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All Back Pain Alerts
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Keeping A Delicate Balance
If you're like many folks, you might expect to become more sedentary and grow weaker with age. But research shows that this doesn't have to be the case. That's good news because inactivity and weak muscles can lead to fragile bones and a propensity to fall, which often results in hip fractures, hospitalizations, and the need for long-term care.
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Building Muscle Strength with Hydrotherapy
Many exercise programs are too strenuous for people who are recovering from a back injury -- such as a herniated disk or vertebral compression fracture -- and for those whose spine is susceptible to injury due to conditions like osteoporosis. For these people, hydrotherapy -- exercising in water -- is an excellent alternative. More...
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Should You See a Doctor for Your Neck Pain?
Neck pain can result from a variety of causes, including muscle strain, worn joints, disk disorders, and injuries. Sometimes self-care measures are not enough and you need medical attention -- sooner rather than later to prevent long-term disability. This advice and other guidance comes from The Bone and Joint Decade 2000- 2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders, an international group of doctors and other experts specializing in musculoskeletal disorders who reviewed the literature on neck pain. Here's what they found. More...
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9 Ways to Prevent Recurring Neck Pain
If you're like many people, at some point, you're likely to have a pain in the neck -- literally, that is. In fact, up to 50% of American adults experience neck pain each year. The good news is that only about 10% of people have pain so severe that it affects their ability to carry out daily activities. … More...
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Should You Consider Surgery for Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the spinal canal – affects many people in their 50s and 60s and can cause severe pain in the back, buttocks, thighs, and calves. Recently, a reader asked: I've had back pain from lumbar spinal stenosis for nearly six months. Should I consider surgery or just continue with conservative treatment even though it doesn't seem to be helping? Here’s our advice. More...
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How Often Should You Have Bone Density Testing?
Bone mineral density (BMD) tests are performed in people who are at risk for osteoporosis or have experienced a suspicious fracture. These tests help doctors diagnose osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone mass, a warning sign for osteoporosis). They can also predict a person's risk of fracture, monitor progression of bone loss over time, and observe how well osteoporosis treatments are working More...
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Soy and Osteoporosis Prevention: What’s the Connection?
The risk of developing osteoporosis increases as we grow older. Exercise, proper nutrition, and – when appropriate – medication can all help to prevent osteoporosis. But what about isoflavones? A reader asks: My sister-in-law has been eating isoflavone-enriched cereal bars to reduce her risk of osteoporosis. Do they really work? Here's what the science suggests. … More...
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Another Reason to Practice Yoga
If you have chronic lower back pain and are looking for relief, you may want to try yoga. According to a new study from India, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (Volume 14, page 637), one week of intensive yoga practice may reduce chronic low back pain and improve spinal flexibility better than a simple physical exercise program.
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Common GERD Drug Increases Risk of Osteoporosis
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) treat GERD and ulcers by limiting the production of caustic gastric acids. The problem: Gastric acids are a vital component of digestion. Blocking them may interfere with the absorption of calcium, which is essential for maintaining strong bones. By limiting calcium absorption, PPIs may put you at greater risk for developing osteoporosis. If you have osteoporosis, taking a PPI may increase your fracture risk. Here’s what you need to know … More...
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Can Massage Help Back Pain?
In addition to relaxing muscles and easing tension in the back, massage is believed to temporarily overpower pain signals going to the brain. In this article from our popular newsletter, Health After 50, Johns Hopkins explores the therapeutic potential of massage to relieve back pain. More...
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Is Surgery Your Best Option for a Herniated Disk?
About 10% of people experience symptoms from a herniated disk at some point in their lives. Symptoms usually occur when the protruding disk presses on one or more of the spinal nerves emerging from the spinal column. In some people, the disk presses on the spinal cord itself or on the cauda equina (the bundle of nerve roots at the bottom of the spinal cord). This causes pain not only in the back, but also in the part of the body served by the compressed and inflamed nerve. What should you do for relief? More...
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Supervised Exercise for Fast Back Pain Relief
Exercises for back pain focus on strengthening the muscles in the back and abdomen and stretching the muscles in the back. Flexibility exercises for your hips and even your shoulders may also be needed, because improving your flexibility in these areas will decrease the demands on your back. More...
