Low Back Pain Center - Novato, CANovato Orthopedic Surgeon Doctors for Low Back PainType of Physician: Orthopedic Surgeon What is a Orthopedic Surgeon ? A certification by the Board of Orthopaedic Surgery; practitioners focus on the investigation, preservation and restoration of the form and function of the extremities, spine and associated structures by medical, surgical and physical means. Birth defects, trauma, infections, tumors and metabolic disturbances of the musculoskeletal system are problems cared for by the orthopaedic surgeon. Specialty: Orthopaedic Surgery Common Name: Orthopedist Orthopedic Surgeon Doctors in Novato * Raymond Bonneau MD  Marin Orthopedics & Sports Medicine  Marin Orthopedics & Sports Medicine  Marin Hills Medical Group Inc  Drs Glynn & Northfield  Drs Glynn & Northfield  California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine  Mt Tam Orthopaedics & MRI  California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine  California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine  Mt Tam Orthopaedics & MRI  Mt Tam Orthopedics  California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine  Mt Tam Orthopedics  Mt Tam Orthopedics  California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine  Mt Tam Orthopedics  Robert D Teasdale MD  FAS-MED.com  Sportsmed Orthopedic Group Inc  Robert C Geiger MD  Robert A Harf MD  David Wren Jr. MD  William C Lyon MD  Joseph A Matan MD  Vatche Cabayan MD  Kaiser Medical Center Orthopedics  Kaiser Medical Center Orthopedics  Kaiser Medical Center Orthopedics  The Stone Clinic  North Bay Orthopaedic Associates  George F Gutierrez MD  California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine  California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine  California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine  California Pacific Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine  William Talmage MD  Sportsmed Orthopedic Group Inc  Lesley J Anderson MD  John M Gray MD  Jeffrey L Hallbrecht MD  Lin Ho MD  California Pacific Medical Center Orthopedic Surgery  Drs Louie & Lowenberg  Drs Louie & Lowenberg  Gordon Lundy md  California Pacific Medical Center Orthopedic Surgery  California Pacific Medical Center Orthopedic Surgery  Burlingame Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Associates Inc  Michael S Sutro MD  Richard R Tavernetti MD Inc  Peter VonRogov MD  UCSF Arthritis & Joint Center  UCSF Sports Medicine Center  SF General Hospital  UCSF Arthritis & Joint Center  UCSF Sports Medicine Center  Napa Valley Orthopaedic Medical Group Inc  Weitz Medical Management  Napa Valley Orthopaedic Medical Group Inc  Napa Valley Orthopaedic Medical Group Inc  Weitz Medical Management  Weitz Medical Management  UCSF The Comprehensive Cancer Center  Napa Valley Orthopaedic Medical Group Inc  Orthopaedic Group Of San Francisco  Orthopaedic Group Of San Francisco  Thomas G Sampson MD  Dr. R Thomas Grotz Inc  Clement K Jones MD  Orthopaedic Group Of San Francisco  Orthopaedic Group Of San Francisco  J C Pickett MD PC  Thomas G Sampson MD  Orthopaedic Group Of San Francisco  Orthopaedic Group Of San Francisco  Vernon K Fong MD  H Dominic Tse MD  George E Becker MD  San Francisco MultiSpecialty Group  San Francisco MultiSpecialty Group  Center for Sports Medicine  San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group  San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group  San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group  Center for Sports Medicine  San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group  San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group  Comprehensive Spine Center  Center for Sports Medicine  San Francisco MultiSpecialty Group  San Francisco MultiSpecialty Group  San Francisco Orthopaedic Surgeons Medical Group  SOAR Medical  Edward Diao MD  Aubrey A Swartz MD  Douglas Abbott MD  UCSF Arthritis & Joint Center  UCSF Mount Zion Pediatrics & Orthopedic Surgery  UCSF Mount Zion Pediatrics & Orthopedic Surgery Novato, CaliforniaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-16
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Lower Back PainRead the Lower Back Pain article » What is the anatomy of the low back?The first step to understanding the various causes of low back pain is learning about the normal design (anatomy) of the tissues of this area. Important structures of the low back that can be related to symptoms there include the bony lumbar spine (vertebrae, singular = vertebra), discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area. The bony lumbar spine is designed so that vertebrae "stacked" together can provide a movable support structure while also protecting the spinal cord (nervous tissue that extends down the spinal column from the brain) from injury. Each vertebrae has a spinous process, a bony prominence behind the spinal cord, which shields the cord's nervous tissue. They also have a strong bony "body" in front of the spinal cord to provide a platform suitable for weight bearing of all tissues above the buttocks. The lumbar vertebrae stack immediately atop the sacrum bone in between the buttocks. On each side, the sacrum meets the iliac bone of the pelvis to form the sacroiliac joint of the buttocks. The bony lumbar spine is designed so that vertebrae "stacked" together can provide a movable support structure while also protecting the spinal cord from injury. The spinal cord is composed of nervous tissue that extends down the spinal column from the brain. Each vertebra has a spinous process, a bony prominence behind the spinal cord, which shields the cord's nervous tissue from impact trauma. Vertebrae also have a strong bony "body" (vertebral body) in front of the spinal cord to provide a platform suitable for weight bearing of all tissues above the buttocks. The lumbar vertebrae stack immediately atop the sacrum bone that is situated in between the buttocks. On each side, the sacrum meets the il... Recommended Reading Related to Lower Back PainIntroduction to pinched nerveNerves are like electrical cords that carry information from the brain to the rest of the body and vice-versa. They are distributed throughout the entire body.
