Bones/Joints And Sports Injuries

Back pain is one of the most common physical complaints among adults – and a chief cause of misery for many. At some point in their lives, most people will experience some sort of back discomfort. Back pain describes pain or discomfort felt in the upper, middle, or lower back. The pain may extend to […]

The spine, which connects the skull to the pelvis, is also called the vertebral column. It consists of 24 segments of block-shaped bone called vertebrae and an additional 9 fused vertebrae that make up the lowest part of the spine, the sacrum and tailbone. Each vertebrae of the vertebral column has protruding bony areas for

Common Causes Of Back Pain The most common causes of lower back pain are sprains and strains. Strains Despite their size and strength, muscles of the lumbar spine can rip or tear. This is called a muscle “strain.” A strain is the result of a heavy load or sudden force applied to the muscles before

The type and severity of the back pain will depend on the condition that’s causing the pain. However, various causes of back pain may produce similar symptoms. Low back pain may come on suddenly or gradually. When low back pain is intense or “acute,” it usually lasts a brief period such as a few days to

The cause of the back pain is most often diagnosed through a history and a physical exam. Only 10% of those suffering from acute back pain will require any special diagnostic testing. In selected cases, clinical tests can help determine the cause and source of back pain. Because most symptoms of acute back pain resolve within four

The seriousness of back pain depends on the cause. Tumor, infection, and fractures are serious problems but are rare. Cauda equina syndrome, in which the nerves in the lower part of the spinal canal are compressed for any reason (such as by a herniated disc) or because of spinal stenosis may result in permanent incontinence

Surgery is an absolute last resort for the treatment of back pain (unless it is required for a surgical emergency). Your physician may suggest that you consider surgery if you continue to experience considerable pain despite nonsurgical treatment and if the cause of your back pain is due to something that can be surgically corrected.

In certain cases, surgery can significantly help back pain sufferers. For many, it can completely abolish the pain; for others, it can greatly reducing the level of pain suffered daily. But surgery is always a last resort, offered when conservative treatments have failed (unless there is an emergency indication for surgery). Back surgery has suffered

About 90 percent of people with acute low back problems will recover in one month. Sprains and strains of muscle and ligaments usually respond well to conservative treatment without any significant long-lasting effects. Mild pain does not justify surgery, and there’s little concern of irreversible changes occurring in the nerve. However, it is not uncommon for

The term “rotator cuff” refers to a group of  4 muscles in the shoulder that attach to the upper aspect of the humerus bone in the upper arm. The muscles connect to the bone by tendons, which are tough stringy tissues. The tendons of the 4 rotator cuff muscles combine to form the rotator cuff

Here are some frequently asked questions related to back pain. Q: What is a slipped disc? A: This is actually a mislabeling that refers to a herniated disc. In a herniated disc, the nucleus pulposus perforates the annulus fibrosis – but the entire disc does not “slip” out of place. Q: Back pain wakes me up at night. Are there any