Most of us don't think about our spines until we experience pain or discomfort. Your spine is a complex system of bones, muscles, and ligaments that protect your spinal cord and support your body. Unfortunately, because it is so often utilized in various movements or in finding stability, it can be prone to several conditions that can cause pain, limited mobility, and other issues. While spinal conditions can vary in severity, it's important to know the most common ones and how best to manage them. This blog post will look at some of the most common spine conditions and how they can affect you.
Lower Back Pain
One of the most common forms of back pain is lower back pain, which affects around 80% of adults at some point in their lives. Lower back pain can range from mild aches and stiffness to severe pain that limits your ability to move. It may also cause numbness or weakness in one or both legs as well as loss of bowel control. Common causes include poor posture, obesity, stress, muscle strain, slipped disc, sciatica, arthritis, scoliosis, and more. Proper treatment will depend on the underlying cause but may include rest, physical therapy exercises, and medications.
Herniated Discs
A herniated disc occurs when a tear in the outer layer allows some of the soft inner material to push through and irritate nearby nerves. This can lead to shooting pains down one leg or arm as well as tingling sensations and numbness in your extremities. Treatment for herniated discs usually involves conservative measures such as rest, anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy exercises, and epidural steroid injections. Surgery is only recommended if these measures prove ineffective or if significant nerve damage requires immediate attention.
Spondylolysis
This condition occurs when there is a defect in one or both sides of a vertebra that connects two adjacent bones. The defect can cause instability between these two bones, leading to lower back pain that radiates into your buttocks area when you stand up after sitting for an extended period. Treatment includes activity modification, such as avoiding strenuous activities like weight lifting or running, using ice/heat therapy, and taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Physical therapy exercises may also help strengthen the muscles around your spine so they can better support it and prevent further injury.
Understanding common spine conditions is essential for taking care of yourself properly and knowing when it's time to seek medical help from a qualified professional. Whether you're dealing with osteoarthritis of the spine, herniated discs, or lower back pain, treatments can help alleviate symptoms so you can live life comfortably without chronic pain getting in your way. If you think you may have any of these conditions, make sure you seek medical advice from our team at Comprehensive Spine Institute right away so you can get started on treatment as soon as possible!