Degenerative disc disease is a term used to describe changes in your discs as you age. Spinal discs are soft, compressible discs that separate the vertebra that make up the spine. Discs act as shock absorbers for the spine, allowing it to flex, bend, and twist.
Disc problems are quite common. The most well known condition is the herniated disc, often referred to as a "slipped disc" even though the disc does not actually slip or slide. Discs are soft rubbery pads found between vertebrae in the spine. Vertebrae are hard bone, and the discs are attached to them. Having discs between the vertebrae allows our back to flex. Discs also act as a shock absorber for the spine.
Discs usually herniated or rupture due to age, wear and tear, or sudden pressure, such as lifting, sneezing or trauma. A portion of the disc, often the nucleus, bursts into or through the annulus. Body weight and muscle load then squeeze the softer material of the nucleus out through the tear, in the direction of the spinal canal. Sensitive nerve roots may be pressed, pinched or chemically irritated causing pain to shoot down the sciatic nerve in the leg. Sometimes, fragments of the disc enter the spinal canal. This can result in serious complications.
Radiculopathy is a disease that involves compression of the nerves in the spine. Sensory and motor nerves connect to the spinal cord between the vertebrae. Damage to these nerve roots can cause a variety of symptoms including pain, weakness and numbness depending on the location in the spinal column. The nerve roots may become compressed as the result of a herniated disc, bone spurs, or degenerating vertebrae.
The human spine features many natural curvatures which help our bodies to move and be flexible. When scoliosis is present, the spine develops a lateral curvature, which varies in severity depending on each individual and their course of treatment.
Spinal Stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal which causes pinching of the nerves and pain down your arms or legs. There are several non-surgical treatments that should be tried first unless you are experiencing weakness in your arms or legs or an inability to control your bladder.
Facet joint syndrome is a condition that affects the facet joints in the spine. The facet joints are the areas in which the vertebrae join together. They are designed for strength, flexibility and spinal integrity, as well as offer a range of defined movement for each level in the spine.
Kyphosis is a forward rounding of your upper back. A small amount of rounding is normal. Kyphosis refers to an exaggerated amount of rounding, typically more than 40 to 45 degrees. Your back may look normal or you may develop a hump. There are many reasons why kyphosis may develop in patients, for instance degenerative conditions such as arthritis, compression fractures as a result of osteoporosis or even trauma to the spine.
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which the vertebra slips out of place onto a one below it. If it slips too much, the vertebra may press on a nerve causing pain. Typically, this occurs in the lower back.
A vertebral compression fracture occurs when the bones of the spine break. Usually some kind of trauma is necessary to break the bones of the spine, however some elderly patients these bones can break with little or no force. Most commonly this occurs in the low back. Treatment for compression fractures can range from utilizing a back brace, rest, ice or heat, exercises for strengthening and in some cases surgery.