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6 Exercises to Build Bone Strength
When you put demands on bone, it responds by becoming stronger and denser. Any activity that works against gravity, including walking and climbing stairs, stimulates the growth of new bone tissue. Here are six bone-building exercises from Johns Hopkins. More...
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How Osteoporosis Develops
Are you at risk for osteoporosis? Although many of us think of our bones as stable, solid structures that do not change with time, the truth is that bone is living tissue that undergoes a constant process of rebuilding. More...
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What Is Passive Physical Therapy?
In most cases, back pain resolves quickly, regardless of the type of treatment. But if you experience severe back pain that doesn't improve after a couple of days of bed rest, you may want to consider physical therapy. A reader asks: What are passive and active physical therapy modalities, and how do they work? More...
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Steroid Injections for Back Pain
For older people, chronic conditions such as degenerative changes of the spinal bones and disks, vertebral compression fractures, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal column), and spinal deformities are the most common sources of back pain. Recently many of us are turning to steroid injections to ease our back pain, according to a recent study in the journal SPINE. More...
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Yoga Therapy
Mounting evidence suggests that yoga can relieve chronic back pain. There are many schools or types of yoga. They feature precise alignment and props such as mats, blocks, and straps. The props help in achieving correct yoga poses. The poses, combined with breathing techniques, help relax muscles and calm the mind. More...
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Simple Steps to Prevent Falls
A hip fracture usually occurs when a person falls from a standing position, with the hip taking the impact of the fall, although less traumatic falls also can cause hip fractures. Ninety percent of the 350,000 hip fractures that occur each year in the United States are the result of a fall. What can you do to prevent hip fracture? Here's advice from Johns Hopkins. More...
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Should Men Be Screened For Osteoporosis?
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that all women age 65 and older get screened for osteoporosis. In addition, post-menopausal women who are under age 65 but have additional risk factors for osteoporosis (such as use of corticosteroids or a family history of osteoporosis) or who have recently had a fracture should be screened. There are no official guidelines on when to screen men for osteoporosis, but some experts have suggested routine osteoporosis screening in some… More...
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How Disks Herniate
Pain due to a herniated, or slipped disk usually strikes suddenly and can be excruciating. In this Health Alert, Johns Hopkins explains what happens when disks herniate.
At some point in their lives, 10% of all Americans experience painful symptoms from a herniated disk – commonly known as a slipped disk. Over the years, the demand of supporting the body's weight causes the outer layer of the disk to weaken, become thinner, and develop microscopic tears.… More...
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How Bones Form and Repair
About 10 million Americans -- eight million women and two million men -- already have osteoporosis, and 34 million more are at increased risk because of low bone mass (osteopenia). Osteoporosis-related fractures are estimated to account for $13.8 billion in hospital and nursing home costs each year, and these costs are increasing. As our population continues to age (more than 35% of Americans will be age 50 or older by 2011), osteoporosis is expected to… More...
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What's the Best Exercise for Chronic Back Pain?
Weight loss, if necessary, and exercise – stretching, flexibility, and muscle-strengthening exercises – are particularly helpful in treating chronic back pain. A recent study provides insights on the most effective exercise regimens to relieve chronic back pain.
Doctors commonly prescribe exercise for lower back pain. Now a new study reported in the journal Pain (Volume 131, page 31) sheds light on which type provides the greatest pain relief -- at least for the short term. The… More...
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Pain-Free Driving Advice
Traveling by car can be a pain in the neck, literally, as well as a pain in the back. In this Health Alert, Johns Hopkins provides advice to help you avoid pain and discomfort while on the road.
If you drive for extended periods you may be at risk for back and neck pain, sciatica, and herniated disks. However, you can make adjustments in the way you sit to limit spine, back, and neck problems. … More...
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Should You Have Surgery For Sciatica?
If you have sciatica and find that rest and pain medication are not working to relieve your pain, should you consider surgery? Recent research provides the answer.
Sciatica refers to leg pain caused by a herniated disk in the spine that presses on the sciatic nerve. People with sciatica often experience intense pain that radiates into the buttocks, down the thighs, into the calves, and often into the feet. … More...
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Is It Safe To Exercise With Osteoporosis?
Taking steps to prevent osteoporosis can help you avoid bone fractures and back problems later in life. Osteoporosis prevention relies on a three-pronged approach of exercise, proper nutrition, and – when appropriate – medication. But what if you already have osteoporosis? Is it safe to exercise or should you limit your activity? Johns Hopkins provides advice. … More...
