http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. (HealthDay)—Even though expensive MRIs produce very detailed images for assessing back pain, they may not be very good at evaluating results after treatment, research suggests. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-spine-mris-harmless-defects.html Medical research Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:43:24 EST news282418997 (HealthDay)—No conclusions can be drawn with regard to the comparative efficacy of open, microscopic, and tubular discectomy surgical techniques to treat sciatica due to a herniated disc, according to the results of a systematic literature review published in the November issue of the European Spine Journal. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-surgeries-sciatica-due-herniated-disc.html Surgery Sat, 10 Nov 2012 07:00:02 EST news271749246 (HealthDay)—A new patient decision instrument meets the criteria of acceptability, reliability, and validity, and improves the quality of patient decision-making for treatment of a herniated disc, according to a study published in the Aug. 15 issue of Spine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-decision-aid-treatment-herniated-disc.html Other Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:30:07 EST news264954084 (HealthDay) -- Active conservative symptom-guided therapy for severe sciatica can safely reduce pain and improve neurological function at a rate that matches or surpasses outcomes from common higher-cost surgical interventions, according to a Danish study published in the April 1 issue of Spine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-04-relieves-sciatica-pain.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:40:01 EST news253195918 A new study in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) found that patients with herniated lumbar disc symptoms were significantly worse if the patients had symptoms for more than six months prior to treatment, compared to those who had symptoms for six months or less. Symptoms included pain, function, general health, work status and patient satisfaction. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-surgical-treatment-months-lumbar-disc.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:30:48 EST news238768237 A new study from researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine has identified a unique protein complex that can be used to predict whether an epidural steroid injection will help relieve pain caused by a herniated disc in the lower spine. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-biomarker-common-pain-treatment-doctor.html Medical research Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:41:14 EST news232278054