Online Patient Resources 

Patient Education





  • Intraoperative Monitoring     PDF Booklet
  • Nutrition and Your Spine     PDF Booklet
  • Spinal Tumors     PDF Booklet
  • Spondyloarthropathies     PDF Booklet

    • Related News Articles

  • Preventing Fall Related Vertebrtal Fractures
  • Needle Size and Imaging Used in Percutaneous Biopsies of the Spine
  • Understanding and Treating De-Novo Scoliosis in Adults
  • Spine Surgery For Achondroplasia
  • Whole Spine Imaging Study of Contortionists
  • Spinal Osteochondroma: Spectrum of a Rare Disease
  • What Do We Know About "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome"?
  • One-Minute, 12-Item Health Survey to Measure Effect of Treatment
  • Effect of Aquatic Exercise on Pain
  • Debate About Optimal Care for Spinal Fractures
  • Preventing Paralysis From Falls Out of Hunting Tree Stands
  • Comparing Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty for Vertebral Compression Fractures
  • Backs and Beds
  • Back Pain Is Unrelated to Age
  • The History of Spinal Disease in Medicine
  • Don't Depend on Patients Health Report After Motor Vehicle Accidents
  • Complaints of the Arm, Neck, and/or Shoulder Common in the Open Population
  • Success of Repeated Percutaneous Vertebroplasty
  • Best Way to Monitor Neurologic Function During Cervical Spine Surgery
  • Surgeons Advised to Avoid Presence-or-Absence Method for Intraoperative Monitoring
  • A friend of mine at work has suggested I try an intense training program he went through in order to get back to work after a long bout of low back pain. Our insurance doesn't cover it. He assures me it was worth it. Is something like this really worth the money?
  • Standarization of Back Pain Definitions
  • Predictors of Acute Neck and Back Pain Progression to Chronicity and Disability
  • Management Strategies for Rheumatic Disorders
  • Preventing Infections After Spinal Surgery
  • Test of Spinal Mobility Called Into Question
  • EMF As a Cause of Metal Implant Failure in Spinal Fusion
  • Modified Pfirrman Grading System
  • Performing Surgical Treatment for Congenital Scoliosis and Intraspinal Deformity at the Same Time Appears to Be Safe Option
  • Long-Term Results of Treatment for Burst Type Spinal Fractures
  • Most Common Cause of Disability: Neck and Back Pain
  • Finding a Substitute for Autologous Bone Graft
  • Identification of Target Sign and Diagnosis of Schwannomas
  • Should Spinal Fusion Be Done in One or Two Stages?
  • Risk Factors and Complications After Posterior Fusion for Scoliosis
  • Evidence Lacking for Treatment of Adult Scoliosis
  • Calcium Crystal Deposits in the Disc
  • When Surgery is Valuable for Herniated Disc
  • Predicting Results With Neuroreflexotherapy for Neck and Back Pain
  • Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain Just as Active as People without Back Pain
  • Untreatable Pain From Osteoporosis Fractures May Be Controlled with Constant Morphine Injection to Spine
  • Greater Improvement in Neck and Back Pain After Naprapathic Therapy
  • Update Alert: ASIPP Releases 2007 Pain Management Guidelines
  • Identifying Schwannomatosis in Patients with Multiple Tumors
  • New Model for Treatment Decisions in Cancer Patients with Spinal Tumors
  • Review of Current Bone Graft Materials
  • Data Collection Needed for Less Common Cancers
  • Injection With Cement Compound Reduces Pain, Improves Function in Patients With Vertebral Compression Fractures
  • Case Report of Rare Spinal Tumor
  • Using Vacuum-Assisted Closure with Spinal Wound Infections
  • VAC System Used to Treat Spinal Wound Infection
  • Obesity Linked to Problems in Spine Surgery
  • MRI Detects Spinal Tuberculosis
  • Chronic Pain Patients Need a Breakthrough
  • Rare Complication After Spinal Surgery
  • Protocol For Treating Spinal Metastases After Tumor Removal
  • Review of Treatment Options for Osteoporotic Spine Fractures
  • Update on Treatment of Spondyloarthropathy
  • Three New Alternatives to Spinal Fusion
  • Spinal Cord Stimulation Hardware: The Next Generation
  • Measuring the Benefit of Neck or Back Surgery
  • Cost of Adverse Events with Spinal Cord Stimulation
  • A Working Definition of Disc Degeneration
  • Physical Therapists Increase Use of Spinal Manipulation for Back Pain
  • Sagittal Rotation Leads to Sagittal Translation in Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Controlling Back Pain with Change in Attitude and Behavior
  • Right Patient, Right Site, Right Surgery
  • Unusual Case of Spinal Synovial Cyst
  • Update on the Source of Facet Joint Pain
  • New and Improved Treatment for Spinal Arthritis
  • Spine Surgeries on the Rise in the U.S.
  • Routine Lab Test After Disc Removal Advised
  • Doctors Review Scoliosis-Related Web Sites
  • Review of New Bone Substitute for Vetebral Fractures
  • Core Stability: What is It?
  • Medical or Alternative Treatment for Back Pain?
