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SASpine One of the most elite spine practices in the country with world renowned surgeon, Dr Steven J.
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Cyr.šŸ†ā€¦ Offices in Houston and San Antonioā€¦ SASpine.comā€¦ ā˜Žļø(210) 487-7463

10/15/2026

Would you choose your specialty again?

Most plastic surgeons (97%), urologists (96%), and orthopedic surgeons (95%) say yes. Gastroenterology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and radiology also land above 90%.

Primary care looks different. Only 66% of family medicine doctors and 61% of internists would pick the same path if they had a do-over.

These numbers come from Medscapeā€™s 2023 survey of more than 10,000 physicians. The gap usually tracks with compensation, procedure volume, autonomy, and lifestyle controlā€”not just ā€œpassion.ā€

Would you choose yours again? Drop your specialty and yes or no in the comments.

Source: Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2023

What ACDF actually does to your neckI perform this operation more often than almost any other for patients who have neck...
10/15/2026

What ACDF actually does to your neck

I perform this operation more often than almost any other for patients who have neck pain and arm pain from a cervical disc problem. The neck is one of the most crowded and delicate areas in the body, so the procedure requires working within millimeters of the spinal cord.

By approaching from the front, we gain a direct path to the damaged disc without having to disturb the thick muscles in the back of the neck. Through a small horizontal incision, the damaged disc is removed and pressure is taken off the nerve or spinal cord.

A cage containing bone graft is then placed into the empty disc space, and a titanium plate with screws is applied to hold the segment still while the two vertebrae fuse into solid bone.

Most of my patients notice improvement in the arm pain relatively soon after surgery, although recovery of the neck itself takes longer. The purpose of the procedure is to achieve a stable decompression so the disc can no longer compress the nerve.

ā€” Dr. Steven Cyr ā€¢ Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

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Utah let an AI start writing prescriptions. The safeguards are thinner than they sound.The state is running the first U....
10/15/2026

Utah let an AI start writing prescriptions. The safeguards are thinner than they sound.

The state is running the first U.S. pilots allowing artificial intelligence to renew prescriptions for roughly 190 common chronic medications and to issue initial prescriptions for mild acne. Both use a phased physician review meant to decrease over time.

While pain medications and controlled substances are excluded, the Utah Medical Licensing Board has already called for the refill pilot to be immediately suspended.

Their warning is clear: patients could stay on outdated or suboptimal therapy for months or years without proper clinical reassessment. Every prescription decision requires human judgment about side effects, interactions, and changing conditions. An algorithm simply cannot replace that.

From Dr. Steven Cyr, Spine Surgeon:

"I have spent my career evaluating patients, adjusting treatment, and protecting the spinal cord and nerves. That requires real-time clinical judgmentā€”not a chatbot reviewing a chart. When algorithms start writing prescriptions, even with phased oversight, we risk missing the subtle changes that matter most. Patient safety must always come before convenience."

Would you trust an AI to refill one of your chronic medications? šŸ‘‡

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AI just helped surgeons remove a brain tumor in real time ā€” and the surgeons stayed fully in charge.Doctors at Universit...
10/15/2026

AI just helped surgeons remove a brain tumor in real time ā€” and the surgeons stayed fully in charge.

Doctors at University College London Hospital used live artificial intelligence during endoscopic surgery to remove an 11 mm pituitary tumor from a 48-year-old man. The system watched the endoscope feed as it happened, highlighted where critical blood vessels and optic nerves were most likely located, and tracked the instruments so the team could work in the safest zones.

This part of the skull base is packed tightly. A millimeter of error can affect vision, blood supply, or both. The AI did not operate. It functioned as an extra set of eyes trained on hundreds of prior cases, while the surgical team made every decision.

The patient reported improved vision and energy afterward. Researchers are now preparing a larger clinical trial. Technology like this can reduce risk when it is used the right way ā€” as support for the surgeon, not a substitute for judgment and skill.

ā€œAs a dual-trained spine and neurosurgical surgeon, I see tools like this the same way I see navigation and advanced imaging in the OR: useful when they sharpen awareness of critical anatomy, but never a replacement for the surgeonā€™s judgment. The millimeter-level risk around the pituitary and optic nerves is exactly why an extra set of trained eyes can help ā€” as long as the team stays fully in control.ā€ ā€” Dr Steven Cyr

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Would you want an AI tool like this assisting on a tight skull-base or spine case, or do you still prefer the surgeon working from imaging and experience alone?

