Bone grafts are used in spinal fusion surgery, fracture healing and in certain kinds of dental work. Just what is a bone graft, and how is it used in back surgery?

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• Is Spinal Fusion the Answer to Chronic Low Back Pain?
• Should Spinal Fusion Be Given with Discectomy?
• Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery
• Is Spinal Fusion Worth the Cost?
• About Back Surgery

Photo: (c) Goldstein

A "crick in the neck" is not an official medical diagnosis, and therefore the term means different things to different people. For many, a "crick in my neck" is something they wake up with after a night of awkward pillowing or body positioning. It can also be an ergonomic event - you know the experience - you spend hours huddled over your computer with your upper body in a kyphosis which bothers your neck because you have to use those muscles to keep you head lifted so you can see. A few coworkers wanted to know what a crick in the neck really is. So I asked a physical therapist and two physiatrists.

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• What to Do For Sore Shoulders
• How to Align Your Spine
• Do Something About Your Crick in the Neck
• Yoga for Back Pain - Is Your Back Ready for Yoga? - Take the Quiz
• Myofasical Pain Syndrome and Trigger Points
• Massage Your Own Neck and Shoulders Part 1 - The Trapezius Muscle
• Massage Your Own Neck and Shoulders Part 2 - The Levator Scapula Muscle
• How to Stretch Your Neck
• Before You Get That Back Massage

Botox for migraines has been in the news lately so I thought I would answer the companion question... is Botox good for chronic back or neck pain?.

With the state, and fate, of health coverage for Americans in question, and the number of back or neck patients increasingly dissatisfied with the results of their care, the use of alternative medicine and bodywork is on the rise. In fact, NCCAM reports that back pain is #1 on their list of reasons why Americans seek holistic health. Neck pain is not far behind, at #3.

The bulk of back pain in industrialized societies is muscle and posture induced, so it's not hard to see how working directly with the soft tissue and other elements of the musculoskeletal system can ease tension and restore balance. There are a number of therapies from which to choose, including yoga, Tai Chi and massage. But the list is much longer than that. Have you heard of the Alexander Technique?

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