  • Simple Approach to Simple Back Pain: Simply Exercise
  • Advice or Exercise? The Low-Cost Way to Stabilize Your Back
  • Of Muscles, Posture, and Back Pain
  • New Report on Safety of Kyphoplasty
  • Recovery after First-Time Back Pain
  • Treating Chronic Back Pain: What Works Best?
  • New Findings about Spondylolysis in Young Athletes
  • Teenagers, Spine Fusion, and Heavy Metals
  • Getting to the Center of Back Pain
  • Disc Removal: Some or All?
  • The Long and The Short of Spinal Fusion
  • Don't Bend and Lift after Sitting for Hours
  • Back Pain Electric
  • Predicting Future Episodes of Back Pain
  • Equating Satisfaction and Results after Spine Fusion Surgery
  • Is 80 Too Old for Back Surgery?
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Opens Up Options
  • Follow-up on Total Disc Replacement
  • Trunk Exercises With and Without a Swiss Ball: Does It Make a Difference?
  • Back Pain in Alpine Ski Instructors
  • Update on Artificial Disc Replacement
  • Creepy Findings about Repetitive Use of the Spine
  • Surgeons Review Early Results of Disc Replacements
  • Quality of Life Improved with Vertebroplasty in Frail Elderly
  • The Pressure of Handling Sudden, Heavy Loads
  • The Second Coming of Back Pain
  • Getting to the Core of Back Pain
  • Summary of Findings Using Prolotherapy for Chronic Back Pain
  • Artificial Disc Compared to Spine Fusion
  • Whiplash Injury Treated by Physical Therapy
  • Spinal Discs under Pressure
  • Report on Back Pain in the Netherlands
  • Back Pain among Homemakers
  • Regaining Confidence Despite Chronic Back Pain
  • A Stable Spine Is a Healthy Spine
  • Facing the Fear of Back Pain Head On
  • Cracking the Code for Improved Healing of Spondylolysis
  • Effects of Smoking on Rehab for Chronic Back Pain
  • Remedy for Feeling Less Back Pain than You Bargained For
  • When Less is More for Rating Low-Back Impairment
  • National Trends in Health Care for Back Pain
  • There's More to Back Pain than Pain in the Back
  • Back Pain: It's Not Just For Adults
  • Looking Closely at the Muscles along the Spine
  • The Link between Back Pain and Old Age
  • Gunshot Fragments Can Lead to Lead Poisoning
  • Boeing Test Model Used to Measure Results of Spinal Fusion
  • Golfers, Learn to Backhand Back Pain
  • Kids, Backpacks, and Back Pain
  • Blood Clots and Spine Surgery
  • Ouch! The Health Care Costs of Back Pain
  • More Clues to Back Pain in Adults
  • Back Protection when Faced with Sudden and Shifting Loads
  • Bothered by Back Pain
  • A Shot in the Back for Back Pain
  • Three Cases of Paralysis after Lumbar Surgery
  • Fixing Severe Spine Fractures in Aging Adults
  • Low Back Pain and Physical Activity in an Israeli Town
  • Animal Model Used to Study Disc Degeneration in Humans
  • Novel Use of Titanium Cages for Spine Reconstruction Surgery
  • Oink if you Love a Stable Spine
  • Another Matrix Reloaded: New Treatment for Damaged Discs
  • Case Report of a Rare Spinal Injury
  • Getting Kids Back to Health with Physical Activity
  • Positive Encouragement, Usual Care, or Both after Disc Surgery?
  • Finding and Treating the Cause of Back-Related Testicular Pain
  • The Many Sides to Work-Related Back Pain
  • Predicting Results of Epidural Injections for Sciatica
  • A Measure of Patient Satisfaction after Back Surgery
  • Back Pain in the Golden Years
  • Mind and Body Matters for Getting Back to Work after Neck or Back Pain
  • Comparing Thought and Action in Patients with Low Back Pain
  • Bringing Home the Back Pain
  • First Trial of Radiation to Reduce Scar Tissue around Spinal Nerves
  • Spine Operations by Orthopedic Surgeons
  • Total Disc Replacement Replaces Spinal Fusion When All Else Fails
  • Early Results of Total Disc Replacement Reported
  • Pulsed or Thermal Radiofrequency for Back Pain?
  • Fitting the Worker to the Workplace
  • Comparing Spine Fusion with and without Growth Factors
  • Which is Worse: Neck Pain, Arm Pain, or Both?
  • Bracing for Scoliosis: 22 Years down the Road
  • Activity Not Linked to Back Pain in Kids
  • New Imaging Method May Someday Make Spine Surgery Easier
  • Nicotine's Effect on the Disc
  • Measuring Your Exertion while Exercising
  • Smoking, Obesity, and Your Back
  • A Review of Studies Using Radiofrequency for Neck and Back Pain
  • Pumping Up the Spine
  • Cementing the Spine
  • New Memory Coiling Spiral Replaces Center of Disc
  • Not All Disc Replacements Are Alike
  • Creative Surgical Solutions to Painful Back Problems
  • Computers and Medical Research
  • CT Scan Gives Insider View of Spinal Fusion
  • Finding Familiar Treatments for Unfamiliar Sources of Back Pain
  • Strength in Numbers for Successful Spinal Fusion
  • Drugs, Acupuncture, or Manipulation for Back Pain?
