All About Back Pain Treatments

Stem Cells and Degenerative Disc Disease

SpineUniverse interviewed Kaliq Chang, MD—an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist about stem cells in the treatment of degenerative disc disease.

6 Ways to Lower Your Back and Neck Pain Prescription Drug Costs

Given the rising drug costs, more people are facing the choice between scrimping to afford a prescription and suffering from back pain.

Questions You Should Ask About Pain and Pain Treatment

Pain isn’t just a symptom; it's also a condition—one that only you truly understand. Questions to help your doctor visualize your pain.

Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbosacral Medial Branch Block Information

An injection to block the medial branch nerves temporarily stops the transmission of pain signals from the spinal joints to the brain.

Solid Growth: Bone Grafts’ Role in Spine Surgery and Fusion Success

Ever-advancing medical technology has afforded patients undergoing neck or back spinal fusion surgery a wealth of options when it comes to bone grafts.

Should I Consider Artificial Disc Replacement for My Back or Neck Pain?

A spinal neurosurgeon and leader in total disc replacement, shares his thoughts on the current state of this surgical alternative to spinal fusion.

Understanding Lumbar Fusion Surgery

The goal of lumbar fusion surgery is to relieve low back and leg pain, numbness, tingling and weakness, restore nerve function, and stop or prevent abnormal motion in the spine.

The Role of Bone Graft in Spinal Fusion Surgery

Bone graft doesn't heal or fuse the spine immediately; instead, bone graft provides a foundation or scaffold for the patient's body to grow new bone.

Other Osteoporosis Medications That May Help Prevent Spinal Fractures

There are many different types of medications that doctors may prescribe to treat osteoporosis and help reduce the risk for a painful spinal fracture.

Conditions Treated with Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

9 spinal disorders that may be treated using minimally invasive spine surgery techniques and the potential benefits.

What Can Physical Therapy Do For Me?

What is physical therapy? What can a physical therapy program do for me that I cannot do on my own?

Interspinous Process Decompression

Discover how interspinous process decompression (IPD)—a minimally invasive spine surgery—can ease your back pain, and learn about its benefits and risks.

BMPs and Biologic Materials in Spine Surgery

There has been a great deal of controversy regarding the use of BMP in spine surgery. A practicing spine surgeon and leader in the field of biologic materials, answers our questions in the insightful interview.

SI Joint Fusion is Highly Successful in Most People Who Respond to an SI Joint Block

Sacroiliac (SI) joint fusion using the iFuse Implant System is highly successful in people with SI joint dysfunction who have a physical exam pointing to the SI joint and experience pain relief during a diagnostic SI joint block (injection of a numbing agent into the SI joint).

Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon Education and Training

Orthopaedic spine surgeons are highly educated medical professionals who specialize in treating all types of spinal disorders and conditions.

How Do Topical Drugs Reduce Back and Neck Pain?

Topical drugs seek to reduce inflammation below the skin surface and soothe nerve pain. Topical pain relieving drugs include preparations applied to the skin as a cream, ointment, gel, spray, or patch (eg, Lidoderm patch).

Neuropathic Drugs and Medications

Neuropathic pain is characterized by chronic burning, tingling, and numbness.This article explores the medication options for neuropathic pain.

Non-operative Interventions for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Ralph Rashbaum, MD, and orthopaedic spine surgeon answers questions posed by SpineUniverse about failed back surgery syndrome. In this segment, Dr. Rashbaum explains when surgery is not elective and important considerations for both patients and surgeons.

Causes of Failed Back Surgery Are Multifactorial

"How can surgeons reduce the risk for failed back surgery syndrome?" is the question Dr. Ralph Rashbaum answers.

What Is Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS)?

In order to be classified as failed back surgery syndrome, there has to be a correlation between the surgical event and the failure to improve as a direct result of the surgery.

What To Do If You’re Considering Back Surgery

If you are contemplating spine surgery, and want to potentially avoid failed back surgery, you may be interested to know what an orthopaedic spine surgeon recommends you consider—including, important questions to ask.

Treatment for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome

Failed back surgery syndrome, FBSS, and its treatment considerations are explained by Ralph Rashbaum, MD, an orthopaedic spine surgery. Dr. Rashbaum explains his approach to proper patient care when back surgery is not successful.

Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbosacral Spinal Nerve Injection (Diagnostic Transforaminal Injection)

A selective nerve root block provides important information about which nerve is causing pain.

What is Acupuncture?

By combining Western knowledge and techniques, acupuncture has become an acceptable and sought after treatment for many disorders including neck and back pain.

