FAQ's
01. I have an aching, electrical feeling down my leg when I stand and walk. What could it be?
02. I have pain that shoots from my hip down to my foot. My doctor has diagnosed a low back problem even though I don't have back pain. Is this possible?
03. I'm pregnant and experiencing back and leg pain. What can be done to help alleviate this discomfort during my pregnancy?
04. Is it true that smoking is bad for my back?
05. I think my scoliosis is progressing. What should I do?
06. Why does my arm feel like pins and needles?
07. Generally, what causes back pain?
08. I’ve been told I have a bulging disc. Is this normal?
09. I have arthritis in my spine. Is this something I have to learn to live with?
10. What is a laminectomy?
11. Can I bend over if I have a fusion?
12. What is lumbar instability?
13. Two weeks ago I had a microdiscectomy. I don’t feel pain, but I still have numbness in my leg. Will the numbness be permanent?
14 . My back bothers me during the night. What are some things you suggest that would help my back so that I can sleep?
15. Is an MRI the only test used to determine if and what nerves are being compressed?
16 . I am feeling a lot of back pain. I’m about 80 years old and have been diagnosed with severe calcification of the lower spine. Vioxx has not helped to relieve my pain. Is surgery my only answer? How else is calcification treated?
17 . I have a ruptured disc. Could this affect my bladder function as well as sexual performance?
18. I have been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. Most of the time I feel fine; but once in a while the pain is nearly excruciating. Is surgery something I should consider, or should I try to go with conservative treatments?
19 . What causes a herniated disc?
20. When is spine surgery usually necessary?
21. Can disc herniations in the low back eventually cause paralysis?
22. My child has been diagnosed with scoliosis. What are the chances she will experience severe back pain in adulthood?
23. What are bone spurs and what is their cause?
24. What is the best sleeping position to protect my back after spine surgery?
1. I have an aching, electrical feeling down my leg when I stand and walk. What could it be?
A. You could have symptoms coming from a condition called spinal stenosis. This is a condition in which there is narrowing of the nerve openings either around the spinal cord or nerve roots - usually as a result of deterioration and aging of the spinal column. The leg pain, weakness and/or numbness are caused by the progressive narrowing that puts pressure on the spinal nerves. Your physician will suggest the best of several treatments for spinal stenosis, which include injections, medications and, sometimes, surgery (laminectomy).
^TOP
2. I have pain that shoots from my hip down to my foot. My doctor has diagnosed a low back problem even though I don't have back pain. Is this possible?
A. Advice from an expert is recommended, but it sounds like you have sciatica. There are many causes of sciatica. Your pain symptoms are from pinched or inflamed nerves that go from the back down the legs - causing pain, burning, and numbness in the leg. This can occur in the absence of any back pain.
^TOP
3. I'm pregnant and experiencing back and leg pain. What can be done to help alleviate this discomfort during my pregnancy?
A. With most women, pregnancy comes with some back pain. The most common cause of back pain in pregnancy is your sacral iliac joint. Your obstetrician should be alerted to your low-back discomfort and may recommend prenatal-safe medication, exercises and support belts. Only in cases of severe neurological impairment is spinal surgery remotely considered.
^TOP
4. Is it true that smoking is bad for my back?
A. In general, smoking is very harmful to your health. Evidence shows that smoking is a risk factor for degenerative disc disease because it diminishes nutrition and hydration to discs. The lack of nutrition and hydration to the disc causes the disc space to collapse - creating a bone-on-bone situation and abnormal wear on the joints.
^TOP
5. I think my scoliosis is progressing. What should I do?
A. Scoliosis is a side-to-side bending of the spine, rarely progressing in adults but most frequently will progress during adolescent growth spurts. If evaluation shows your curve is progressing, surgery could be considered if bracing and other non-operative measures failed.
