Back Pain

Your healthcare professional may recommend that you make some changes in your physical activities when you are experiencing back pain. In general, when pain is severe, you should avoid the following: heavy lifting twisting, bending forward, or... Full Answer

Absolutely. Numbness of the arms and/or legs are very common in spinal stenosis. Full Answer

The recommended position for sleeping or resting is to lie on one side with a pillow between your knees or on your back with a pillow under your knees. Watch for more on sleeping and resting with lower back pain. Full Answer

The first epidural injection can give significant pain relief for lower back pain, and additional injections can boost the effect. Drug dosages are monitored to avoid side effects. Nerve damage is possible but rare.  Watch the video for more... Full Answer

Even if you're skinnier than a chopstick, you can still have back problems - especially if you have a weak set of muscles in your core, the area that includes your hips, abdominals, and lower back. That core tissue - made of muscles, ligaments, and... Full Answer

Bending over at the waist might be proper form if you're playing offensive line for the Bears. But in most cases we all make the same mistake every time we accidentally drop a pen, sock, or binky on the living room carpet. We bend at the waist and pick... Full Answer

Sometimes how you stand, sit, or even sleep can cause back problems. In fact, the teensiest things -- twisting that Champagne cork on a romantic night or scooping up your grandchild for a smooch -- can throw your back out of whack. Ouch. The... Full Answer

Spinal stenosis is essentially a narrowing of the areas of the lumbar, thoracic, or cervical areas of the spine. The lumbar area involves the low back, the thoracic area involves the mid back and the cervical area involves the neck area. Osteoarthritis... Full Answer

Avoid prolonged walking which might exacerbate your symptoms. Your body will often be your guide as numbness, weakness or neck or back pain may develop. Also avoid high impact aerobics or jogging which involves a strong force on the axial skelaton. Too... Full Answer

Overuse of back muscles is one of the most common causes of low back pain.  Weak abdominal muscles and excess abdominal fat also put more strain on the lower back.  Watch the animation to learn more about common causes of lower back pain. Full Answer