Professional Advice for Back Pain from Dr. Jason Highsmith

Millions of people suffer from back pain on a regular basis. Are you one of them? Do you wonder if something you are doing is contributing to your back pain or what you can possibly do to ease the pain? I spoke with Dr. Jason Highsmith, a specialist in back pain about some common questions regarding the issue.

Dr. Highsmith agrees with a total body health approach to preventing and treating back pain. It's rarely just due to your back alone, unless you had an injury. Usually back pain comes from the lifestyles we lead and this means there is something that can be done about it.

What are some things that people can do to keep their backs healthy and prevent back pain before it begins?

Dr. Highsmith: A healthy active lifestyle, gentle exercise (no heavy weight lifting, plus/minus running - can exacerbate pain), proper lifting, good ergonomics, healthy eating, not smoking are all ways to prevent back pain.

Because our backs are used in everything we do there are many bodily systems that can also cause back pain, right? What kinds of back pain may be caused by something that isn't the back at all?

Dr. Highsmith: There are other non-spine causes of back pain. These include: kidney disease like bladder infections, cysts on the kidneys and urinary obstructions. Intestinal disease like diverticulosis, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease and even constipation can all cause back pain. Even gynecological problems like endometriosis or uterine fibroids can cause back pain. Finally hip and SI joint problems can also cause back pain.

Many back pain sufferers swear by the effectiveness of their chiropractor to relieve the pain. As a surgeon how do you feel about chiropractors and the effectiveness of the practice to treat back pain?

Dr. Highsmith: Chiropractors help a lot of people with back pain, especially those with muscular-skeletal problems, hip problems and SI joint dysfunction. Most patients should feel some relief within a few visits. It is rare for a patient who has had no relief with a dozen or so treatments to need another 30.

Advances are made in the medical field every day; do you see laser surgery becoming the future of back pain relief surgeries?

Dr. Highsmith: This is a highly marketed term in the field of medicine, especially back surgery. Laser spine surgery has been around for over twenty years but has yet to gain acceptance by the spine community as a whole. In fact there is not a single medical institution to my knowledge that teaches the procedure. With the Internet and heavy advertising, it is gaining more notoriety, but the overall efficacy has been highly criticized. Insurance companies still consider it experimental since there is very little quality research proving its effectiveness.

Dr. Highsmith you are the Medical and Technology advisor to Spine Universe as well as being on the editorial board, can you tell us a bit about this organization?

Dr. Highsmith: SpineUniverse.com is the most popular website focusing on back and spine issues. It is a peer-reviewed site, meaning all content is screened by well respected experts in the field.

Your book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Back Pain" is a very thorough look at causes and treatments of back pain. You are a busy neurosurgeon with a lot on your plate every day; what made you want to take the time to write this book?

Dr. Highsmith: I enjoy educating patients and it is one of the most important things any healthcare provider should do. Because so much of back pain is influenced by lifestyle, I felt it was important to address these issues in an easy-to-read relaxed format.

What do you find is the most important thing about back pain that sufferers need to know?

Dr. Highsmith: A lot of back pain can be prevented and most gets better with time. Having a healthy lifestyle is the number one safeguard against problems.

About Dr. Highsmith

Dr. Highsmith is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide^® to Back Pain and currently serves as the Medical and Technology advisor to Spine Universe, a well respected, peer-reviewed site with a wealth of spine information. Dr. Highsmith specializes in the surgical treatment of neck and back pain from degenerative and traumatic causes as well as sports and work-related injuries. For more information about Dr. Highsmith and his practice please visit www.charlestonbrainandspine.com.