Common Spinal Conditions

Common Spinal Conditions

 

Below are some common spine problems with a link to the spine-health website or ViewMedica, where you can learn a great deal about the condition and treatment options using an animation library.

Herniated discs:  Topics covered include herniated discs in the neck and back that can cause arm and leg pain, degenerated and bulging discs, symptoms that may occur from herniated discs, and some common non-surgical and surgical treatment options.

Sciatica: Topics covered include common causes of sciatic including piriformis syndrome; treatment options.

Spinal stenosis:  Topics covered include Lumbar foraminal stenosis & leg pain, lumbar central stenosis & neurogenic claudication (leg pain down both legs), synovial cysts; Cauda equina syndrome, Cervical foraminal stenosis & arm pain, cervical central stenosis and spinal cord compression (myelopathy) and common non-surgical and surgical treatment options.

Low Back pain (LBP): Topics covered include causes of acute and chronic LBP, Cauda equina syndrome, tailbone pain, potentially serious causes, including spinal infections, and some common non-surgical and surgical treatment options.

Neck pain: Topics covered include causes of acute and chronic neck pain; when it can lead to headaches; neck stiffness, tightness, cracking; arm pain, spinal cord compression (myelopathy); brachial plexus inflammation; whiplash; posture, and some common non-surgical and surgical treatment options.

Myelopathy:  This is when the spinal cord is being compressed and caused sign and symptoms.  This is potentially a very serious condition and often requires surgery.

Degenerative disc disease (DDD):  What is DDD?  When can it cause symptoms and when is it a normal part of aging?  Non-surgical and surgical treatment options.

Spondylolithesis:  This is one of the more common conditions that may cause back and leg pain and may require surgery.  There are essentially two types.  An isthmic type is due to a defect in part of the spine, it usually occurs in younger patients and at the L5-S1 level.  The second is an arthritic or degenerative type, which usually occurs in older patients and at L4-5 or above.

Adult Scoliosis or deformity:  This is a the of spinal deformity that occurs in older adults, and can cause chronic back and leg pain, and significant disability.  To learn more about the condition and less invasive treatment options, visit the NuVasive website.

Adjacent Segment disease:  This is when a level above or below a previous fusion wear out faster than normal, as a result of the extra work these segments have had to do.

Kyphosis:  This is a condition where the sine is bent abnormally forward, and can cause severe pain, and more serious problems such as spinal cord compression/myelopathy.

Post laminectomy Syndrome:  This can occur in the neck or back, and may result in scar tissue, deformity, and chronic pain.

Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain:  What is the SI joint?  How commonly does it cause back pain. Non-surgical and surgical treatment options.

Scoliosis and other spinal deformities:  Adult vs. Adolescent scoliosis, treatment options.  Also less common spinal deformities.

Chronic pain:  Understading why chronic pain occurs, common treatment options.

Other / Miscellaneous Painful conditions:  Includes topics found in above links as well as other less common conditions (i.e.ankylosing spondylitis, back pain in children, arthritis).

For a complete listing of common spinal conditions visit the ViewMedica animation library; or the spine health website.