| FAQ | If I have an artificial disc replacement and something goes wrong, what happens then? Can I get a second replacement? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | I'm going to have back surgery in the next few weeks. The surgeon has offered to just take out the problem disc. Another option is to remove the disk and take out a piece of the bone along the spine. Taking out the bone takes pressure off the nerves. I could have both operations at the same time and save myself the trouble later. What works best? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | My mother-in-law has leg and back pain from spinal stenosis. There's been some talk about surgery for this problem. Is the risk of developing other problems from the surgery worth taking a chance to get some pain relief? We don't know what to tell her. | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | Six months ago, I had a spinal cord stimulator put in my spine to control chronic and severe back pain. At first I got great relief. My pain went from a 10 down to a two or three. Now it's back up to a five. What happened? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | My doctor has referred me to a restoration program for back pain. What can I expect from such a thing? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | I just had my six-month check up after getting a new lumbar disc replacement. I feel great: no pain after three years of constant pain. But the X-ray shows ossification around the implant. Will this eventually cause me some problems? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | Three years ago I had a disc removed and replaced with an artificial one. I knew it might not last forever, but I was surprised to find out it already has to be removed. What happens now? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | My doctor has suggested I try aerobic exercise to help with my chronic low back pain. I've never really exercised much. What do I do to get started? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | My father-in-law is planning to have a spinal fusion. He's osteoporotic so he can't donate his own bone needed for the graft. He is going to accept bone from a donor bank. Is there a risk of getting AIDs this way? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | My doctor has suggested I see a psychologist to help me manage my chronic low back pain. The problem is that my insurance company won't pay for it. I can't afford it on my own. What else can I do? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | Our newspaper had a press release from the National Pain Foundation that said back pain is on the rise in U.S. workers. What's causing this to happen? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | I went with my wife to see the surgeon who is planning to do a lumbar disc replacement on her. He showed us the device that will be used. It's made of some kind of chromium and cobalt metal. The thing I don't understand is how such a big implant can fit inside my tiny wife. Is it one-size-fits-all? Also it has a jagged fin on it that looks like a shark. Where does that go? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | My brother is going to have a spinal fusion alot like I did two years ago. The main difference is my surgery was done from the front. He says his surgeon is going to open him up from the back. Is this something new? How is it decided which way to do this operation? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | I've been having sciatic pain for quite some time now. Would there be any benefit to getting an MRI to find out what's going on? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | I'm starting to understand the idea of evidence-based medicine. What's the best evidence about spinal fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis? I'm facing this problem myself right now. | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | I'm 52-years old and starting to have some back pain that won't go away. It's really taking a toll on what I can and can't do. I notice that my 83-year old aunt, who has had chronic low back pain for the past 10 years, complains about the pain but gets along without any apparent difficulty. How do you explain this? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | My doctor and the physical therapist who is treating me both think my low back pain is coming from the spinal joint. What's the best treatment for a problem like this? | Matt | 260 |
| FAQ | My doctor has advised me to have a spinal fusion at two levels in my lumbar spine. Is there any way to tell ahead of time if this will work? | Matt | 261 |
| FAQ | I've been having some low back pain for about six months now. I'm seeing a physical therapist who wants me to start doing things that make it hurt. I'm better when I avoid those movements. Doesn't it seem like I should do whatever it takes to keep from hurting? | Matt | 261 |
| FAQ | I've had bouts of low back pain off and on for the last three years. I notice when I work out at the gym I feel better. As soon as I lay off the exercise, the back pain is back.
Will I ever heal or am I stuck with the daily gym routine? | Matt | 261 |
