All About Back Pain Treatments

Should You Get ACDF or Cervical Disc Replacement Surgery?

ACDF and disc replacement surgery can both take your neck pain and radiculopathy away. Which one’s right for you? Learn about how they’re similar and different to help you choose.

Could This Drug Be the Next Big Thing in Back Pain Treatment?

New medications such as tanezumab may provide options for treating back pain. Is it available? Is it effective? Is it right for you? Learn more about tanezumab for back pain.

When Your Spinal Cord Stimulator Needs to Come Out

Spinal cord stimulation is cutting-edge pain management, but does it always work? No, and sometimes your device needs to be removed. Here’s when—and why.

PT and the Pandemic: Physical Therapy at Home

The coronavirus pandemic has changed how healthcare is practiced and delivered, and physical therapy is no exception. Learn how you can get your PT done safely and effectively in your own home.

Is Opioid-Free Spine Surgery the Way of the Future?

Is opioid-free spine surgery viable? These experts say yes. Read about their work and why they believe opioid-free spine surgery to be the future.

The Essential Guide to Essential Oils for Back Pain

Essential oils for back pain may be a viable complementary treatment—as long as you use them correctly.

Beware These Lumbar Stenosis Surgery Pitfalls

Lumbar stenosis surgery isn’t always 100 percent successful. That’s why it’s important to carefully assess your personal risk factors before going under the knife.

What to Expect From a Spinal Tap

Odds are you’ve heard of a spinal tap—but you may not know exactly what it entails. Also called a lumbar puncture, it’s a procedure performed in the lower part of your back to diagnose a health problem, administer medicine, or assist with imaging.

Cervical Epidural Steroid Injections: Injections for Neck Pain

Cervical epidural steroid injections can help with neck pain and radiating pain. Find out how they work and if you're a candidate.

Back Pain and Drug Interactions: What You Need to Know

Medication can be an effective way to treat back pain, but it’s not as simple as just popping a pill when you need one. Learn how pain meds can interact with other medications you’re taking and conditions you may have.

Acupressure for Back, Neck and Upper Back Pain

Acupressure can reduce back, neck and upper back pain by pressing on certain acupoints to unblock Qi, the body's vital energy force. Acupressure is an Asian practice related to TCM.

Alternative Treatments Center

The SpineUniverse Alternative Treatment Center can help you find trustworthy information about complementary and integrative alternative practices.

What to Do About Back Pain When You Can’t See Your Doctor

Stay-at-home orders often mean you can’t see your ortho or neurosurgeon for back pain, but you still have options. From PT to telemedicine, here’s what to do instead.

The Straight Dope on CBD Oil

CBD oil is not medical marijuana and it cannot get you high. It may, however, give many people some relief from back pain. Find out what the research shows and how to ensure you get a quality product.

Do’s and Don’ts for a Successful Back Surgery Recovery

Are you ready for back surgery? Look to the postop future and follow these tips for a successful recovery.

The Buzz on TENS Units for Back Pain

When your back hurts—and when it doesn’t—an electric shock is the last thing you want, right? Don’t be so sure. A TENS unit may relieve your back pain. Find out how.

Should Your Spinal Hardware Be Removed? Here’s How to Tell

Many spine procedures use hardware like plates, screws and rods to stabilize your spine. But what happens when hardware breaks or gets infected? Find out here.

Depression After Back Surgery Is Surprisingly Common

You might be surprised that depression after back surgery is a real thing, even if it relieves your pain. Learn to recognize the signs.

Lumbar Laminectomy

Lumbar laminectomy makes more room in the spinal canal by removing part of a vertebra. The procedure takes the pressure off nerve roots and relieves pain, limb weakness and other symptoms.

Laminotomy versus Laminectomy

Learn the difference between two surgical procedures relating to the lamina. The lamina is a thin, bony plate that covers and protects the spinal canal and spinal cord.

Home Workouts May Speed Your Recovery From ACDF Surgery

New research suggests that patients starting an exercise program right after surgery may have less pain and be less reliant on opioids.

Questions to Ask Your Neurosurgeon

Not every patient with back or neck pain needs a neurosurgeon. Usually, the patient's primary care physician or chiropractor makes the referral to a neurosurgeon.

What Disorders Do Neurosurgeons Treat?

Neurosurgeons treat many different dieases and conditions affecting the brain, spine, nervous system, and related structures.

Neurosurgeon Education and Training

Neurosurgeons are highly educated and specially trained spine specialists. It can take upwards of 8 years after medical school to become a neurosurgeon.

What Is a Neurosurgeon?

