Two types of low back support: how they work and why you might need them
Self-care of low back problems can include the use of a lumbosacral support or a trochanter belt. Here's what your choices are and why you might need them.
sciatica
A selection of Dr. Lavine's articles on sciatica...
New diagnostic categories help define low back pain
Flexion-intolerant low back pain and what you can do about it.
Epidural injections for back pain and sciatica
Epidural injections, though widely used for low back pain and sciatica, have limited benefits along with a significant likelihood of doing harm.
Research deepens questions about low back mri
Researchers reviewed records of 1,000 MRI's taken of patients with low back pain and found that more than half were prescribed inappropriately.
MRIs not helpful in understanding low back pain & sciatica
Dutch researchers took MRI's of people with sciatica and compared them with MRI's taken one year later. Patients who had had surgery were less likely to have a bulging disc one year post-op. But what did that mean?
Sciatica, part 2: Not all sciatica is alike. Don’t overlook this important clue
There are two basic types of sciatic nerve pain. Discover the difference, and you'll be better prepared to help your doctor get to the root of your problem.
Sciatica, Part 1: How your body’s brilliant design keeps you free of sciatic pain almost all the time
Patients often ask me why they have sciatic pain or another problem. First things first -- you can't understand why you have pain until you appreciate how your body effortlessly keeps you out of pain nearly all the time.
How unnecessary Xrays, MRI’s and CT scans make you stupid
Much has been written about the enormous costs and health risks associated with unnecessary MRI's and CT scans. But there's a third important reason to avoid these tests.
Simple gluteal stretch eases back pain
If you've been regularly practicing the exercises described in Dr. Lavine's Top Five Exercises for Your Low Back, your lower spine has probably made a lot of progress. Still, you might need something extra to achieve maximal results. What’s the most important exercise I’ve left off my short list? Stretching the piriformis muscle.
