New Mexico Orthopaedics - spine care physicians orthopedic surgeons in Albuquerque NM

The questions below cover back and spine-related problems. If you have more questions about spine problems, click here to visit our center of excellence, New Mexico Spine, which operates an online encyclopedia on back and neck pain.

After working in the yard yesterday afternoon, I woke up this morning with pain in my back and leg. What could be causing this?

Your pain could be the result of nerve-root irritation originating from your lower back. Although it could be the result of several factors, usually nerve-root irritation is caused by a flare up of arthritis and is often cured with rest, gentle exercises and medication. Occasionally, it can be something more severe such as a herniated disc. If the pain does not go away, we recommend that you contact our spine Center of Excellence, New Mexico Spine.

How long should I do back exercises after having back surgery?

Forever! Once you have surgery on your back, by definition you have an injured back. To prevent re-injury, your daily exercise routine should always include a back strengthening and flexibility program.

Can you recommend less invasive ways to ease the pain of spinal stenosis?

Spinal stenosis often causes periodic or chronic pain. If you are unable to undergo surgery and the options for drug treatment are limited, it is important for you to utilize other measures to reduce your pain. Muscle tightness, especially of the back muscles on either side of the spine, is often a result of pain and the cause of additional pain, so it is important to relax these muscles as much as possible.

Two methods for relieving pain are hot and cold treatments. Heat, such as heating pads or hot packs, should relax the muscles and reduce the pain. Cold packs may help when you have an acutely painful flare. If one method does not help relieve your pain, try the other one.

Finally, even though you are in pain, it is important for you to exercise. Ironically, the reduced activity that often accompanies back pain reduces joint range of motion and decreases muscle strength, which in turn can lead to insufficient support for your skeleton and, thus, more pain.

Can sitting in a certain position for too long cause back pain?

In all likelihood, you are putting pressure on the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that comes from your spine and travels down your leg. Sitting in a certain position for too long compresses the nerve, leading to the characteristic symptoms of pain, numbness and a feeling like your leg is "asleep." That is why it is hard to walk after letting this go on for too long. As you might imagine, treating and preventing this problem is as simple as keeping pressure off the affected nerve. Change your position, and make sure there is nothing in your clothing or what you are sitting on adding to the problem.

For more information on spine and back care, click here to visit the virtual encyclopedia on back pain provided at www.newmexicospine.com.

Click here to read our newsletter so you can be up-to-date with New Mexico Orthopaedics.

Need more information on health and wellness?

Click here for information on diet, nutrition and health resource books. Learn when to see the doctor and what causes symptoms.