A neurosurgeon is a medical specialist who treats diseases and conditions affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spine and spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves.

Spinal Injections and Nerve Blocks Treat Neck and Back Pain

Spinal injections and nerve blocks may reduce back or neck pain, such as cervical or lumbar radiculopathy, and may confirm the cause of a spinal disorder.

Spine Injections: What You Need to Know

Spine injection questions? We've got answers about how it works, how to prepare, how it feels and much more. Learn more from our expert, Dr. William Mosenthal.

Romosozumab Added to Osteoporosis Drug Therapy Guideline

Osteoporosis drug treatment includes romosozumab (brand name, Evenity) for postmenopausal women per the Endocrine Society’s medication management guideline.

How Often Is Chiropractic Needed for Low Back Pain?

How many chiropractic treatments are necessary to treat low back pain? Do chiropractors recommend other types of treatment besides spinal adjustments and manipulation?

Robotic Spine Surgery: Q&A with a Pioneer in the Technology

Misconceptions about robotic spine surgery are dispelled by Isador H. Lieberman, MD, a pioneer in the technology. Why he thinks this technology will be the standard of care for complex spine cases within the next 5 years.

What Disorders Do Orthopaedic Spine Surgeons Treat?

Orthopaedic spine surgeons treat all disorders and conditions that affect the spine.

What is an Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon?

Orthopaedic spine specialists are orthopaedists who further specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of spinal diseases and conditions.

Questions to Ask Your Chiropractor

These sample questions and guideline will help you prepare for your appointment with a chiropractor.

Cannabis and CBD for Back and Neck Pain Q&A

Cannabis, hemp, and cannabinoid products, such as CBD oil, are gaining public popularity to treat back pain. Spine doctor answers 10 key questions.

Prescription Lidoderm Patches May Help Relieve Back Pain

Lidoderm is a topic lidocaine patch 5% that may help reduce nerve-related back or neck pain.

Why Medical Clearance Before Spine Surgery?

Medical clearance before spine surgery evaluates your general health, existing medical problems or comorbidities, and risk potential for complications. This pre-operative clearance provides information your surgeon uses to reduce risks before, during and after back or neck surgery.

Gabapentin, Pregabalin, and Back Pain: FDA Safety Alert

Gabapentin and pregabalin FDA drug safety alert warns of risk for breathing problems when taken with CNS depressant medication.

Second Opinions: Five Things About This Patient Right

Getting a second opinion can feel awkward or even inappropriate, but it’s a smart practice if you have concerns or doubts.

Acupressure for Chronic Low Back Pain Symptoms

Research found acupressure helped reduce chronic low back pain in people with long-term back pain and fatigue.

Opioids for Severe Back Pain and Neck Pain

Opioids are powerful prescription-only medications known as analgesics; drugs that may help reduce back and neck pain.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treatments

Medical advances have led to targeted medication therapies to treat spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic condition nerve cells in the spinal cord.

What Is Chiropractic Care?

Learn the basics of chiropractic, including how chiropractors determine if chiropractic care is best for you. Covers spinal manipulation and explains how chiropractors can address your back pain or neck pain.

Cervical Disc Replacement Considerations and Surgery

Margaret's neck and arm pain was relieved after cervical disc replacement surgery performed as a minimally invasive spine surgery procedure. Q&A with orthopaedic spine surgeon, Richard Guyer, MD.

Stem Cell Therapy, Spine Care and Treatment

Are you considering stem cell therapy to help treat your neck or back pain? What you should know about stem cell therapy before pursuing this treatment.

Diabetes and Spine Surgery: What You Need to Know

How people with diabetes can manage their blood sugar when undergoing back or neck surgery and reduce risk for complications.

Spine Surgery Overview

Is spine surgery your only option for back pain? This article helps patients understand when a spine procedure may be recommended.

Spinal Bracing Center

The SpineUniverse Spinal Bracing Center covers the basics of when braces are used to treat spinal conditions.

Physical Therapy Center

The SpineUniverse Physical Therapy Center provides helpful information about physical therapies used to treat neck and back pain caused by a spinal disorder. Passive therapies include ultrasound and massage, and active PT involves exercise.

Pain Management Center

The Pain Management Center on SpineUniverse helps you understand various pain management treatments and techniques. Learn about spinal pumps, spinal cord stimulation, and other treatments pain management specialists use to help chronic pain sufferers find pain relief.

Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery

Minimally invasive spine surgery (MIS) may be a better surgical option than traditional or open spinal surgery to treat different causes of back pain and neck pain.

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All About Back Pain Treatments