Spine Health

Arthritis in the lower back and pelvic area can cause pain and loss of motion. See how this arthritis develops, who's at risk, and what treatments can help.

Cervical arthritis means arthritis of the neck bones. Your neck has 7 vertebrae, and cushiony disks sit between the vertebrae. Over time or with injury, the disks can have problems and may bulge outward or get thinner.

The vertebrae in your spine are cushioned by soft disks. When one of the disks in your neck—the cervical area of your spine—ruptures, the result can be neck pain. Watch this video to find out the possible causes and recommended treatment.

This condition is an inflammation of the tip of the tailbone, called the coccyx. It causes pain and tenderness between the buttocks.

This is a collapse of vertebral bone. It can affect one or more vertebrae. Compression fractures typically develop in your mid or lower back. This can change the shape of your spine.

This condition is a rupture of one of the vertebral discs in your neck. A herniated disc can allow disc material to press harmfully against the spinal nerves.

Between the vertebrae of your spine are soft discs. They let your spine twist and bend. They absorb shocks. But if damaged, the disc's soft center can push through the disc wall. That's a herniated disc. This bulge presses against nerves in your spine.

This condition is a deformity of the spine. With it, your vertebrae change from a cylindrical shape to a wedge shape. Your spine may begin to curve forward. Eventually, this gives your upper back a rounded appearance.

This is a problem that affects your spinal cord. It happens when something presses harmfully against it. Your spinal cord is the main nerve pathway between your brain and your body. Pressure on it can cause problems throughout your body.

This condition, also called "failed back surgery syndrome," is a type of chronic pain. It can develop in some people after spine surgery.

This mass is a collection of pus that forms in the spinal canal. It forms between the spinal cord (or nerve roots) and the vertebral bones. In the cervical and thoracic regions of the spine, it can press against the spinal cord. In the lumbar region, it can press against the nerve roots. A spinal epidural abscess can cause problems throughout the body.

This is an infection most often caused by staphylococcus or E. coli bacteria. It may involve the bones, discs and soft tissues of your spine. It can start in one area of your spine and spread to other parts. It can cause pain and other problems.

Your spinal nerves travel through your spinal canal and exit through openings we call "foramen." If any of these spaces are too narrow, your nerves become compressed. We say you have "spinal stenosis." It's a problem that most often happens in the neck and lower back.

This problem affects the spinal nerves in your neck. It's a narrowing of the spinal canal. That's the space your spinal nerves travel through. In a healthy spine, the spinal canal protects these nerves. It keeps them free from injury. But with spinal stenosis, the spinal canal is too narrow, and your nerves get compressed.

Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and pinches the nerves, resulting in back and leg pain. Spinal stenosis often occurs in older adults, although younger people who are born with a small spinal canal may also develop symptoms. This video explains the condition and what treatments are recommended.

This condition affects the thoracic spine between the neck and the lower back. It is a narrowing of the spinal canal that results from degeneration of bones in the spine, disc herniation, or thickening of the tissues that surround the spinal cord.

This is a name we give to a group of arthritis diseases. They cause inflammation in your spine and other joints and can lead to chronic pain.

This condition occurs when a lumbar vertebra slips out of place. It slides forward, distorting the shape of your spine. This may compress the nerves in the spinal canal. The nerves that exit the foramen (open spaces on the sides of your vertebrae) may also be compressed. These compressed nerves can cause pain and other problems.

This condition is a degeneration of the spine that can affect the spine at any level, resulting in pain and discomfort that can grow worse over time.

Lower back pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can cause you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your lower back.

This condition is a weakening of one or more vertebral discs, which normally act as a cushion between the vertebrae. This condition can develop as a natural part of the aging process, but it may also result from injury to the back.

Most vertebrae are separated by flexible disks of cartilage that act like shock absorbers and allow your spine to move. With age, your disks can lose their height and ability to cushion. This process is called disk degeneration. This video explains more about this condition and the treatments available.

