Vitamin D can help with certain types of chronic pain, especially muscle and joint pains. However, before you start taking vitamin D supplements, it is important that you have your vitamin D level checked to se... continue reading  about  I have been dealing with chronic pain from a back injury for a number of years. I read recently that vitamin D can help reduce pain. Is this true, and if so should I start taking a supplement?

Acute pain is a pain that has a limited time frame. It usually, though not always, starts suddenly, has an identifiable cause, can be treated, and once treated, the pain subsides. In that sense, since the cause... continue reading  about  What is the difference between acute and chronic pain?

Spinal decompression is essentially a surgery to remove pressure on the spinal cord or nerves within the spinal canal. Depending on the location and severity of the problem, the surgery involves removing parts ... continue reading  about  Could you explain a surgery named spinal decompression, and describe the risks?

Often injuries to the rotator cuff muscles in the shoulder will refer pain to the upper arm, or even down the arm. If your shoulder and upper arm pain is aggravated by lifting, reaching overhead, and sleeping, ... continue reading  about  My left arm at the shoulder hurts all the time (including lifting things and even when I'm sleeping and turn on that side). I don't recall hurting it in any way. It started hurting several months ago. What could it be and how can I make it stop?

Those symptoms are most commonly associated with a pinched nerve in the neck, a condition called a "cervical radiculopathy." The specific treatment you might need depends upon several factors such as how long y... continue reading  about  I’m having extreme pain in my shoulder near my shoulder blade down to my fingers, with tingling in my hand and fingers. What is causing this and what should I do?

There is no real difference between a herniated disc and a bulging disc. The discs are the cushions which allow motion between the vertebrae in your spine. As time goes on, or from an injury, the discs can weak... continue reading  about  What is the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk?

Degenerative disc disease is part of the 'wear and tear' of the spine that occurs with age and use. Back pain is very common and best managed with the appropriate medications, exercises to keep your trunk/core ... continue reading  about  I'm in my 50s and was recently diagnosed with degenerative disc disease in my back. Will the pain get worse as I get older? And is there anything I can do for the pain besides pain medication? Also does this condition ever require surgery?

Sciatica is pain in the distribution of the sciatic nerve. This is typically felt on the back of the thigh and down the back of the leg. There are many potential causes of sciatica. These can include spinal ste... continue reading  about  What's the difference between sciatica and spinal stenosis? What steps should be taken to get the correct diagnosis?

After age 40, the average person loses about 1/2" of their height per decade. It happens because of gravity and wear and tear on bones, muscles and joints. Think of your skeleton as being made up of your ankles... continue reading  about  Why do some people lose height as they age? How much loss is too much?