  • Returning to Work after Severe Back Pain
  • Back Pain in College Rowers
  • New Spinal Injection Treatment for Low Back Pain
  • Taking Sides on Low Back X-rays
  • Understanding the Risks of a New Treatment for Back Pain
  • School Kids' Backpacks May Not Carry the Blame for Back Pain
  • Back Pain and Backpacks
  • The Future of Disc Transplantation
  • Spinal Fusion Using Gene Therapy
  • Spine Loads During Lifting: Gender Matters
  • Aging Spines Speak to the Realities of "Pars Defects" in the Low Back
  • Spines of Pregnant Women Are Slow to Recover
  • Are Kids Packing Future Back Pain?
  • Experimenting with Cement for Lumbar Fusion
  • Still Searching for Results of Total Disc Replacement
  • Spine Bones Get a Boost from Electric Current
  • New Discovery Aids Spinal Fusion
  • Getting to the Nerve Root of Spinal Pain
  • Effect of Spinal Fusion on the Rest of the Spine
  • Making Exercise Attractive for People with Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • An Injured Disc's Effect on the Spinal Nerve
  • Comparing Two Diseases Affecting Bones: Osteoporosis and Spine Osteoarthritis
  • Back Bones Send a Painful Message
  • Why Do More Women Than Men Suffer Back Pain? Blame It on the Stork
  • Lumbar Fusion Can Be a Pain in the Sacroiliac
  • Making Sense of Joint Sense in the Low Back
  • Preventing Soccer Injuries May be a Stretch
  • Two Words to Help Back Pain: Exercise, Exercise
  • Seek-and-Destroy Mission for Facet Joint Pain
  • Traffic Crashes Can Be Hazardous to the Spine
  • Charging Up the Spine after Fusion Surgery
  • Joint Looseness May Explain Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy
  • Gender Differences Make a Difference when Lifting
  • Fragile Breakthrough: Spine Clinics Urged to Combat Osteoporosis
  • Absorbing the Newest Breakthroughs in Spine Fusion
  • Benchmark Results Obtained to Compare the Success of Spine Fusion
  • Cagey New Spine Fusion Techniques Packed for Success
  • Putting the Screws to Scoliosis Surgery
  • As If AS Isn't Enough
  • Rib Bone Connected to the . . . Tailbone?
  • Back Off Smoking
  • Expect Less and Get More after Back Surgery
  • The Sixth Sense of Back Pain
  • Posture Perfect
  • When Infection Affects the Spine
  • Breathe, and Lift
  • Get a Trade-in for Your Old, Worn-out Disc
  • Back Pain Got You Down?
  • Desktop or Laptop? Some Body-Friendly Advice for Computer Users
  • Pulling the Plug on Electrical Stimulation for Low Back Pain? Not Yet
  • Osteoarthritis Versus Osteoporosis: Researchers Have a Bone to Pick
  • Short but True: The Real Reason We Lose Height with Age
  • Early Education Reduces Back Pain in Children
  • Smokers: Don't Read This
  • Obesity and Back Problems: Connecting the Dots
  • It Takes a Village to Carry a Backpack
  • Most Likely to See a Chiropractor: Educated White Women Win
  • Teens and Exercise: Movement Skills Help Determine Whether Kids "Just Do It"
  • News Flash after the Hot Flash: Estrogen Replacement Is Linked to Back Pain in Postmenopausal Women
  • A Bad Back in the Saddle
  • For Elders, Lifting Can Be a Real Pain in the Back
  • Biting the Bullet to Avoid Going under the Knife
  • When Getting Back Patients Back to Work, Function Comes before Pain
  • MRI in the Operating Room: Seeing Is Believing, But Is It Worth the Effort?
  • Finding the Balance between Surgery and Conservative Treatment for Disc Herniation
  • For Back and Neck Pain, an Ounce of Prevention Is Worth--Almost Nothing?
  • Getting the Straight Story on Scoliosis Surgery
  • The TLSO Brace Puts a Halt to Progressive Spinal Curves of Scoliosis
  • The Foundations of Back Pain
  • Cracking the Thin Shell Surrounding the Causes of Adolescent Scoliosis
  • Sucking the Life into Spine Wounds
  • Putting the Squeeze on Old Yeller's Discs
  • Surgery or No Surgery? That Is the Question
  • The "Eyes" Have It
  • New Thoughts to Keep Back Problems from Becoming Chronic
  • Making Butts about Smoking Improves the Chance Smokers Will Quit
  • Slipping Back in Time to Keep Spines from Slipping Forward
  • Quitters Never Win--Except for Smokers Who Need Spine Fusion Surgery
  • Back Surgery, the Movie--Coming Soon to a Surgeon's Office Near You
  • Spines at Risk: Snowboarders Versus Skiers

    • FAQs

  • I've always had excellent health and no back problems. Everyone else at work had back pain but not me. Now I've had some unexpected back pain myself. I'm freaked out that I won't get better. Is there any way to tell who will or won't get over it?
  • My back hurts when I lay down, and I can't get any sleep. Would a special mattress help me?
  • My back started hurting last week. What exercises should I avoid?
