The spine, often known as the backbone, is the body’s main support system. It connects the different parts of your musculoskeletal system. Sitting, standing, walking, twisting, and bending are all made easier by your spine. Back injuries, spinal cord problems, and other conditions can cause damage to the spine and cause back pain.
Your spine is split into three halves. These segments make three natural curves when viewed from the side. Lordosis is the “c-shaped” curve of the neck (cervical spine) and lower back (lumbar spine). Kyphosis is the “reversed c-shaped” curve of the chest (thoracic spine).
The normal spine has three small bends when viewed from the side.
These curves assist people in standing erect and are essential for maintaining balance. It becomes difficult to stand up straight if any of the curves are too wide or little, and our posture appears unnatural.
Abnormal curvatures of the spine are referred to as “spinal deformities.” These diseases include thoracic spine kyphosis (“hunchback”), lumbar spine lordosis (“swayback”), and “flatback syndrome,” a disorder in which the lumbar spine has too little curvature.
Another type of spinal abnormality is scoliosis. Scoliosis is a sideways curve of the spine that can be seen from the front or back.
Your spine is put under a lot of strain. It supports the weight of your head, shoulders, and upper torso. It gives you the support you need to stand up straight while also allowing you to bend and twist. It also safeguards the spinal cord.
Parts of the Spine
Your spine is made up of tiny bones called vertebrae that are placed on top of one another to form your back’s natural curves. The spinal cord and nerve roots are protected by a canal formed by these bones.
The cervical spine consists of seven tiny vertebrae that go from the base of the skull to the top of the chest. The thoracic spine is made up of twelve vertebrae that connect to the rib cage and go from the upper chest to the middle back. Five bigger vertebrae make up the lumbar vertebra. Because they bear more of your body’s weight, these vertebrae are larger.
The spinal cord extends from the skull to your lower back and travels through the middle part of each stacked vertebra, called the central canal.
The spinal cord extends as nerve roots across the first and second vertebral bodies in the lower back. The cauda equina is the name for this bundle of nerve roots. They, like other nerve roots, exit the spinal canal through openings in the vertebrae (foramen). Some of the nerves in the hip joint from the sciatic nerve, which runs down the leg.
– Ligaments and Muscles
These provide support and stability for your spine and upper body. Strong ligaments connect your vertebra and help keep the spinal column in position.
Intervertebral disks sit in between the vertebrae. They are flat and round, and about a half-inch thick. Disks function as shock absorbers for the spine.
The intervertebral disc is a vital component of the spine. The annulus is supplied by many nerve endings, therefore a damaged annulus can produce pain.
– Joints with Facets
The spine is moved via little joints that run between the backs of the vertebrae. These facet joints have a cartilage surface comparable to that of a hip or knee joint. Although the facet joints are necessary for the spine to rotate, they can develop arthritis and cause low back or neck pain.
How can you tell if you require spine surgery?
When someone comes to us with issues in their extremities, we nearly always recommend that they see their primary care physician first. Whether a person has low back or neck pain, we will normally monitor them over time and encourage them to keep up with good, consistent physical exercise to see if the problem goes away. If the problem does not improve with physical exercise, over-the-counter remedies, or pain management and anti-inflammatory medications, you should contact a doctor for an examination.
Many patients with spinal issues can be addressed without surgery. Before considering surgery, physical therapy, home exercises, medication, and, in some cases, spinal injections are often prescribed. If the condition persists, surgery may be a viable choice.
For example, if a patient’s neurogenic pain in the extremities is severe and non-surgical treatment has failed, surgical intervention is the best option. If non-surgical treatment fails to relieve symptoms due to spinal cord or nerve root compressions, such as substantial weakness in an arm, leg, or limb, doctors may propose surgery.
What are the main distinctions between traditional and minimally invasive spine surgery?
The anatomy is completely exposed in traditional open spine surgery. Because minimally invasive spine surgery risks insufficient anatomy, it allows for a faster rehab in the first few weeks. Additional surgical procedures, such as intraoperative spinal navigation, are commonly utilized in minimally invasive spine surgery. This allows the surgeon to view wider surgical areas while reducing his radiation exposure.
The long-term objectives are the same, whether minimally invasive or traditional: we want to accomplish an overall modification in symptoms or a halt in degeneration. Finally, we hope that our treatments result in reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays fewer infection rates and quicker healing in the weeks after surgery. Patients yield from less invasive surgery because it allows them to recuperate faster. On the other hand, minimally invasive surgery isn’t appropriate for every patient or medical scenario.
.Youmustworkcloselywithyourspinesurgeontodeterminethebestcourseofactionforyourproblem. Surgery is a process with a low level of invasiveness. As a result, we make every effort to optimize the patient’s benefit while avoiding surgical trauma to the greatest extent possible. Our patients benefit from our surgeons’ academic research to develop both minimally invasive and complex spine surgery treatments, and we employ cutting-edge surgical techniques and technology as needed.
What diseases and disorders have an impact on the spine?
Back discomfort affects up to 80% of Americans at some point in their lives. With age, the vertebrae and discs might wear out, causing pain. Other health issues that affect the spine include:
– Ankylosing spondylitis, for example, is an arthritic condition (AS).
– Strains and sprains of the back.
– Spina bifida, for example, is a birth defect.
– Spurs on the bones
– Spinal curvatures are a type of curvature that occurs in the spine
– Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), for example, is a neuromuscular illness (ALS).
– Spinal stenosis, sciatica, and pinched nerves are all examples of nerve damage.
– Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bones
– Injury to the spinal cord, such as spinal fractures, herniated discs, and paralysis.
– Tumors of the spine and cancer.
– Infections of the spine, such as meningitis and osteomyelitis.
When should I consult a physician?
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should contact your healthcare provider:
– Fever and back pain
– Controlling your bowels or bladder is a problem.
– Leg weakness or pain that travels down your legs from your back.
– Pain that worsens, causes nausea or insomnia or prevents you from doing your normal tasks.
– Small bones (vertebrae), cushioning discs, nerves, joints, ligaments, and muscles make up your spine, which is a complicated system. Injury, arthritis, herniated discs, pinched nerves, and other issues can affect this region of your anatomy. Back pain might make it difficult to enjoy life.
Our team of experts can help relieve back discomfort and provide you with tips on how to strengthen the muscles that support your back and avoid back injuries.