10/14/2026

Doctors get criticized for earning what their training is actually worth.

Every surgeon I know has given up years of their life for this. Grueling training, sleepless nights, and the weight of carrying someoneā€™s future in their hands. That doesnā€™t stop when the training ends.

Running an ethical practice takes real resources. Staff, technology, liability coverage, and the infrastructure required to deliver high-level care all cost money. Fair compensation for specialized skill isnā€™t exploitation. Itā€™s what keeps high-level medicine possible.

I stand with the physicians who show up every day and do the work. The public narrative has drifted too far from the actual sacrifices required to practice medicine.

ā€” Dr Steven Cyr

What do you think? šŸ‘‡

Has the public perception shifted too far away from respecting the immense sacrifices required to practice medicine?

10/14/2026

These are low-cost options with some evidence behind them. They are not magic and they do not replace medical care when you need it.

ā€¢ Baking soda soak: Studies show it can remove a large portion of certain surface pesticide residues from produce, better than plain water in many cases.
ā€¢ Castor oil: Has limited data for mild hyperpigmentation. Results vary and it is not a guaranteed fix.
ā€¢ Black seed oil: Has anti-inflammatory effects supported by research.
ā€¢ Baking soda on teeth: Can help lift surface stains. It is not a bleaching agent.
ā€¢ Turmeric + black pepper: Has been studied for joint discomfort and inflammatory markers. Sometimes performs similarly to over-the-counter options for ongoing symptoms.
ā€¢ Magnesium glycinate: May support sleep quality and fewer muscle cramps, especially if levels are low.
ā€¢ Zinc: Important for normal immune function when someone is deficient.
ā€¢ Morning water + electrolytes: A common hydration habit some people find helpful.

Talk with your doctor before trying anything new.

Follow SASpine for health news and the context behind it. Save this and share it with someone who needs simple options.

10/14/2026

The ones that actually matter are the ones that cost you something real.

Most people chase the version that looks good from the outside. The ones worth remembering usually donā€™t. They take longer, ask more of you, and leave you different on the other side. Thatā€™s not a flaw in the process. Thatā€™s the process.

ā€” Dr Steven Cyr

Save this for the next time the easy option starts looking attractive.

10/13/2026

The people who go farthest start before they feel ready.

Most of the meaningful steps in my life happened while I still felt underprepared. Military service. Medical school. Spine fellowship. Building a practice.

You do not wait until every variable is perfect. You decide, you begin, and you adjust as you go. That discomfort is part of the process, not a reason to stay still.

Waiting for complete certainty keeps people stuck. Progress belongs to the ones who act while they are still figuring it out.

ā€” Dr Steven Cyr

Follow SASpine for health news and the context behind it.

10/08/2026

The people who last are rarely the ones with the most gifts or the best breaks.

They are the ones who return to the same standard on ordinary days, tired days, and days when no one is watching.

Discipline compounds quietly. One more case reviewed. One more rep finished. One more promise kept to yourself when quitting would have been easier.

ā€” Dr Steven Cyr

Save this for the morning the schedule feels heavier than the reason you started. Follow for more on the habits that actually carry a long career.

The joints that turn your head have no disc. What is holding the cord?The top two joints have no disc. Ligaments do the ...
10/07/2026

The joints that turn your head have no disc. What is holding the cord?

The top two joints have no disc. Ligaments do the holding. A strong strap keeps the peg of the second neck bone from drifting back into the spinal cord.

Side straps limit how far the head can turn. About half of all neck rotation happens right there. When those straps fail, the cord does not have much room to spare.

Neck pain with a nerve change is the pattern I do not shrug off. Clumsy hands, a new walking problem, or balance loss are not a posture issue.

A bad injury, rheumatoid arthritis, Down syndrome, and loose connective tissue raise the odds that the top of the neck is unstable.

Dizziness by itself is not the diagnosis. Dizziness with neck pain or a nerve finding needs a real workup, not a quick twist.

In adults, a gap of more than about 3 to 3.5 mm between the first neck bone and that peg is treated as unstable. Flexion and extension films still matter.

So does the space left for the cord. Catching it early is what keeps a ligament problem from becoming a cord problem.

ā€” Dr Steven Cyr | Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

Follow SASpine for spine education that separates a red flag from a stiff neck.

Address

11459 Huebner Road
San Antonio, TX
78230

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 8:30am - 12pm

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