The spine is a complex series of 24 vertebrae along with the fused bones of the sacrum and coccyx that form the very center 

If you’re approaching 40, or older, and you find yourself dealing with either acute or chronic lower back pain or neck pain, you may have degenerative disc disease, or DDD.

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck (cervical stenosis) or in the lower back (lumbar stenosis). This condition puts pressure on the spinal cord and the nerves that branch off from it.

 Stenosis can begin without any clear signs, but it usually progresses to include back pain, numbness in the arms and legs, urinary or bowel problems, and other symptoms.

 If you think you...

Spinal stenosis is a term used to describe a narrowing of the spinal canal—usually in the lower back or neck. Stenosis is a condition which can have different causes. If you have spinal stenosis, you may notice pain and other symptoms—but it’s possible you won’t have any clear symptoms, at least not at first. Onset can be gradual. A doctor’s visit and X-ray will be required to confirm the...

The spine is among the most innovative inventions to be found in the natural world. Over 50,000 animal species have a spine, a remarkable combination of structural strength and flexibility that provides great freedom of movement as well as a firm, solid base that ties the entire body together.

At some point or another, most of us--about 80% of all adult Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health--experience lower back pain. It’s the single biggest cause of worker disability, and it leads to more missed work days than any other medical complaint. It’s also ranked as the third biggest cause of poor health and mortality in the U.S., right behind heart disease.

School is starting up again throughout Texas and the rest of the nation. For U.S. school kids, this means a return to carrying heavy backpacks — and the sore backs and posture problems that result.