^TOP
6. Why does my arm feel like pins and needles?
A. Most commonly, this involves a compression of a nerve either at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome), elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome) or neck (herniated disc). An evaluation by a physical examination and an MRI of your neck will determine the exact source. Treatment modalities include medications, physical therapy, bracing, injections or surgery.
^TOP
7. Generally, what causes back pain?
A. There can be many different causes of back pain. The most common is degeneration of the spinal joints or discs. Other causes are muscle strain, problems with the sacral iliac joint, referred pain from your kidneys and/or trauma.
^TOP
8. I’ve been told I have a bulging disc. Is this normal?
A. Most bulging discs are the natural result of disc degeneration for people over the age of 30. The nature of the bulge rarely causes symptoms unless it is associated with conditions such as spinal canal narrowing, also known as spinal stenosis. Disc bulges are generally left alone unless they are compressing the nerves, causing leg pain.
^TOP
9. I have arthritis in my spine. Is this something I have to learn to live with?
A. Backaches from arthritis can usually be managed with physical therapy, medication and, in rare cases, a back brace. Generally, surgery is not helpful for back pain caused by arthritis.
^TOP
10. What is a laminectomy?
A. It’s a surgical procedure to remove the lamina – the part of bone in the spine covering the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. The purpose of this procedure is to gain access to the nerves, to treat spinal stenosis or remove a disc herniation.
^TOP
11. Can I bend over if I have a fusion?
A. Yes. Most of the motion, when you bend at your waist, occurs in yours hips. Most likely, you’ll only have 1 or 2 levels of your spine fused. Sacrificing some motion may occur – but the alternative is less back pain, allowing you to have better motion than before. Generally, there is very little change in motion from this operation.
^TOP
12. What is lumbar instability?
A. This is a condition that may contribute to back or leg pain. It refers to abnormal motion of the spine under normal conditions. It may also result in certain spinal deformities and/or nerve compression.
^TOP
13. Two weeks ago I had a microdiscectomy. I don’t feel pain, but I still have numbness in my leg. Will the numbness be permanent?
A. It is typical for pain to dissipate quicker than numbness in the leg. You can expect it to take several weeks, months, or maybe even a year before the numbness will go away completely. After a year, if the numbness is still there it is probably permanent.
^TOP
14 . My back bothers me during the night. What are some things you suggest that would help my back so that I can sleep?
A. Try to avoid sleeping on your stomach. If you find yourself in this position often, try placing a pillow under your stomach to maintain support of the lumbar spine. A pillow between the legs can be a good support when lying on your side. A pillow under the knees is often helpful when lying on your back.
^TOP
15. Is an MRI the only test used to determine if and what nerves are being compressed?
A. An MRI scan is definitely the best test, but there are other alternatives. A CT scan with myelography is just as effective as an MRI but is more painful because it involves a spinal injection. An EMG study of the leg (electromyography) can explore whether a muscle group is affected; but this is a non-specific test and does not find a lot of disc herniations.
^TOP
16. I am feeling a lot of back pain. I’m about 80 years old and have been diagnosed with severe calcification of the lower spine. Vioxx has not helped to relieve my pain. Is surgery my only answer? How else is calcification treated?
A. Typically, calcification is not painful or relieved through spinal surgical techniques unless they compress the nerves - causing sciatica. The pain could be from degenerative spondylolisthesis or osteoarthritis. Water therapy and physical therapy are highly recommended for this condition. Surgery is indicated for a sciatica.
^TOP
17. I have a ruptured disc. Could this affect my bladder function as well as sexual performance?
A. It could directly affect the bladder function and cause either incontinence or an inability to empty the bladder. If you have these symptoms you should contact your physician immediately. If you’re in a lot of pain, it could also indirectly affect sexual function.
^TOP
18. I have been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. Most of the time I feel fine; but once in a while the pain is nearly excruciating. Is surgery something I should consider, or should I try to go with conservative treatments?
A. Exercising is a better option than surgery. Make sure to stretch your hamstring muscles each day. With spondylolisthesis, the hamstrings tend to get tight – increasing the pressure across the lumbar spine and causing lower back pain. Staying well conditioned doing regular stabilization exercises to keep the back strong are important.