If you have back or neck pain that doesn't go away, you may have osteoarthritis of the spine. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. For many of us, it develops slowly as we age. And it can keep you from being as active as you like.

Your sacroiliac joints (we call them the "SI" joints) are the places where your hips meet your spine. These joints don't have a lot of flexibility, but they do move slightly as you move your body. And if SI joints become damaged or diseased, it can be painful.

This pain comes from one of your spinal discs. Those are the soft cushions that allow the bones of your spine to flex and twist. Discogenic pain is a common reason for chronic lower back pain.

This is a problem you can develop after spinal fusion. It happens when the vertebrae above and below the fusion become weak and damaged. We say they "degenerate." And as they degenerate, more vertebrae are at risk for harm.

This is a crack that forms in a narrow bridge of bone at the back of a vertebra. A vertebra is one of the bones that forms your spine. Often, this injury happens in the lumbar spine. It can happen to people of all ages. But, we most often see it in children and teens. That's because their bones are still growing.

This is a problem with the facet joints of the cervical spine. They are the joints found where one vertebra connects to another. Facet joints support your spine, while allowing it to bend and twist. With this syndrome, these joints become stiff and painful in the upper part of your spine.

Learn the anatomy of the sacroiliac joint.

Good posture protects your back when you sit, stand, and walk. It's also important while getting into and out of bed.

Here are tips on how to move safely and protect your back when you need to bend.

Here's how to keep your back safe while you bend, lift, and carry.

Pushing can be hard on your back, but pulling can be even harder. So, push rather than pull when you can.

When you sleep, keep your ears, shoulders, and hips in line.

Sitting can strain your back if you don't do it right. Learn the right moves to protect your back.

Good posture decreases back pain by reducing strain on your muscle.

Protect your back while you stand or turn. Turning can twist your spine if you don't do it correctly.

Your doctor will suggest the best treatment for you based on your age, how much more you are likely to grow, and the size and type of your spinal curve.

Scoliosis is a problem that makes the spine curve and twist from side to side. It's most often found in girls in their early teens. But boys can have it, too.

If a school screening or your healthcare provider finds signs of scoliosis, you'll visit a special bone healthcare provider (orthopaedist) for an evaluation. This visit helps determine what treatment may be best for you now.

A brace helps stop the curve in your spine from getting worse as you grow. It may also help keep you from needing surgery. To do the job, the brace needs to be worn almost all the time until you are fully grown.

Your body works best when it's correctly aligned. Aim for good posture throughout the day.

Being relaxed helps keep your mind healthy and your back ready to move. Read on for some helpful tips.

An unhealthy spine often starts with bad habits. Poor movement patterns and posture problems are common causes of back pain. Disk, bone, nerve, and soft tissue problems can all be affected by poor posture.

A healthy spine supports the body while letting it move freely. It does this with the help of 3natural curves. Strong, flexible muscles help, too. They support the spine by keeping its curves correctly aligned. Read on to learn more.

To take care of your back, try to warm up before you move and shift positions often.

Torticollis happens when muscles on 1 side of the neck contract (tighten). This causes the neck to twist or tilt to the side.

When your neck's bones, disks, and muscles are in good condition, they allow you to move your head freely and without pain.

Illustration and explanation of neck muscles.

Instructions for care after scoliosis surgery.

This information can help you care for your child who has had surgery for scoliosis.

These images show you how to lift safely.

Cervical strain is a medical term for neck pain. The neck has several layers of muscles. These are connected with tendons to the cervical spine and other bones. Neck pain is often the result of injury to these muscles and tendons.

"Coccygodynia is pain at the lowest tip of the spine (the coccyx, or tailbone). This is sometimes called a ""bruised tailbone."" Tailbone pain can be very uncomfortable. It can also interfere with daily activities, such as driving."

Lumbosacral strain is a medical term for an injury that causes low back pain. The lumbosacral area (low back) is between the bottom of the ribcage and the top of the buttocks. A strain is tearing of muscles and tendons.