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Six Stretches for Pain-Free Travel
Don't let back or neck pain cramp your summer travel fun. Experts who treat back pain recommend that you stretch regularly while you're in flight or when you take a driving break. Stretching can help relax tense muscles and overly tight ligaments in the back and neck.
Traveling by car or plane can be a pain in the neck, literally, as well as a pain in the back. Sitting for prolonged periods adds strain to the… More...
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Once-a-Year Reclast for Osteoporosis
Michele Bellantoni, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Director, Johns Hopkins Bayview Care Center, answers questions on Reclast (zoledronic acid) – the new once-a-year-osteoporosis drug.
What is zoledronic acid?
Zoledronic acid belongs to a class of drugs called bisphosphonates. A form of zoledronic acid called Zometa has been used for many years to treat certain cancers, and Reclast is approved to treat Paget's disease, which causes enlarged or misshapen bones. Oral bisphosphonates, such as… More...
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A Pain in the Neck
Chronic neck and shoulder pain are common complaints. But the good news is that with good posture and exercise it's possible to undo the effects of years of slumping and neck tension.
For many of us, 'a pain in the neck' is more than just a casual cliché. In the Health, Aging and Body Composition study, 11.9% of the more than 3,000 participants reported neck pain lasting one month or longer and 18.9% reported shoulder pain.… More...
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Water Workouts
For many people with back pain, hydrotherapy -- exercising in water -- offers a way to build muscle strength and flexibility with minimal stress on joints and muscles. This article is written by Kelly Daley, senior physical therapist at Johns Hopkins' Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Strengthening the muscles that support the back helps both to prevent low back pain and injury and to treat existing back problems. But many exercise programs are too strenuous… More...
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When Osteoporosis Plus Other Disorders Equals Catch 22
What should you do if your doctor's advice for treating your osteoporosis conflicts with treatment for your diabetes, or other medical condition? Johns Hopkins researchers analyze this common problem and offer bottom line advice.
Half of people over age 65 have three or more chronic diseases, and they juggle advice from different doctors about how to deal with them. Researchers who recently set out to look at this problem have demonstrated how challenging it can be… More...
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How Osteoporosis Weakens the Bones
Are you at risk for osteoporosis? Although many of us think of our bones as stable, solid structures that do not change with time, the truth is that bone is living tissue that undergoes a constant process of rebuilding.
The word osteoporosis means porous bone. A person with osteoporosis typically has low bone mass, poor bone quality, and fragile bones. This combination, together with the increased risk of falling among older people, leads to painful… More...
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Managing Chronic Back Pain
Research on the use of opioid medication to relieve chronic back pain yields surprising results.
Most cases of back pain resolve in a matter of weeks to months, but for some people the pain becomes a constant problem that interferes with their daily lives. If ignored, chronic back pain -- generally defined as unremitting pain that lasts at least six months and is not relieved by standard treatments -- can lead to depression, disturbed sleep, poor… More...
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Research on Osteoporosis Screening
A recent report indicates that women who are at the highest risk for osteoporosis are the least likely to get bone density tests.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that all women age 65 and older get screened for osteoporosis. In addition, postmenopausal women who are under age 65 but who have additional risk factors for osteoporosis (such as use of corticosteroids or a family history of osteoporosis) or who have recently had a fracture should be… More...
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Should You Try Traction?
Although traction has been used to treat low back pain since ancient times, there's little evidence to show that it actually helps.
For most back pain sufferers, the back pain resolves quickly, regardless of the type of treatment. Fewer than 5% of people with back pain have a major medical problem that requires either intensive care or surgery. But if you experience severe back pain that doesn't improve after a couple of days of bed rest,… More...
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Try Yoga
Yoga practitioners have long touted this ancient exercise as a back pain treatment. Now there’s scientific evidence to support this claim. A major study on the use of alternative therapies found that almost 60% of people who consulted a medical doctor for back pain had tried some sort of alternative therapy. More...
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Rest, Ice, Heat, or Exercise?
Fewer than 5% of people with back pain have a major medical problem that requires intensive care or therapy. Many back-pain sufferers self treat with rest, ice, heat, or another therapy. In most cases, back pain resolves quickly, regardless of the type of treatment. However, you can take the following steps on your own to help ease your back pain. More...
