Does everyone bound to suffer from spine problems?
Not necessarily. It depends on many factors. The most common cause is degeneration or age related wear and tear. This wear and tear is bound to happen with each one but whether it will start showing its effects or not, no one can predict.
 

Do all spine problems signify a serious cause?
No. Around 20 to 30 percent problems are due to a serious major cause but rest of them are mostly due to mechanical chronic cause.
 

What are the age groups vulnerable for spine problems ?
Spine problems vary from childhood to old age. Causes can be more specific to age (e,g Geriatric – Degenerative spine diseases) but there is no thumb rule about it. One can see spine issues at any age with variable presentations and causes, not predicted to be related at that age group.
 

What are the conditions common age wise ?
Few examples are: Adolescent Age (10-18 years) :- Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis ( deformity of spine ), Lytic crisis, Scheuermann’s Kyphosis etc 
- 20-40 years – Mechanical chronic low back pain or neck pain, Acute Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc ( PID ) etc       
- More than 50 years – Lumbar canal stenosis, neoplastic conditions like metastasis to spine from some primary cancer elsewhere in the body etc.
 

Can Spine issues be generalized ?
Two individuals can be diagnosed with similar spine issues but presentation of symptoms and response to similar treatment in both can vary. The reason behind this is multifactorial like genetic constitution, life style ( desk job, manual labourer ) etc. As a result, it is recommended to not generalize spine issues.
 

People say that one should not use pillow for someone with neck issues or one should lie down on hard surface for low back issues. Is this true?
One should not deviate from what he/she is doing for ages. If you are used using a pillow underneath your head while sleeping, you need not change this habit. Similarly, sleeping on a hard surface will not help with low back pain issues.
 

At what stage of a spine issue should one consult a spine surgeon?
One must consult a spine surgeon when the spine issue starts affecting daily routine activities. One has to be more attentive towards symptoms and any unusual feeling about the same, it’s a time to go to Spine surgeon. Symptoms are the best guide which will decide whether opinion needs to be taken or not.
 

Can spine operated patient lead a normal life ?
Yes, certainly! They will be able to carry out all normal activities which they used to carry out before surgery most of the times.