The information travels along the nerve by an electrochemical signal, much like information traveling along an electrical cord. When a nerve is pinched, the signal is interrupted somewhere along its path.
What caus...Other Related Low Back Pain ArticlesEmergency Contact for Novato
Nearby Novato Hospitals *Novato Community Hospital Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center Kentfield Rehabilitation & Specialty Hospital Petaluma Valley Hospital Marin General Hospital Sonoma Valley Hospital Doctor's Medical Center San Pablo St Helena Hospital Center for Behavioral Health Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center Sutter Solano Medical Center Napa State Hospital Queen of the Valley Medical Center San Francisco VA Medical Center California Pacific Medical Center California Campus California Pacific Medical Center East Campus California Pacific Medical Center Pacific Campus Chinese Hospital Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Herrick Campus Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion Saint Francis Memorial Hospital St Mary's Medical Center Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Alta Bates Campus California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus Palm Drive Hospital Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Main Campus UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center San Francisco General Hospital Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Summit Campus Kaiser Permanente Medical Center at Oakland VA Northern CA Healthcare System at Martinez St Luke's Hospital Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa Chanate Campus Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center Alameda County Medical Center Highland Campus Telecare Solano Psychiatric Health Facility Alameda Hospital Seton Medical Center John Muir Behavioral Health Center John Muir Medical Center Concord Campus NorthBay Medical Center St Helena Hospital Kaiser Permanente Walnut Creek Medical Center John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek Campus Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Lower Back Pain by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
24 articles-
Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes chronic inflammation of the spine. The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is genetically inherited.
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Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis
- Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH or Forestier's disease) is a form of degenerative arthritis. It is characterized by calcification along the sides of the vertebrae of the spine. Symptoms include stiffness and pain in the upper and lower back. Anti-inflammatory medications are used to treat DISH.
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Endometriosis
- Endometriosis is the growth of cells similar to those that form the inside of the uterus, but in a location outside of the uterus. Endometriosis implants are most commonly found on the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, outer surfaces of the uterus or intestines, and on the surface lining of the pelvic cavity. They can also be found in the vagina, cervix, and bladder. Treatment of endometriosis can be with medication or surgery.
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Kidney Stones
- One in every 20 people develop a kidney stone at some point in their life. A kidney stone is a hard mineral and crystalline material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones symptoms and signs are, blood in the urine and pain in the abdomen, flank (lower back), or groin. A number of different conditions can lead to kidney stones including: gout, hypercalciuria, people with inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, and hypoparathyroidism. Some medications also increase the risk of kidney stones.
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Osteoporosis
- Learn about osteoporosis, a condition characterized by the loss of bone density, which leads to an increased risk of bone fracture. Unless one experiences a fracture, a person may have osteoporosis for decades without knowing it. Treatment for osteoporosis may involve medications that stop bone loss and increase bone strength and bone formation, as well as quitting smoking, regular exercise, cutting back on alcohol intake, and eating a calcium- and vitamin D-rich balanced diet.
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Pancreatic Cancer
- Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the pancreas. Pancreatic cancer has been called a "silent" disease because early pancreatic cancer usually does not cause symptoms.
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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a ballooning or widening of the main artery (the aorta) as it courses down through the abdomen. The most common cause of aortic aneurysms is "hardening of the arteries" called arteriosclerosis.
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Blood In Semen
- Blood in semen is also known as hematospermia. Blood in semen can be caused by many conditions affecting the tubes that distribute semen from the testicles (seminal vesicles) or the prostate gland. Symptoms that may accompany blood in semen include blood in the urine, fever, painful urination, pain with ejaculation, tenderness, and swelling in the testes or groin area. Urinalysis, ultrasound, and MRI may be used to diagnose blood in the semen. Treatment depends upon the underlying cause of blood in the semen.
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Sciatica
- Sciatica pain, caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve, typically radiates from the low back to behind the thigh to below the knee. Disc herniation is usually the cause of sciatica. Medication to alleviate pain, physical therapy, and bed rest are treatments for sciatica.