  • I have back pain. Are there any symptoms I should watch out for that mean I should get medical help right away?
  • I am having back problems. How will the doctor examine my spine?
  • I have a desk job. How can I lower my chances of having back problems from sitting down all day?
  • What is arachnoiditis?
  • I've been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. How fast can I expect my pain to increase as my discs degenerate?
  • What is a discogram?
  • My young daughter wants to compete in gymnastics. Will it hurt her low back?
  • I am going to have surgery for a bulging disc. My doctor wants to do a procedure called IDET. What is IDET?
  • Do doctors use lasers for spine surgery?
  • My back is really hurting. Should I just stay in bed?
  • I have so much back pain. How do I get through my day?
  • I'm resigned to living with back pain. How can I keep it from getting worse?
  • Why is good posture important for my back and neck?
  • I'm recovering from my first episode of back pain, and I'm worried. I've heard that back pain always comes back. What can I do to try to prevent that?
  • I don't have any back problems, but almost everyone in my family does. What exercises can I do to keep my back healthy?
  • I've had back pain on and off for five years now. Why won't it go away?
  • I am going to have spine fusion. Will I be able to walk right after surgery?
  • A disc in my low back is causing pain. I'm scheduled to have a surgical procedure called interdiscal electrothermal therapy. Will this surgery make my back weaker?
  • When will I finish physical therapy--when my back pain goes away?
  • I have intense pain going down my leg. I have tried everything to make it go away--multiple back surgeries, strong pain medications, and almost every kind of pain management treatment possible. My doctor is recommending an epidural stimulator. What is it?
  • What is epiduralysis? My doctor is recommending it to me. I have had three back surgeries and have developed problems from all the scar tissue.
  • I have just finished a physical therapy program for my back. But my therapist wants me to keep doing exercises at home. How long do I have to keep this up?
  • I am going to have spine fusion surgery. The surgeon is going to put metal screws and rods in my back. Will they stay there forever?
  • I have bad back pain. Do I need surgery?
  • I have pain in my lower back caused by spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebrae in the lower spine). I will be undergoing fusion surgery, and I've been doing some research on the procedure. I've read that some doctors like to use a pedicle screw. Would a pedicle screw improve my results after surgery?
  • I just found out that I'm pregnant. Are there any exercises to keep my back from hurting later in my pregnancy?
  • I had a baby months ago, but my back still hurts. What can I do about it?
  • I am an avid exerciser. Now I'm pregnant, and I want to keep working out. Is that OK, even late in my pregnancy? Are there exercises I shouldn't do?
  • I am eight months pregnant. The pain in my lower back is excruciating. What can I do to ease the pain?
  • I'm pregnant, and my doctor says I have swayback posture. Does this mean I'll have back problems while I'm pregnant?
  • My fusion surgery didn't heal right, and the pain is excruciating. My doctor says I have pseudarthrosis. What is it, and what can I do about it?
  • I am going to have a metal plate put in my back during spine surgery. I've heard that bodies sometimes reject implants. Could this happen to me?
  • My doctor insists that I quit smoking before I have spine surgery. Why?
  • My hand feels numb, and my arm isn't as strong as it used to be. My husband thinks this is a pinched nerve. Is he right?
  • Why doesn't my therapist just run the ultrasound along the center of my back, where the pain is?
  • I get a deep ache when my therapist gives me ultrasound treatments on my back. Should I just put up with it?
  • I noticed at a recent bridge party that half of the women there had a dowager's hump, that hump at the top of the spine. Most of us are nearing 80. Why do some people develop a hump and others don't?
  • I was a horse-racing jockey for 10 years and never had an injury. I quit the sport, but now I'm having a lot of pain in my low back. Is this normal?
  • My dad and I both race horses, which we've heard can be hard on your back. He thinks I'm more at risk for back problems because I have less experience racing. I say he is because he has older bones. Who's right?
  • My daughter recently joined an equestrian team. I don't mean to be a worrywart, but I've heard that horseback riding can lead to back problems later on. Is my daughter at risk?
  • Does low back pain affect kids?
  • Several months ago, I began having pain in my low back. Now I have pain from my lower back all the way up to my neck. Could this back and neck pain account for my tiredness lately?
  • Our hospital is thinking of buying equipment to help nurses lift and move patients, but it's a big investment. Does this equipment really help nurses' backs?
  • Do special devices to help lift and move patients result in fewer injuries for nurses?
  • Our hospital is looking to buy more patient handling equipment. Is there a difference between manual and mechanical equipment in terms of preventing back problems for health care workers?
  • My doctor says there's less of a chance that I'll get good results from spine surgery because I smoke. He thinks the bones in my spine may not grow together properly. Is there any way to get a better outcome, save quitting?
  • My doctor said there's a natural protein that helps healing after spinal surgery. Is this a nutritional program?
  • My doctor wants to use electricity to help my spine heal after fusion surgery. How does this work?
  • My doctor explained that keeping my spine bent forward at work can cause the tissues to lose tension, and lead to injury. I thought tension in your back was unhealthy. When is tension good?
  • It seems I'm always bending forward at work, and I'm worried about the effects on my low back. How much rest does my back need to keep from getting injured?
