DEAR DOCTOR K: I have mild back pain. I sit at a desk all day and tend to slouch. My mother says that sitting up straight may help. Is she right?
DEAR READER: I hope it's true. Otherwise, my mother (like yours) was wrong. And I think it is true.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I'm a man in my 70s with spinal stenosis. What are my surgical options?
DEAR READER: Your spine is made up of a column of bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae are separated by tough little shock-absorbing disks that keep the bone of the vertebra on top from rubbing against the bone of the vertebra beneath it. The vertebrae and disks have a circular space in the center, called the spinal canal, through which your spinal cord passes. As the bones and disks grow older, in some people they begin to break down.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I have low back pain. A friend of mine with back pain had surgery, but I want to avoid that. What are my options?
DEAR READER: There are many different causes of low back pain, and therefore many different treatments. So the first step is to diagnose the cause.
DEAR DOCTOR K: Every few months I throw out my back. Are there any exercises I can do to strengthen my back and prevent this from happening?
DEAR READER: Exercise is a great way to prevent repeat episodes of low back pain. The right exercise program will help you build strong, flexible muscles that will be less prone to injury.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I have terrible pain from sciatica. Will epidural injections help?
DEAR READER: I wish I had a definite and non-controversial answer. But as with so many areas of medicine, not every study of that question comes up with the same answer. Some say "yes" and some say "no" -- for the average patient in the study.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I'd like to learn more about ankylosing spondylitis. What treatments will help manage my pain?
DEAR READER: Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that mainly affects the lower back. It causes inflammation and damage at the joints. A person with ankylosing spondylitis commonly feels pain or stiffness in the lower back, especially in the morning or after periods of inactivity.
DEAR DOCTOR K: My sciatica is so bad I can barely walk. Please help.
DEAR READER: Sciatica is a particular kind of low back pain. It's a persistent aching or burning pain felt along the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from the spine in your lower back, down through the buttock and into your lower leg. You feel pain (and perhaps numbness or weakness) because your sciatic nerve is compressed or injured.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I have a herniated disk in my lower back. What does this mean? And what are my treatment options?
DEAR READER: Your spine is made up of a stack of bones called vertebrae. In between each of the vertebrae are intervertebral disks that cushion these bones. Each disk is made of a soft gel core surrounded by a tough, fibrous outer shell. A disk's outer shell can tear. If the gel in the middle of the disk bulges out through the tear in the shell, the condition is called a herniated disk.
DEAR DOCTOR K: A friend keeps telling me to try acupuncture for my low back pain. But I don't understand how a bunch of needles will help. Can you explain how acupuncture works?
DEAR READER: Acupuncture is a technique of traditional Chinese medicine. The theory is that the body maintains a delicate balance of two opposing forces. Disease occurs when these forces are out of balance. This imbalance is believed to block the flow of vital energy. This energy regulates spiritual, emotional, mental and physical balance.
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Dr. Anthony Komaroff is a practicing physician, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Editor in Chief of Harvard Health Publications. Learn more »
Harvard Health Publications is the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, providing the general public with authoritative, trustworthy, and accessible health information. Learn more »
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