DePuy.com | Underlying Causes Of Back Pain

moving me forward™

Your movement may be limited, but your options don't have to be. See how other patients conquered their pain and get started on your own journey to recovery.

Mike "Coach K" Krzyzewski
Inspirational college coach and DePuy joint recipient.

watch a spine pep-talk from Coach K read Coach K's story

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"It's not worth living with pain."

http://prod.neverst.depuy.edgesuite.net/patients/media/depuy-spine.mp4

"It's not worth living with pain."

patient journeys: Back and Neck

Isabelle’s Journey

How bracing myself for a test, lead to my brace being removed.

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read Coach K's story

"Hi, I'm Mike Krzyzewski, coach of Duke University's Men's Basketball team. If you could take a journey to move better, live better, why wouldn't you? I did when I had joint replacement surgery.

"I'm here to tell you that you have two opponents. Pain and lack of mobility. Pain can get you down every day. Lack of mobility can lead to decreased speed and loss of endurance. With speed and endurance loss, you don't stay competitive and you spend energy just trying to catch up. But you've got to fight your opponents to stay in the game.

"I know it isn't always easy. There was a part of me that thought of stopping, giving up coaching altogether. I would never have won two Olympic team medals and four NCAA Championships if I hadn't had my surgeries.

"Now, I don't have to overcompensate for injury and pain. I'm more active than before, I have relief from pain and I'm even quicker on my feet. People say I look better now. Do you want your life back the way it should be? You have two choices, a continued downward spiral or take action.

"So don't let the injury win. You don't need to live in pain. That's why I want to encourage you to empower yourself. Get educated, develop a personal treatment plan with your doctor, build a team of support and commit to reclaiming your life. Remember, this is a major event in your life—treat it as such. What you put into it will multiply for you at the end of the journey."

A history of innovation
Alvin’s Journey
Bill relies on his two SIGMA® Rotating Platform Knees
Bonnie’s Journey
Dedicated to patients Including those right here
Fredrick’s Journey
Isabelle’s Journey
John tackles long distance cycling with his two PINNACLE® Hips
Julie’s Journey
Laszlo’s Journey
Laura’s Journey
Lesa puts her SIGMA® Knees to the test
Michele’s Journey
Mike "Coach K"´s Story
Our mission to restore movement
Our rigorous approach to testing and design
PINNACLE® Hips help Rebecca work 10-hour shifts
Vickie’s Journey

Take Action

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Back and Neck

Post Surgery

This document will help you learn more about care and rehabilitation immediately after surgery:

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Surgical After Care

Learn about after care for spinal surgery including

what to expect the first few days following surgery
what the various medical staff will be looking for in your progress
what considerations will be made with your diet, medication, and activities
what special instructions should be considered

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Rehabilitation

Learn about spinal rehabilitation including

what happens on your first visit to a physical therapist
what treatments are used to control pain and symptoms
how exercise helps you recover
how therapy can train you to do your activities safely

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overview

Just about everyone at some point in their lives experiences back and neck aches. In most cases, these painful conditions can be attributed to sprains or musclemuscleContractile connective tissues that affect movement; a component of nearly all organs and body systems. spasms and can be treated conservatively. However, in some instances, the causes can be attributed to serious degenerativedegenerativeThe lesion results from inter-segmental instability of long duration. and injury-related conditions that require more careful medical attention.

degeneration

Our modern sedentary lifestyle can lead to inadequate conditioning of the supportive muscles surrounding the spine. Over time, this can result in deterioration of the spine itself. Although degeneration can occur anywhere along the spine, the lower, or lumbar, spine is particularly prone to deterioration. After all, it bears the full weight of the upper body.

deformity

A normally formed spine has gentle curves, forming an "S" shape when viewed from the side. When those curves are exaggerated or displaced, they are considered deformities and can lead to painful conditions. In some cases, these conditions worsen over time.

trauma and disease

Damage to the bones and tissues of the spine, often caused by an accident-related injury, can lead to what is called "spinal cordspinal cordThe spinal cord is a column of millions of nerve fibers that run through your spinal canal. It extends from th... trauma." The spinal cord runs from the brain down, through the center of the spine. When it is pressed, twisted, compressed or, in more serious cases, cut or damaged, serious pain can occur. Chronic back and neck pain caused by systemicsystemicSynovial fluid. diseases also fall into this category of spinal conditions.

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