| My father had an operation called a balloon kyphoplasty last month. He’s better, but still complaining of back pain. Can this operation be done more than once? | 8 years 7 weeks ago | 363 |
| My father had a percutaneous vertebroplasty two weeks ago for back pain from a vertebral compression fracture. So far there's been no change in his pain. What should we do? Wait longer? Try again? | 5 years 6 weeks ago | 346 |
| My father fell from a ladder last week and broke his back in two places. He doesn't want to have surgery and insists he will be fine. What will happen if he refuses treatment? | 5 years 51 weeks ago | 346 |
| My father died of a blood clot to the lungs after what was supposed to be a simple spinal fusion. How can this happen in today's modern medical world? | 9 years 14 weeks ago | 457 |
| My doctor wants to use electricity to help my spine heal after fusion surgery. How does this work? | 11 years 14 weeks ago | 349 |
| My doctor wants me to try a feedback program to help get my muscles working properly. This might help me with my back pain. How does it work? | 5 years 29 weeks ago | 348 |
| My doctor told me that patients who are “neurotic” don’t do as well after back surgery. What are these traits? | 8 years 2 weeks ago | 363 |
| My doctor showed me the little titanium cage that will be inserted when my disc is taken out. There were at least three different sizes and shapes of cages. One was tall and thin. The other was short and more like a ring. Why are they so different? | 5 years 29 weeks ago | 348 |
| My doctor says there's less of a chance that I'll get good results from spine surgery because I smoke. He thinks the bones in my spine may not grow together properly. Is there any way to get a better outcome, save quitting? | 11 years 14 weeks ago | 370 |
| My doctor said there's a natural protein that helps healing after spinal surgery. Is this a nutritional program? | 11 years 14 weeks ago | 358 |
| My doctor said that estrogen replacement can cause back problems after menopause. I'm fairly healthy. I exercise and don't smoke. I don't have arthritis or any other health problems. Am I still at risk for back pain? | 11 years 9 weeks ago | 361 |
| My doctor prescribed a drug for my nerve pain that seems to be helping. But I'm also starting to get other symptoms I didn't have before. Some of these are as annoying as the pain. What can I do about this? | 5 years 42 weeks ago | 349 |
| My doctor is trying to figure out whether I'll get good results from spine fusion surgery. He wants to try an external fixation device on me. He says if I get relief from this, I'll probably do well with surgery. Is he right? | 11 years 9 weeks ago | 351 |
| My doctor is sending me to a pain clinic for chronic back pain. I fell off a ladder two years ago, and I still have back pain. I have returned to work and can do everything required, but I still can't go golfing or bowling without a lot of pain the next day. What does "chronic" back pain mean, and will I ever get back to normal? | 11 years 9 weeks ago | 364 |
| My doctor insists that I quit smoking before I have spine surgery. Why? | 12 years 9 weeks ago | 412 |
| My doctor has sent me to a physical therapist to work on improving my spinal mobility. Just what is spinal mobility? | 5 years 17 weeks ago | 385 |
| My doctor has recommended an epidural steroid injection for my back pain. What is this? | 7 years 39 weeks ago | 353 |
| My doctor has labelled me a "chronic" back pain patient. She wants me to go to a pain
center for treatment. What makes someone chronic? | 7 years 35 weeks ago | 393 |
| My doctor has given me two separate options for the treatment of a compression fracture in my spine. I can have antiinflammatories, a back brace, and some exercises. Eventually, the back will heal and I'll be all right. Or I could have day surgery to put some cement in there to hold it together while it heals. This time next year the end-results will be the same. But the cement treatment could get me back on my feet faster. Is it worth the money? | 3 years 42 weeks ago | 495 |
| My doctor explained that keeping my spine bent forward at work can cause the tissues to lose tension, and lead to injury. I thought tension in your back was unhealthy. When is tension good? | 11 years 14 weeks ago | 441 |
| My daughter recently joined an equestrian team. I don't mean to be a worrywart, but I've heard that horseback riding can lead to back problems later on. Is my daughter at risk? | 11 years 43 weeks ago | 377 |
| My daughter is going into nursing as a career. I'm concerned because she is only 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 105 pounds. How can someone that small lift and carry big men three times her size? | 7 years 23 weeks ago | 351 |
| My daughter has had a few schwannomas removed. What exactly are they and how can the doctors tell that they aren't more serious than they are? | 5 years 46 weeks ago | 372 |
| My daughter came home with a note from the school nurse saying she might have scoliosis. We're supposed to take her to the doctor's and have it checked out. Where can I go on-line to get more information first? | 7 years 19 weeks ago | 355 |
| My Dad had back surgery about six months ago. He's about 62-years old. He complained mightily about back pain that went down his leg. The surgeon removed a disk that had gone bad and was pressing on a nerve. His leg pain went away but the back pain is still there. In fact, Dad thinks his pain is worse but we think he's way better. He can do more. He sleeps better. He isn't limping. Is he just looking for sympathy or what? We can't figure it out. | 3 years 21 weeks ago | 951 |
| My dad ended up having back problems after years in the construction business. Now that I'm running the family construction business, I'm worried I might get back pain. Can doctors do some kind of test to see whether I'll have back problems down the road? | 11 years 9 weeks ago | 351 |
| My dad and I both race horses, which we've heard can be hard on your back. He thinks I'm more at risk for back problems because I have less experience racing. I say he is because he has older bones. Who's right? | 11 years 43 weeks ago | 407 |
| My cousin just had a spinal fusion. The surgeon used a titanium cage put in between the bones to help hold it up. When I had this operation 10 years ago, they used bone graft from my hip. What else is new these days? | 5 years 39 weeks ago | 452 |
| My company won't invest in an ergonomic chair but I'm afraid that if I don't get one, my back will start hurting after a while. | 4 years 25 weeks ago | 606 |
| My children are all in elementary school. They seem to complain about shoulder, neck, and back pain more than normal for their age. What could be causing this? | 11 years 9 weeks ago | 355 |
