End Back & Neck Pain

Vincent Fortanasce, DPT, is ranked as one of the best medical specialists in North America and has treated such high-profile individuals as Pope John Paul II and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda. Over nearly four decades, Dr. Fortanasce has helped thousands of people as a world-renowned neurologist and rehabilitation specialist. He has appeared as a medical expert on 60 Minutes, The Today Show, Dr. Phil, Dateline, CNN’s Paula Zahn Now, Hard Ball with Chris Mathews, XM satellite radio, and scores of national and local television and radio shows. Fortanasce is a regular spokesperson for the California Medical Association at the senate and legislature assemblies and has been quoted in the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Time magazine, and many other prestigious publications. He also hosts his own syndicated radio program, St. Joseph’s Radio Presents. David Gutkind is a doctor of physical therapy and an orthopedic clinical specialist. During his professional career, he has specialized in ergonomics as a treatment intervention for both the cause and prevention of musculoskeletal injury to the lumbar spine. He has taught ergonomics at the university level, provided on-site training programs that emphasize spinal care and injury prevention at the corporate level, and conducted hundreds of individual and group training classes on lumbar lifting and body mechanics techniques. Gutkind lives in Southern California and continues to practice orthopedic physical therapy along with ergonomic instruction. Robert Watkins, MD, is a spine surgeon and codirector of the Marina Spine Center at Marina Hospital in Marina del Rey, California. His expertise ranges from innovative spine surgeries to treatment of sport-related injuries. In his practice, he treats collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes across the United States. He has served more than 25 years as a spine consultant to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Kings, the Los Angeles Angels, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, and golfers on the PGA Tour. He has extensive experience in spinal surgery and postoperative rehabilitation of professional athletes, returning most athletes to full performance. As a surgeon, he has participated in more than 11,000 spine surgeries in a career that has spanned 30 years, and he currently completes nearly 250 surgeries a year. He has also developed an extensive coordinated core nonoperative program of rehabilitation without surgery.

Part I Why Does It Hurt?

Chapter 1. Understanding Back and Neck Pain

Chapter 2. Listening to the Voices of Pain

Part II Helping Yourself

Chapter 3. Using First Aid for Fast Relief

Chapter 4. Stretching and Exercising

Chapter 5. Making Lifestyle Choices to Ease Pain

Chapter 6. Learning Correct Body Mechanics

Chapter 7. Adapting Office Ergonomics

Part III Working With Your Doctor

Chapter 8. Choosing a Doctor

Chapter 9. Getting the Right Diagnosis

Chapter 10. Taking Medication for Spinal Pain

Part IV Exploring Surgical Options

Chapter 11. Getting Injections for Spinal Pain

Chapter 12. Considering Surgery