  • I hurt my back at work last month. Now I am seeing a physical therapist for exercises. Will I have to do these exercises for the rest of my life?
  • I know that both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons perform specialized spine surgeries. What are the potential differences between the two in terms of training?
  • I'm scheduled to see a spine surgeon next week. It sounds like I might need surgery. What are some questions I should ask to make sure I don't end up having a surgery I don't really need?
  • Is ankylosing spondylitis associated with intestinal problems?
  • Is there any way to know for sure whether I'll get good results from spine fusion surgery?
  • What is external fixation, and how does it work for low back pain?
  • My doctor is trying to figure out whether I'll get good results from spine fusion surgery. He wants to try an external fixation device on me. He says if I get relief from this, I'll probably do well with surgery. Is he right?
  • I hurt my back six months ago and still haven't fully recovered. The doctor has put me on medication for depression even though I don't feel sad or depressed. How is this going to help me?
  • Last night I got a telephone call from a health company doing a telephone survey. Usually I don't take these kinds of calls, but maybe I should. Are these companies really making a difference with their research?
  • My wife and I have both had back injuries and years of back pain. After therapy and surgery, my wife still has trouble climbing stairs, getting in and out of the car, and even sitting for very long. Although I have returned to work, my pain level goes way up by the end of the day. We have three children and wonder if they will have weak backs. Is there anything we can do to help them keep healthy backs?
  • For patients with low back pain, what limits physical performance? Their pain or their mood?
  • I know that patients with low back pain can get depressed and/or anxious. Do depression and anxiety cause patients to have more pain with physical activity? And do mental health issues limit activity?
  • My husband has had low back pain for years. He hardly does anything, and he seems depressed. What's keeping him on the couch? Is it what's in his back, or what's in his head?
  • Are women more likely than men to injure their backs in college sports events?
  • I read a report that said back injuries are more common in people who do not like their jobs. Does this same principle apply to the sports world?
  • I just graduated from high school and plan to attend college in the fall. I hurt my back at the end of the track season, but everything seems fine now. I received a college sports scholarship in women's track and field. Is there any reason to notify the college sports program about this injury?
  • I recently hurt my back at work and went to see my doctor. The doctor told me to avoid bed rest and keep active. What kind of activity is best?
  • I used to be on estrogen replacement, but I'm not anymore. I've heard that estrogen can cause back problems after menopause. Am I at risk, even though I stopped taking estrogen five years ago?
  • My doctor said that estrogen replacement can cause back problems after menopause. I'm fairly healthy. I exercise and don't smoke. I don't have arthritis or any other health problems. Am I still at risk for back pain?
  • I just started hormone replacement therapy. A friend told me that the extra estrogen in my system could give me back problems. Is this true?
  • How should I position my spine when I sleep in order to protect my lower back?
  • I had microdiscectomy surgery on my low back. Will I be more likely to injure this area from hard work, and will my risk of injury get better or worse with time?
  • My dad ended up having back problems after years in the construction business. Now that I'm running the family construction business, I'm worried I might get back pain. Can doctors do some kind of test to see whether I'll have back problems down the road?
  • My nurse practitioner recently diagnosed my back pain as osteoporosis. He recommended I go on medication for it. I'm 72 and generally feel great. What's the big deal?
  • As a personal trainer, I see a lot of clients with low back pain. Is there something more than aerobic and strength training that I can do to help them?
  • Do holistic treatments for low back pain improve patients' health?
  • I recently hurt my low back. Now the pain flares up every time I try to get going again. Could I be trying to do too much?
  • What's the best "window of opportunity" for teaching kids basic movement skills?
  • Why do some people with back pain recover while others go on to have chronic pain?
  • Do people with low back pain have a harder time getting back to their normal activities than people with neck pain?
  • My husband has back pain from an accident at work. He says the pain has gotten better, but still he doesn't do the activities he used to. Is this cause for concern?
  • I have had back pain off and on for the last six months. I think the long hours sitting in front of my computer may be the cause. What can I do to strengthen my back?
  • The news is full of reports of increasing obesity among our young people. Longer periods of time in front of the television or computer and less physical activity seem to be major problems. Do these things also cause back pain in teenagers?
  • I am the mother of two teenagers, a girl (15 years old) and a boy (13). I notice that my daughter seems to have back pain much more often than my son. This does not seem to be related to her menstrual cycle. Is this common?
  • My doctor is sending me to a pain clinic for chronic back pain. I fell off a ladder two years ago, and I still have back pain. I have returned to work and can do everything required, but I still can't go golfing or bowling without a lot of pain the next day. What does "chronic" back pain mean, and will I ever get back to normal?
  • It is a new school year, and that means choosing a new backpack for my child. What's the best design to help her carry heavy loads each day?
  • My children are all in elementary school. They seem to complain about shoulder, neck, and back pain more than normal for their age. What could be causing this?
  • My 13-year-old son is much smaller than the other boys in his class. When I picked up his backpack the other day, it must have weighed close to 30 pounds. He only weighs 80 pounds. Isn't his backpack too heavy for his size?
  • Do people seeking chiropractic care for back pain have different problems than people who see medical doctors?
  • How much should I bend my knees while lifting objects?