^TOP
19. What causes a herniated disc?
A. Every patient's situation is different, but, in general, disc herniation is a combination of an acute, specific injury to the lining of the disc with leaking of the inner contents of the disc. The herniation is most-likely related to a lifting, bending or twisting injury to the disc.
^TOP
20. When is spine surgery usually necessary?
A. Surgery is recommended for spinal problems only after all appropriate conservative measures have been applied. If symptoms are not controlled effectively with medications, physical therapy and injections, then surgery can be considered, depending on the specific situation.
^TOP
21. Can disc herniations in the low back eventually cause paralysis?
A. Rarely, a large disc herniation can cause loss of bowel or bladder control due to damage to the sacral nerves, or progressive weakness in the legs due to damage to the lumbar nerve roots. Immediate medical attention should be given if you experience either of these conditions.
^TOP
22. My child has been diagnosed with scoliosis. What are the chances she will experience severe back pain in adulthood?
A. There is about an 80% chance that she will experience low back pain at some point in time – which is the same statistic for the general population. Because scoliosis is a structural deformity primarily in the chest area of the spine, it is not typically painful in childhood or adulthood.
^TOP
23. What are bone spurs and what is their cause?
A. Bone spurs occur as the body tries to decrease the pressure by expanding the surface area and are caused by joint degeneration in the aging process. Bone spurs are a marker for degenerative arthritis; so, if there is back pain, the cause could be from the arthritis. Removing bone spurs does not relieve back pain because they are not the cause. The only time spurs need to be removed is if they push on a nerve and cause leg pain.
^TOP
24. What is the best sleeping position to protect my back after spine surgery?
A. In general, bending the knees slightly by placing a pillow under them while lying on your back is comfortable after surgery. Sleeping in a reclining chair or an adjustable bed that allows you to lift your head and knees up is also helpful.
^TOP
FAQ's
01. I have an aching, electrical feeling down my leg when I stand and walk. What could it be?
02. I have pain that shoots from my hip down to my foot. My doctor has diagnosed a low back problem even though I don't have back pain. Is this possible?
03. I'm pregnant and experiencing back and leg pain. What can be done to help alleviate this discomfort during my pregnancy?
04. Is it true that smoking is bad for my back?
05. I think my scoliosis is progressing. What should I do?
06. Why does my arm feel like pins and needles?
07. Generally, what causes back pain?
08. I’ve been told I have a bulging disc. Is this normal?
09. I have arthritis in my spine. Is this something I have to learn to live with?
10. What is a laminectomy?
11. Can I bend over if I have a fusion?
12. What is lumbar instability?
13. Two weeks ago I had a microdiscectomy. I don’t feel pain, but I still have numbness in my leg. Will the numbness be permanent?
14 . My back bothers me during the night. What are some things you suggest that would help my back so that I can sleep?
15. Is an MRI the only test used to determine if and what nerves are being compressed?
16 . I am feeling a lot of back pain. I’m about 80 years old and have been diagnosed with severe calcification of the lower spine. Vioxx has not helped to relieve my pain. Is surgery my only answer? How else is calcification treated?
17 . I have a ruptured disc. Could this affect my bladder function as well as sexual performance?
18. I have been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. Most of the time I feel fine; but once in a while the pain is nearly excruciating. Is surgery something I should consider, or should I try to go with conservative treatments?
19 . What causes a herniated disc?
20. When is spine surgery usually necessary?
21. Can disc herniations in the low back eventually cause paralysis?
22. My child has been diagnosed with scoliosis. What are the chances she will experience severe back pain in adulthood?
23. What are bone spurs and what is their cause?
24. What is the best sleeping position to protect my back after spine surgery?
1. I have an aching, electrical feeling down my leg when I stand and walk. What could it be?
A. You could have symptoms coming from a condition called spinal stenosis. This is a condition in which there is narrowing of the nerve openings either around the spinal cord or nerve roots - usually as a result of deterioration and aging of the spinal column. The leg pain, weakness and/or numbness are caused by the progressive narrowing that puts pressure on the spinal nerves. Your physician will suggest the best of several treatments for spinal stenosis, which include injections, medications and, sometimes, surgery (laminectomy).
