Back Pain Archive

Joint replacement is a complex procedure, and finding the right surgeon and hospital can make a big difference in your outcome. In general, you're likely to have a better result and fewer complications if your surgeon performs the operation frequently (at least 100 times per year) and operates in a hospital where these procedures are commonplace. Don't be surprised if this rules out the most convenient hospital for your location.

Your orthopedist, rheumatologist, or primary care physician, or a friend who has undergone successful joint replacement, may be able to recommend a specific surgeon. But keep in mind that your insurer may restrict you to certain specialists or require a larger copayment if you go outside your plan.

Q. I've been having abdominal pain that may be due to gallstones. Is surgery the best solution, or are there other things I can try first?

A. The first thing to determine is whether your abdominal pain is in fact due to gallstones. They typically cause pain on the upper right side or in the center of the abdomen just below the breastbone that radiates to the back or right shoulder. The pain is often brought on by eating—especially fatty foods—or may occur at night. Sometimes gallstone pain is accompanied by sweating, bloating, nausea, or vomiting.

A variety of physical activities and regular stretching can rid you of routine discomfort.

The FDA is strengthening an existing label warning that NSAIDs increase the chance of a heart attack or stroke.

Strengthening, stretching, and improving posture will go a long way toward reducing back pain that comes with age.

Tap into your brain's circuitry to boost treatment for your health condition.

Buying the right shoes is an investment in foot health. But how do you find ones that fit properly and provide adequate support? 

Start with your own feet, and look at what's already in your closet. Stand barefoot on a piece of paper or cardboard, and trace the shape of each foot. Now take your shoes, one by one, and place them on top of the drawing. If you're like most people, your "comfortable" shoes will closely match the outline of your own feet.

NSAID users: Take the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.

New study findings provide better guidance to men about treatment options for spinal stenosis.

Spinal stenosis, a progressive narrowing of the space around the lower (lumbar) spinal nerves, is a common cause of back pain and disability in men over age 65. When anti-inflammatory medications and injections fail, stenosis sufferers start looking for other solutions. A surgical procedure called decompression can improve things temporarily, but like any back surgery, it comes with risks.