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The Align Clinic Blog
​ Your Home For Orthotic and Prosthetic Knowledge

6 Common Spine Disorders That You Should Know About

6/14/2021

12 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
The human spine consists of many bones, muscles, white and gray matter arranged in an organized manner. In fact, it’s so amazing that your backbone can carry nearly 2000 pounds without getting crushed!

While the bones protect the spinal cord, the white and gray matter bear 31 pairs of spinal nerves. If you look closely, the spine might look straight when observed from behind and slightly curved when seen from the side. This design allows it to absorb the effects of gravity and deal with all sudden shocks.

Just like other parts of our body, even the spine isn’t free of deformities and disorders. In fact, one in every three American adults is experiencing some or the other form of back pain. What’s even more startling is the stat that at least 80% of Americans will experience back issues in their lifetime. 
​

Let’s look at how these issues are caused.
How Are They Caused?
We often hear complaints of back pain from people who indulge in sports and adventure. However, some more common reasons include incorrect sleeping positions, heavy lifting, and performing repetitive tasks.

These activities may lead to issues such as:

  • Nerve roots that lead to arms and legs get irritated


  • Small nerves that protrude out of the vertebrae get pinched


  • Large back muscles get strained


  • Injury to bones or ligaments that are in and around the spinal region

That isn’t an exhaustive list, but most problems related to the back can be associated with one of the above causes. So, how do we discover the difference between momentary back pain due to exertion and a severe spinal issue?

What Are the Types of Spine Disorders?
We have listed the most prevalent spine disorders, their symptoms, and ways to treat them in this section.

1. Kyphosis
It’s commonly called a hunchback or a flat back due to the excessive curvature of the spine. There are multiple types of kyphosis - some are easily correctable, while are others might require surgical intervention. The condition can easily be treated if detected and addressed during childhood.

The symptoms of Kyphosis include back stiffness, a visible curvature, and rounded shoulders.

Treatment Methods
Postural kyphosis can be corrected using physical therapy and by making conscious efforts to correct posture. Scheuermann’s kyphosis or post-traumatic kyphosis require surgery or a brace

2. Scoliosis
Of late, this notorious condition is wreaking havoc in the lives of American children. It occurs when the angle of sideways curvature is more than 10 degrees. This is determined using the Cobb angle calculation. Depending on the angle it is classified into mild, moderate, and severe.
Scoliosis is progressive. The curvature may increase steadily over the years if not treated in the early stages.

Treatment Methods
In recent times, scoliosis braces and chiropractic methods have gained traction among those with scoliosis. When there is rapid deterioration, you may require spinal fusion surgery along with a scoliosis brace for post-operative care

3. Disc Herniation
It’s called a hernia when an organ or a tissue in your body protrudes through a cavity. And as the name suggests, disc herniation occurs when the cushiony layer between the vertebrae pushes out.
Herniated lumbar disc is a popular term in the context of slipped discs. This is because the lumbar spine has more stress than any other part of the spine. There are other similar conditions like thoracic and cervical disc herniations.

Treatment Methods
Physical therapy and pain management sessions should be the first course of action. If the situation doesn’t improve, you might require an invasive procedure to remove the herniated portion.

4. Spondylolysis
There’s a tiny bone in your spine named ‘pars interarticularis.’ Spondylolysis is the condition that occurs when this bone experiences stress fractures.

It usually occurs in people who have a weak vertebra due to genes or repeated injuries. While the common symptoms include muscle strain and lower back pain, it often shows up in the body without symptoms.

Treatment Methods
An ample amount of rest and few physical therapy sessions do the trick most of the time. If the condition aggravates, you might require steroids and pain-relief medication.

5. Sciatica
The sciatic nerve passes through your lower back down to the legs. Sciatica mainly occurs as an allied condition of spinal stenosis and herniated disc.

Widely known symptoms of sciatica include troubles with bowel movement and chronic lower back pain.

Treatment Methods
Self-care treatments for sciatica include the application of an ice-pack on hips and gentle stretching. Doctors might also prescribe anti-inflammatory spinal injections and therapy. 

6. Spinal Stenosis
Your vertebrae form a tunnel of sorts to house various nerves known as a spinal canal. When the tunnel narrows down, there’s undue pressure on the nerves and the spinal cord leading to stenosis. 