  • I've heard that it's important to lift objects the right way, but what's the right way to lift?
  • I am planning to have back surgery to fuse my spine for a moderately severe scoliosis. The doctor told me that sometimes the surgery is not successful. How often does the surgery have a poor result, and what causes this?
  • What is spinal stenosis, and what causes it?
  • With so much back pain and injury among adults, shouldn't we start early and teach our children how to prevent these problems?
  • My son is supposed to participate in a class about back care at school. What kind of information do they give children in these classes?
  • It seems like we're hearing more and more about children having back pain. How often does this really happen?
  • I am 55 years old and seem to be getting shorter as I get older. What causes this?
  • I was recently diagnosed with several small fractures in my back. The doctor called these vertebral compression fractures. I have had bone mineral density tests. Now, I am scheduled for a bone scan to count the total number of fractures. Why is this necessary?
  • What do medical doctors say about complementary therapies?
  • In two weeks, I’m scheduled for a test that will decide if I’m ready to go back to work. I’m worried that I’ll have to do too much and reinjure myself. Should I say something about this when I go in for the test?
  • I have a fairly nice gym set up for myself at home. This gives me the flexibility of exercising whenever my schedule allows. I did work with a personal trainer for about a month. On my own at home, I notice that my effort seems less. Even though I am doing the same exercises, will there be the same effect as when someone is coaching me?
  • What are complementary therapies?
  • I have had upper back and neck pain off and on for several months. Nothing the doctor has given me has helped. Should I try something else like acupuncture or massage?
  • I heard that scientists have found nerves in the bones of the spine. Aren’t nerves everywhere? How does this new information make a difference?
  • Every now and then, I hear scientists talk about substance P in a news report. What is this and why is it important?
  • My daughter was just told she has an epidural abscess. This has been causing low back pain and leg muscle weakness. What is an epidural abscess?
  • My husband has been having low back pain constantly for the last six weeks. The MRI showed an intradural lipoma. What is this?
  • I had surgery on my back to remove a tumor. It turned out to be a herniated disk in an unusual area. Doesn’t the MRI show the difference between these two?
  • I've heard the inside of a spinal disc is made of a jelly kind of substance. What's really in it?
  • I've had two disc herniations. The first one came on slowly over a couple years. The second one hit me suddenly. One day I was fine, and the next day I was off my feet in agony. Can you explain the difference?
  • I'm scheduled to start a six-week series of prolotherapy injections for chronic hip and back pain. Before going into it, I'd like to know what could go wrong.
  • Do weight lifters ever hurt their backs? How do they lift all that weight without injury?
  • I saw a news report that doctors can use computers now to surgically fuse the spine. How does this work?
  • My father died of a blood clot to the lungs after what was supposed to be a simple spinal fusion. How can this happen in today's modern medical world?
  • Airbags only work for front-end automobile collisions. What protects us from a rear or side impact?
  • My very elderly mother (93 years old) often complains of back and neck pain. It seems to come and go, only lasting a day or two. And it's never in the same place twice in a row. Is this normal or should we take her to the doctor for this?
  • My husband and I have two sets of twins (our own). All four babies weighed less than four pounds each. They are in good health now, but does their small size put them at risk for more diseases in adult life?
  • I had a car accident six months ago. My doctor tells me I'm completely recovered, but I'm still not moving normally. Will this stiffness and change in movement ever get better?
  • I need some kind of treatment for back pain that will reduce my pain. I also need to be able to move freely to perform my job. Should I see a doctor, chiropractor, or physical therapist?
  • Ten years ago I had a disc problem. Doctors used an MRI to find it. Now I've had another disc go bad on me. Instead of an MRI, the doctor wants to do a discography. Why didn't they do this the last time I had a disc problem?
  • Is it better to brace yourself for a car accident or remain relaxed and unknowing?
  • What's an extraforaminal disc herniation? I understand herniation means the disc has pushed out of its own space between the bones in the spine. What's the extraforaminal?
  • I've been looking into getting a disc replacement for a back problem I've had for 10 years. I've been told more surgery might be needed after that. How likely is a second operation after a disc replacement? What would it be for?
  • I see they have disc replacements now. I had a spinal fusion years ago before these things were on the market. Does it ever happen that the spine fuses itself anyway when an artificial disc is used?
  • I see in the newspaper they are advertising these new artificial discs for the spine. Can I have more than one disc replaced at a time? Or do I need a separate surgery for each one?
  • I seem to have a very slouched posture no matter what I do. Is this because I'm tall (6'4") or just a family trait? I see the same posture in my father and my son.
  • Is it really possible to have pain going on 10 years from a disc problem?
  • I hurt my back while on the job. I never missed a day of work, but it’s been an uphill battle because of the pain. The doctor wants me to see a physical therapist for an exercise program. I’m having trouble fitting this into my schedule. How often do I need to go?
  • I am a 72-year old man with two back problems. I have spinal stenosis and disc degeneration. The exercises for stenosis cause my disc problem to flare up. Is there anything that will treat one without making the other worse?
  • My 83-year old mother is in declining health. She has had three vertebral bone fractures and lost six inches in height. Now she is complaining that it’s difficult to breathe and she can’t swallow easily. Could a brace or other treatment help her?
