Frequently Asked Questions

General FAQS

• What is the best aerobic exercise I can do to take care of my spine?
• My spine condition has kept me out of work for some time. When can I get back to work, and how will I know I can do my work safely?
• I get a lot of back pain when I sit at my computer. Do I need a new chair?
• Is "correct" posture really that important to the health of my spine?
• Are abdominal "crunch" exercises the best way to keep from having low back pain?
• Should I lock my feet when doing a sit up?
• What exercises should I continue doing to keep my low back toned and healthy?
• How can I keep from having problems with my spine after spine surgery?
• Will a support belt or brace keep my low back safe when I lift at work?

Diagnostic FAQS

• What does a CAT scan show?
• How does a bone scan work?
• I have an injured disc and my doctor said I needed to have a discogram test. What is a discogram, and what will it show?
• My doctor thinks I have a pinched nerve in my neck and wants to do an EMG test. What does EMG stand for, and how will this test help my doctor diagnose my condition?
• This is the first time I've had low back pain. Will I have to have X-rays on my first visit to the doctor?
• I have a metal plate in my leg, and need an MRI Scan of my low back. I have been told that because the MRI Scanner uses a very strong magnet that I may not be able to have one done. Will I be able to have an MRI Scan?
• What information does an MRI scan give?
• My doctor said I need to have a spinal tap. What is this test, and why do I need it?
• How will my doctor begin to examine my spine?
• What does an X-ray show?

Disease FAQS

• What is the difference between a ruptured disc and a herniated disc?
• I thought I had a problem with my back. My doctor examined me and said it's not my back, but that I have a sacroiliac dysfunction. What is a sacroiliac dysfunction, and can I be sure that I don't have problems with my back?
• What is the difference between a bulging disc and a herniated disc?
• I have degenerative disc disease with spurs in my back and neck. Do you think I'll be in much pain the older I get?
• I had scoliosis as a teenager and was told that it would stop after I stopped growing. I'm 32 now, and it seems to be getting worse. Could this be something else happening, or is the scoliosis getting worse? Will I need surgery?
• I recently saw my family doctor for pain in my calf and foot. My family doctor said I have a herniated disc in my low back, so she referred me to a spine specialist. Can this be true? How can this pain be coming from something in my back?

Symptom FAQS

• My MRI Scan showed that I have a bulging disc in my lower back. Should I see a spine specialist?
• My doctor said my X-rays showed that a vertebra in my low back is slipping forward. Will this get worse and will my spine eventually slip off?
• Part of my hand feels numb and my arm just doesn't seem as strong as it should. Could this be from a pinched nerve?
• Are there any serious signs or conditions I should know about?
• I can't get comfortable in bed. Do I need a special mattress or pillow?
• How can my neck be the problem when I feel the pain in my arm?
• After I retired last year, my wife and I began walking for exercise to help the back problem I have had for years. I have noticed over the past few months that I get a burning pain in my legs after walking about 10 minutes. It goes away if I rest but then comes back again. Is this something I should be worried about?
• Both my parents have osteoarthritis. Does the pain in my upper back mean that I'm getting it too?
• I've had back pain off and on for years. Why does it keep coming back?
• Are there other medical professionals who may be able to help me deal with my chronic spine pain?
• I hear a crunching noise when I turn my neck. Is this bad? Should I have it checked?
• When will the pain in my spine go away?
• I just turned 48 and my husband noticed that my upper back is starting to become rounded in appearance. Why is this, and will my posture continue to get worse?

Treatment FAQS

• My doctor has suggested a cortisone injection for my back. I have heard that cortisone is bad for you. What are the risks of having a cortisone injection?
• Why do I need to quit smoking before having spine surgery?
• I have pain at work. Is there anything that can be done to help me work with less pain?
• My doctor has suggested that I have a spine fusion in my lower spine. How will this affect my ability to bend over?
• I have metal screws in my back from a spine fusion. Will I be able to go through a metal detector at the airport?
• If I have a spine fusion surgery using metal screws and rods, will they ever need to be removed?
• What are the risks of minimally invasive spine surgery?
• What is minimally invasive spine surgery and how is it different from traditional spine surgery?
• I keep reading about doctors prescribing Glucosamine for arthritis. Will this medication help my back pain?
• What can I do while I am at home to relieve my back pain?
• Should I just lie in bed and avoid exercise if I am having extra back pain?
• What is spinal decompression and spine fusion surgery?
• Can I just use a brace to take my low back pain away?
• My spine is really hurting. I thought I would just go ahead and have surgery, but my doctor is recommending conservative spine treatment instead. What is conservative treatment, and will it help my problem as much as surgery?
• What should I expect on the first visit to my doctor?
• When can I play golf, ride a bike, or go hiking after spine surgery?
• Which is better to use, heat or ice?
• What hobbies and recreational activities should I avoid?
• What can I do if my pain comes back or gets worse?
• My doctor has suggested that I have a spine fusion surgery using a metal plate in my back. What are the chances that my body will reject the metal plate?
• Is minimally invasive surgery a new technique?
• Are lasers used in spine surgery?
• If I have surgery to take out a disc in my back, what will replace the disc that the doctor removes?
• I'm scheduled for a spine fusion of my low back. Will I be able to get up and walk without difficulty after I have surgery?
• I've had pain and problems with my low back for many years. What can I expect from my spine surgery?
• How will I know whether surgery is needed?
• My friend told me about a TENS unit she uses for her back pain. What is a TENS unit, and will it work for me?
• Will I need to have therapy until my pain goes completely away?
• My spine is really hurting. I thought I would just go ahead and have surgery, but my doctor is recommending conservative spine treatment instead. What is conservative treatment, and will it help my problem as much as surgery?
• As long as I have therapy I feel better. Can I keep coming once each week?
• Is there anything I can do now to help ease my pain?
• Will my doctor prescribe medications for my condition?
• My surgeon has suggested that I need a fusion between the C5 and C6 vertebrae in my neck. How will I be able to turn my neck after it is fused?
• What can I do to keep from making my pain worse?
• How much longer will I need physical therapy?