CYRx MD

Spinal stimulators can be life-changing…
but they’re not always the full solution.

As a spine surgeon, here’s the honest truth I share with patients:

These devices act like a pacemaker for your nervous system. They send gentle electrical pulses to the spinal cord that interrupt pain signals before they reach the brain. For many people with failed back surgery syndrome or severe neuropathic pain, they deliver significant, lasting relief — often 50% or more — and are fully reversible with a simple trial period first.

In my experience, the patients who do best are those who’ve already tried conservative care and injections without enough improvement, and who want to avoid or aren’t ideal candidates for revision surgery. Many also report better sleep, improved daily function, and reduced reliance on pain medications.

However, they manage *symptoms*. They don’t always fix the underlying mechanical issues like instability, scar tissue, or damaged nerves. I’ve seen relief fade over time in some cases, which is why proper patient selection and realistic expectations are so important.

At SASpine, I take a comprehensive approach. We use every advanced tool available — including spinal cord stimulation when it’s the right fit — and I’ve also seen powerful results with regenerative therapies for patients who didn’t get complete relief from stimulators alone. The goal is lasting function, not just masking pain.

If you’re living with persistent back or leg pain, you deserve clear answers and a personalized plan.

Drop your biggest question about spinal stimulators below 👇 or DM me directly.

There are real options. Let’s find the right path forward for you.

— Dr. Steven Cyr | Orthopedic Spine Surgeon | 📍Houston and San Antonio

🔬 Exciting development in fracture care — with real potential for spine surgery.

Researchers in China have created Bone 02, an injectable, biodegradable bone adhesive inspired by how oysters cling to wet surfaces. It’s designed to bond broken bone fragments even in the bloody, moist environment of surgery.

In reported cases, surgeons used a tiny 2–3 cm incision and stabilized fragments in just minutes. The material gradually breaks down as new bone forms naturally over several months.

A multicenter randomized trial with more than 150 patients showed strong early safety and effectiveness for certain fractures. Investigators are now exploring its use in spinal procedures — including the possibility of more minimally invasive stabilization options that could reduce reliance on traditional hardware in select cases.

This is still an emerging technology. It won’t replace plates and screws overnight, and larger long-term studies are needed. But innovations like this point toward a future of more biological, less invasive fixation methods.

At SASpine, we’re always watching advancements that could improve outcomes and recovery for spine patients. Could injectable adhesives change parts of how we approach certain spinal conditions?

What are your thoughts? Drop them below 👇

💡 Neck pain during crunches? It’s surprisingly common — and almost always fixable with better technique.

As a spine surgeon, I see this all the time: patients trying to strengthen their core end up straining their neck instead. The good news? Strong abdominals are excellent for spine support and stability when you do them correctly.

Here’s what actually helps most people:

👅 Press your tongue firmly against the roof of your mouth during the movement. For many, this simple cue encourages a more neutral head and neck position by increasing posture awareness throughout the exercise.

✅ Keep a slight chin tuck
✅ Gaze toward the ceiling (not your knees)
✅ Support your head lightly — never pull on the back of your head
✅ Focus on lifting your shoulders and upper torso using your abs, not your neck

Perform 2–3 sets of 10–15 slow, controlled repetitions. Breathe out as you lift your shoulders and inhale as you return to the start. Stop if you feel pain (as opposed to normal muscle effort).

Core work is one of the best things you can do for your spine — when it’s done right.

— Dr. Steven Cyr | Orthopedic Spine Surgeon |📍Houston & San Antonio

Note: This cue has been recommended for years on fitness forums (Reddit’s r/Fitness, r/xxfitness, etc.) and by PTs as a simple way to reduce neck strain during ab work. Many people report it helps them stop “leading with the chin” or feeling neck fatigue before their abs.

Save this for your next workout and tag a friend who needs it 👇

Have you ever dealt with neck discomfort during ab exercises?

Drop your experience in the comments.

When the Screw Looks Perfect, But the Signals Don’t.

In any spine surgery involving pedicle screw placement—whether for degenerative conditions, instability, trauma, tumors, or deformity correction—fluoroscopy can show screws that appear perfectly positioned. But the nervous system doesn’t always agree.

A sudden drop in Motor Evoked Potentials (MEPs) or an unexpectedly low threshold on triggered EMG can be the first warning of a pedicle breach or nerve root compromise—often before any postoperative neurological deficit becomes clinically apparent.

This is where Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) shifts from a passive safety tool into an active decision-making partner. Sometimes, stopping for just a few critical seconds to investigate and revise can protect a patient’s function for a lifetime.

That’s why I always have a neuromonitoring tech in my cases for real-time updates. Even though every screw is first checked with real-time fluoroscopy, fluoro alone never tells the whole picture.

