Complimentary Back Pain Brochure and Smoking Tips Offered by CINN during Great American Smokeout Week

Chicago, November 5, 2008

Smoking cigarettes not only contributes to lung cancer and emphysema; it also leads to back pain and spine problems according to recent studies and observations from leading neurosurgeons in Chicago.

Physicians at the Chicago Institute for Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN), are encouraging Americans to “kick the habit” during the Nov. 20 Great American Smokeout, a national nonsmoking day sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Throughout this month, CINN will offer a complimentary booklet for back pain sufferers with tips for “kicking the habit.”

Recent studies, show smokers and former smokers are more likely to have more back problems and suffer from chronic back pain than non smokers. In a study published in the July 2008 Deutsches Arzteblatt International, it was determined that smokers and former smokers experienced chronic back problems more frequently than nonsmokers. Physicians attribute it to the nicotine, which restricts the flow of blood to the discs that cushion the spine.

“I have seen a number of failed spinal fusion procedures that could have been avoided if the patient would have stopped smoking,” says Dean Karahalios, M.D., spine neurosurgeon at CINN. “Smoking can also compromise a patient’s ability to recover from spinal fusion surgery.”

Fifty-two year old Sheree Maddex of Addison, one of Dr. Karahalios’ spine patients did get the message and quit smoking. She is genetically predisposed to degenerative disc disease. Her father and son both have severe back problems. She had her first cervical spine fusion in 2001. But things didn’t improve, so in 2002, she had her L4 and L5 disc replaced by Dr. Karahalios. Then in 2004, she was surprised to learn she had lung cancer. After she had had her upper right lobe removed, she vowed to throw the cigarettes away forever. But she says, it may not have been soon enough.

“After 18 years, I finally quit,” Sheree admits. “I realized that I wasn’t getting any healthier and it was keeping me from healing after surgeries.”

Sheree says her lung cancer is gone, but she continues to struggle with disc degeneration. Her debilitating pain prevented her from going to work at Evanston Hospital, where she was a cancer researcher. She couldn’t stand or sit for any prolonged period of time. Dr. Karahalios recently fused four discs in her spine, replaced hardware and implanted a titanium cage around a section of her spine to prevent further compression and to help heal the bone fragments. Presently her pain has subsided and she spends an inordinate amount of time in physical therapy.

Sheree adds, “Dr. Karahalios said it would be a slower recuperation than after my initial surgery, but I listen carefully to everything he says. Every day, I am grateful to be pain-free.”

“Sheree has strength and determination,” says Dr. Karahalios. “She was smart to quit smoking because she wasn’t healing properly. My advice for everyone is: don’t smoke, and if you are smoking now, please quit.”

Adeel Ahmad, MD | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Adeel Ahmad, M.D., is a member of the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN), Chicago, Illinois and the CINN Institute for Spine Care. A board-certified physician, Dr. Ahmad is trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation and is skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with spine, joint, nerve, and musculoskeletal diseases. He frequently uses neurodiagnostic medicine in evaluating his patients. Dr. Ahmad specializes in treating patients suffering from pain associated with degenerative conditions of the back and neck, as well as sports and work -related injuries and employs a wide-range of minimally invasive treatment techniques including fluoroscopically guided spinal injections in conjunction with physical therapy and radiofrequency neurotomy.

Dr. Ahmad earned his medical degree, with honors, at Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan. After completing his degree, he held a yearlong internship at Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2004, Dr. Ahmad pursued a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the New York University – Rusk Institute, where he was appointed Unit Chief for the Medically Complex and Musculoskeletal Units. When he completed his residency, Dr. Ahmad held a Spine Medicine Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Ahmad is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Ahmad can be reached at CINN at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago, 773/250-0400, or CINN-Ingalls Hospital, 708/331-6669.

Brian A. Couri, M.D. | Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Brian A. Couri, M.D., is a member of the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN), Chicago, Illinois. He is also a founding member of the CINN Institute for Spine Care.

Dr. Couri specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with occupational and sports related injuries, including back, neck, joint, and nerve disorders as well as musculoskeletal diseases. With a board certification in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Couri is highly skilled in the administration of neurodiagnostic tests and the use of non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment techniques. Dr. Couri employs a wide-range of these techniques, including fluroscopically guided spinal injections in conjunction with physical therapy, radiofrequency neurotomy, intradiscal electrothermal annuloplasty (IDET), and percutaneous lumbar discectomy.

Dr. Couri received his medical degree in 1995 at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. After earning his degree, Dr. Couri accepted an internship and residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Couri served as chief resident of physical medicine and rehabilitation during his last year at Rush. Upon completion of his residency in 1999, Dr. Couri joined CINN.

Dr. Couri is an active lecturer and community educator. He speaks frequently on the topic of preventative back care. The focus of his current research is the study of new percutaneous intradiscal procedures and prolotherapy. Dr. Couri is a member of several professional organizations including the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Association of Academic Physiatrists, Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation, and North American Spine Society.

Dr. Couri can be reached at CINN-Elmhurst Memorial Center for Health, 630/758-8650 or CINN at Rush University Medical Center, 312/563-4000.

The Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago website

CINN at The Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago (NOHC) is located at 4501 N. Winchester Avenue on Chicago’s north side (Wilson Avenue and Damen Avenue) and can be reached via Lake Shore Drive or I-90.

*From the north: Take Lake Shore Drive south to Montrose Avenue and proceed west about 1-1/4 miles to Ashland Avenue. Turn right (north) onto Ashland and proceed to Sunnyside Avenue. Turn left at Sunnyside and proceed past Wolcott to NOHC on the east side of the street before Damen. Or, take I-94 south to the Cicero Avenue exit. Turn left (east) onto Foster and continue about 3-1/2 miles to Damen Avenue. At Damen turn right (south) and continue approximately 1 mile to Sunnyside. Turn left (east) onto Sunnyside and continue 1 block to NOHC.

