Question: My husband has been told after MRI’s and x-rays that he has a broken arch in his back. Can you explain to me what that means and what alternatives he has to relieve some of the pain? Some medications upset his stomach. Would one of the new memory foam mattresses help?

Dr. Hibberd's Answer:

I have no idea what you are referring to by "broken arch in his back." The description of "broken arch" is not terminology we use for the back, and this makes it impossible to understand what in fact is "broken." Broken arch might refer to a loss of curvature from multiple compression fractures, or it may refer to loss of bone integrity in the neural canals containing spinal cord nerve roots. You will need to provide more information for us to help you. Try submitting your MRI report with your main complaint and physical findings, then we can readdress your problem.