Chronic neck or back pain can come from several different structures in the spine. In some people, the source is the facet joints, which are small joints located along the back of the spine. A medial branch block is a procedure used to temporarily numb the small medial branch nerves that carry pain signals from […]
SI joint pain and facet joint pain can both cause persistent discomfort in the lower back, but they come from different joints. SI joint pain comes from the sacroiliac joints where the spine meets the pelvis, while facet joint pain comes from the small joints connecting the vertebrae. Because both conditions can cause lower back […]
Someone with spinal stenosis may feel relatively comfortable while sitting, only to notice lower back pain, aching legs, heaviness, numbness, or weakness after walking for several minutes. For some people, simply standing in one place can bring on the same symptoms. This pattern is especially common with lumbar spinal stenosis, which occurs when spaces in […]
Back pain does not always come from a disc, muscle, or pinched nerve. Sometimes, the source is one of the small joints that help connect and stabilize the bones of the spine. These are called facet joints. Like other joints in the body, facet joints can become irritated, inflamed, or affected by arthritis. When this […]
Arthritis pain and nerve pain can sometimes be difficult to tell apart. Both can cause persistent discomfort, limit movement, and affect the same general area of the body. A person with knee arthritis, for example, may also experience nerve related symptoms in the leg. The main difference is where the pain comes from. Arthritis pain […]
Yes, a herniated disc can often improve without surgery. In some cases, the displaced disc material actually becomes smaller over time as the body gradually breaks it down and absorbs it. Research has found that spontaneous resorption is common in lumbar disc herniations treated conservatively, although the likelihood varies depending on the type of herniation. […]
Burning feet at night can be strange and frustrating. Your feet may feel hot, prickly, electric, or painfully sensitive even though the skin itself does not feel unusually warm. One common reason is peripheral nerve irritation or damage. Peripheral neuropathy often begins in the feet and can cause burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain. These […]
Bulging discs and herniated discs are easy to confuse. The terms are often used when discussing back or neck pain, and both describe changes to the discs that sit between the bones of your spine. But they are not the same thing. A bulging disc generally involves a broader portion of the disc extending beyond […]
Your back may hurt when you cough or sneeze because these sudden movements briefly increase pressure through your abdomen and spine while causing the muscles around your back to contract quickly. If a muscle, spinal disc, joint, or nerve is already irritated, that sudden force can make the pain more noticeable. Sometimes the cause is […]
Spinal cord stimulation may be considered for people with failed back surgery syndrome when chronic nerve-related pain continues after spine surgery and other treatments have not provided enough relief. Back surgery can successfully correct a structural problem and still leave some patients with ongoing pain. That pain may include persistent lower back pain, radiating leg […]
