Triangle Spine and Back Care Center

Patient Education

Patient Education

At Triangle Spine and Back Care Center, we believe the best patient is a well informed one. Spine and cervical problems may often be treated by non-surgical means, including an awareness of lifestyle changes that may help the patient with their pain management.

This area is intended to provide some valuable information regarding well-being of the spine as well as explanations of spinal problems. If you have any questions regarding the information found on this page, be sure to ask one of our providers the next time you have an appointment.

Click on an area below to learn more about:

• • Spine Education
• • Exercise & Pain Prevention
• • Healthy Lifestyles
• • Patient Discharge Instructions

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(All links below may be downloaded using Adobe Acrobat Reader )

Spine Education Topics:

Anatomy of the Spine

The spine is made up of 24 vertebrae. Ligaments and muscles connect these bones together to form the spinal column. The spinal column holds and protects the spinal cord that consists of a bundle of nerves that sends signals to other parts of the body.

Cervical/Lumbar Disc Disease

Cervical disc disease may present as pain in your neck or shoulder, or tingling, numbness and weakness in your arms. Lumbar disc disease may present as pain in the back, legs, hips or tingling, numbness and weakness to your legs.

Herniated Disc

The bones (vertebrae) that form the spine in your back are cushioned by small discs. These discs are round and flat, with a tough, outer layer (annulus) that surrounds a jellylike material called the nucleus.

Located between each of your vertebra in the spinal column, discs act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. Thick ligaments attached to the vertebrae hold the pulpy disc material in place.

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Exercise & Pain Prevention

Low Back Pain Prevention Tips

Maintain correct posture when you're sitting. Sit in chairs with straight backs or low-back support. Keep your knees a little higher than your hips. Adjust the seat or use a low stool to prop your feet on.

Exercise

Exercise is vital to recovery and to maintaining a healthy spine. Consider it part of long-term health management and risk reduction. Regular exercise is the most basic way to combat back problems. However, if you already have an injury or damage to the spine, talk to your doctor or physical therapist before you start an exercise routine.

Core Strengthening

Spinal stabilization involves contracting muscles of the inner core - the deepest muscles surrounding the lumbar spine.

Pregnancy and Low Back Pain

Fifty percent of women have LBP during pregnancy, ten percent of women with chronic LBP said that the LBP began during pregnancy. This is most often identified between 4th and 7th months gestation.

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Healthy Lifestyles :

Right-Size Your Snacks

Eat Smart, Move More...North Carolina, is a statewide movement that promotes increased opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity.

Eat Smart Move More North Carolina encourages individuals to think differently about what they eat and how much they move, and to make choices that will help them feel good and live better.

They have released educational information on "Snacks and Drinks; Simple solutions to help you and your family eat healthy."

One suggestion is to "right-size your snacks." Portion control is key in ensuring that snacks don't provide too many calories. Eat snacks in small portions. The size of the package matters. Usually, we eat more from larger packages or bowls without realizing it.

Try these simple tips to control portions:

• • Divide the contents of one large package into several small bags or containers.
• • Try single serving packs.
• • Avoid eating straight from the package. Instead put a small portion into a bowl or other container.

Ultimately, the most important thing for a smart snack is calories. Think about how much you eat when you eat a snack.

Click here to read more about the Eat Smart, Move More...NC initiative.

One Person Can Make a Difference: Lessons from Mrs. Leolia Spaugh, a Community Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Advocate

Igniting key community members to act on behalf of physical activity and nutrition issues can be tough. It takes experience, time and persistence. One Wake County resident and health advocate, Mrs. Leolia Spaugh proves that one person can make a difference in their very own community. “You can't get tired in your advocating initiatives” declares Mrs. Spaugh. And, she said, “you need to use many different strategies … policy is a good way to begin making changes in the community."

One of Mrs. Spaugh's long-term objectives is to encourage community and professional organizations to support and incorporate policies that encourage increasing physical activity and healthy eating. “If you are changing policy in an organization you need to be sure to look at what needs to be done specifically to affect it” says Mrs. Spaugh. A few examples of her efforts follow.

The Martin Luther King (MLK) Breakfast is an annual event that drew nearly 2,000 people in 2002. Mrs. Spaugh, who attends the event yearly, wanted to see participants enjoy a healthy breakfast. Her goal was to get the organizers to enact a healthy eating policy. She delivered healthy eating policy information to organizers and participants and asked that people consider adopting the policies for the next year’s breakfast and within their own organizations. In 2004, Mrs. Spaugh noticed that some healthier foods were served.

In May 2003, Mrs. Spaugh attended a meeting of the Old North State Medical Society (ONSMS) to encourage collaborative work between ONSMS and the NC Dietetic Association. She seized this opportunity to reach out to physicians and health care professionals to increase their awareness of physical activity and healthy eating changes they could put into practice. At the meeting she distributed copies of the Eat Smart Move More…NC executive summary and sample policies.

Mrs. Spaugh received positive feedback at the Old North State Medical Society meeting. She is planning to attend upcoming meetings and distribute more literature. Mrs. Spaugh also received positive feedback at the Martin Luther King Breakfast. Several people attending the meeting signed the document that they supported the adoption of the healthy eating policies at future MLK Breakfasts.

Currently, Mrs. Spaugh continues to create awareness in churches, businesses, civic, and professional organizations throughout her community. Her positive experience with the breakfast and the medical society has given her more motivation to continue her advocacy efforts in her community and, in turn, has made healthy eating and physical activity changes more visible in the community.

Click here to read more about the Eat Smart, Move More...NC initiative.

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Patient Discharge Instruction Forms:

Discharge Instructions for Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Discharge Instructions for Cervical Laminectomy or Cervical Decompression

Discharge Instructions for Anterior Cervical Disectomy and Fusion

Discharge Instructions for Lumbar Laminectomy or Microdiscectomy

Discharge Instructions for Posterior Lumbar Fusion