A: Prevention is the best strategy for coping with back pain and can save a great deal of time and agony. Become an educated health care consumer by learning about effective prevention methods.

• Stretch before and after strenuous activity.
Use good posture at all times, and do not slouch. When standing, keep your weight balanced on both feet rather than shifting it back and forth.
• Sleep on a firm mattress.
• When sitting for long periods of time, take frequent breaks.
• Maintain a healthy weight and try to avoid weight gain, especially around the mid-section, which can take a toll on the low back.
• Don’t try to lift objects that are too heavy for you. When lifting, use the strength in your legs more than the back.
• Avoid smoking, which accelerates degeneration in the spine.

A:Applying ergonomics can help prevent repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, particularly if you are constantly working at a computer.

• Use a headset for lengthy or frequent telephone work.
• A footrest should be used if, after adjusting the height of the chair, feet do not rest flat on the floor.
• When performing daily tasks, alternate between sitting and standing or take small walking breaks throughout the day.
• Position the monitor directly in front of the user to avoid excessive twisting of the neck.
• When typing, press the keys gently; do not bang them or hold them down for long periods.
• Keep your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers relaxed.

A: All four cases occur when discs become weakened over time and part of a disc is sticking out between the bony parts of the vertebra.

A: By receiving care from spine specialists within multiple fields, the diagnosis and treatment process is less likely to become biased or limited. Multidisciplinary care involves a team of specialists that pools together its expertise for the greatest benefit of the patient. Surgery is reserved as the last card to be played. As a patient, instead of being limited to one medical specialty, you can benefit from the combined expertise of many physicians.

A: A spine-specialized physiatrist, or physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor, specializes in the nonsurgical management of back and neck pain. PM&R treatment is characterized by comprehensive care that considers the whole person rather than addressing one or two symptoms.

Many doctors provide drugs to mask pain symptom, but this can leave a patient debilitated and dependent upon the drugs. A physiatrist, on the other hand, provides techniques and treatments such as spinal injections that enable back and neck pain sufferers to return to activity without surgery.

A:Although more and more chronic back pain sufferers are becoming aware of all the nonsurgical treatment options available, too many still believe that surgery is the only truly effective cure. A survey conducted by the AAPM&R found that about one in two people believe this to be true. However, experts estimate that just 5% of back pain cases will be effectively helped by surgery. The good news is that most episodes of low back pain improve within six weeks of onset.

A: After nonsurgical treatments such as ice and heat therapy, bed rest (1-2 days at most), exercise, injections and medications have not proven effective, your physician may consider recommending surgery. A back pain sufferer may also want to explore alternative treatments such as acupuncture.

A: A fellowship is the highest level of training available to a specialized physician in the U.S. It involves a financial grant for advanced study or training or to allow payment for work on a special project. It provides a stipend, and, in some cases, the miscellaneous expenses involved in the study, training or project (Source: Mosby’s Medical Dictionary).

A: Lying in bed causes muscles to weaken, which inhibits recovery. Even though activity may be uncomfortable or hurt a bit, this doesn’t mean that it’s worsening your condition. On the contrary, building strength in the muscles surrounding the vertebrae can help achieve a full return to activity. Also, on the mental side, being bedridden can lead to feelings of frustration and hopelessness, which can slow you down. Regardless, studies have shown again and again that activity leads to a quicker return to work.

A: Minimally invasive surgical techniques provide the opportunity to successfully treat back problems with minimal interruption to the patient’s regular, active lifestyle. Results achieved from these methods have been proven to match that of conventional "open surgery." The surgeon makes smaller incisions, sometimes only a half-inch in length. Through these tiny incisions, the surgeon inserts special surgical instruments and probes in order to access the damaged disc in the spine. By using minimally invasive techniques, access and repair to the damaged disc or vertebrae is achieved without harming nearby muscles and tissues. Other benefits of minimally invasive techniques include shorter surgery duration and recovery time, less visible scars and reduced pain and blood loss.

A: Osteoporosis can have extremely serious consequences on the spine. Because osteoporosis often progresses undetected, the first indication could be as disastrous as a bone fracture. These fractures typically strike an area of the body that carries the most stress, such as the spine, wrists or hips. Spinal fractures can occur without notice, as vertebrae simply compress. Compression fractures can be very painful and may lead to stooped posture, loss of height and risk of serious neurological damage to spinal nerves.

A: Scoliosis is a disease characterized by an abnormal curvature to the spine, in which the vertebrae twist like a bent corkscrew. In less severe cases, scoliosis may cause the bones to twist slightly, making the hips or ribs appear uneven. Scoliosis can progress into a serious health problem if bones become so severely twisted that they compress vital organs or if the spinal deformity is so severe that spine health and posture is threatened. If this happens, surgery may be necessary. If left untreated, severe cases of scoliosis can shorten a person's life span. The best way to care for scoliosis is to achieve early detection and take measures to minimize its progression.

A:A natural byproduct of aging is the loss of resiliency in spinal discs and a greater tendency for them to herniate, especially when placed under a weighty load, like when we lift heavy objects. Additionally, some people have a family history of degenerative disc disease, which increases their own risk of developing it. When a natural disc herniates or becomes badly degenerated, it loses its shock-absorbing ability, which can narrow the space between vertebrae.

A: The artificial disc is the best alternative to date for fusion surgery. More than 200,000 spinal fusion surgeries are performed each year in the U.S. to relieve pain caused by damaged discs in the low back and neck areas. Some experts estimate that over the next 10 years, more than half of patients who would otherwise receive a fusion will receive an artificial disc instead.

A: Patients with a diseased disc between L4 and L5 or between L5 and S1 (all in the lower back) that is worn out or become injured and causes back pain are candidates for the artificial disc. Other candidates include those with degenerative disc disease (DDD) whose bones (vertebrae) have moved less than 3mm. Your physician will help you determine whether or not the artificial disc is a good choice for you. Factors that will be considered include your activity level, weight, occupation and allergies (Source: Charite Artificial Disc).

A: Generally speaking, those who receive artificial disc replacements return to activity sooner than traditional fusion patients. Also, because there is no need to harvest bone from the patient’s hip, there is no discomfort or recovery associated with a second incision site. Some of the overall benefits of artificial disc surgery include:

• Retains movement and stability of the spine
• Prevents degeneration of surrounding segments
• No bone graft required
• Quicker recovery and return to work
• Less invasive and painful than a fusion
• Reduces pain associated with disc disease

A:When treating knee and hip replacement patients, orthopedic surgeons try to postpone the implantation of an artificial joint until a patient is at least 50 years old so that they do not outlive their artificial joint, which typically lasts anywhere from 15 to 20 years. Revision surgery, which may be necessary to replace a worn-out artificial joint, can be complex.

This is also a concern with the artificial disc. Unlike knee and hip replacement patients who are typically in their 50s or 60s, many patients can benefit from artificial disc technology at a much younger age — in their 20s or 30s. Therefore, the implantation of an artificial disc in younger patients can raise a surgeon’s concern about the potential life span of the artificial disc in the spine and the need for revision surgery to replace a worn-out artificial disc, which can be complex.