Description
Marian Betancourt has written numerous books on health and women’s issues. Her most recent books include What’s in the Air?, a guide to managing seasonal and year-round allergies; and Playing Like a Girl: Transforming Our Lives Through Team Sports. She has written for the Associated Press, Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and other national publications. Emile Hiesiger, M.D., is one of America’s top neurologists and pain management experts. A clinical associate professor of neurology and radiology at New York University School of Medicine, he has been listed in New York magazine’s “The Best Doctors in New York,” and was cited by American Health as “one of the best doctors in America.” Hiesiger is a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and the author of Your Pain Is Real. CONTENTS Introduction PART I: THE BASICS Chapter 1 Understanding How Your Back Works Spinal Bones: Vertebrae Spinal Joints: Facets Spinal Disks The Sacrum and Coccyx The Spinal Cord and Spinal Canal Spinal Ligaments Back Muscles Spinal Wear and Tear and Back Pain Medical Causes of Back Pain Key Points Chapter 2 Why a Good Diagnosis Is Hard to Find The Complications of Chronic Back Pain Referred Pain: The Cause Is Not Always Near the Effect Test-Negative Pain: When the Cause Can’t Be Seen The Initial Physical Examination Key Points Chapter 3 Will Pictures Tell the Story? What to Know about Diagnostic Tests Conventional X-rays Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Computed Axial Tomography (CT) Myelogram Discogram Electromyogram (EMG) Diagnostic Nerve Blocks Bone-Density Tests Bone Scan Laboratory Tests Key Points Chapter 4 Finding the Doctor Who Can Really Help You Shopping for a Doctor Physicians Who Treat Back Pain Interviewing Potential Doctors What You Should Know about Pain Specialists Key Points Chapter 5 How to Get and Pay for the Best Treatment for Back Pain Do Your Homework Getting the Most from Your Health-Insurance Plan Key Points PART II: COMMON CAUSES OF BACK PAIN Chapter 6 Muscle Injuries and Myofascial Back Pain Diagnosing and Treating Back Muscle Injuries Myofascial Pain Treating Myofascial Pain Gluteus Maximus Syndrome Piriformis Syndrome Sciatic-Nerve Entrapment Key Points Chapter 7 Facet Syndrome: Painful Spinal Joints Diagnosing Facet Pain Treating Facet Pain Key Points Chapter 8 Chronic Whiplash Pain Symptoms of Whiplash The Difficulty of Diagnosing Whiplash Treating Acute Cervical Whiplash Pain Treating Chronic Pain or Late Whiplash Syndrome Key Points Chapter 9 Pain from Spinal-Disk Herniation Diagnosing Nerve Pain from Disk Herniation Treating Pain from Cervical-Disk Herniations Treating Pain from Lumbar-Disk Herniations Lifestyle Changes Surgery for Disk Herniation Key Points Chapter 10 Discogenic Back Pain Diagnosing Discogenic Pain Conservative Treatment of Discogenic Pain When to Consider Surgery Key Points Chapter 11 Spinal Slippage and Instability: Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis Diagnosing Spinal Slippage and Other Problems Treating Spondylolysis and Spinal Slippage Surgery Key Points Chapter 12 Spinal-Canal Narrowing: Stenosis Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Stenosis in the Upper Back and Neck Diagnosing Spinal Stenosis Treating Spinal Stenosis without Surgery When Surgery Is Necessary Key Points Chapter 13 Osteoporosis of the Spine Diagnosing Osteoporosis Treating Spinal Compression Fractures without Surgery Treating Osteoporosis by Halting Bone Loss Weight-Bearing Exercise Key Points Chapter 14 Benign and Malignant Spinal Tumors and Cancer Pain Tumors of the Spinal Column Back Pain from Metastasized Cancer Treating Back Pain from Metastasized Cancer When Back Pain Is Caused by Cancer Treatment Key Points Chapter 15 Recognizing and Treating Other Causes of Back Pain Fibromyalgia Inflammatory Diseases of the Spine Coccydynia Infection Vascular Abnormalities Scoliosis Pregnancy and Menstruation Key Points PART III: TYPES OF TREATMENT FOR BACK PAIN Chapter 16 Physical Therapy and Exercise Using Physical Therapy Effectively Stretching and Strengthening Your Back Muscles TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) Aerobics for Endurance and Stamina Key Points Chapter 17 The Challenge of Finding the Drug — or Drugs — That Will Ease Your Back Pain Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) How to Use NSAIDs Effectively 242 Corticosteroids Antidepressants Other Nonnarcotic Drugs Myths and Truths about Using Narcotics for Back Pain Drug Tolerance, Dependence, and Addiction How to Use Narcotics Effectively Balancing Relief and Side Effects Key Points Chapter 18 Radiofrequency Lesioning and Other Interventional Treatment for Back Pain Epidural Steroid Injections Facet and Nerve-Root Blocks Cutting off the Pain Impulse:Radiofrequency Lesioning Similar Techniques Cryoanalgesia Vertebroplasty Implantable Devices Key Points Chapter 19 Treating Back Pain with Surgery Lumbar Discectomy Foramenotomy Laminotomy, Laminectomy, and Partial Facetectomy for Lumbar Stenosis Spinal Fusion: Approach with Caution Complications of Back Surgery Doctors Who Perform Spinal Surgery Key Points Chapter 20 Eastern Needling and Other Integrative Means of Pain Relief Acupuncture Manual Manipulation Mind-Body Therapies Key Points PART IV: PREVENTING BACK PAIN Chapter 21 Watch Your Back! How Lifestyle Can Hurt or Help Avoiding Excess Warm Up First Develop a Posturepedic Body Watch Your Weight Prevent Recurring Back Pain Enjoy Painfree Traveling Glossary Appendix Index
