Forms & Information

Watch this KPTV report about a patient who was in the worst pain in his life. His minimally invasive spine surgery cured him "100 percent" and he was out on the town that evening.

Q: “My back problem seems to be getting progressively worse. I’ve been taking medication for the pain, but at what point should I consider surgery?”

Q: Can glucosamine and chondroitin prevent joint cartilage from wearing down?

Providence offers a number of online tools to help you make informed decisions about treatments for back and neck pain.

If you are experiencing back pain and are not sure what to do about it, talk to your doctor. We have included the top 10 questions to ask your doctor about your pain.

Incorporating some simple exercises into your daily routine can help you maintain a healthy spine and avoid back and neck pain.

Join us for a free informational class to help you and your loved ones prepare for your spinal surgery. You will have the opportunity to speak with highly trained nurses, physical therapists, and, occupational therapists that will provide information on what to expect before and during your stay with Providence, along with your return home. This class covers pain management, wound care, spinal precautions, body mechanics, and tips for safe living while you are recovering.

A pre- and post-operative guide for patients planning for spine surgery at Providence Portland, St. Vincent or Willamette Falls medical centers. 

Surgery to correct scoliosis and spinal deformity in adolescents and children has an extensive history; however, surgically addressing adults with scoliosis and spinal deformity was a rarity only 30 years ago. Many of these patients were simply told there was nothing to do for them.

The Providence Spine Care Continuum, or SCC, integrates the medical home and medical neighborhood to provide patients with streamlined care at the time of advanced imaging. The program is designed in partnership with primary care to keep the patient in their medical home with the primary care provider (PCP) as the coordinator of care with support from spine specialists.

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Spine and Neck page

American Chronic Pain Association main page with search for conditions, treatments and medication and pain management tools.

Physician’s resource website about rheumatology includes news, resources and research articles.

Most people will have a minor back problem at one time or another. Our body movements usually do not cause problems, but it's not surprising that symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or injury. Back problems and injuries often occur during sports or recreational activities, work-related tasks, or home projects.

FamilyDoctor.org page on Chronic pain, how to identify and treatment resources.

FamilyDoctor.org page on Chronic pain, translated to Spanish.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthfinder.gov page describing back pain, best treatments and other resources.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthfinder.gov tool’s page on arthritis. Includes FAQs and an overview of the types of arthritis with resource treatment options.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services page on Pain, how to identify, treat and relevant resources.

Medline Plus landing page describing back pain, best treatments and other resources.

Medline’s page on Arthritis, discussing types and symptoms with links to various resources for treatment and interactive tools.

The National Library of Medicine’s online tool Medline Plus provides definition and treatment resources for pain management.

NIAMS landing page with search for conditions in the health index and related resources.

Spine Health page with instructions on conservative ways to deal with back pain without surgery.

Spine Health main page with information about back and neck pain.