In this episode of Get Back To It, Dr. Rita Roy speaks with Rich Rabin, a technology and product leader whose life was upended by severe nerve pain caused by an L5–S1 disc herniation. What began as manageable glute pain progressed into debilitating nerve symptoms that affected his sleep, mobility, and overall quality of life. After months of conservative treatments—including physical therapy and injections—Rich ultimately underwent a microdiscectomy to relieve nerve compression.

While surgery addressed the primary issue, recovery proved gradual and unpredictable. Rich shares candidly about the mental and emotional challenges of healing, the importance of self-advocacy, and learning that spine recovery is rarely linear.

Inspired by his own frustration tracking fluctuating symptoms, Rich created Recoverly, a free iPhone app designed to help patients log daily symptoms and identify trends—supporting clearer communication with healthcare providers.

Rich’s story is a powerful reminder that healing takes patience; progress isn’t always steady, and resilience can grow from even the most difficult setbacks.

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

In this episode of Get Back To It, Dr. Rita Roy speaks with Rich Rabin, a technology and product leader whose life was upended by severe nerve pain caused by an L5–S1 disc herniation. What began as manageable glute pain progressed into debilitating nerve symptoms that affected his sleep, mobility, and overall quality of life. After months of conservative treatments—including physical therapy and injections—Rich ultimately underwent a microdiscectomy to relieve nerve compression.

While surgery addressed the primary issue, recovery proved gradual and unpredictable. Rich shares candidly about the mental and emotional challenges of healing, the importance of self-advocacy, and learning that spine recovery is rarely linear.

Inspired by his own frustration tracking fluctuating symptoms, Rich created Recoverly, a free iPhone app designed to help patients log daily symptoms and identify trends—supporting clearer communication with healthcare providers.

Rich’s story is a powerful reminder that healing takes patience; progress isn’t always steady, and resilience can grow from even the most difficult setbacks.

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

In this episode of Spine Talks, we  explore the vital topic of osteoporosis — a condition that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures — with two world-class experts from complementary fields: Dr. Robert Adler, an endocrinologist from Virginia Commonwealth University and the Richmond VA Center who has spent more than 30 years studying osteoporosis in women and men, and Dr. Paul Anderson, an orthopedic spine surgeon from the University of Wisconsin who leads bone health programs aimed at preventing fractures and improving surgical outcomes, and co-chairs our Task Force.

Together, they uncover what most people don’t realize: bones are living, changing organs that constantly remodel throughout life. The doctors discuss:

• How bone health changes over time and why osteoporosis is often silent until a fracture occurs
• Simple, preventive steps — nutrition, vitamin D, calcium, and weight-bearing exercise
• Diagnostic tools like the DEXA scan, and who should be screened
• The intersection of spine surgery and bone health — why bone optimization matters before surgery
• Osteoporosis in men, a frequently overlooked population with higher mortality after fractures
• Modern treatments, including antiresorptive and anabolic medications, their safety, effectiveness, and how they restore bone strength

The episode emphasizes that osteoporosis is preventable and treatable, with the right combination of lifestyle, medical care, and awareness. Both doctors encourage patients to be proactive advocates for their bone health and start conversations with their physicians about screening and treatment options.

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

A virtual tour of exciting minimally invasive advancements , brought to you by the nation’s leading experts in spinal health care. If you or someone you know is suffering from neck or back pain, you are not alone. Spine-Talks® is where you go for answers.

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

 Dr. Thomas Schuler, CEO of the Virginia Spine Institute and Chairman of the Medical and Scientific Board for the Spine Health Foundation (NSHF) and NSHF CEO, Dr. Rita Roy, discuss the impact of COVID-19 on spine health. In this message, they talk about telemedicine, home exercise, healthy habits and more.

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

Our CEO, Rita Roy, MD and Medical & Scientific Board Chairman, Thomas Schuler, M.D., F.A.C.S. of Virginia Spine Institute host a panel of the nation's top spine experts on adult deformity.

1. Lawrence Lenke, MD, Columbia Orthopedics (New York, NY)
2. Serena Hu, MD, Stanford University (Redwood City, CA)
3. Ron Lehman, MD, Columbia Orthopedics (New York, NY) 

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

 Two spine surgeons from our Medical & Scientific Board, Dr. Thomas Schuler (Reston, VA) and Dr. Scott Blumenthal (Plano, TX) discuss what patients need to know about artificial disc replacements.

 

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

Experts from the National Spine Health Foundation's Medical & Scientific Board answer common patient questions on spine health. Notably, when is spine surgery a good idea?

Featured Panelists include: Dr. Thomas Schuler (Reston, VA) as Moderator, Dr. Domagoj Coric (Charlotte, NC), Dr. Zoher Ghogawala (Boston, MA), Dr. Luis Tumialan (Phoenix, AZ), Dr. Michael Wang (Miami, FL), and Dr. Rita Roy (NSHF's CEO).

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!

We're excited to introduce our newest Spine Talks episode, featuring insights from Rajin Sethi, Executive Medical Director at Virginia Mason Health's Neuroscience and Spine Center, his dedicated team, and a resilient patient.

Sethi's extensive experience will guide you through the complexities of choosing the right treatment for your spine condition. From exploring options to understanding the impact, this episode is your compass toward informed choices for a healthier spine. 

Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!