Whenever anything suggests a screw may have been placed incorrectly, I personally test every single one. I place a specialized probe attached directly to the neuromonitoring laptop onto the screw, sending a small electrical signal so we can instantly check whether it’s too close to a nerve root.

This is why neuromonitoring and pedicle screw placement go hand in hand in my practice. Fluoroscopy gives the anatomical picture, but neuromonitoring gives the functional truth—ensuring that every screw is not only well-positioned on X-ray, but truly safe for the nerves.

— Dr Steven Cyr | Orthopedic Spine Surgery | 📍Houston and San Antonio

🧠 What does it take for a spine surgeon to also become a cosmetic surgeon?

That’s exactly what Dr. Steven Cyr did.

Orthopedic surgery — and especially spine surgery — is one of the most competitive and demanding fields in medicine. After excelling in this elite path as a Mayo Clinic-trained spine surgeon who completed a combined fellowship in Neurosurgery/Orthopedic Surgery of the Spine, and former Chief of Spine Surgery for the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Cyr went even further by completing another separate fellowship in cosmetic surgery.

Most surgeons complete just one fellowship after residency. Going back later in their career for a rigorous two-year cosmetic surgery fellowship in an entirely different specialty is a significant commitment that very few surgeons make. This is part of what makes Dr. Cyr’s background stand out.

He trained under Dr. Wilbur Hah, former President of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, a triple board-certified cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Cyr is also board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

As Dr. Cyr shares:

“Being an Orthopod, I am an expert in the musculoskeletal anatomy. Getting a second cosmetic surgery fellowship allowed me to match up my internal knowledge of the body with the external aesthetics that people see on the outside, creating a more natural appearance.”

One unique advantage of Dr. Cyr’s dual training is that patients undergoing spine surgery also benefit from his cosmetic surgery background. His attention to detail in wound closure often results in finer, less noticeable scars — something many spine patients appreciate as an added benefit of their procedure.

He has deep respect for plastic surgeons and the important work they do. While Dr. Cyr is not a plastic surgeon, his training allows him to perform a wide range of aesthetic surgical procedures that overlap with those commonly done by plastic surgeons — particularly where his orthopedic expertise provides a unique advantage in body contouring and high-definition sculpting.

His favorite procedure is OrthoSculpt high-definition liposculpture — a technique he developed himself — precisely because of his orthopedic foundation.

It’s this rare combination of elite spine surgery mastery and formal cosmetic training that sets his approach apart. Patients get the benefit of a surgeon who truly understands the body from the inside out.

Function meets form. Precision meets artistry.

Would you trust a surgeon with this level of anatomical expertise for your procedure? Drop your thoughts below 👇

🦵 That deep butt pain shooting down your leg?

It might not be a slipped disc.
It could be Piriformis Syndrome — a sneaky, often-missed cause of sciatica-like pain we see frequently.

Here’s the no-fluff breakdown:

What’s Actually Happening

A small muscle deep in your buttock (the piriformis) can tighten and irritate or compress the sciatic nerve. The result? Pain that feels exactly like spine-related sciatica… but the problem isn’t in your back.

Common Triggers

• Sitting for hours (desk, car, couch)
• Running, cycling, or lots of stairs
• Weak glutes + muscle imbalance
• Previous fall or trauma to the area
• Skipping warm-ups or poor posture

Key Symptoms

✅ Deep buttock pain (especially when sitting)
✅ Pain, tingling, or burning down the back of the leg
✅ Pain climbing stairs or walking uphill
✅ Hip stiffness or trouble crossing your legs
✅ Symptoms that worsen after prolonged sitting

Piriformis Syndrome vs. True Sciatica

• Pain starts in the buttock vs. lower back
• Sitting makes it worse vs. bending forward
• Hip movements trigger it vs. spine movements

Only a qualified spine specialist can tell the difference for sure.

Who’s Most at Risk?

Runners • Cyclists • Desk workers • Drivers • Dancers • Athletes • Pregnant women

What Actually Helps

Most people improve with conservative care:

✔ Specific piriformis & figure-4 stretches
✔ Glute strengthening (bridges, clamshells)
✔ Posture correction + ergonomic changes
✔ Activity modification + physical therapy

Quick Prevention Wins

• Warm up before exercise
• Stretch after workouts
• Stand and move every 30–45 minutes
• Strengthen your hips and core
• Avoid sitting on a thick wallet

Bottom line:

Piriformis syndrome is very treatable when properly identified. If that deep butt/leg pain keeps coming back, don’t just assume it’s a disc problem.

Get the right diagnosis so you can get the right treatment.

Save this post. Tag someone who needs to see it.