The sacroiliac joint can be pushed out of place. The tissues around an SIJ also can be stretched or torn. This can lead to pain in the low back.

This procedure uses heat from radio waves to treat painful facet joints in your neck. It eases pain that isn't helped by medications or physical therapy.

This procedure uses heat from radio waves to treat painful facet joints in your neck. It eases pain that isn't helped by medications or physical therapy.

This procedure, also called a "discogram," helps your doctor find painful spinal discs. It can show the source of pain in your neck. To see how it works, let's watch a discography done in the cervical spine.

This procedure, also called a "discogram," helps your doctor find painful spinal discs. It can show the source of pain in your back. To see how it works, let's watch a discography done in the thoracic spine.

This procedure uses heat from radio waves to treat painful facet joints in your upper back. It eases pain that isn't helped by medications or physical therapy.

This procedure, also called a "discogram," helps your doctor find painful spinal discs. It can show the source of pain in your back. To see how it works, let's watch a discography done in the lumbar spine.

This procedure relieves pressure on spinal nerves in your lower back. It makes more room in an opening called a "foramen." That's where a spinal nerve exits as it branches away from your spine.

This injection procedure is performed to relieve low back and radiating leg pain. Steroid medication can reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by spinal conditions.

This injection procedure is performed to relieve low back and radiating leg pain. Steroid medication can reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by spinal conditions.

In this minimally-invasive procedure, a metal device is implanted to stabilize the spine and help relieve back problems from conditions such as spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative arthritis. This procedure is often performed in addition to spinal fixation with pedicle screws and rods.

This procedure is an injection that numbs branches of nerves in your lower back. It helps doctors find and treat a number of problems linked to these nerves. Usually, a series of injections is needed to treat a problem.

This outpatient procedure is an injection of a steroid-anesthetic medication. The medication can reduce swelling and inflammation of irritated spinal nerves. This procedure is performed to relieve pain in the lower back and pain that radiates from the back to the legs. The injection takes only a few minutes to complete.

This injection targets a painful nerve in your cervical spine. It helps your doctor find which nerve is pressed on by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or some other problem. It may give you pain relief.

This injection targets a painful nerve in your lumbar spine. It helps your doctor find which nerve is hurt by a herniated disc, spinal stenosis or some other problem. It may give you pain relief.

This injection procedure is performed to relieve neck, shoulder and arm pain related to compression of a nerve root in the cervical spine. Conditions such as herniated discs and spinal stenosis can compress nerves, causing inflammation and pain. The medication injected helps decrease the swelling of nerves.

The facet joints, found on both sides of the back of the spine, can become painfully irritated or inflamed. A facet joint injection may help diagnose the source of a patient's pain. It can also relieve pain and inflammation.

This is an injection of medicine into a spinal disc. That's a soft cushion that allows the bones of your spine to flex and twist. An intradiscal injection helps your doctor find or treat your pain.

This injection procedure is performed to diagnose and relieve the pain of piriformis syndrome, an irritation of the sciatic nerve caused by a contraction of the piriformis muscle in the buttocks.

If you have back pain, platelet rich plasma therapy may help. It uses parts of your own blood to help your body heal itself. PRP can help your back feel better and work better.

This procedure uses heat from radio waves to treat painful facet joints in your lower back. It eases pain that isn't helped by medications or physical therapy.

Spinal discs allow your spine to bend and twist. These flexible shock absorbers can be damaged by injury, disease, or the added stress that can result from a spinal fusion. But stem cell therapy may help. It uses parts of your own blood to help repair disc damage. It can slow disc degeneration. It may help you avoid surgery.

This outpatient procedure is an injection of pain-relieving medication into one or more costovertebral joints. These are the joints that form the connections between the ribs and the vertebrae.

This procedure temporarily disrupts the nerves of the celiac plexus. These nerves branch away from your spine. They connect to the organs in your abdomen. Pain signals caused by conditions such as pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer travel through these nerves on the way to your brain. A celiac plexus block can relieve your pain.

