Back and Neck Basics

Back and Neck Pain
Pain in the back or neck area can be acute, which comes on suddenly and intensely, or chronic, which can last for weeks, months, or even years. The pain can be continuous or intermittent.

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.

Sciatica
Sciatica is a pain that originates along the sciatic nerve, which extends from the back of the pelvis down the back of the thigh.

Scoliosis
A spine affected by scoliosis shows a sideways curvature and a rotation of the vertebrae, giving the appearance that the person is leaning to one side.

Kyphosis
Kyphosis is a forward curvature of the spine. It is a type of spinal deformity and should not be confused with poor posture.

What Is Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and pinches the nerves, resulting in back and leg pain.

Neck Pain and Problems
Neck pain can result from many different causes—injury to muscles, tendons, or ligaments; arthritis; a herniated disc; or a tumor.

What to Do About a Pain in the Neck
Most neck pain is caused by sleeping on a bed that’s too soft, poor posture, stress, neck strains or degenerative joint disease that occurs when the joints of the neck become inflamed or a disc pushes outward from its normal position.

Torticollis (Wryneck)
Torticollis is a spasm of the neck muscles. It is usually caused by vigorous movement or injury—or by sleeping in an awkward position.

Whiplash Injury
Whiplash is an injury caused by the neck bending forcibly forward and then backward, or vice versa. The injury usually involves the muscles, discs, nerves, and tendons in the neck.

Lumbar Disk Disease (Herniated Disk)
Lumbar disk disease is caused by a change in the structure of a spinal disk. Most of the time, disk disease is a result of aging and the degeneration that occurs within the disk.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a chronic, degenerative, joint disease that affects mostly middle-aged and older adults.

Lumbar Strain (Weight Lifter's Back)
A lumbar strain is an injury to the lower back, which results in damaged tendons and muscles that spasm and feel sore.

Low Back Pain
Low back pain can range from mild, dull, and annoying to persistent, severe, and disabling pain. Pain in the lower back can restrict mobility and interfere with normal functioning.

What Is a Pinched Nerve?
Back pain may be caused by a pinched nerve. If you have pain, burning, or numbness, call your health care provider.

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes a loss of bone mass and destruction of bone tissue. The bones most often affected are the hips, spine, and wrists.