^TOP
2. I have pain that shoots from my hip down to my foot. My doctor has diagnosed a low back problem even though I don't have back pain. Is this possible?
A. Advice from an expert is recommended, but it sounds like you have sciatica. There are many causes of sciatica. Your pain symptoms are from pinched or inflamed nerves that go from the back down the legs - causing pain, burning, and numbness in the leg. This can occur in the absence of any back pain.
^TOP
3. I'm pregnant and experiencing back and leg pain. What can be done to help alleviate this discomfort during my pregnancy?
A. With most women, pregnancy comes with some back pain. The most common cause of back pain in pregnancy is your sacral iliac joint. Your obstetrician should be alerted to your low-back discomfort and may recommend prenatal-safe medication, exercises and support belts. Only in cases of severe neurological impairment is spinal surgery remotely considered.
^TOP
4. Is it true that smoking is bad for my back?
A. In general, smoking is very harmful to your health. Evidence shows that smoking is a risk factor for degenerative disc disease because it diminishes nutrition and hydration to discs. The lack of nutrition and hydration to the disc causes the disc space to collapse - creating a bone-on-bone situation and abnormal wear on the joints.
^TOP
5. I think my scoliosis is progressing. What should I do?
A. Scoliosis is a side-to-side bending of the spine, rarely progressing in adults but most frequently will progress during adolescent growth spurts. If evaluation shows your curve is progressing, surgery could be considered if bracing and other non-operative measures failed.
^TOP
6. Why does my arm feel like pins and needles?
A. Most commonly, this involves a compression of a nerve either at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome), elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome) or neck (herniated disc). An evaluation by a physical examination and an MRI of your neck will determine the exact source. Treatment modalities include medications, physical therapy, bracing, injections or surgery.
^TOP
7. Generally, what causes back pain?
A. There can be many different causes of back pain. The most common is degeneration of the spinal joints or discs. Other causes are muscle strain, problems with the sacral iliac joint, referred pain from your kidneys and/or trauma.
^TOP
8. I’ve been told I have a bulging disc. Is this normal?
A. Most bulging discs are the natural result of disc degeneration for people over the age of 30. The nature of the bulge rarely causes symptoms unless it is associated with conditions such as spinal canal narrowing, also known as spinal stenosis. Disc bulges are generally left alone unless they are compressing the nerves, causing leg pain.
^TOP
9. I have arthritis in my spine. Is this something I have to learn to live with?
A. Backaches from arthritis can usually be managed with physical therapy, medication and, in rare cases, a back brace. Generally, surgery is not helpful for back pain caused by arthritis.
^TOP
10. What is a laminectomy?
A. It’s a surgical procedure to remove the lamina – the part of bone in the spine covering the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. The purpose of this procedure is to gain access to the nerves, to treat spinal stenosis or remove a disc herniation.
^TOP
11. Can I bend over if I have a fusion?
A. Yes. Most of the motion, when you bend at your waist, occurs in yours hips. Most likely, you’ll only have 1 or 2 levels of your spine fused. Sacrificing some motion may occur – but the alternative is less back pain, allowing you to have better motion than before. Generally, there is very little change in motion from this operation.
^TOP
12. What is lumbar instability?
A. This is a condition that may contribute to back or leg pain. It refers to abnormal motion of the spine under normal conditions. It may also result in certain spinal deformities and/or nerve compression.
^TOP
13. Two weeks ago I had a microdiscectomy. I don’t feel pain, but I still have numbness in my leg. Will the numbness be permanent?