Chiropractor Comments About Back Pain Treatment Guidelines

A chiropractic doctor’s view and opinions of the low back pain treatment guidelines issued by the American College of Physicians.

Opioids for Chronic Neck Pain: Continue or Taper the Dose?

Lisa has taken an opioid to manage her chronic neck pain, but her doctor has recommended reducing her dose. Three spine doctors discuss.

Chiropractic Care: What Are the Real Risks?

Chiropractic procedures may appear dangerous or intimidating, but the reality is far from the rumor.

Cervical Epidural Injection

A cervical epidural injection places anti-inflammatory medicine into the spine's epidural space to reduce nerve root inflammation to help reduce neck pain, and shoulder and/or arm pain.

Spinal Cord Stimulation for Chronic Pain: What You Need to Know

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has become a standard of care for people with chronic back and neck pain. Neurosurgeon answers the questions patients ask.

Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbosacral Nerve Block

By confirming or denying the exact source of pain a nerve root block provides information allowing for proper treatment.

Thoracic Facet Joint Injection Information

A facet joint injection serves many purposes. Placement of numbing medicine into the joint, may reduce pain and helps confirm/deny the joint as a pain source.

Lumbar (Low Back) Artificial Discs: Spine Technology Update

The development of artificial discs for implantation into the low back started 20 years ago. Here is the history of these devices and where this technology is today.

Transforaminal Epidural Injections Treat Leg and Back Pain

Epidural glucocortoid, or steroid, spinal injections are commonly given to patient with leg and/or back pain to relieve pain and improve mobility.

Adult Stem Cells and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

The question what are adult stem cells and pluripotent stem cells is answered along with information about where these cells come from.

Drug Preparations Applied to the Skin Help Relieve Pain

Topical preparations are medications that can help reduce or alleviate pain caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and soft tissue trauma.

Magnet Therapy

Magnet therapy is a type of alternative treatment some people have used to minimize back pain.

What You Should Know About Sciatica and Nonsurgical Treatment

Two doctors explain sciatica causes and nonsurgical treatments to reduce low back pain, leg pain and other and sciatic symptoms.

What Disorders Do Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine Treat?

Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO) use a holistic approach in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with back and neck pain.

What Is a Physiatrist?

A physiatrist is a medical doctor with specialized training in physical medicine, rehabilitation, and pain medicine.

What Is a Spinal Cord Stimulation Trial?

A spinal cord stimulation trial period is necessary if you are considering this treatment to reduce and manage your chronic back pain.

How Is a Spinal Cord Stimulator Implanted?

Information about the surgical implantation of a spinal cord stimulation system is provided. If your spinal cord stimulation trial was successful, you may be eligible to have a SCS system permanently implanted to reduce and manage chronic back pain.

Spinal Cord Stimulation: Potential Benefits and Risks

The potential benefits and risk of spinal cord stimulation vary from patient to patient. It is important to understand that SCS may help reduce your pain, but not eliminate it.

Patients' Rights and Informed Consent

Patients rights and informed consent are guidelines designed to help establish a stronger relationship of trust among consumers, health care professionals, health care institutions and health plans.

What Is Microforaminotomy?

Microforaminotomy is a type of minimally invasive spine surgery that helps relieve pressure on your spinal cord or nerve roots. Smaller incisions and a faster recovery may make this procedure more attractive than open foraminotomy.

How Spine Surgery Treats Cervical Myelopathy and Deformity

Neurosurgeon explains his diagnosis and treatment of a patient with cervical myelopathy and deformity.

Anticonvulsant Medication May Help Relieve Neuropathic Neck and Back Pain

Anticonvulsant medication may reduce neuropathic neck and back pain that originates in the spine's nerves. An anticonvulsant, such as gabapentin, may be prescribed as a first line drug therapy or an adjuvant medicine for spine nerve pain.

Neurosurgeon or Orthopedic Surgeon? Does it Matter?

It is important for patients to realize that both neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons perform spine surgery. There is an emerging field of "spine surgery" that incorporates both specialties.

Bisphosphonates: Osteoporosis Medications That May Help Prevent Spinal Fractures

This article is about a specific class of drugs call bisphosphonates. These medications help increase bone mineral density in the spine (and hips) and may help reduce the risk of fracture.

Opioids Prescribed Short-term for Postoperative Pain Increased Addiction and Dependency Rates

A study reported a significant increase (10%) in opioid addiction or dependency in patients who received prescription opioid medication to treat postsurgical pain.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Surgery Treats Low Back Pain

ALIF may be recommended to treat certain spinal conditions that may cause back and/or leg pain or instability.

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All About Back Pain Treatments