This minimally-invasive procedure, which takes about 30 minutes to perform, uses radiofrequency probes to treat chronic back pain.

In this minimally-invasive procedure, a flexible instrument containing a tiny camera, called an epiduroscope, is used to diagnose the cause of pain in the lower spine and legs, likely from sciatica. During the procedure, the surgeon may also administer medication to treat the pain.

This is a way to stop pain during and after surgery on your hip or knee. It turns off pain signals for hours. With this block, you'll need less pain medication as you heal. Here are two ways to medicate the nerve in your hip area.

This outpatient procedure is a diagnostic examination of the spine. It allows the physician to identify problems involving the spine, the spinal cord and the nerve roots.

This injection, generally performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, relieves low back and leg pain most often caused by scarring from a prior back surgery. The procedure is performed with the patient lying face down with a cushion placed under the stomach.

This is an injection of numbing medicine. It bathes the medial branch nerves, which attach to the facet joints of your spine. These nerves hurt when facet joints are injured or diseased. The injection helps find the source of your pain. And it may relieve your pain for a brief time.

This is an injection of numbing medicine that bathes the medial branch nerves. These nerves are attached to the facet joints of the spine. Disease or injury of these joints can cause pain in the medial branch nerves. This pain may travel through the neck, shoulders, upper back and head. A medial branch block can help your physician find the source of your pain. It may also provide temporary pain relief.

This injection treats painful nerves in the lower back and upper buttocks. We call these the "cluneal" nerves. The injection will show us if these nerves are the source of your pain. And if they are, the block will give you relief.

ALIF is generally used to treat back or leg pain caused by degenerative disc disease. The surgeon will stabilize the spine by fusing vertebrae together with bone graft material.

This surgery relieves pressure on the spinal cord and the spinal nerves. It involves the removal of bone and discs from your cervical spine, followed by a fusion.

This surgery relieves pressure on the spinal cord and the spinal nerves. It involves the removal of bone and discs from your cervical spine, followed by a fusion.

This surgery removes a herniated or diseased disc and relieves neck and radiating arm pain caused by parts of the disc pressing on nerve roots.

This surgery replaces a damaged vertebral disc in your neck with a cage containing bone graft. It's done to relieve painful pressure on spinal nerves.

This minimally-invasive surgical procedure, performed through a tiny hole in the neck, removes the bulging portion of a herniated cervical disc. It is designed to relieve neck and radiating arm pain caused by herniated disc material pressing on nerve roots.

This procedure replaces a degenerative or damaged spinal disc with an implant designed to preserve motion in your neck. This procedure can relieve the pain of compressed nerves in the cervical spine.

This procedure replaces a degenerative or damaged spinal disc with an implant designed to preserve motion in your neck. This procedure can relieve the pain of compressed nerves in the cervical spine.

(Caution: Investigational Device) A goal of this procedure is to relieve the pain caused by pinched nerves due to a damaged disc in the cervical spine. The diseased or damaged disc will be replaced with a specialized implant.

This procedure replaces a diseased or damaged spinal disc with a specialized implant designed to preserve motion in the neck. This procedure can relieve the pain of pinched nerves in the cervical spine.

This surgery places an implant in your lower spine. We use it to stabilize your spine and relieve the painful compression of degenerative disc disease.

This surgical procedure creates more space for the spinal cord and nerve roots to relieve the painful pressure of spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that can result from arthritis.

This procedure is used to treat a painfully restricted spinal canal in the neck. The procedure creates more space for the spinal cord and nerve roots, immediately relieving pressure. The technique is often called an "open door laminaplasty," because the back of the vertebrae is made to swing open like a door.

This surgery creates more space for a compressed spinal nerve in your neck. The procedure relieves painful pressure caused by a herniated or degenerative disc.

This surgical procedure replaces a damaged or diseased disc in the lumbar spine with an artificial disc that restores the natural alignment of the spine. Unlike fusion surgery, which causes the vertebrae above and below the problem disc to grow together into a single bone, the artificial disc preserves spine motion at that level.