  • My father had an operation called a balloon kyphoplasty last month. He’s better, but still complaining of back pain. Can this operation be done more than once?
  • I heard there’s a new treatment for fractures of the spine. It’s called “balloons for bones.” What is this?
  • I heard there’s a new treatment in Switzerland for low back pain called kryorhizotomy. What’s it for?
  • I’m going to have an operation to remove a bulging disc. How does the doctor do this?
  • What is a post-laminectomy syndrome?
  • Two years ago, I had an operation to remove a disc in my low back. I was completely pain free after the operation. I reinjured my back and had to have the same operation on a different disc. This time, the pain is still there. The same doctor did both operations. Why the different results?
  • I had surgery on my back to remove a tumor. It turned out to be a herniated disk in an unusual area. Doesn’t the MRI show the difference between these two?
  • I saw on a science TV show that new discoveries are being made about the nerves to the backbone. What are some of these?
  • I heard that scientists have found nerves in the bones of the spine. Aren’t nerves everywhere? How does this new information make a difference?
  • I’m the owner of a medium-sized company that makes boxes. What’s the latest thinking about work-related injuries? Should workers be given treatment right away or more of a “wait-and-see” approach?
  • I heard a report from Canada that physical therapy keeps people from returning to work after an injury. Is this true?
  • I am an active horsewoman. I ride, train, and show horses on a regular basis. Is there any reason I can’t go back to these activities after back surgery? I am having a disc and part of the bone removed.
  • I’m going to have back surgery to remove two discs. I’ve heard different advice about restricting my activities after the operation. What’s the latest on this?
  • Our local YMCA has a new piece of equipment to strengthen the low back. It’s called a “Roman chair.” If this is designed to work the low back muscles, how come my leg and buttocks are sore?
  • What is proprioceptive training for the spine?
  • In my exercise class, we are often on hands and knees trying to balance on one leg and one arm. I find if very hard to keep my back straight when doing this exercise. Is this true for everyone or do I have some specific weakness?
  • Do white and blue-collar workers get the same amount of neck and back pain?
  • I've heard that more and more back surgery is done without even cutting open the spine. How does this compare to the old way of doing back surgery?
  • Two years ago I had a spinal fusion. The fusion is fine but the place where they took bone from my pelvic bone for the graft is still very painful. Is this normal? Will it ever go away?
  • I am a store manager with 55 employees. When someone hurts his or her back while on the job, can doctors tell if the person is pretending to be in pain? Sometimes, I wonder if injured workers are telling the truth about their symptoms.
  • My doctor told me that patients who are “neurotic” don’t do as well after back surgery. What are these traits?
  • My husband still has back pain after a work injury that took place two years ago. How can we be sure this isn’t something more serious like cancer?
  • I‘m on worker’s compensation for a work-related back injury. The doctor’s report mentions disability and impairment. What’s the difference between these two things?
  • My 23-year old son was recently told he has unilateral spondylolysis of the spine. The medical report says it's "benign." What does this mean?
  • What is a stress reaction of the spine?
  • Is it really true we are taller in the morning than in the evening?
  • I'm having some new back pain along the side of my spine. It's not in the spine itself. What could be causing this?
  • When I'm down at the Senior Citizen's Center it seems everyone is getting medical information off the internet. I'm not "surfing savvy." Am I missing something by just asking my doctor about my problems?
  • Can I talk to my doctor about information I get about my medical condition off the internet? Are doctors up to speed with information on the web?
  • What's the difference between herniated disc and slipped disc? I want to use the internet to look up some information about the problem but I'm not sure which words to put into the search engine.
  • There are six people listed in our phone book who do acupuncture. They all advertise a different type of acupuncture. What kind should I get for my chronic low back pain?
  • Three years ago, I was diagnosed with an inherited condition called Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). I’m 23-years old. I’ve been advised to exercise, but I don’t see the point as I’m already in good condition from an active lifestyle. What can you tell me about this?
  • My 80-year old grandma has become more and more stooped over. What is happening to cause this?
  • Six years ago, I had a disc herniation. The tests showed it was just protruding from its normal space. There was no pressure on the nearby spinal nerve. Now, I have injured another disk. This time there is protrusion and pressure on the nerve. Will this make a difference in my recovery?
  • I hurt my back about a week ago. Nothing happened then, but now I am having back pain and leg pain. Could this be caused by the injury from last week?
  • I saw a science program on back pain caused by disc herniation. Most of the studies were done on rats and dogs. How can this help us understand human injuries?
  • I am a 25-year old with moderate scoliosis. I’m always trying to keep up with treatment for scoliosis. What can you tell me about the new titanium cages to fuse the spine for this condition?
  • I saw a special on TV about the new titanium cages for spinal fusion. How do they know these really work?
  • My 17-year old son was just told that he has a form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis. The doctor says that regular exercise is important for this disease. What does this mean exactly?
  • Three years ago, I was diagnosed with an inherited condition called Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). I’m 23-years old. I’ve been advised to exercise, but I don’t see the point as I’m already in good condition from an active lifestyle. What can you tell me about this?
  • I am a 22 year-old college athlete on my way to play baseball with a farm league. When I was 16, I had spondylolysis. This was treated with a brace and rest. Is there any chance I could get this again?
