Author: Jack Stern, MD,Author

Doctor Stern, author of Ending Back Pain, is a board-certified spinal neurosurgeon. (2020, back cover) He is also co-founder of Spine Options which concentrates on non-surgical alternatives to neck and back pain. Jack Stern, MD, resides and works in White Plains, NY. To learn more about him and his practice please log on to his website.

How many of you have had some form of back pain? I know I have. 

Ending back pain is designed as a five step process to assist us in determining our individual pain codes. To which Doctor Stein says “Get to know your back. Ending back pain begins with you.” (2020, p.3) He offers up a checklist on page 4 thru 6 that helps you to describe your pain and invites you to think about whether or not your family has any history of back or neck issues. 

In chapter 1 Doctor Stein says there are two types of back pain, “…acute and temporary…” and “…chronic and enigmatic…”. (2020, p.11) The difference is the former “…strikes, you give it some time, it heals, and it’s gone.” The later is many times linked to an accident or event. “It can start out of nowhere and nag you endlessly.” (p.12) 

To further determine the best course of action in elimination of this pain is to decide from whence it comes. Doctor Stein calls this the “Geography of Pain”. (2020, p.24) He adds that the spinal column is like “a two-way highway.” (p.29) “there’s an afferent and an efferent side to it. Afferent, or sensory, neurons carry nerve impulses from receptors or sense organs toward the central nervous system so the body can produce a response; efferent, or motor, neurons go the opposite direction – they carry impulses away from the central nervous systems to effectors such as muscles.” From there he moves into pain generation, i.e. muscles or soft tissue, bones or discs, facets or neural foramina. 

The second step is to locate and work with a healthcare professional. Do you need an MRI or an x-ray to assist in the proper diagnosis? 

Step three is getting the proper diagnosis. Where is the pain coming from? Is it disc disease or something else?

Step Four introduces you to a pathway toward healing, both physically and emotionally. Dr. Stern offers many potential solutions in this section. 

The final step is to change your lifestyle such that it helps to keep your back and neck healthy. 

There is a lot of key information in this informative book. I enjoyed learning more about what causes back and neck pain and how to go about alleviating it. If you have back or neck issues this may be the perfect companion read for you.