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Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) Scan of the Spine
Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) Scan of the Spine (Spinal CT Scan, CT of the Spine or Back) Procedure Overview What is a CT or CAT scan of the spine? Computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) is a noninvasive diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans ...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Spine and Brain
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the Spine and Brain (MRI Scan of the Spine, MRI Scan of the Brain) Procedure Overview What is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)? Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of a large magnet, radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body. How does an MRI scan work? The MRI machine is a large, cylindrical (tube-shaped) machine that creates a strong magnetic field around the pat...
X-rays of the Spine, Neck, or Back
X-rays of the Spine, Neck, or Back (Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, or Coccygeal X-ray Studies) Procedure Overview What are x-rays of the spine, neck, or back? X-rays use invisible electromagnetic energy beams to produce images of internal tissues, bones, and organs on film. Standard x-rays are performed for many reasons, including diagnosing tumors or bone injuries. X-rays are made by using external radiation to produce images of the body, its organs, and other internal structures for diagnostic pu...
Low Back Pain
Low Back Pain What is low back pain? Click Image to Enlarge Low back pain can range from mild, dull, annoying pain, to persistent, severe, disabling pain in the lower back. Pain in the lower back can restrict mobility and interfere with normal functioning. Low back pain is one of the most significant health problems. Consider these statistics from the National Institutes of Health (NIH): Eight out of ten people have back pain at some time in their life. Back pain is a common cause of activity limitation...
Neck Pain
Neck Pain What is neck pain? The neck is located between the head and the shoulders. Because of its location and range of motion, it is often left unprotected and subject to injury. Neck pain can result from many different causes - from injury to inflammatory disease. Causes of neck pain and problems may include the following: injury (damage to the muscles, tendons, and/or ligaments) herniated cervical disk arthritis (i.e., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis) cervical disk degeneration congenital abno...
Neck Problems
Neck Problems There are many conditions that affect the neck, which require clinical care by a physician or other healthcare professional. Listed in the directory below are some, for which we have provided a brief overview. Neck Pain Torticollis (Wryneck) Whiplash Injury
Back and Neck Pain
Back and Neck Pain What is low back pain? Low back pain can range from mild, dull, annoying pain, to persistent, severe, disabling pain in the lower back. Pain in the lower back can restrict mobility and interfere with normal functioning. What is neck pain? Neck pain is pain that occurs in the area of the seven cervical vertebrae in the neck area. Because of its location and range of motion, the neck is often left unprotected and subject to injury. Pain in the back or neck area can be acute, which comes...
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injury What is an acute spinal cord injury? Click Image to Enlarge The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is due to a traumatic injury that can either result in a bruise (also called a contusion), a partial tear, or a complete tear (called a transection) in the spinal cord. About 250,000 to 400,000 individuals in the US have a spinal cord injury. About 60 percent of these cases are 30 years old or...
Lumbar Strain (Weight Lifter's Back)
Lumbar Strain (Weight Lifter's Back) What is a lumbar strain? A lumbar strain is an injury to the lower back, which results in damaged tendons and muscles that spasm and feel sore. What causes a lumbar strain? Click Image to Enlarge Trauma of great force can injure the tendons and muscles in the lower back. Pushing and pulling sports, such as weight lifting or football, can lead to a lumbar strain. In addition, sports that require sudden twisting of the lower back, such as in basketball, baseball, and g...
Neck Pain and Problems
Neck Pain and Problems What is neck pain? The neck is located between the head and the shoulders. Because of its location and range-of-motion, it is often left unprotected and subject to injury. What causes neck pain? Neck pain can result from many different causes - from injury to inflammatory disease. Causes of neck pain and problems may include the following: injury (damage to the muscles, tendons, and/or ligaments) herniated cervical disk arthritis (i.e., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis) cervic...
Lumbar Disc Disease (Herniated Disc)
Lumbar Disc Disease (Herniated Disc) Click Image to Enlarge Anatomy of the lumbar spine: The vertebral column, also called the backbone, is made up of 33 vertebrae that are separated by spongy disks and classified into four distinct areas. The cervical area consists of seven bony parts in the neck; the thoracic spine consists of 12 bony parts in the back area; the lumbar spine consists of five bony segments in the lower back area; five sacral bones (fused into one bone, the sacrum); and four coccygeal b...
Reducing Your Risk for Low Back Pain
Reducing Your Risk for Low Back Pain Whether your back pain is chronic or acute, it's possible to find some relief. "All back pain can’t be eliminated, but by being proactive you can make bad episodes less frequent and less painful," says Noah Finkel, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in private practice in Huntington, N.Y., and a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Chronic low back pain is pain that persists for more than three months. Often, the cause is difficult to determine. Acute...
Getting the Better of Back Pain
Getting the Better of Back Pain Back pain is a common complaint: Nearly everyone will have low back pain that interferes with work or daily activities at some point in his or her life. Back pain is the second most common nerve problem in the United States, after headaches. It is the most common cause of job-related disability, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Back pain is rare in children and teens. It occurs more frequently as people age. Although pain c...
Massage Therapy for Back Pain
Massage Therapy for Back Pain Many American adults seek medical treatment for back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, it's estimated that eight out of 10 people will experience back pain and that it is one of the most common medical problems. When traditional medicine doesn't relieve the pain, many people turn to alternative treatments such as massage therapy. "Massage can be very beneficial for back pain," says Kathleen Clayton, a licensed massage therapist and spokesperson for the American Ma...
Basic Back Care
Basic Back Care If you're like most adults, you've probably suffered from temporary back pain, but chances are it could have been avoided. The National Institutes of Health says that about 80% of people develop back problems at some point in their lives. By exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, lifting properly, and not smoking, most people can prevent back pain. Besides maintaining a healthy weight, one of the most important steps you can take to reduce the risk for back pain is to perfor...
When Back Pain Needs Care Now
When Back Pain Needs Care Now Back pain can range from a dull to severe, and most cases of back pain can be traced to stresses placed on muscles and ligaments that support the spine. Acute or short-term low back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Most acute back pain results from trauma to the lower back or a disorder such as arthritis. Pain from trauma may be caused by a sports injury, work around the home or garden, or a sudden jerk or jolt such as a car accident that puts stress on ...
Are Feet at Fault for Back, Hip, and Knee Woes?
Are Feet at Fault for Back, Hip, and Knee Woes? If you are having problems with back pain, shin splints, knees, or hips, look to your feet. Although these ailments might seem totally unrelated to one another, they can sometimes be linked to problems that start with your feet and how they're built, foot experts say. When you walk, you put the force of as much as five times your body weight on each foot. If the foot doesn't absorb that shock or redistribute it properly, you can develop problems elsewhere....