Treating Back Pain at Home
Avoid these common mistakes when treating back pain at home.
Back Pain Stretches and Exercises
Exercises you can do at home to help or prevent a sore back.
How to Prevent Back Pain
A family and sports medicine doctor shares his top tips for avoiding back pain.
Featured Articles
Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Back Surgery
Learn the risks and benefits of back surgery, and if you’re a good candidate.
Decoding Back Pain
Knowing the symptoms and causes of different back pain can help you decide when it’s time to see a doctor.
Back Pain Causes at Every Age
Your age is a key factor to determining the cause of your back pain – and what to do about it.
Ask an Expert
Noah Weiss, M.D.
Surgery Center Division
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?
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?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
What is the difference between acute and chronic pain?
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?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
Why do some people lose height as they age? How much loss is too much?
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?
Rakesh Donthineni, M.D.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus
Where exactly is the sciatic nerve? I've had a pain under my right buttocks that runs down the back of my leg to about the knee and hasn't gotten any better in over three weeks. Am I on the right track in suspecting sciatica?
Like all nerves, the sciatic nerve originates from the spinal cord and is made up of a bundle of those nerves. It travels within the pelvis, and exits the pelvis to the back of the thigh deep into the buttock. ... continue reading about Where exactly is the sciatic nerve? I've had a pain under my right buttocks that runs down the back of my leg to about the knee and hasn't gotten any better in over three weeks. Am I on the right track in suspecting sciatica?
Rakesh Donthineni, M.D.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus
Could you explain a surgery named spinal decompression, and describe the risks?
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?
James D. Kelly, M.D.
SPMF San Francisco HMO Network
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?
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?
Joshua C. Richards, M.D.
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Campus
What is the difference between a bulging disk and a herniated disk?
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?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
My husband had back surgery last year. He takes medication daily for chronic pain. The last few months he seems depressed and has very little interest in sex. Could the medication or the pain be causing this? Any suggestions on how I can help him?
It is not unusual for patients who take pain medication and are depressed due to chronic pain to have diminished interest in sex. It could be due to the medications, the depression, the chronic pain, diminished... continue reading about My husband had back surgery last year. He takes medication daily for chronic pain. The last few months he seems depressed and has very little interest in sex. Could the medication or the pain be causing this? Any suggestions on how I can help him?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
What's the difference between sciatica and spinal stenosis? What steps should be taken to get the correct diagnosis?
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?
More Resources
Healthwise Resource Library
Look up helpful health information.
Patient Information
Practical info for Sutter patients.
Tools and Quizzes
Online tools to help you make decisions about your health.