If you receive a slipped disc diagnosis, it does not necessarily mean you must resign yourself to a lifetime of back or neck discomfort. In fact, it’s completely reasonable to anticipate a happy, healthful, active lifestyle – if you know the proper steps to take.
{ 0 comments }
The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the body. It originates in most people at the lower thoracic or upper lumbar level of the spine, and branches off to innervate a large portion of the lower body.
The location of the sciatic nerve in the lower back makes it particularly susceptible to compression in middle age and after. This is because the anatomical components of the lumbar region are subjected to years of stress and strain related to near-constant movement and bearing the weight of the upper body. When an anatomical abnormality develops and begins to compress the sciatic nerve, it produces the set of symptoms known as sciatica. [click to continue…]
{ 0 comments }
A slipped disc is a colloquial term for a condition that occurs when the outer wall of an intervertebral disc extends beyond its normal boundary into the spinal canal. It is known medically as a herniated disc or a bulging disc. A common misconception about slipped discs is that they always result in back pain and other neuropathic symptoms. In fact, a bulging or herniated disc usually produces severe symptoms only when the misshapen outer disc wall or a portion of the extruded inner material comes into contact with the spinal cord or an adjacent nerve root. [click to continue…]
{ 0 comments }
Experiencing muscle spasms after surgery? Try the natural remedies below.
{ 0 comments }
A. Abnormal curvature. B. Removal of problematic vertebrae. C. Spinal fusion to stabilize and realign the spine.
Surgeries may involve techniques that remove bone (an osteotomy) and correct problems with the spinal discs, nerves, muscles, ligaments and the lamina. More than a 70 degree curve is usually a trigger for back surgery for kyphosis in the thoracic spine. [click to continue…]
{ 0 comments }
Osteoporosis is a major cause of thoracic hyperkyphosis and 'dowager's hump.'
{ 0 comments }
Neural foraminal stenosis is a specific kind of spinal stenosis that can result in severe radiating pain, weakness, numbness and paralysis. Surgery for neural foraminal stenosis is not always warranted, with some patients able to find relief using conservative therapies. However, there are a number of options for those undergoing back surgery to relieve nerve compression in the foramen and the choice of back surgery depends largely on the cause of the spinal narrowing. [click to continue…]
{ 0 comments }
Degenerative disc disease symptoms can occur in several ways. At first, degenerating discs may lead to general feelings of stiffness and discomfort in the neck or back. If a disc weakens to the point that it develops a tear or rupture in its outer wall (annulus fibrosus), some of the inner disc fluid (nucleus pulposus) may leak out and trigger an inflammatory response from tiny nerve fibers that reside in the disc’s wall. This type of pain will usually remain localized in the area of the damaged disc. [click to continue…]
{ 0 comments }
If you have tried a wide variety of conservative treatment methods over the course of several weeks or months to relieve discomfort caused by degenerative disc disease, and have still not been able to mitigate your back or neck pain, you may be considering a surgical degenerative disc disease procedure. Before consenting to any procedure, however, be sure to get several opinions from different spine specialists regarding the necessity of surgery and the different surgical approaches that are available. While disc disease can be a very painful condition, it is generally not considered a medical emergency and surgery, therefore, is elective and should only be undergone once all the risks and benefits have been weighed. [click to continue…]
{ 0 comments }
If you have been suffering from discomfort in the form of pain in your neck or back and pain, tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness in your extremities – and the symptoms do not seem to be going away on their own – it is time to seek a professional medical diagnosis.
Even if your own research convinces you that you are suffering from degenerative disc disease, a diagnosis from a doctor is necessary to determine the exact source of your pain so that an effective treatment plan can be formulated. Attempting to diagnose and your treat yourself can result in injury, dangerous drug interactions, or, at the very least, no improvement in your symptoms. [click to continue…]
{ 0 comments }