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Diagnosing Nonspecific Back Pain
At some point in their lives, four out of five people experience back pain. Yet the vast majority of them will never know exactly what caused their back pain. Your back pain may be very specific -- you can literally put your finger on it -- but usually a physical exam does not reveal any identifiable cause such as a herniated disk or a neurological problem. X-rays and magnetic resonance scans are notoriously unhelpful. More...
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How to Cope With Stress - Induced Back Pain
Two studies point to the connection between poor coping skills and back problems. If you have pain in your back, the source may be inside your head. One of the main causes of back pain is emotional stress, and back pain may be a signal that you are not coping well with stress, according to two new studies.
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When Should You Treat Osteopenia?
If osteopenia is a warning sign that osteoporosis may develop, how much should you worry? Johns Hopkins researchers offer advice.
If you’ve ever had your bone mineral density tested, you may have been given your score -- more precisely, your T score. The T score is drawn from the world of statistics; it reflects the number of standard deviations a person’s bone mineral density (BMD) is above or below the norm. In this instance, the “norm… More...
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Meet the Charite Disk
For patients with back pain, the Charite artificial disk offers some clear advantages – but also some unanswered questions.
Each year, some 200,000 people undergo spinal fusion surgery for chronic and disabling low back pain. Some back pain sufferers may be candidates for a new device, the Charité artificial disk. … More...
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Back Pain Relief with Acupuncture
We’ve come a long way since 1971. That was the year when New York Times reporter James Reston, accompanying Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on a trip to China, described how Chinese doctors used acupuncture to ease his pain after an emergency appendectomy. More...
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Research Update on Back Pain Relief
There’s no question that low back pain can lead to depression, but can depression lead to low back pain? The answer appears to be yes.
In a three-year prospective study of 148 people aged 35 - 70 years, depression proved to be a stronger predictor of low back pain than the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The three-year incidence of back pain was 67%; those who reported… More...
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Trauma to the Tailbone
The technical name for your tailbone (which is actually made up of several bony segments at the base of your spine) is the coccyx, and pain in that area is called coccydynia. Tailbone pain is usually caused by falling and landing on the coccyx. Older adults, who often have balance problems, are particularly at risk for this type of fall, especially when walking on ice or a wet floor. More...
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New Findings on Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
People who have osteoporosis may need to be screened for celiac disease -- an intestinal disorder that is proving to be more common than previously thought. In a study reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers evaluated 840 people, 266 of whom had osteoporosis; 12 of them tested positive for celiac disease, vs. six of 574 people who didn’t have osteoporosis. Further study via endoscopic intestinal biopsies confirmed the presence of celiac disease in nine of the participants with osteoporosis and in one person who didn’t have osteoporosis. More...
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Exercise Tips To Relieve Neck Pain
A new study from Finland shows that endurance and resistance exercises can help soothe chronic neck pain.
Treatments for chronic neck pain include medication, spinal manipulation, improvements in posture and ergonomics, and relaxation techniques. Now a study from Finland shows that neck endurance and resistance exercises are also effective options for neck pain.
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Relieving Back Pain and Neck Pain
Is your mattress too hard? Does your neck hurt? Here’s some advice to help soothe your pain.
For those vulnerable to low back pain, minimizing back stress while you sleep can be an important preventive measure. Choosing the right mattress can help. More...
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No Whey -- Getting Enough Calcium If You Don't Eat Dairy
People who are lactose intolerant or who eat a vegan diet often don’t consume enough calcium. So how do you get enough calcium in your diet if dairy is not on your plate?
Dietary calcium is essential for maintaining normal bone metabolism, and dairy products are by far the largest source of calcium in the Western diet. But two groups of people --those with lactose intolerance and vegans -- often don’t get enough calcium because of… More...
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Easing Back Pain with Good Posture
In a perpetual slouch? Poor posture can lead to back pain, or worse! Follow these simple posture tips for back pain relief!
Contrary to popular belief, standing at attention -- with head and shoulders rigidly pulled back and lower back excessively arched -- is not correct posture and can be hard on the back. Good posture allows the body to follow the natural S-shaped curve of the spine. As simple as that sounds, however, poor habits,… More...
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