Cervical Disc Surgery: Replacement vs. Fusion for Neck Pain

If you have a herniated disc in your neck, you know the feeling: the constant ache in your neck, the electric shocks down your arm, the numbness in your fingers that makes buttoning a shirt impossible.

When physical therapy and injections stop working, surgery becomes the conversation. For decades, the "gold standard" was to fuse the bones together (ACDF). But today, active patients in New York have a better option: Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR).

At Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care, Dr. Carlos Castro and Dr. Joseph Weinstein are at the forefront of motion-preserving spine surgery. We don't just want to stop the pain; we want you to keep moving your neck.

For most people, a meniscus tear is an inconvenience. But if you’re a police officer in Queens, a firefighter in Long Island, or a teacher on your feet all day, it’s a threat to your livelihood. You don't just need to walk; you need to run, climb, or stand specifically for hours without your knee giving out.

The question isn't just "Will I recover?" It's "How fast can I get back to full duty?"

At Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care, Dr. Joseph Weinstein understands the urgency of occupational recovery. We work with active professionals across the NYC metro area to create aggressive yet safe return-to-work protocols following meniscus surgery.

Herniated Disc Surgery: When Physical Therapy Fails

You've done the work. You went to physical therapy three times a week. You took the anti-inflammatories. You maybe even tried an epidural injection. But the pain in your leg—the burning, electric sciatica—is still there.

There is a frustrating "limbo" phase in back pain treatment where you feel like you've run out of options but aren't sure if you're "bad enough" for surgery.

At Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care, we specialize in helping patients navigate this exact moment. Dr. Carlos Castro and Dr. Joseph Weinstein don't push surgery as a first resort, but when conservative care fails, we offer the definitive solution: Microdiscectomy.

If you’ve been suffering from chronic back pain in Queens or Long Island, you’ve probably been hearing about injections as a form of treatment. But the terminology can be confusing. Epidurals, blocks, ablations—what's the difference? And more importantly, which one is best for your pain?

At Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care, we feel that a well-informed patient is an empowered patient. These cutting-edge treatments are an everyday part of what Dr. Joseph E. Weinstein and Dr. Carlos Castro do to help their patients avoid surgery and get back to living actively again. This guide will take you through the most common injections for back pain, explaining how they work and who may or may not benefit.

It used to be that if you wanted a top-tier orthopedic surgeon on Long Island, you made the trek into Manhattan. It involved driving through traffic, wrestling for a parking space, and giving up half your day for a 20-minute chat. But world-class orthopedic care is now mere blocks away for Valley Stream and the surrounding Nassau County community.

At Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care, our Valley Stream location isn’t just a satellite office; it’s an all-out orthopedic-centered space. Under the leadership of Dr. Joseph E. Weinstein and Dr. Carlos Castro, we offer university-level expertise in spine, knee, and shoulder surgery right here in your community. If you hurt your knee at Hendrickson Park or suffer chronic back pain from your commute — well, you don’t need to traverse a bridge for relief.

It begins with a twinge in your lower back. Next, a searing pain shoots down your leg. You blink your eyes, and simply sitting in a chair or walking to the mailbox is an ordeal. If that situation rings a bell, perhaps you're one of the millions of Americans who have lumbar radiculopathy, which is generally known as sciatica or a pinched nerve.

Most Valley Stream and Queens residents have experienced finding lower back pain relief in the form of trial and error. But you don’t have to ride the wave all by yourself. At Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care, Dr. Joseph E. Weinstein and Dr. Carlos Castro specialize in diagnosing the underlying causes of radiculopathy and providing effective treatment to get you back on your feet—without pain. In most cases, conservative treatments are all you need to find relief from radiculopathy pain.

Cervical stenosis occurs when the spinal canal in the neck narrows, compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots. It can cause neck pain, stiffness, radiating arm pain, numbness, or weakness. In severe cases, it affects balance and fine motor control.

At Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care, Spine Surgeon Dr. Carlos Castro, MD provides advanced diagnosis and treatment—from conservative care to minimally invasive surgical solutions.

Recovering from rotator cuff surgery is a structured process designed to protect the repair and restore full shoulder function. This guide outlines typical milestones, exercises, and expectations so you can return safely to work, sports, and daily life.

At Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care, shoulder specialist Dr. Joseph E. Weinstein, DO emphasizes individualized recovery plans and coordinated physical therapy.

Shoulder Labral Tear: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Options

Shoulder labral tears are a common cause of shoulder pain and instability—especially in athletes and active adults. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that helps stabilize the shoulder joint; when torn, it can lead to clicking, catching, weakness, and difficulty with overhead activity.

At Comprehensive Orthopedic & Spine Care, Dr. Joseph E. Weinstein, DO—a shoulder specialist—provides expert diagnosis and treatment, from non-surgical care to minimally invasive arthroscopic labral repair.

Meniscus tears are among the most common knee injuries affecting active adults across the NYC metropolitan area—from weekend athletes in Queens to recreational enthusiasts in Long Island and New Jersey. Whether caused by sports activities, trauma, or degenerative changes, a torn meniscus can significantly impact mobility and quality of life if not properly addressed.

Shoulder pain from a rotator cuff tear can make everyday tasks challenging for residents across the NYC metropolitan area. Whether you're in Valley Stream Long Island, Rego Park Queens, or Englewood New Jersey, a torn rotator cuff can significantly impact your quality of life and daily activities.

Do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement projects are a point of pride for many homeowners in Englewood, New Jersey. Whether you’re painting a room, installing new shelves, clearing gutters, or doing light remodeling work, tackling tasks around the house can be satisfying—and cost-effective.

Valley Stream residents love their gardens. Whether you’re planting seasonal flowers, trimming hedges, pulling weeds, or maintaining a backyard vegetable patch, gardening offers a peaceful escape—and physical activity that connects you with nature. But even a simple day outdoors can lead to neck, shoulder, back, or knee pain if your body isn’t properly prepared.

Rego Park, Queens is known for its vibrant, health-conscious lifestyle. Flushing Meadows-Corona Park’s trails are packed with runners, bikers, and rollerbladers. Local gyms, tennis clubs, and indoor golf facilities keep residents active year-round. But with activity comes risk—sports injuries are increasingly common among Rego Park residents of all ages.

Pickleball has exploded in popularity across the U.S. in recent years. With smaller courts, lighter paddles, and a blend of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong mechanics, it’s easy to pick up and addictively fun. But like any sport, pickleball carries injury risks—particularly to the back, neck, knees and shoulder.