weeks for you to fully recover from any back pain. If you’re experiencing any back pain, Dr. Han Jo Kim, specializing in Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut, is here to help with any pain you may be experiencing. Contact us today to see about how we can help with your back pain!

Back pain can be complicated because it can occur at any time, but there are several actions in which you can take to help alleviate some and or all of your pain. Sometimes, if you don’t take immediate action, this pain can linger on, which can worsen over time. Back pain is most common to people who perform everyday activities such as lifting, sitting for long periods, and moving the wrong way quickly. This type of pain can be prevented with extreme caution based on the activities that you do. However, Dr. Han Jo Kim offers Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut that can help you prevent back pain from occurring so that you can live your life pain-free!

The Most Common Ways That Back Pain Occurs?

Here are some of the ways that are the most common on how people hurt themselves:

Pulled Muscle- Usually, the leading cause of this pain is by lifting heavy objects. Most of the time, people think they can handle lifting heavy objects by themselves, but at some point, it ends up hurting them in the long run. It’s important to use your legs because they’re one of the strongest muscles in your body. Also, it’s okay to ask for help. It can only benefit you because you’re reducing the risk of yourself getting injured.
Arthritis- This is a type of pain that affects the joints in your body leading to pain and stiffness. Also, when this occurs, the desired region starts to swell up and cause pain to arise.
Herniated and Ruptured Discs- A herniated disc occurs when the rubber discs located in your back push out and compress the nerve, which causes pain to your back. The discs that are in your back are meant to help protect your bones in your body.
Stress- Yes, stress plays a crucial part in keeping your body aligned. Whenever we stress certain things, we tend to get poor posture and cause excess weight to be put onto our bodies. Also, whenever our backs need to work harder than it already has, it can cause pain and discomfort. Dr. Han Jo Kim can offer you Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut which will help with any of your back problems.

Practical Tips on How to Prevent Back Pain!

Preventing back pain from occurring isn’t hard at all. Just remember to practice good posture and be cautious in the way that you perform your daily activities. Dr. Han Jo Kim, offering Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut, is here to assist you in living a pain-free life. Here are some of the best ways in which you can prevent back pain from occurring:

Exercise- This is one of the essential ways to live a healthy lifestyle. If you’re someone who sits all day, get up and move around for a little bit because it can only help you. Sitting down for prolonged periods causes your joints to be compressed within one another, which ends up leading to pain. Exercise can help prevent back pain because it can reduce the amount of weight that you put on—the more weight your body holds, the more stress it allows for your body to have.
Sleep Sideways- if you’re someone who sleeps on their stomach, over time, it will end up hurting your back because of the way that your spine is aligned all night. However, it’s best to sleep on your side because it helps take the stress off of your back, and it provides a healthy lifestyle.
Maintain Proper Posture- Sitting down in front of a computer for long periods makes our body slouch forward. The longer we stay slouched over while we sit or even be on our phones causes a lot of tension to the back. Practice good posture allows us to maintain the natural curves of our back while also keeping it very strong.
Stop smoking- The more that you continue to smoke, back pain begins to rise over time. Smoking restricts the amount of blood that flows into your spinal discs, which end up leaving them to get herniated. It’s best to quit smoking as soon as possible so that these problems don’t occur.

How Can Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut Help You?

Everyone experiences some back pain, and it can occur at any time. There are many different ways to get hurt, and it can take days to weeks for you to fully recover. Preventing back pain from occurring isn’t hard at all. Just remember to practice good posture and be cautious in the way that you perform your daily activities. Dr. Han Jo Kim, offering Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut, is here to assist you in living a pain-free life. Contact us today to see about how we can help with your back pain!

What Are The Signs Of Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a very common condition that causes a sideways curvature of the spine. The condition typically occurs during growth spurts just prior to puberty. If you feel you may have scoliosis, you should check with Dr. Han Jo Kim who offers Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut. He is an educated professional located in the NYC area that specializes in correcting scoliosis in patients.

Causes of Scoliosis:

The Mayo Clinic states that the most common cause of scoliosis remains to be unknown. Researchers feel it may involve hereditary factors; considering it seems to appear commonly in families. Less common types of scoliosis can result from neuromuscular conditions. For example, cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. Birth defects that may have occurred during the development of the spine and injuries to the spine are believed to be a factor that results in this condition.

What are Signs of Scoliosis?

Besides the most common sign of scoliosis; leaning while you stand, there are a large number of other signs/ symptoms. Some of the most common signs are:

A visible curve in back
Shoulders, waist, and hip can look uneven
One shoulder bald may look bigger than the other side
Ribs stick out on one side of the body

Not only are there visible symptoms to scoliosis, but there are physical ones as well. Someone suffering from scoliosis is commonly affected by back stiffness and lower back pain. Scoliosis can result in pinched nerves; leading to numbness in one’s legs. Lastly, fatigue is a common sign of scoliosis as well due to muscle strains. If you are experiencing any of these signs you should definitely contact Dr. Han Jo Kim, offering exceptional Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut.

Many children are checked for scoliosis at their annual pediatrician visits. This is done by the child leaning over from the waist, so the doctor can check for a curve. The doctor will most likely prescribe an x-ray or MRI to confirm a diagnosis.

Treatment

Most commonly, children with scoliosis will wear a brace on a daily basis. The brace will not cure this condition or fix previous damage. Instead, it prevents the spine from curving anymore than it already has. The braces are worn both day and night; and are also contoured to fit each child’s body perfectly. The brace is worn until the child completes puberty, and will not grow anymore.

If the severity of the scoliosis is high, a doctor will probably recommend surgery. The surgery will allow the severity of the curve in the spine to be stopped. The most common type of scoliosis surgery is known as a spinal fusion. The spinal fusion is one of Dr. Han Jo Kim’s most well mastered surgeries he performs on his scoliosis patients.

Risk Factors

Research shows some risk factors that can increase one’s chances of having this condition.

Age: Signs typically arise right before puberty
Gender: Both males and females develop this condition at the same rate; females have a higher risk of the curve worsening
Family history: Can run in the family

Give Us A Call Today

Dr. Han Jo Kim also provides a section on his website that allows you to read reviews from his past patients. All of the patients had a great experience with him and wanted to share their stories. The stories range from spine revision surgery to spine fusion, and of course scoliosis.

You should take a look at these stories and see how they relate to you. It may allow you to feel more comfortable and confident about your condition. Reading about others who may have had the same condition as you, and overcame many obstacles will definitely help. After seeing how Dr. Han Jo Kim’s patients thrived after treatment/surgery, you will feel less fearful of any treatments you plan on receiving in the future.

Contact Us For Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut!

If you suffer from any of these symptoms or have any questions about treatment; feel free to contact Dr. Han Jo Kim. Dr. Han Jo Kim has offices located on Long Island and NYC. His main focus for all of his patients to recover fully from all their spine ailments, and feel better than ever. The services he specializes in are cervical spine surgery, scoliosis surgery, and spinal deformity surgery. Besides excelling in all of those areas, one can see that he has won multiple awards since 2005 on his website as well. His office accepts a large variety of different insurances; to help provide aid and treatment to as many patients as he can. Call today to “align with the best.” Dr. Han Jo Kim offers Scoliosis Treatment in Connecticut that can help you alleviate your pain! Contact us today!