Back Pain Stretches and Exercises
Exercises you can do at home to help or prevent a sore back.
How to Prevent Back Pain
A family and sports medicine doctor shares his top tips for avoiding back pain.
Treating Back Pain at Home
A doctor answers questions on how and when to treat back pain at home.
Featured Articles
Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Back Surgery
Learn the risks and benefits of back surgery, and if you’re a good candidate.
Decoding Back Pain
Knowing the symptoms and causes of different back pain can help you decide when it’s time to see a doctor.
Back Pain Causes at Every Age
Your age is a key factor to determining the cause of your back pain – and what to do about it.
Ask an Expert
Rakesh Donthineni, M.D.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
I'm in my 50s and was recently diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my back. Will the pain get worse as I get older? And is there anything I can do for the pain besides pain medication? Also does this condition ever require surgery?
Degenerative disc disease is part of the 'wear and tear' of the spine that occurs with age and use. Back pain is very common and best managed with the appropriate medications, exercises to keep your trunk/core ... continue reading about I'm in my 50s and was recently diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my back. Will the pain get worse as I get older? And is there anything I can do for the pain besides pain medication? Also does this condition ever require surgery?
Rakesh Donthineni, M.D.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
What are the risks and benefits of lower back fusion surgery? What would you recommend a person try before surgery?
Lower back fusion surgery is an option for severe back pain, typically due to advanced arthritis and/or spine instability, that has not responded to non-operative methods. These non-operative methods include th... continue reading about What are the risks and benefits of lower back fusion surgery? What would you recommend a person try before surgery?
Joshua C. Richards, M.D.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
What is the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk?
There is no real difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc. The discs are the cushions which allow motion between the vertebrae in your spine. As time goes on, or from an injury, the discs can weak... continue reading about What is the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk?
Rakesh Donthineni, M.D.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Could you explain a surgery named spinal decompression, and describe the risks?
Spinal decompression is essentially a surgery to remove pressure on the spinal cord or nerves within the spinal canal. Depending on the location and severity of the problem, the surgery involves removing parts ... continue reading about Could you explain a surgery named spinal decompression, and describe the risks?
Rakesh Donthineni, M.D.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Where exactly is the sciatic nerve? I've had a pain under my right buttocks that runs down the back of my leg to about the knee and hasn't gotten any better in over three weeks. Am I on the right track in suspecting sciatica?
Like all nerves, the sciatic nerve originates from the spinal cord and is made up of a bundle of those nerves. It travels within the pelvis, and exits the pelvis to the back of the thigh deep into the buttock. ... continue reading about Where exactly is the sciatic nerve? I've had a pain under my right buttocks that runs down the back of my leg to about the knee and hasn't gotten any better in over three weeks. Am I on the right track in suspecting sciatica?