All About Back Pain Treatments

Mini-open ALIF

Discover how mini-open anterior lumbar interbody fusion is performed, what conditions it’s used for, and the risks associated with this minimally invasive spine surgery.

Spinal Pumps and Spinal Cord Stimulators

Although far from panaceas, spinal pumps and spinal cord stimulators have proven to be very effective with carefully selected patients whose severe pain persists despite prior treatment efforts.

The History of Chiropractic

Chiropractic started in the late 1800s, and it has come a long way since then. Learn about the development of chiropractic and its various techniques, such as spinal manipulation.

A doctor of chiropractic (DC), chiropractor or chiropractic physician, is an allied healthcare professional trained to diagnose and treat spinal disorders, including the body’s musculoskeletal and nervous systems. DCs treat infants, children, and adults and believe in non-surgical drug-free approaches to improving whole body health.

Chiropractor Education and Training

Chiropractic education and training is much more than spinal manipulation and includes anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and pathology.

10 Tips to Make Your Spine Care Experience Safer

As you work with medical professionals, remember you are a consumer of health services—and you’re more in control than you may think.

How Doctors of Chiropractic Manage Back and Neck Pain

The premise of chiropractic medicine is to be minimally invasive to the body and to enhance the body's ability to heal itself.

Medications for Back Pain and Neck Pain

Read important information regarding over-the-counter and prescription medications for both acute and chronic back pain.

The Truth about Cortisone Shots

Today, with a careful assessment of the benefits, cortisone is a very useful and effective tool in treating back pain.

Recovery from Lumbar Fusion Surgery

What to expect after lumbar fusion surgery during recovery includes post-operative activities, discharge instructions and warning signs that warrant calling your spine surgeon.

Procedure: Lumbar Laminectomy

Lumbar laminectomy is a type of decompression spine surgery performed in the low back. The purpose of the procedure is to remove nerve compression often caused by a herniated disc and/or bony overgrowths called osteophytes.

Regenerative Medicine Procedures, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

Information about the types of specialists who may perform stem cell therapies, how a procedure may be performed, and potential risks.

Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells 101

Regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy is a relatively new area of medicine. The purpose of this article series is to help you understand related terminology, and explain where human stem cells originate and how they develop.

Chiropractic Eases Low Back Pain in Female Veterans Studied

Study showed that chiropractic delivered meaningful relief to female veterans with low back pain.

From Facing Paralysis to Pain Free: One Man’s Spine Surgery Success Story

Firefighter’s story of cervical spinal cord compression caused by three bulging discs could have caused paralysis. His spine surgery journey and positive outcome.

Informed Consent in Plain Language

Knowing your rights related to informed consent will allow you to make decisions about your health with full knowledge and confidence.

After Spine Surgery: Eat Right to Heal Fast

After neck or back surgery your entire body goes through a recovery process. A high-quality diet or meal plan can help ensure a smoother and speedier one.

Sacroiliac and Lumbosacral Belts: A Type of Spinal Brace

Sacroiliac and lumbosacral belts are back braces that treat pain in the lumbar spine and sacrum. If you have low back pain, your doctor may recommend one of these spinal braces to immobilize the painful area and allow it to heal. Learn more here.

Joint and Soft Tissue Mobilization

Mobilization is a hands-on manual therapy designed to restore joint movement, power, and range of motion.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

These sample questions and guidelines will help you prepare for your visit with an osteopathic doctor.

Post-Operative Care: Activity, Incision Care, Rehab and Recovery

Each day following spine surgery the patient is encouraged to increase physical activity and to be as independent as possible.

Surgical Recovery: OK to Leave the Hospital

Before getting the okay to go home, your doctor will make sure of certain things. Learn more in this article.

Low Back Spinal Fusion vs an Artificial Disc Implant

SpineUniverse’s interview with Jack Zigler, MD continues. Here Dr. Zigler discusses the differences between lumbar spinal fusion and a surgical procedure wherein an artificial low back disc is implanted.