This surgical procedure replaces a damaged or diseased disc in the lumbar spine with an artificial disc that restores the natural alignment of the spine. Unlike fusion surgery, which causes the vertebrae above and below the problem disc to grow together into a single bone, the artificial disc preserves spine motion at that level.

During this minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon replaces a damaged disc in the lumbar spine with an expandable implant. The surgeon also implants hardware to stabilize the spine. This procedure relieves nerve root compression, which is a common cause of pain in the back and legs.

This procedure is used to implant specialized bolts through the facet joints of two or more vertebrae, locking the vertebrae together and stabilizing the spine. The US Spine Facet Fixation System™ uses smaller incisions than a traditional open fusion surgery, allowing for less tissue damage, reduced blood loss, and a shorter recovery time.

This surgery uses an expandable implant, called a "cage," to join two vertebrae in your spine. We call this a "fusion." A fusion can relieve the pain of spinal injury or disease. Here's how it works.

In this minimally-invasive procedure, the spinal nerve roots are decompressed and a metal device is implanted to stabilize the spine and help relieve back problems from conditions such as spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and degenerative arthritis.

In this minimally-invasive outpatient procedure, usually performed under local anesthesia and sedation, a titanium alloy device is implanted to relieve back pain and numbness in the legs caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. This procedure is an alternative to laminectomy or spinal fusion.

This small implant gives your spine support. It's placed in your spine as part of a surgical treatment for the pain of spinal stenosis. Unlike a spinal fusion, the implant preserves motion. So your spine can still move naturally.

This is a treatment for chronic pain in your lower back. The physician uses heat to reduce the sensitivity of nerve fibers in a spinal disc. More than one disc may be treated.

This minimally-invasive procedure, performed through a tube called a cannula, is designed to relieve the pain caused by herniated disc tissue pressing against nerve roots in the spine. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and the patient is allowed to leave the hospital the same day.

This is a device put inside your body to relieve long-lasting pain. It sends medicine into an area around your spinal cord. We call this the "intrathecal space." The medicine blocks pain signals. It can work even when other treatments don't.

This is a device we put inside your body to relieve long-lasting pain. It sends medicine into an area around your spinal cord. We call this the "intrathecal space." The medicine blocks pain signals. It can work even when other treatments don't.

This minimally-invasive procedure repairs a vertebral compression fracture. It helps restore the spine's natural shape. Some patients experience rapid pain relief after the procedure.

This procedure is performed to relieve the pain caused when diseased or damaged vertebrae bone blocks and pinches nerve roots. It also corrects spinal column deformities. During this procedure, the patient is positioned on his right side. The surgery is performed through the patient's left side.

This minimally-invasive procedure relieves pressure on nerve roots caused by a herniated disc. It can eliminate the pain of sciatica.

This minimally-invasive procedure is designed to relieve pain caused by herniated discs pressing on nerve roots. This surgery is performed through a small tubular device under local or epidural anesthesia, allowing the patient to leave the hospital the same day.

This surgery treats a bulging or herniated disc in your lower back. It gets rid of the tissue that presses on your spinal nerves. And it's done without a large incision.

This surgery removes bone and/or portions of a herniated or diseased disc to relieve neck and radiating arm pain caused by parts of the disc pressing on nerve roots.

This surgery, done through a tiny opening in your skin, treats a bulging or herniated disc in your lower back. It relieves pressure on nearby nerves. This can help with pain and other symptoms you may be experiencing in your back, buttock, leg and foot.

This procedure treats lumbar spinal stenosis. That's a narrowing of the space around the spinal nerves in your lower back. The mild procedure makes more room for these nerves, relieving painful compression.

This minimally invasive procedure is used to remove overgrown vertebral bone and soft tissue to relieve the compression of nerve roots in the lumbar spine. It is performed through a small incision on the back.

This minimally invasive procedure is used to remove a degenerated disc to relieve the compression of nerve roots in the lumbar spine. It is performed through a small incision on the back.

