| Definitions of
Common Diagnosis for Back Problems
Sciatica / Cyatica: Back pain that radiates below
the knee. This may be related to a herniated disc or to inflammation
of the sciatic nerve causing sciatica or cyatica. The nerve root
can be compress and this can cause pain, numbess, tingling and/or
weakness in one or both legs.
Herniated disc/
Ruptured disc: The shock absorber between the vertebrae
are called intervertebral discs. They have a relatively liquid center.
When you have a ruptured disc or herniated
disc, the liquid center squirts out of the restraining
membrane called the annulus into the spinal canal and can put pressure
on the spine and nerves. The annulus can develop a fissure
or crack and fluid can leak out or the annulus can tear and a large
piece of the nucleus pulposus can be squeezed out into the spinal
canal and compress the nerve root.
Degenerative Disc Disease: The degeneration of
the discs is a term that was first coined by radiologists to describe
what they were looking at on x-ray and MRI. Discs have a lot of
water in them. As we age, through use, this water is squeezed out
of the disc and disc dessication occurs and the
disc gradually gets squashed or becomes a narrowed disc
space. It is part of the natural aging process and is related
to decreased circulation (as we age) and repeated trauma. Young,
world class athletes often have "degenerative discs"
because of the repeated trauma of practice and competition.
Facet Joint
Arthritis: This is the build-up of calcium around the joints
of the back. It is also part of the natural aging process and directly
related to decreased activity as we age. It may also be related
to constant, uneven stress on joints. Many of us, over 40, have
some arthritis, somewhere in the body. The joints become worn and
lose the thickness of the articular cartilage and osteophyte formation
or bone spurs will form.
Radiculopathy: Pain that travels down specific
nerve pathways. Sciatica is a type of radiculopathy or a radiating
pain.
Neuropathy/
Paresthesia: Loss of feeling or a feeling of tingling in
a specific area of the body that corresponds to specific nerve distribution(s).
A feeling of cold, numbness in the nerve distribution.
Spondylolisthesis: Vertebrae sit alligned on top
of each other like blocks. They are connected together and stabilized
by ligaments and tendons. Sometimes, some of these ligaments will
stretch and the vertebra will shift forward on each other if the
facet joint wears out. Sometimes the bone will crack due to mechanical
forces and the bone will shift forward on each other. This can cause
back pain and sciatic pain into the legs.
Failed Back Syndrome: Back pain that persists after
surgery and other traditional medical therapies.
Curvatures of the spine: Scoliosis
(S-shaped lateral curvature of the spine) due either to idiopathic(unknown
reasons) or degenerative scoliosis. Kyphosis
(bending forward of the spine in the upper back area) and Lordosis
(excessive backward bending of the mid-low back) all can cause back
pain.
Spinal Stenosis:
The spinal canal can become narrowed with age due to a combination
of thickening of the soft tissue within the spinal canal called
the ligamentum flavum and build up of calcification within the canal
and around the facet joints. This will cause pressure on the spinal
nerves and result in leg pain, cramps and numbness.
Foraminol Stenosis: The opening between the vertebra
are called a foramen. When the foraminol opening gets smaller due
to a combination of the disc space collapsing, build up of calcium
and disc bulging or disc herniation there is pressure on the exiting
nerve root causing pain, numbness, cramping, tingling or weakness
in the legs.
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