Spine Treatments
The spine is a vital part of your skeleton. Its function in your everyday life might be overlooked, but its role is impressive. The spine supports your head and upper body, allows you to walk, stand straight, balance, bend and twist, and protects your spinal cord. With all of this activity, it’s no wonder that there are some common spine disorders that arise in many individuals. In fact, back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work, and experts estimate that as much as 80 percent of the population will experience back pain at some point in their lives.
The spine is a curved structure that is made up of a series of small bones called vertebrae, with disks between them that act as a cushion for the bones. In the middle is a central canal that contains the spinal cord and the nerves. These nerves reach out through the vertebrae to send messages between your body and your brain. Like any bones, your spine can become injured or worn down. The following are some of the most common conditions of the spine.
Disk degeneration: the disks between the vertebrae become worn, resulting in pain.
Osteoarthritis: degeneration of the joint cartilage, often occurring with age and causing pain and stiffness.
Sciatica: compression of a large nerve known as the sciatic nerve in the lower back, which can cause pain in the back, hip and leg.
Pinched nerve: pressure on a nerve due to surrounding bones or cartilage, and causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness.
Spinal stenosis: a narrowing of the spine that puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, resulting in pain, numbness, weakness, or even impaired bladder control.
Osteoporosis: bones become weakened and brittle, often with no symptoms until there is a fracture.