All About Back & Neck Pain: Expert Advice

Expert Advice

Not sure of your condition?
Try our Spine Wizard.

This material does not constitute medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. No one associated with All About Back & Neck Pain will answer medical questions via email. Please consult a physician for specific treatment recommendations.

Q.	How can my neck be the problem when I feel the pain in my arm?
Q.	Will my doctor prescribe medications for my condition?
Q.	After I retired last year, my wife and I began walking for exercise to help the back problem I have had for years. I have noticed over the past few months that I get a burning pain in my legs after walking about 10 minutes. It goes away if I rest but then comes back again. Is this something I should be worried about?
Q.	What is the best aerobic exercise I can do to take care of my spine?
Q.	What exercises should I continue doing to keep my low back toned and healthy?
Q.	Which is better to use, heat or ice?
Q.	When will the pain in my spine away?
Q.	I keep reading about doctors prescribing Glucosamine for arthritis. Will this medication help my back pain?
Q.	I have a metal plate in my leg, and need an MRI Scan of my low back. I have been told that because the MRI Scanner uses a very strong magnet that I may not be able to have one done. Will I be able to have a MRI Scan.
Q.	Should I just lie in bed and avoid exercise if I am having extra back pain?
Q.	I've had pain and problems with my low back for many years. What can I expect from my spine surgery?
Q.	Are there any serious signs or conditions I should know about?
Q.	What should I expect on the first visit to my doctor?
Q.	My spine is really hurting. I thought I would just go ahead and have surgery, but my doctor is recommending conservative spine treatment instead. What is conservative treatment, and will it help my problem as much as surgery?
Q.	My doctor said my X-rays showed that a vertebra in my low back is slipping forward. Will this get worse and will my spine eventually slip off?
Q.	Part of my hand feels numb and my arm just doesn't seem as strong as it should. Could this be from a pinched nerve?
Q.	Both my parents have osteoarthritis. Does the pain in my upper back mean that I'm getting it too?
Q.	What does an X-ray show?
Q.	What information does an MRI scan give?
Q.	I have an injured disc and my doctor said I needed to have a discogram test. What is a discogram, and what will it show?
Q.	What can I do while I am at home to keep from having back pain?
Q.	What hobbies and recreational activities should I avoid?
Q.	Are abdominal "crunch" exercises the best way to keep from having low back pain?
Q.	Is "correct" posture really that important to the health of my spine?
Q.	Can I just use a brace to take my low back pain away?
Q.	My friend told me about a TENS unit she uses for her back pain. What is a TENS unit, and will it work for me?
Q.	As long as I have therapy I feel better; can I keep coming once each week?
Q.	If I have a spine fusion surgery using metal screws and rods, will they ever need to be removed?
Q.	I have metal screws in my back from a spine fusion. Will I be able to go through a metal detector at the airport?
Q.	My doctor has suggested that I have a spine fusion in my lower spine. How will this affect my ability to bend over?
Q.	I hear a crunching noise when I turn my neck. Is this bad? Should I have it checked?
Q.	Is there anything I can do now to help ease my pain?
Q.	My doctor has suggested a cortisone injection for my back. I have heard that cortisone is bad for you. What are the risks of having a cortisone injection?
Q.	I've had back pain off and on for years. Why does it keep coming back?
Q.	I thought I had a problem with my back. My doctor examined me and said it's not my back, but that I have a sacroiliac dysfunction. What is a sacroiliac dysfunction, and can I be sure that I don't have problems with my back?
Q.	What is the difference between a ruptured disc and a herniated disc?
Q.	What is the difference between a bulging disc and a herniated disc?
Q.	I have degenerative disc disease with spurs in my neck and back. Do you think I'll be in much pain the older I get?
Q.	My doctor said I need to have a spinal tap. What is this test, and why do I need it?
Q.	My doctor thinks I have a pinched nerve in my neck and wants to do an EMG test? What does EMG stand for, and how will this test help my doctor diagnose my condition?
Q.	I just turned 48 and my husband noticed that my upper back is starting to become rounded in appearance. Why is this, and will my posture continue to get worse?
Q.	Will a support belt or brace keep my low back safe when I lift at work?
Q.	What can I do if my pain comes back or gets worse?
Q.	My spine condition has kept me out of work for some time. When can I get back to work, and how will I know I can do my work safely?
Q.	I have pain at work. Is there anything that can be done to help me work with less pain?
Q.	When can I play golf, ride a bike, or go hiking after spine surgery?
Q.	Are lasers used in spine surgery?
Q.	If I have surgery to take out a disc in my back, what will replace the disc that the doctor removes?
Q.	My surgeon has suggested that I need a fusion between the C5 and C6 vertebrae in my neck. How will I be able to turn my neck after it is fused?
Q.	How will my doctor begin to examine my spine?
Q.	Are there other medical professionals who may be able to help me deal with my chronic spine pain?
Q.	I recently saw my family doctor for pain in my calf and foot. My family doctor said I have a herniated disc in my low back, so she referred me to a spine specialist. Can this be true? How can this pain be coming from something in my back?
Q.	My MRI Scan showed that I have a bulging disc in my lower back. Should I see a spine specialist?
Q.	How does a bone scan work?
Q.	I can't get comfortable in bed. Do I need a special mattress or pillow?
Q.	Will I need to have therapy until my pain goes completely away?
Q.	Should I lock my feet when doing a sit up?
Q.	Why do I need to quit smoking before having spine surgery?
Q.	How can I keep from having other problems with my spine in the future?
Q.	My doctor has suggested that I have a spine fusion surgery using a metal plate in my back. What are the chances my body will reject the metal plate?
Q.	This is the first time I've had low back pain. Will I have to have X-rays on my first visit to the doctor?
Q.	How will I know if surgery is needed?
Q.	I had scoliosis as a teenager and was told that it would stop after I stopped growing. I'm 32 now, and it seems to be getting worse. Could this be something else happening, or is the scoliosis getting worse? Will I need surgery?
Q.	What does a CAT scan show?
Q.	I get a lot of back pain when I sit at my computer. Do I need a new chair?
Q.	What can I do to keep from making my pain worse?
Q.	How much longer will I need physical therapy?
Q.	How can I get my activities done when I am in this much pain?
Q.	I'm scheduled for a spine fusion of my low back. Will I be able to get up and walk without difficulty after I have surgery?

© DePuy Spine, Inc. 2003-2008. All rights reserved.
This site is owned and published by DePuy Spine, Inc., which is solely responsible for its contents.
This site is intended for residents of the U.S. only.
For more information see our Privacy Policy and Legal Notice.