Long-term Lumbar (Low Back) Artificial Disc Studies Show Positive Results

SpineUniverse spoke with Jack Zigler, MD, an orthopaedic spine surgeon who has first-hand experience with low back artificial disc technology. Here he shares long-term results after studying patient outcomes.

Understanding Your Prescription

Understanding your prescription entails more than just filling it at the pharmacy. This guide includes important medication tips to take into consideration to help you and your family be healthy and safe.

Lumbar Discectomy: Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

This article gives a step-by-step overview of what happens during lumbar microdiscectomy surgery, which is a minimally-invasive surgical procedure used to treat herniated discs.

Epidural Steroid Injections and Low Back Pain

Epidural steroid injections are an effective method of treatment for more serious lower back pain.

Recovery from Lumbar Artificial Disc Surgery

Patients recover in artificial disc surgery in about half the time it takes to recover from lumbar spine fusion. Patients are up and walking the afternoon of their surgery.

What Treatments Do Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine Provide?

The aim of osteopathic medicine is to improve back or neck pain, range of motion, and function.

Preparing For Lumbar Fusion Surgery

Article provides hints on how to prepare your home, what to expect before admission and after admission for your lumbar surgery.

Surgical Wound Care: Questions and Answers

Read this article to get answers to the most common questions patients ask about spine surgical wound care.

Back Conditions Treated by Spinal Bracing

Read this article to learn about the back and neck conditions that may be treated using spinal bracing (also known as orthotic management).

Minimally Invasive TLIF (Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion)

PLIF and TLIF are two different types of fusion surgeries that may be effective in the treatment of spinal instability.

Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF): Advantages

A unique feature of the TLIF technique is its ability to restore interbody height and proper spinal curavature, which further helps to stabilize the spine and adds to its fusion potential.

Spine Specialists On-Call: Spinal Nerve Compression and Unilateral Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)

The goal of lumbar spine surgery typically involves removing pressure off spinal nerves, a procedure called nerve decompression.

Nerve Blocks: Medication Injections

Blocks with local anesthetic can be used to control acute pain. Blocks often provide diagnostic information, helping to determine the source of the pain.

Treating Low Back Pain with Passive Modalities

A good back rehab program is returning to function and activity while learning to control the symptoms of low back pain.

Back Pain Treatment: Acupuncture, Chiropractic, and Physical Therapy

Acupuncture, chiropractic, and/or physical therapy are treatments commonly provided to patients to help treat back and neck pain.

Back Pain Treatment: Spine Surgery

Before having spine surgery, make sure you fully understand your back pain treatment options.

Questions to Ask Your Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon

This guideline will help you prepare for your visit with an orthopaedic spine surgeon. Plus questions to ask.

What Treatments Do Orthopaedic Spine Surgeons Provide?

Some orthopaedic surgeons specialize in specific types of spine surgery, such as minimally invasive surgery.

Chiropractic Care Includes More than Spinal Manipulation

Chiropractic care is more than spinal manipulation: learn what else will happen at your chiropractor's office as he/she treats your back pain.

Hydrotherapy and Aquatic Therapy

Gentle water exercises use the water's resistance to build muscle strength and flexibility. Water exercise can benefit people who find weight bearing exercise difficult (or painful) on dry land.

Pain Relief and Healing with Laser Therapy

High-power lasers are typically found in physical therapy clinics and chiropractic offices.....

Osteoporosis Drug Shows Promise for Fracture Prevention

Osteoporosis affects many postmenopausal women. This study compared alendronate and romosozumab to determine which drug better reduced fracture risk.

6 Ways Regular Exercise Affects Chronic Pain

An analysis of 33 different studies concluded that exercise reduces pain and improves physical functionality related to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants and Stimulants

An overview of central nervous system (CNS) depressants and stimulants; their prescribed use and guidelines to prevent abuse.

Facet Rhizotomy

The goal of a facet rhizotomy is to relieve back pain by "shutting off" the pain signals. Facet rhizotomies are also called radiofrequency rhizotomies, and they are pain management techniques that target the nerves near the facet joints.