| FAQ | I read a magazine article about differences in how men and women use their backs while lifting. There was also some information about the differences between people who have hurt their backs compared to people who haven't. How do scientists get this information? | Matt | 300 |
| FAQ | Before beginning a new job on an assembly line, I had to attend a two-day class on how to prevent back injuries. Part of the class was on proper lifting and handling techniques. Has it ever really been proven that lifting in a certain way is good or bad for the back? | Matt | 436 |
| FAQ | I hurt my back while lifting at work. I've been off work for six weeks, and I've gained 20 pounds. I was already 20 pounds overweight. My doctor is advising me to lose weight to improve my back recovery. Will this really help? | Matt | 452 |
| FAQ | I had surgery on my back six months ago. The surgeon used a device that screws into the bone to hold it in place. Everything was going well until last week when part of the device broke. My doctor told me that the bone had healed. What could have caused the screws to break? | Matt | 371 |
| FAQ | My 69-year-old mother just had spinal surgery that included a fixation device to hold the healing bones in place. When the physical therapist came in to work with her, my mother was not allowed to walk a lot or sit up straight. Why is that? | Matt | 467 |
| FAQ | My 75-year-old father has developed age-related fractures in his spine. The doctor feels these are caused by wear and tear from arthritis and has scheduled my father for surgery. The surgeon will implant screws to hold the bone in place. What can we expect during my father's recovery? How soon will he be up and about? | Matt | 265 |
| FAQ | I've heard that stress can increase the risk of developing back problems. What kind of stress puts people at risk? | Matt | 264 |
| FAQ | My brother hurt his back in a work-related accident. The MRI showed a disc protruding in the low back at two different levels. I thought women in desk jobs were more likely to have this kind of problem. True? | Matt | 259 |
| FAQ | When an MRI is used to diagnose a disc problem, what does it show? | Matt | 323 |
| FAQ | I am 70 years old and had a stroke two years ago. Last week I slept too long in one position, and now I have a stiff neck. I would like to see a specialist for a neck adjustment. Is there a chance that neck manipulation will cause another stroke? | Matt | 501 |
| FAQ | I've been having adjustments for neck and shoulder pain. I've been told it's possible to have a stroke after neck manipulation. How soon would this happen, and how would I know it was happening? | Matt | 484 |
| FAQ | I've heard that having my neck adjusted can cause a stroke. Is this true? | Matt | 396 |
| FAQ | My niece has been diagnosed with bone cancer. The doctors have talked to the family about "limb salvage." What is this? | Matt | 360 |
| FAQ | Last year, I had quite a bit of low back pain. After seeing a physical therapist, I stayed pain free so long as I did the exercises the therapist prescribed. The exercises that seemed to help the most involved the muscles in my buttocks. What do these muscles do? | Matt | 327 |
| FAQ | I hurt my back while on the job. I never missed a day of work, but it’s been an uphill battle because of the pain. The doctor wants me to see a physical therapist for an exercise program. I’m having trouble fitting this into my schedule. How often do I need to go? | Matt | 485 |
| FAQ | I've just finished a six-week rehab program for chronic back pain. I'm back to work and feeling good. Do I need to do anything else to keep this good result? | Matt | 267 |
| FAQ | When I started having low back pain, I went to my doctor and a physical therapist. I got better quickly, but my daughter says that it’s because I wanted to get well … not because of anything they did to help me. Is this possible? | Matt | 301 |
| FAQ | I've heard that worker’s compensation patients are less likely to return to work after low back surgery. Is this true for neck surgery, too? | Matt | 364 |
| FAQ | I am a two-pack per day smoker. I'm planning to quit smoking so that I can have three bones in my neck fused together. The doctor has advised me that smoker's have more failed neck fusions than nonsmokers. How long before the operation should I quit to get this effect? | Matt | 596 |
| FAQ | I'm planning to have my neck fused in three places. I understand there are some risks with this operation. What can you tell me about these? | Matt | 516 |
