Category Archives: Spinal Conditions

The spine is one of the parts of the body most commonly affected by arthritis, a progressive condition that contributes to inflammation and joint, bone, and soft tissue damage. You can’t reverse damage already caused by spinal arthritis (osteoarthritis), but what you can do is take some steps, such as the ones discussed below, to […]

Any type of spinal narrowing can be problematic and potentially painful, especially if nearby nerve roots are compressed. If you have foraminal stenosis—which sometimes happens because of age-related changes or sudden (acute) trauma—nerves essentially become trapped in the foramen, which are gaps in vertebrae that allow nerves to pass through the spinal cord to the […]

Spinal discs are designed to consistently support the bones of the spine and keep the backbone at its normal height. However, if the tougher outer wall of a disc breaks down, the disc can lose height. When this happens, you have what’s known as a collapsed spinal disc. If not treated, disc problems like this […]

When spinal spaces narrow in certain areas, such as the backbone and supporting nerves, it’s referred to as spinal stenosis. Often affecting the lower back and neck, the condition can be a source of localized pain or discomfort felt in nearby areas (radiculopathy) if nerves traveling through the affected area are compressed. When pressure is […]

Spinal discs are designed to be spongy enough to cushion the backbone yet strong enough to endure the burden of daily movements. Still, these discs can be damaged by age-related wear or injury to the point where inner disc material pushes outward or the disc itself slips out of place. However, not all symptoms associated […]

Narrowing of the spinal canal, known as spinal stenosis, tends to progress over time, which is why some people who have had this condition with little or no discomfort for many years sometimes begin to develop disruptive symptoms later in life. If you have spinal stenosis, treatment will depend on what part of the spine […]

Spinal stenosis is a progressive narrowing of the spine that can cause little or no discomfort for many years. Over time, age-related changes affecting the spine may contribute to increasingly noticeable symptoms such as numbness, tingling sensations, and general weakness extending to arms, legs, or other extremities. Some people with spinal stenosis also have difficulty […]

Twenty of the spine’s 31 pairs of nerves are in the mid-back and neck region. Ten pairs are within the lower back area and the very end of the spine (sacrum), and the last set of nerves is in the tailbone (coccygeal nerves). However, all it takes is for one single nerve in any area […]

Thankfully, spinal tumors are a rare occurrence. When abnormal growths do develop, early detection increases the odds of successful treatment. In adults, risk factors for this type of cancer typically include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, body weight, and lifestyle habits. With children, these long-term contributing factors usually don’t apply or aren’t as impactful. However, there […]

Each level of the spine has bony, hollow archways on either side of each vertebra, referred to as foramina. Two nerve roots run through these openings. If one of these passageways for spinal nerve roots narrows, it’s a condition called spinal foraminal stenosis, also referred to as foraminal narrowing. If the space needed for nerve […]