Here is a discussion and common ailments for the spine. Most of these conditions can be treated naturally with effective results. Many times there is no major diagnosis, the spine can simply be out of alignment causing pain. That is the purpose of an exam. To determine what is causing your pain and the best way to approach it. Also, not all diagnosis need an x-ray or MRI so it is best to start with a history and exam to determine what direction to take.
Did you know that your spine is designed to be incredibly strong and highly flexible? It’s made up of bones, ligaments, tendons, large muscles, and nerves. That’s a lot of area that can get sore, and it’s likely impacting at least a third of you and your neighbors. The one month prevalence of lower back pain in the U.S. is between 35-37%? That’s a lot of sore citizens and for those of you who are suffering right now, you know how debilitating back pain can be!
What causes this pain? There are a variety of issues that could be the cause such as:
- Neurological deficits- nerves originate in the spinal cord and divide into sensory and motor nerves, which in turn can radiate from one area to another, causing pain (http://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/neurological-exams-sensory-nerves-deep-tendon).
- Internal or external disc disruption – trauma and even aging can damage and weaken the annulus in the spine, causing discs to collapse or become brittle.
- Disc herniation- cushions between the spinal vertebra are pushed out of position (http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/herniateddisk/a/ruptureddisk.htm).
- Compression fractures- large traumas such as accidents break the bones of the spine (http://www.emedicinehealth.com/vertebral_compression_fracture/article_em.htm).
- Spondy- one vertebral body is slipped over another (http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/spondylolisthesis/spondylolysis-and-spondylolisthesis).
- Ankylosing spondylitis- arthritis causing inflammation of the spinal joints or new bone formation (http://www.spondylitis.org/about/as.aspx).
So what should you do? If you are ready to book an appointment, I will be happy to help you figure out the best care pathway for your needs. We have lots of blog posts about the spine which may be useful to you, as well.
