| Acknowledgments | p. xi |
| Introduction: One Big Sneeze Can Do You In and the Twist and Shout | p. xiii |
| Taking the Mystery Out of Low Back Pain | |
| Understanding Why Your Back Hurts | p. 3 |
| Is It Mechanical or Medical? | |
| How Your Back Works | |
| Pain Is Different in Men and Women | |
| How Your Pain Threshold Fluctuates | |
| Working with Your Doctor | p. 19 |
| Questions to Help You Find the Cause | |
| The Physical Examination | |
| Doctors and Health Care Professionals Who Treat Low Back Pain | |
| What Diagnostic Tests Can-and Cannot-Tell You | p. 33 |
| Pictures May Not Tell the Whole Story | |
| Conventional X rays | |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | |
| Computed Axial Tomography (CT) | |
| Myelography | |
| Bone Scan | |
| Discography | |
| Bone Densitometry | |
| Electrodiagnostic Tests | |
| Blood Tests | |
| Knowing Your Treatment Options | |
| The Basic Back Pain Relief Program | p. 51 |
| Control Physical Activities but Limit Bed Rest | |
| Using Over-the-Counter Medications | |
| Applied Therapy | |
| Aerobics: Expanding Your Comfort Zone-Gradually | |
| Maintain a Positive Attitude | |
| If Back Pain Is Chronic | |
| Recognizing and Treating Mechanical Low Back Pain | p. 63 |
| Muscle Strain, Spasm, and Trauma | |
| Disc Degeneration and Osteoarthritis (Lumbar Spondylosis) | |
| Herniated Disc and Sciatica | |
| Piriformis Syndrome | |
| Cracked Vertebral Bodies (Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis) | |
| Spinal Stenosis | |
| Scoliosis | |
| Recognizing and Treating Medical Causes of Low Back Pain | p. 83 |
| Infection | |
| Bone Tumors and Cancer | |
| Inflammatory Diseases | |
| DISH Syndrome (Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis) | |
| Ochronosis | |
| Fibromyalgia | |
| Polymyalgia Rheumatica | |
| Tension Myositis Syndrome | |
| Myofascial Pain Syndrome | |
| Blood and Vessel Disorders | |
| Diabetic Neuropathy | |
| Pain from Nearby Organs | |
| Back Pain in Pregnancy and Menstruation | |
| How Can I Keep from Getting Bent Over? | p. 101 |
| Osteoporosis | |
| Osteoporosis Diagnosis | |
| Men and Osteoporosis | |
| Keep Your Bones Strong | |
| Regaining Height | |
| Preventing Falls | |
| Back Pain in Kids: Is It Just Growing Pains or Is It More Serious? | p. 113 |
| Growing Pains | |
| Nonspecific Low Back Pain | |
| Kids' Red Flags | |
| Adolescent Scoliosis | |
| Adolescent Dowager's Hump-Scheuermann's Disease | |
| Adolescent Spondylolisthesis | |
| How and When to Use Medications Effectively for Pain | p. 121 |
| NSAIDs and COX-2 Inhibitors | |
| Muscle Relaxants | |
| Opioid and Nonopioid Analgesics | |
| Conrticosteroids | |
| Other Pain Therapies | |
| Treatment with Exercise and Physical Therapy | p. 137 |
| Working with a Physical Therapist | |
| Flexion Exercises | |
| Extension Exercises | |
| The "C" and "S" Curves | |
| Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) | |
| Iontophoresis: Another Form of "Injection" Therapy | |
| Getting in the Water | |
| Complementary Therapies | p. 157 |
| Manual Manipulation | |
| Massage and Other Bodywork Techniques | |
| Acupuncture | |
| Yoga and Other Body, Mind, and Spirit Techniques | |
| Mind-Body Therapies | |
| Meditation and Relaxation | |
| Body Self-Awareness | |
| Magnet Therapy | |
| Homeopathy | |
| Nutritional Supplements | |
| What to Know Before You Consider Surgery | p. 183 |
| Understanding the Risks | |
| Discectomy | |
| Spinal Fusion | |
| Spinal Instrumentation: The Hardware Store | |
| The Artificial Disc-Buyer Beware | |
| Emergency Surgery | |
| Anterior Spine Surgery | |
| Spine Spacers | |
| Choosing an Orthopedic Surgeon or Neurosurgeon | |
| Your Hospital Stay | |
| After Surgery-The Hard Part | |
| Failed Back Surgery Syndrome | |
| Future Surgical Treatments | |
| Living Without Back Pain | |
| Lower Your Risk for Back Pain with Prevention: The ABC Plan | p. 203 |
| A-Abstain from Smoking | |
| B-Better Body Mechanics | |
| C-Correct Diet | |
| Keep Working | |
| Enjoying Sex without Hurting Your Back | p. 213 |
| It's Not All Physical | |
| Painless Positions | |
| Medication and Libido | |
| Sexercises | |
| Back Surgery and Sexual Function | |
| Epilogue: Being Back in Control Will Heal Your Back! | p. 221 |
| Glossary | p. 223 |
| Dr. B's Back School FAQ | p. 229 |
| Is Any Particular Chair Helpful for Low Back Pain? | |
| Does Inversion Boot Therapy Help Back Pain? | |
| Do My High Heel Shoes Cause Back Pain? | |
| Does Prolotherapy Help Low Back Pain? | |
| What Does the Circular That Comes with My Prescription Drug Package Mean? It Scares Me Half to Death | |
| How about Botox Injections for My Back Spasm? | |
| Which Is the Best Aerobic Exercise Machine for a Person with Back Pain? | |
| Can I Go Horseback Riding? | |
| What Sports Can I Safely Play If I Have Back Pain? | |
| Can I Play Golf without Increasing My Back Pain? | |
| Medications for Low Back Pain | p. 239 |
| Best Back Resources | p. 245 |
| References | p. 249 |
| Index | p. 261 |
| About the Author | p. 275 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |
