Back Pain

The Patient Education Institute Inc. and National Library of Medicine have an interactive tutorial on back pain that includes an anatomy lesson, descriptions of the different types of back problems, and diagrams of how to sit, stand, and lift heavy objects. A PDF version of the tutorial is also available. Not only is this a reputable source for health care information, but the tutorial and PDF are informative without too much medical jargon.

The National Pain Foundation has a more in-depth description of some common back problems, such as spinal stenosis, sciatica, and disc problems. The detailed descriptions also mention treatment options.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is part of the National Institutes of Health. Find some of the causes of low back pain, who is likely to develop low back pain, and the disorders associated with low back pain.

Spine-health.com is a site run by a group of doctors, and it has a page that describes the anatomy of the upper back. Learn what can cause upper back pain and read about treatment options. This article was written in 2002, but it is still relevant. 

The American Pregnancy Association explains the different reasons for back pain, something that more than half of all pregnant women experience, along with treatment and prevention tips. Remember to ask your doctor before taking any medications.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has an overview of back pain in children that describes diagnosis, some of the possible disorders, and treatments.

The North American Spine Society has a list of questions that help indicate whether you should see a doctor who specializes in spinal care, such as an orthopedist or a neurologist. Questions include “Have you had significant back pain lasting more than three weeks?” and “Do you get numbness or weakness in your legs while walking?” The society is a nonprofit organization with more than 4,000 members from a variety of specialties that deal with the spine.

The Cleveland Clinic describes the various ways back and neck problems are diagnosed, such as analyzing body fluids to rule out any diseases, taking X-rays, performing bone scans, and conducting discograms.

WebMD has a list of ways to treat acute and chronic back pain at home. Studies show bed rest, for example, does not relieve pain better than staying active. Avoiding cigarette smoke is a good idea, because “smoking slows tissue healing.”

The American Academy of Family Physicians’s peer-reviewed journal, American Family Physician, has an article outlining the different clinical treatments for acute low back pain, starting with diagnosis and ruling out more serious disorders. Look for tables illustrating “red flags,” which indicate when back pain may be symptomatic of something more serious, signs of different back problems, and guidelines for when people with low back pain should return to work. This article also extensively describes various treatments and their effectiveness.

MedlinePlus is a site run by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Find descriptions of nonspecific back pain and nonspecific back pain treatments. Surgery, for example, is not an effective treatment method for nonspecific pain.

Mayo Clinic says surgery doesn’t usually fix back pain, and it is needed in only a very small number of cases. This article also describes the conditions in which surgery may be necessary and the types of back surgery available.

Spine-health.com is a doctor-run site with a page of short videos that illustrate a variety of surgical and nonsurgical procedures. The videos are animated and don’t show the procedures being performed on actual people. Look for procedures such as laminectomy back surgery, spinal cord stimulator implant, spine fusion surgery, and discography.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine [(NCCAM) is part of the National Institutes of Health. Find information on the use of magnets to treat pain, answer questions regarding the side effects or complications of magnets for pain, and discover what consumers should know if they are considering using magnets to treat pain. Note that studies haven’t proven the effectiveness of magnets to treat pain. Another page discusses acupuncture.

The Annals of Internal Medicine in 2005 published a review of 33 studies that concluded that acupuncture effectively relieves back pain, but it isn’t necessarily better than other treatment methods.

Mayo Clinic has a page on which a neurologist answers a question about the effectiveness of inversion therapy, in which a person is either suspended by the ankles or lies on a table that slowly tilts toward the person’s head. A Mayo Clinic rheumatologist also answers a similar question about prolotherapy, a process of injecting tendons and ligaments with a solution to encourage tissue production.

Mayo Clinic says yoga may help relieve low back pain and help you lose weight, which can also help stave off future back problems. Learn about yoga, its other benefits, and some of its risks. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you practice yoga, especially if you have a history of back problems.

ScienceDaily has an article about a study that found yoga to be more effective for low back pain than regular exercise or receiving a self-help book about back pain. Published in 2005, the study involved 101 adults who reported low back pain. After about six months of weekly yoga classes, plus practicing yoga at home, the participants reported less pain and more range of movement, and fewer of the patients used pain medication.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is part of the National Institutes of Health. Find information on chiropractic including a history of chiropractic, chiropractors regulation, scientific research on chiropractic, and chiropractic side effects.

The Cleveland Clinic says there is often a psychosomatic component to chronic back pain, where “psychological factors play a large role in determining the person’s experience of that problem.” Find suggestions for coping with chronic back pain, advice for recovery from surgery, and psychological techniques that can be used to manage pain.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons aims to advance the quality of musculoskeletal health. Search for one of its members by name, city, or zip code.

ClinicalTrials.gov , a clearinghouse operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, provides a list of research clinical trials currently underway to test experimental treatments for back pain. To learn more about clinical trials, speak to your doctor and read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s clinical trials guide.

The American Academy of Family Physicians addresses low back pain with tips on prevention and relief. Explore more aspects of low back pain with the questions on the left, such as “What’s the best way to sit?” and “Is there relief for ongoing back problems?”

SpineUniverse is chock full of information on the back and spine written by leading spine experts. Learn how to prevent future back pain and how to take care of yourself by getting enough sleep, staying at the proper weight, and lifting objects properly.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons features an exercise guide for those with low back pain. Benefit from initial, intermediate, and aerobic exercises, depending on your fitness level.

The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation offers strategies for turning household chores, such as putting laundry in the washer or unloading the dishwasher, into back-strengthening exercises.

Mayo Clinic has tips for preventing back injuries at work. Discover how to make your workspace back- and spine-friendly, and learn some healthy habits to incorporate into your daily routine.

Chronic Pain Lifestyle is a blog written by a married father of four who is no longer able to work due to a painful disability. Read about his experience at a pain management program and see what others have to say in response to the blog.

Spine-health.com hosts “Back Talk: Take Control of Your Pain,” a blog written by Spine-health.com staff. Search the categories on the left to find topics of interest such as “Ergonomics,”  “Neck Pain,” or “Surgery.”

WebMD has a forum devoted to back pain where people can get together, share their stories, and find support.

eHealth Forum has a low back pain message board. Look for topics like “Lower Back Pain after Spinal Fusion” and “Slipped Disc.”

Daily Strength’s back pain forum is a place where people can gather and offer each other support. Register for free to post messages. This site has a feature that allows you to “Get recommendations of medical professionals”; however, it’s best to stick to your doctor’s advice, or see another doctor if you feel a second opinion is necessary.

ScienceDaily has a page about bone and spine news and research. Find updated articles as new findings are published.

HealthDay has a number of articles about back pain. To find them, search by topic in the drop-down menu on the right side of the page. Back pain is called “backache.”

Topix is a site that collects news stories from around the world, and it has an archive full of back pain news. Visit the “Wire” tab for more stories.

PubMed Central , a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, is a repository of biomedical and life sciences journal articles. Read back pain articles or their abstracts. Once you’ve searched a topic, use a tab under the display options to read articles that are free to access. A box on the front page of the site invites you to create customized updates that are sent to you.