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Coccydynia
- Coccydynia is an inflammation of the bony area (tailbone or coccyx) located between the buttocks. Coccydynia is associated with pain and tenderness at the tip of the tailbone between the buttocks. Pain is often worsened by sitting. There are many causes of tailbone pain that can mimic coccydynia including: fracture, pilonidal cysts, infection, and sciatica. Treatment methods include medication and rest.
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Degenerative Disc Disease & Sciatica
- Degenerative disc disease makes the disc more susceptible to herniation (rupture) which can lead to localized or radiating pain. The pain from degenerative disc or joint disease of the spine is usually treated conservatively with intermittent heat, rest, rehabilitative exercises and medications to relieve pain, muscle spasm and inflammation.
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Scoliosis
- Scoliosis causes an abnormal curvature of the spine. When the cause of scoliosis is unknown the disorder is described based on the age when the scoliosis develops (infantile, juvenile, or adolescent idiopathic scoliosis). In functional scoliosis, curvature develops due to a problem somewhere else in the body. With neuromuscular scoliosis, there is a problem when the bones of the spine are formed. Treatment typically involves observation, bracing, and surgery and is dependent upon the severity of the curvature.
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Chronic Pain
- Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
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Pain Management
- Pain management and treatment can be simple or complex, according to its cause. There are two basic types of pain, nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Some causes of neuropathic pain includes: complex regional pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. There are a variety of methods to treat chronic pain, which are dependant on the type of pain experienced.
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Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is the most common type of infection acquired by patients while hospitalized. Patients at risk for VRE are those who are already ill, and hospitalized, including individuals with diabetes, elderly, ICU patients, kidney failure patients, or patients requiring catheters. Enterococci can survive for months in the digestive tract and female genital tract. Other risk factors for acquiring VRE include those how have been previously treated with vancomycin and combinations of other antibiotics. Treatment of VRE is generally with other antibiotics other than vancomycin. Prevention of VRE can be achieved by proper hand hygiene.
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Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction (SI Joint Pain)
- Sacroiliac joint (SI) dysfunction is a general term to reflect pain in the SI joints. Causes of SI joint pain include osteoarthritis, abnormal walking pattern, and disorders that can cause SI joint inflammation including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment includes oral medications, cortisone injections, and surgery.
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Herniated Disc
- A herniated disc may be caused by injury or degeneration from age. Symptoms depend on the location of the herniation and whether nerve tissue is being irritated. An MRI or CT scan is performed to diagnose a herniated disc. Treatment may involve physical therapy, cortisone injection, pain medications, antiinflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, and surgery.
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Pinched Nerve
- A pinched nerve can be caused of a variety of conditions, for example, carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated disc, sciatica, arthritis, spinal stenosis, trauma, and more. Common symptoms of a pinched nerve include pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. Treatment of a pinched nerve depends on the cause of the pinched nerve.
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Spondylolisthesis
- The five types of spondylolisthesis include 1) dysplastic, 2) isthmic, 3) degenerative, 4) traumatic, and 5) pathologic. The most common symptom of spondylolisthesis is lower back pain. Treatment depends on the type and severity of spondylolisthesis. Surgery is required in some cases of spondylolisthesis.
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Radiculopathy
- Radiculopathy, a condition in which a nerve or nerves along the spine are compressed causing pain, numbness, weakenss, and tingling along the nerve(s). Some causes of radiculopathy include bone spurs, disc hernation, osteoarthritis, tumors, infection, and neuropathy. Treatment depends on the are of nerve compression. Surgery is generally not required.
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Osteomyelitis
- Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. Potential causes include injections around the bone, fractures that puncture the skin, recent surgeries, and bacterial infections that travel from other areas of the body, spreading through the blood to the bone. Symptoms include pain, fever, chills, stiffness, and nausea. Treatment involves antibiotics and pain medications. Surgery is sometimes necessary.
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Cauda Equina Syndrome
- Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency condition that is caused by the uncommon compression of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord. Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome include lower back pain, tingling and/or numbness in the buttocks and lower extremities, bowel or bladder incontinence, and weakness in the legs. Causes of cauda equina syndrome include herniated discs, hematomas, or infection. Treatment is generally prompt surgery.
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Typhus
- Typhus is a disease caused by Rickettsia bacteria. Symptoms and signs include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Antibiotics are recommended as the treatment for endemic and epidemic typhus infections.
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Porphyria
- Porphyria is a group of disorders that affect the nervous system, skin, or both. Porphyria is often an inherited condition that causes blistering, itching, and swelling of the skin. Treatment of porphyria may include avoiding triggers, receiving heme, taking medication, or having blood drawn to reduce iron levels in the body.
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Ankylosing Spondylitis
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