This is a surgery to correct problems caused by a degenerated disc in your spine. It creates more space for your nerves. OLIF is performed through a small opening in your side.

This surgery fuses your skull to your cervical spine. It's done with a combination of implants. The implants are linked with rods to stabilize your head and neck.

This minimally-invasive procedure uses a small needle and advanced radiofrequency technology to reduce a herniated disc. The procedure may be performed on an outpatient basis.

This is a procedure to treat a herniated disc. That's a bulging disc in your spine. Getting rid of the bulge can relieve pressure on your nerves. It can relieve pain in your lower back and your legs.

This minimally-invasive procedure uses a small needle and advanced radiofrequency technology to reduce a herniated disc, quickly relieving pain in most patients. The procedure may be performed on an outpatient basis using a gentle, relaxing medicine and local anesthetic.

This is a procedure to treat a herniated disc. That's a bulging disc in your spine. Getting rid of the bulge can relieve pressure on your nerves. It can relieve pain in your lower back and in your legs.

This procedure fuses two of your vertebrae with implants and bone graft material. It stabilizes your spine. It can be used to treat pain caused by degenerative disc disease.

This procedure uses heat from radio waves to treat painful facet joints in your lower back. It eases pain that isn't helped by medications or physical therapy.

This minimally-invasive procedure is performed through a small tubular device. It is designed to relieve pain caused by herniated discs pressing on nerve roots. The surgery is performed under local or epidural anesthesia, allowing the patient to leave the hospital the same day.

Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, arms and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.

Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, ams and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.

Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, arms and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.

Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, arms and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.

In many spinal surgeries, two or more vertebral bones are permanently joined with a technique called "spinal fusion." A fusion creates a solid mass of bone. It stabilizes your spine.

This minimally-invasive surgical procedure treats chronic lower back or leg pain by stabilizing damaged or misaligned vertebrae with specially-designed screws, spacers and cables. The flexible DYNESYS® system is an alternative to spinal fusion. It aligns and supports the spine while still allowing some flexibility and movement. The surgery takes two to three hours to perform.

This is an implant that lifts and separates your vertebrae. It's used to treat lumbar spinal stenosis. That's a narrowing of the space around your spinal nerves in your lower back. The Superion implant makes more room for these nerves, relieving painful compression.

TLIF is generally used to treat back or leg pain caused by degenerative disc disease. The surgeon will stabilize the spine by fusing vertebrae together with bone graft material.

This surgery treats a bad vertebral disc in your lower back. It replaces the bad disc with an artificial one. The new disc will let your spine bend and twist. For some, this surgery is an alternative to spinal fusion.

This surgical procedure replaces a damaged or diseased disc in the cervical spine with an artificial disc that restores the natural alignment of the spine. Unlike fusion surgery, which causes the vertebrae above and below the problem disc to grow together into a single bone, the artificial disc preserves spine motion at that level.

This type of spine surgery treats a problem called "compression fracture." That's when the body of a vertebra (one of the bones of the spinal column) cracks and collapses. Vertebral augmentation makes the bone stronger. It may restore lost height and relieve pain.

This surgical procedure replaces a severely diseased or damaged vertebra with a device designed to restore the spine's proper height and alignment. The patient's pain is relieved by eliminating pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots in the thoracic or lumbar spine.

This minimally-invasive procedure is an injection of bone cement into a vertebra. It stabilizes a compression fracture of the spine. One or more vertebrae may need to be treated.

This minimally-invasive procedure is performed through a small tubular device. It is designed to relieve pain caused by herniated discs pressing on nerve roots. The surgery is performed under local or epidural anesthesia, allowing the patient to leave the hospital the same day.

This surgery creates more space around your spinal nerves. It gets rid of pressure and pinching. It can relieve pain, numbness and weakness linked to spinal nerve compression.

This surgery clamps together two spinous processes. These are the bony parts that stick out from the back of your spine. Clamping them together gives your spine stability.