If you suffer from chronic back pain, you might be asking yourself "What can I do to get out of this pain?". We've compiled a list of five handy tips to help reduce your pain.

If you or someone you know suffer from chronic neck or back pain, you may feel like you have run out of options and that you will have to live with your pain for the rest of your life. The truth is that nearly all cases of chronic neck and back pain are treatable and the dream of a pain free life does not have to be just a dream.

"Sit up straight" something we have all heard at least once in our life, but how important could this little piece of advice really be? Very. The positioning of your spine is an extremely influential factor when it comes to the health of your neck and back. Poor posture can create abnormal spine alignment and result in years of problems.

It creaks in the night. It stops you dead in your tracks. You can't leave home because it is out there, waiting for you.  It will take you in the night when you make your next strenuous move. Your fear of recurring back or neck pain has left you a recluse, shut away, unable to interact with society.

“It’s just a strain. I’ll be fine.” How many times do we hear those words when someone winces in pain from picking up something heavy or instinctively grabs their lower back while crouching after a work related or athletic mishap? It’s a fairly common sentiment to a fairly common condition. However, sometimes it’s not just a strain. It could be a herniated disc, which a little more serious. This begs the question, “What’s the difference, and how do I treat my symptoms appropriately?”

When a world of information is available at your fingertips, it can be hard to pick your head up and away from your smart phone. What if I told you looking down at a cell phone is the equivalent of placing a 60-pound weight on your spine? According to new calculations, published in the journal Surgical Technology International, sixty pounds is about the equivalent weight of four bowling balls or an 8 year-old child sitting on your neck. You may not realize it, but the amount of time spent looking down at your phone can result in damage to your body and overall health. Research suggests that spinal pressure actually doubles with each inch you bend your head down. Your spine protects your nervous system, which controls and coordinates all the different functions of your body. Any misalignment of the spine can create disruption in nerve communication to your organs and tissues, causing abnormal effects that could linger for years.

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a disorder in which the shoulder capsule (or the envelope) and the surrounding tissues, becomes inflamed and stiff, causing restriction of motion and chronic pain.

By Ara J. Deukmedjian, M.D., Board Certified Neuro-Spine Surgeon