  • I hurt my back at work and used up all my sick leave. I feel perfectly fine now but I'm worried the problem might come back. Does this happen very often or am I home free now?
  • I work on an assembly line placing 20-ounce water bottles in cardboard boxes. When the box is half full, I pick it up and move it to a different conveyor belt. I think the muscles on one side of my spine are getting over developed from this. Is this bad?
  • Am I more likely to hurt my back while lifting if the weight shifts or if it’s a sudden, unexpected load?
  • Can the strength of back muscles actually be measured?
  • It seems with computers and all the advanced technology available, a simple thing like back pain could be cured. What’s the hold up?
  • I injured my back at work six months ago. After surgery and rehab, I’m back on the job. I’m having trouble with balance and my job requires climbing ladders. Is this connected to my back problems?
  • I am 59-years old. I've been diagnosed with back pain from progressive disc disease. What changes occur with this progression?
  • My doctor has recommended an epidural steroid injection for my back pain. What is this?
  • I’ve heard that steroid injections are bad for you. When is it okay to have one for neck or back pain?
  • Is there any way to predict whether or not I can return to work if I have a disc removed in my back?
  • I saw a science program about finding a substitute for bone. What’s wrong with using the real thing? Why do we need a substitute?
  • I’m a bit of a science buff. After having my spine fused last year, I’ve been following all the studies on spinal fusion. I heard about a new manmade substitute for bone used in fusions. What is this called?
  • I’ve heard there’s a new device that can help bone regrow after spinal fusion. What can you tell me about this?
  • As part of a new program, I had an electrical device implanted in my spine. It is supposed to help bone growth after a spinal fusion. The implant won’t be removed unless there’s a problem. Does this seem right?
  • I know disc replacements have been around for a long time. How come they are so much more popular now?
  • I'm pretty disappointed. I had an artificial disc replacement and I'm no better than I was before. I still have back pain everyday. I'm still using heavy-duty drugs to control the pain. And I can't move any more than before. Am I a rare bird or is this everyone's experience?
  • I'm doing a high-school science project on back pain. I read a report that there are at least 37 different causes of back pain. It didn't say what those are. Can you tell me some of them?
  • I went to a spine center for help with some chronic back pain I've been having. They asked me to fill out a form for some national spine network. I didn't do it because I don't want to get a lot of junk mail. What's the purpose of these surveys anyway?
  • Why don't more people make use of physical therapists? I've gotten the most help from them than anyone else for my back pain. And I've tried a lot of different people from acupuncturists to massage therapy.
  • Why don't doctors and chiropractors agree about low back pain? My doctor wants to order an X-ray to see what's wrong. My chiropractor says it won't show anything because it's a soft tissue injury. My doctor wants me to rest and take anti-inflammatory drugs. My chiropractor wants to treat me.
  • My doctor has labelled me a "chronic" back pain patient. She wants me to go to a pain center for treatment. What makes someone chronic?
  • Is it true that humans are taller in the morning than we are at night? If so, why?
  • Yesterday I had a car accident when I was rear-ended at a stop light. I'm wondering if I should still go to the emergency room for a check up?
  • I've heard there are certain words people use to describe back pain that's really an emotional response to their problem. If I said my pain is "extremely bothersome" would I fall into that group?
  • I understand different exercises are used if the spine has too much motion versus too little motion. Is it possible to have both problems at the same time?
  • It seems like surgery can be done with the smallest incision these days. But my neighbor had a spinal fusion and ended up with a long scar along the side of her spine. Was that really necessary?
  • Why me? Why now? I'm finally pain-free after back surgery two days ago and now my right thigh is numb. Is this normal? Why me??
  • I am a coach for a high school track team. Ever since last summer I've had some numbness on the front and side of my left thigh. It seems to come and go but it's staying longer now. What could be causing this?
  • I am in nursing training and have taken a few anatomy classes. I know the nerves from the spinal cord control strength and sensation in the legs. How does a bulging disc pressing on the L5, S1 nerve cause leg weakness around the knees? Are the muscles of the knees controlled by the L2 to L4 nerves?
  • I just had the muscle strength in my back and legs tested. I was much weaker than I expected. Could the back pain I have off and on cause this or is it something else?
  • What's the difference between a hypermobile spine and a hypomobile spine? I've been told my upper back is hypermobile and my low back is hypomobile. What does this mean really?
  • My wife is going to have a disc replacement in just a few weeks. She's wondering how soon she'll see results of this surgery.
  • I heard you can get disc replacements now. Are these available for the neck? I have two discs that have to be removed. Maybe I could get them replaced instead.
  • I had some tests done that show my low back pain is coming from a damaged and protruding disc. I opted to try diet and exercise instead of an operation. So far I've lost 50 pounds and my back pain is better. It does seem like a slow recovery. How can I tell if the disc is getting better without getting another MRI?
  • My daughter is going into nursing as a career. I'm concerned because she is only 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 105 pounds. How can someone that small lift and carry big men three times her size?
  • My daughter came home with a note from the school nurse saying she might have scoliosis. We're supposed to take her to the doctor's and have it checked out. Where can I go o