*These directions have been revised due to street repairs on Montrose between Damen and Ravenswood.

From the west: Take I-90 east and exit at Irving Park Road. Go east on Irving Park to Damen Avenue, about 3-1/2 miles, and turn left (north) and continue approximately 1/2 mile to Sunnyside. Turn right (east) onto Sunnyside and continue 1 block to NOHC. Or take I-290 east to I-90/94 north. Exit north on Damen Avenue and continue about 2-3/4 miles to Sunnyside. Turn right (east) onto Sunnyside and continue 1 block to NOHC.

From the south: Take I-57 north to I-94 west which turns into I-90/94. Stay on I-90/94 west to Damen Avenue. Exit north on Damen Avenue and continue about 2-3/4 miles to Sunnyside. Turn right (east) onto Sunnyside and continue 1 block to NOHC.

Parking:

The Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago offers valet parking for a fee of $3.00 per day. Valet parking is available at the emergency room entrance from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

A self-park covered garage at 4501 N. Damen Ave. is conveniently located across from the Hospital. The parking garage is available 24 hours a day.

Public Transportation

Three bus lines – Damen Avenue no. 50, Wilson Avenue no. 145, and Montrose Avenue no. 78 as well as the CTA Brown Line elevated train, all stop within walking distance of NOHC.

The Damen Avenue no. 50 and the Wilson Avenue no. 145 stop at the corner of Damen Avenue and Wilson Avenue.

The Montrose Avenue no. 78 stops at Damen Avenue. Walk north on Damen Avenue approximately 2 blocks to NOHC.

The CTA Brown Line has a stop at Montrose Avenue. Exit the Montrose station and head west on Montrose 2 blocks to Winchester Avenue. Proceed north 1 block to Sunnyside. NOHC is located on the northeast corner of Sunnyside and Winchester.

For more detailed directions, call (773) 250-0400.

When you arrive:

When you arrive at NOHC, enter the hospital through the Emergency Department entrance located at Winchester and Sunnyside. This is the main entrance for all CINN patients. The staff at this entrance will provide assistance or directions to elevator No. 6 in NOHC. If needed, a CINN transporter will be available to accompany you or your family and friends to the appropriate floor.

Charles Wang, MD | Neurology

Charles C. Wang, M.D. is a member of the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN); the CINN Institute for Spine Care; the CINN Institute for Brain and Stroke Care; and an assistant professor at Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois. A board-certified neurologist, Dr. Wang cares for patients with a wide-range of neurological disorders including multiple sclerosis, Guillian-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis and Parkinson’s disease. He also specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with epilepsy and other seizure disorders.

With a special interest and board certifications in both clinical neurophysiology and electrodiagnostic medicine, Dr. Wang is also experienced in electro-diagnostic testing including electroencephalography, electromyography, evoked potentials, and intraoperative monitoring.

Bilingual in Chinese and English, Dr. Wang earned his medical degree in 1986 from Tongji Medical University in Wuhan, China. Continuing at the Tongji Medical University Dr. Wang pursued post-graduate training in Pathophysiology and Immunology. In 1992 he accepted a prestigious research fellowship at Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. After completing his research fellowship Dr. Wang continued his medical training with an internship in Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Missouri and a neurology residency at the University of Illinois Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. After completing his residency in 2001 Dr. Wang remained at the University of Illinois Hospital where he completed a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology. Dr. Wang joined CINN in 2002.

An active author and researcher, Dr. Wang’s current research interests focus on clinical trials in epilepsy and neuromuscular diseases, as well as neurological autoimmune disorders.

Dr. Wang holds memberships in several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Neurology, the American Medical Association, the American Clinical Immunology Society and the American Association of Electrical Diagnostic Medicine.

Dr. Wang can be reached at CINN at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago, 773/250-0400.

1725 West Harrison Street
Chicago, Illinois 60612
T: 312/563-4000
F: 312/563-4005
Dr. Couri: Suite 010
Dr. Lopes: Suite 118

Rush University Medical Center website

The CINN at Rush Outpatient Center is located at Rush University Medical Center, Professional Office Building, 1725 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois, and can be reached via I-90/I-94, I-290 or I-55.

From the north: Kennedy Expressway (I-90/I-94) to the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), west on the Eisenhower to the Ashland/Paulina exit, south (left) on Ashland Avenue to Harrison Street, and west (right) to the Medical Center.

From the west: Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to the Ashland/Paulina exit, straight one block to Ashland Avenue. Turn south (right) to Harrison Street, and west (right) to the Medical Center.

From the southwest: Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to the Ashland exit, north (left) on Ashland Avenue to Harrison Street, and west (left) to the Medical Center

From downtown Chicago: West on Congress Parkway, which becomes the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), to the Ashland/Paulina exit, south (left) to Harrison Street, and west (right) to the Medical Center.

For more detailed directions, call us at 312/563-4000.

When you arrive:

Rush University Medical Center provides a covered parking structure or valet parking. The parking structure can be entered from Harrison Street. Please remember to bring your self-park ticket with you to the CINN at Rush Outpatient Center to receive validation for a discounted parking rate. Enter the Professional Building via the fourth-floor pedestrian bridge. Valet parking is located at the west entrance of the Professional Building. If necessary, a wheelchair is available for you if you valet park. To inquire about parking fees please call the CINN at Rush Outpatient Office. Once in the Professional Building take elevator #3, if necessary, to the 1st floor.