There are many issues that can affect the spine, causing back pain and a reduced ability to move the back very well. Spinal disorders may result from an injury, wear, and tear, or a structural deformity.
Let’s talk about some of the most common problems that can affect the spine, and where you can go here in Southeast Michigan for a medical evaluation and effective treatment.
What Is Causing My Back Pain?
Spinal disorders that are frequently seen by doctors include the following:
Arthritis
We may not associate arthritis with the spine, but each set of two adjacent vertebrae in the spine has a facet joint connecting them, keeping the spine flexible. These facet joints comprise ligaments and cartilage just like the other joints in the body – and when the cartilage wears down, osteoarthritis develops. This can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced function in the spine.
Herniated Disc
Discs are the relatively soft, cushion-like, shock-absorbing pads between the vertebrae bones in the spine. If you suffer a sudden injury, fall, or repetitive-motion injury to your back, then the tough exterior of a disc can crack – thereby allowing the softer interior to protrude outward. This is a herniated (ruptured) disc. The protrusion can irritate and put constant pressure on a nearby nerve, triggering pain.
Degenerative Disc Disease
As we get older, our spinal discs naturally lose water content and thereby become less flexible and supple. This disc degeneration causes the adjacent structures to lose some of their integrity and support, leading to back pain, instability, and nerve compression.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal due to the natural aging process. This causes the space within your spine, which houses the spinal cord and nerves, to become tighter and under inward pressure. This pressure on the nerves can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the neck, shoulders, arms, lower back, buttocks, or legs.
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a curvature of the spine, usually resembling an “S” or a “C.” It usually develops during growth spurts before puberty, but it can also be caused by disc and bone degeneration, arthritis, a spinal injury, or another spinal disorder. A majority of cases are mild and do not cause problems, but severe cases of scoliosis can be disabling – and may result in chronic back pain and other complications.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a painful condition that results from irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which is the large nerve that extends from your lower back down to your feet along both legs. If the nerve becomes compressed or inflamed, it can cause symptoms such as weakness, tingling, numbness, and shooting pains from the lower back down through the back of the leg.
Treatment for a Spinal Disorder in Rochester Hills, Michigan
If you have back pain and would like to find out about what treatment options are available, the experienced medical team at Ahlgren Spine is here for you. We will conduct an efficient evaluation of your back pain and explain your various treatment options that would work in your case.
To find out more or to arrange a consultation, call us today at (248) 215-8080 or fill out our online appointment request form now. We look forward to helping you get back to enjoying a pain-free lifestyle once again!
