Back Pain: Fact vs Fiction – Prevent & Relieve Pain

Understand the normal spine as 33 vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions, with intervertebral discs, the spinal cord and nerves enabling movement.

Explore the normal spine anatomy and physiology, including vertebral regions, vertebrae structure, intervertebral discs, spinal curves, ligaments and core stabilizers, with a hands-on 3D spine model.

Explore back pain physiology as a multifactorial condition driven by structural, physiological, and psychological factors; inflammatory mediators trigger nociception, with central modulation and psychosocial context guiding care.

Build a labeled 3D spine model using simple materials to show the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions, discs, spinous processes, and the spine's curves.

Explore the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and surgical management of degenerative spinal disorders. Learn about degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spondylosis, and spondylolysis, with imaging and conservative care.

Osteoid osteoma in a child presents as a painful expansile spinal lesion with a central nidus, night pain relieved by NSAIDs, diagnosed by CT and bone scan.

Metastatic spinal lesion from lung carcinoma causes back pain and leg weakness; mri reveals l5 involvement with thecal sac encroachment, signaling high fracture risk and potential urgent decompression and stabilization.

Describe chronic lower back pain with leg numbness and fatigue in a 68-year-old man, noting improvement with sitting or bending forward, prior fusion, and L2, L3 narrowing with osteophyte formation.

Master the anterior approach to the cervical spine, including trachea-level incision, exposure of the thyroid and carotid sheath, and protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during discectomy and fusion.

Relieve cord compression from C5–C6 cervical disc herniation with an anterior discectomy and fusion, using a transverse C5 incision, graft placement, and protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Identify vertebral osteomyelitis and discitis after invasive spinal procedures, often caused by Staphylococcus aureus, and screen for spinal tuberculosis and sacral chordoma with red-flag indicators for imaging.

Five daily habits promote a healthier back with a five-minute spine release, mindfulness, breathing, posture checks, and gentle spinal mobility for disc health.

Stretching reduces back pain by relaxing tight muscles, improving flexibility and posture, and boosting blood flow for healing, while guiding safe warm-ups, deep breathing, and consistent, pain-free practice.