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When Is It Time to Consider Back Surgery?

Your back has been hurting for weeks. Is it time to schedule surgery?

That depends. Doctors generally advise a conservative approach first. That’s because surgery doesn’t always help, it comes with some risk, and you’ll have to go through a possibly painful recovery period afterward.

Experts say back pain usually gets better without surgery within three months. In the meantime, there are lots of less invasive things to try first, such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, hot and...

Radiculopathy: Could Your Leg or Arm Pain Be Caused by a Spinal Problem?

If your leg hurts, you might logically assume there’s something wrong with your leg. But you might be wrong. Sometimes pain, tingling, numbness, or other symptoms in one part of your body can actually be caused by problems in another part of your body.

For instance, radiculopathy—a condition in which nerves in the spinal column become compressed or irritated—can show up as symptoms in the arms, shoulders, back, hips, or legs.

Different types of radiculopathy

Where your symptoms show up will depend on what part of the spine is irritated.

How Using Computers and Smartphones Can Affect Neck and Spine Health

Sometimes it’s called "tech neck," sometimes "text neck." It's the stiffness and pain that can come from staring down at a smartphone or laptop for hours on end each day.

When your head is in a neutral position, looking straight ahead, the muscles in your neck are holding up about 10-12 pounds. Shift your neck down to about a 45-degree angle, and you're requiring those muscles to hold the equivalent of about ...

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