A. It is typical for pain to dissipate quicker than numbness in the leg. You can expect it to take several weeks, months, or maybe even a year before the numbness will go away completely. After a year, if the numbness is still there it is probably permanent.
^TOP
14 . My back bothers me during the night. What are some things you suggest that would help my back so that I can sleep?
A. Try to avoid sleeping on your stomach. If you find yourself in this position often, try placing a pillow under your stomach to maintain support of the lumbar spine. A pillow between the legs can be a good support when lying on your side. A pillow under the knees is often helpful when lying on your back.
^TOP
15. Is an MRI the only test used to determine if and what nerves are being compressed?
A. An MRI scan is definitely the best test, but there are other alternatives. A CT scan with myelography is just as effective as an MRI but is more painful because it involves a spinal injection. An EMG study of the leg (electromyography) can explore whether a muscle group is affected; but this is a non-specific test and does not find a lot of disc herniations.
^TOP
16. I am feeling a lot of back pain. I’m about 80 years old and have been diagnosed with severe calcification of the lower spine. Vioxx has not helped to relieve my pain. Is surgery my only answer? How else is calcification treated?
A. Typically, calcification is not painful or relieved through spinal surgical techniques unless they compress the nerves - causing sciatica. The pain could be from degenerative spondylolisthesis or osteoarthritis. Water therapy and physical therapy are highly recommended for this condition. Surgery is indicated for a sciatica.
^TOP
17. I have a ruptured disc. Could this affect my bladder function as well as sexual performance?
A. It could directly affect the bladder function and cause either incontinence or an inability to empty the bladder. If you have these symptoms you should contact your physician immediately. If you’re in a lot of pain, it could also indirectly affect sexual function.
^TOP
18. I have been diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. Most of the time I feel fine; but once in a while the pain is nearly excruciating. Is surgery something I should consider, or should I try to go with conservative treatments?
A. Exercising is a better option than surgery. Make sure to stretch your hamstring muscles each day. With spondylolisthesis, the hamstrings tend to get tight – increasing the pressure across the lumbar spine and causing lower back pain. Staying well conditioned doing regular stabilization exercises to keep the back strong are important.
^TOP
19. What causes a herniated disc?
A. Every patient's situation is different, but, in general, disc herniation is a combination of an acute, specific injury to the lining of the disc with leaking of the inner contents of the disc. The herniation is most-likely related to a lifting, bending or twisting injury to the disc.
^TOP
20. When is spine surgery usually necessary?
A. Surgery is recommended for spinal problems only after all appropriate conservative measures have been applied. If symptoms are not controlled effectively with medications, physical therapy and injections, then surgery can be considered, depending on the specific situation.
^TOP
21. Can disc herniations in the low back eventually cause paralysis?
A. Rarely, a large disc herniation can cause loss of bowel or bladder control due to damage to the sacral nerves, or progressive weakness in the legs due to damage to the lumbar nerve roots. Immediate medical attention should be given if you experience either of these conditions.
^TOP
22. My child has been diagnosed with scoliosis. What are the chances she will experience severe back pain in adulthood?
A. There is about an 80% chance that she will experience low back pain at some point in time – which is the same statistic for the general population. Because scoliosis is a structural deformity primarily in the chest area of the spine, it is not typically painful in childhood or adulthood.
^TOP
23. What are bone spurs and what is their cause?
A. Bone spurs occur as the body tries to decrease the pressure by expanding the surface area and are caused by joint degeneration in the aging process. Bone spurs are a marker for degenerative arthritis; so, if there is back pain, the cause could be from the arthritis. Removing bone spurs does not relieve back pain because they are not the cause. The only time spurs need to be removed is if they push on a nerve and cause leg pain.
^TOP
24. What is the best sleeping position to protect my back after spine surgery?
A. In general, bending the knees slightly by placing a pillow under them while lying on your back is comfortable after surgery. Sleeping in a reclining chair or an adjustable bed that allows you to lift your head and knees up is also helpful.
^TOP