http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/spinal/ Latest NetWellness content for Spine and Back Health en-us Copyright 2007 NetWellness.org Wed, 16 May 2012 03:12:01 PST http://www.netwellness.org/images/logo/nwlogosmall.gif http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/spinal/ <b>Question</b>: My orthopedic doctor took lumbar x-rays and said I have spondylolisthesis. I have chronic lower back pain, stiff hips, very tight hamstrings, numb toes, and chronic pain in the backs of my knees. The first symptom I had was back pain quickly followed by the pain in the backs of my knees. I`ve been d . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Hello, thank you for your question. I cannot make specific recommendations for you for medications. It is usually a process of trial-and-error that you have to go through with your healthcare provider to find the right combination that works best for you. The most commonly used options are NSAIDs (n . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/83668.htm David Hart MD Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:11:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/83668.htm <b>Question</b>: What is it called, when you have a pocket, or pouch, of fluid on your spinal cord? I was only told that one showed up, on a cervical spine&nbsp;MRI that I had done a while ago. The&nbsp;doctor that I had at the time said that it was likely caused by some type of impact. Are these dangerous at all? <p><b>Answer</b>: Hello, thank you for your question. Unfortunately, I can't answer it with the information you have provided. It is most likely that you are referring to either a syrinx (also called "syringomyelia"), or possibly an arachnoid cyst. These are very different problems with very different levels of dange . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/83503.htm David Hart MD Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:10:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/83503.htm <b>Question</b>: In 2008&nbsp;I was diagnosed with the hemangioma and now a repeat&nbsp;MRI showed the hemangioma and a metastatic lesion. This is at the l4 level.&nbsp;The MRI&nbsp;stated they did not see any cortical destruction or vertebral collapse. My question is, should&nbsp;I be concerned about this and or ma . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Hello, thank you for your question. You definitely need to get a very careful clarification of the terminology you have described here. A hemangioma is a simple, benign abnormality of the vertebral bone. The term "metastatic lesion" basically refers to cancer, so if you really mean that they just fo . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/83171.htm David Hart MD Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:08:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/83171.htm <b>Question</b>: My daughter is 13 and was diagnosed with Scoliosis. Her results of the thoracolumbar spine reads: There is right lumbar scoliosis convex to the left. Cobb angle measures 27 degrees from superior endplate of T11 and inferior endplate L3. She is a dancer and we just noticed one hip is higher than the . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Hello, thank you for your question. I don't really specialize in pediatric scoliosis, so I should say that I can't really hold myself out as an expert beyond what I know as an adult spine surgeon. I don't think having her stop dancing for the next week or so is really going to change much or accompl . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/83134.htm David Hart MD Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:08:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/83134.htm <b>Question</b>: What and where is paravertebral soft tissue? My report reads_ &quot;There are pedical screws at L3 and L4 and previous L3 and L4 laminectomies. The right pedical screw at L3 level does not traverse the pedicle but passes lateral to the pedical into the right paravertebral soft tissues. <p>What dam . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Hello, thank you for your question. "Paravertebral" literally means "around the vertebra." In this case, they are saying that rather than traveling through bone and ending up within the spinal bone, the screw is malpositioned and is sticking into the tissue around the bone. Usually this means it wou . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82994.htm David Hart MD Mon, 04 Jul 2011 12:07:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82994.htm <b>Question</b>: My sister had minor back surgery last year. About four-six months after the surgery she developed severe leg and thigh cramps. Nothing seems to help. They are getting gradually worse. What do you suggest? <p><b>Answer</b>: Hello, thank you for your question. It is simply impossible for me to make any suggestions for your sister without a great deal more information, including information about her physical examination, history, etc.&nbsp;In my humble opinion&nbsp;there is no such thing as "minor" back surgery (and I'm . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82750.htm David Hart MD Sat, 28 May 2011 22:05:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82750.htm <b>Question</b>: Are there any procedures that can unfuse vertibrae? I have a fused L4-L5 from birth. I`ve always had a limited range of motion and my back does not bend as much as it should. <p><b>Answer</b>: Hello, thank you for your question. No, there really isn't any way to "unfuse" a vertebra. I'm not sure how much you think your back "should" bend, but I don't think there's much you can do about it other than do your best to stretch and improve your overall flexibility. If it is a pain issue there . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82452.htm David Hart MD Sun, 24 Apr 2011 19:04:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82452.htm <b>Question</b>: I have recently been diagnosed with Hydromyelia. My Dr. spoke about two options: aspiration and if that doesn`t work a shunt. I would like to know the success rate and risk factors for both procedures. Also the risks of not doing anything about it now. <p><b>Answer</b>: Hello, thank you for your question. These are definitely questions you should be discussing with your neurosurgeon. It is impossible to answer your questions without knowing your full medical history, neurological examination, and imaging results. The prognosis, risks, dangers of not treating etc. a . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82431.htm David Hart MD Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:04:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82431.htm <b>Question</b>: I have had numbness and tingling in my rt ring and pinky finger ever since I have fusion of my C5-6-7-. The Dr. said it can take up to 6 months for the feeling to come back. It has been a year and a half now and the problem persists. I have been to the best neurologist and have had Physical Therapy . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Normally we don't associate problems with the 4th and 5th fingers (ring and pinky, as you said) with problems between C5 and C7. Those two fingers are usually supplied by the C8 nerve which would be below the area you had treated. This raises the question of whether the neck issue is the true cause . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82332.htm David Hart MD Fri, 01 Apr 2011 20:04:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82332.htm <b>Question</b>: hi i have a 6yrold son who from birth has had 3 fused vertebrae in his neck, after 6yrs of trying to get this told to me and numerous scans i have now also been told he has a split spinal chord. we are now waiting on scans for him to get his organs scanned and also to see a plastic surgeon(for a flu . . .<p><b>Answer</b>: Hello, thank you for your question. These kinds of problems are very complex, and need to be evaluated by a pediatric neurosurgeon. They will make sure appropriate testing is done, and explain what impact this might have on your son in the long-term. He definitely should be evaluated thoroughly by a . . .<p><b>Ask an Expert</b>: David Hart MD, Spine and Back Health http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82122.htm David Hart MD Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:03:00 EST http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/82122.htm