Learning that you have a spine disorder can be somewhat frightening. How serious is it? How will it affect you? What are your options for treating it? Instead of just guessing at these questions, use this guide to understand the prognosis and possible treatment options for different kinds of spine disorders.
If you have been diagnosed with a spine disorder, or think you might have a spine disorder due to pain, discomfort, or other symptoms, reach out to the Center for Spine Care in Dallas and get help identifying your disorder and then get started with the appropriate treatment. Spine pain doesn’t have to be a constant burden in your life.
Categories of Spine Disorder
There are two main types of spine disorders: chronic and acute. Acute spine disorders are the result of an injury, usually something like a car crash, sports injury, fall, and so on. Physical therapy is often sufficiently effective for treating temporary spine disorders, alongside things like medication and rest. The second type of spine disorder also will benefit from physical therapy, but, depending on the severity, may involve more intensive treatment. The Center for Spine Care offers both conservative and regenerative treatments, as well as surgical procedures for the more extreme cases. Whatever your disorder, we will help you get the treatment best suited to your needs.
6 Common Spine Disorders
In no specific order, here are some of the most common spine disorders:
1. Sciatica
A large nerve, called the sciatic nerve, runs all the way down your lower back to your ankles. When this nerve is injured, it can cause radiating pain along the back of your legs. Sciatica ranges from mild pain to extreme pain, numbness, and muscle weakness. If you have mild sciatica, it will usually go away over time. When sciatic-related pain lasts longer than a week, however, it is a good idea to reach out to your doctor to find out how best to address it.
2. Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain is experienced by millions of Americans every day. When a muscle or a ligament is sprained, it can cause pain. Common causes of lower back pain are bad posture, lifting things with your back, lack of exercise, lifting things that are too heavy in general, and so on. When it comes to treating lower back pain, the most important thing to do is to avoid any activities that will further injure it. That means giving your spine enough time resting to heal itself properly, before you exert yourself again. Medications can be useful for relieving pain, as can be massages, application of heat, and, eventually, reconditioning exercises. It may take some time for something like a lower back sprain to heal. Don’t over-exert yourself for at least a month following an acute lower back injury.
3. Spinal Stenosis
Spine stenosis occurs most often in the lower back and neck. It is when spaces in your spine are narrowed, putting pressure on some nerves. The main reason people get spinal stenosis is osteoarthritis. In mild cases, we recommend starting with conservative and regenerative treatments. In severe cases of spinal stenosis, surgery may be necessary. Degenerative spinal stenosis may also be treated with motion technology to help your body relearn, heal, and grow. One possible procedure for severe spinal stenosis is getting a coflex implant, which is a piece of titanium that goes in the back of your spine, which is unique in that it doesn’t require the fusing of your bones together.
4. Degenerative Disk Disease
When a spinal disc starts to lose its integrity you may develop degenerative disk disease. Degenerative disk disease typically causes low levels of chronic pain with irregular episodes of more severe pain. As you age, the wear and tear on your spinal disks starts to lead to them breaking down. This happens to almost everyone.
They may dry out,
They may crack,
But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your back.
There are a number of treatment options for people suffering from degenerative disk disease. To fight inflammation, over-the-counter medications like aspirin and ibuprofen can help. Physical therapy and steroid injections for back pain can also be useful. Some newer, regenerative treatments available for people with degenerative disk disease is the utilization of stem cells, tissue grafts, and cytokines to help your body repair spinal wear and tear.
5. Arthritis of the Spine
Similar to degenerative disk disease, arthritis of the spine causes pain because of inflammation due to conditions like wear and tear, infections, autoimmune disorders, and so on. Pain relating to arthritis of the spine is often found in the lower back and may feel like it is in the hips as well. Arthritis of the spine is usually worse in the morning, causing stiffness and lower back pain. As the day goes on it usually gets better, and then begins to worsen again by the end of the day.
6. Spondylosis
Spondylosis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine are common types of spine disorder we see at the Center for Spine Care in Dallas. Spondylosis is the breakdown of the intervertebral disks between the vertebrae. This is another spine disorder that is primarily the result of aging. You may be more or less likely to have spondylosis due to your genetics. Ask your back doctor today what you can do to help treat your spondylosis.
Get Back Pain Relief
Whatever your symptoms, if you are suffering from chronic back pain, getting diagnosed will start you down the road of recovery and/or relief from your back pain. When you visit our spine doctors at the Center for Spine Care in Dallas, we will be able to help you identify what type of spine disorder you are suffering from and what you can do to start the healing process. Email or call us now to schedule an appointment to find out how you can begin treating your spine disorder.