Commons among older adults, spinal stenosis is caused by arthritis, spinal tumors, or injuries. The condition might start showing with signs like foot-drop, missing sensation, and leg cramps. 

Treatment Methods
Acupuncture therapy, lumbosacral orthosis, and pain-relief medication help most people with stenosis. Bone removal or widening procedures can help patients if non-surgical treatments are ineffective.

Final Thoughts

If left unattended, spinal disorders may leave a dent in your life and livelihood. 
Whether you have a desk job, are a homemaker, or an adventure sports enthusiast, back issues might not spare you. Take necessary precautions and get a doctor’s appointment if you’re experiencing any chronic pain.
​

Looking for a WCR brace to treat scoliosis? Reach out to an experienced orthotist at the nearest Align Clinic.

​.

12 Comments
Mia Evans link
8/24/2021 06:03:40 pm

Thanks for helping me understand that spine surgery and braces are needed when there is rapid deterioration due to having scoliosis. I will share this information with a friend of mine now that they have a hunch that their daughter might have scoliosis. It's because her shoulders do not align with each other, so knowing this information will prepare them as early as now. And they have to take their child to a specialist to get the treatments immediately.

Reply
Doctor David Greene link
8/24/2021 11:58:26 pm

Thanks for providing us knowledge about COMMON SPINE DISORDERS, it will definitely help plethora of individuals by which many can get solution.

Reply
Parinitha Bhargav link
10/2/2021 09:06:51 am

The 6 common spine disorders are very well briefed and the treatment methods are very explained. Thank you for sharing the helpful post.

Reply
Dhanush Sampath link
12/9/2021 09:30:56 pm

Thanks for sharing this informative blog. Many people with spinal stenosis live active and complete lives. To assist manage the effects of spinal stenosis, you may need to modify your exercise program or other daily activities. To ease pain and other symptoms, your doctor may recommend medicines, physical therapy, or surgery. For any further informations on stenting you may visit this article : https://bit.ly/3rOPUXn

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Millie Hue link
12/13/2021 04:12:37 pm

Thanks for helping me understand that there is a need for spinal surgery treatment when there is a rapid deterioration in a person's scoliosis. I will share this information with a friend of mine since she said that her daughter might have this issue. They would get the child checked first for the diagnosis, and then they will get all the treatments needed to ensure that she will have a comfortable life.

Reply
تمريض منزلي link
1/16/2022 01:53:20 am

i like this article, it has a lot of info i need to know, thanks for sharing

Reply
Jeff Carbine link
2/3/2022 06:45:06 am

It helped me much when you said that postural kyphosis can be treated using physical therapy and by making conscious exercise to fix posture.My friend was recently in a car accident, and he's been having some pain issues for a while since. Looking for a chiropractor who had worked with car accident injuries before, as you said, would be beneficial.

Reply
MckimmeCue link
2/22/2022 04:12:01 am

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Haven Painrelief link
6/6/2022 03:33:02 am

This is great post and a valuable source for all.

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Jr D link
7/1/2022 10:25:37 pm

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Jr D link
7/6/2022 04:31:52 am

This is a very informative—edifying article to all. Thanks a lot! Continue to post!
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Thomas Clarence link
11/14/2022 02:02:03 pm

It stood out to me when you explained that spinal disorders can leave a dent in your life. If you worry that you are dealing with a spine problem, it would probably be a good idea to consult with a neurologist. A neurologist will have access to machines that allow them to see what is wrong with your spine.

Reply



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  • Home
  • Locations
    • AC San Mateo, CA >
      • Inside AC SM
      • Our Practitioners >
        • Grant Wood
        • Steve Baum
        • Miguel Bustamante
      • Advanced Technology
      • Stanford Children's Health Partnership
      • Local Hotels
      • Contact Us
      • Team Members
    • AC Green Bay, WI >
      • Inside Wisconsin
      • Patient Testimonials
      • Contact Us
      • Emery Maloney
    • AC The Woodlands, TX
    • AC Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • The WCR Brace
    • Case Presentations >
      • Infantile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Juvenile Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
      • Switching to a WCR Brace
      • Adult Scoliosis Bracing
      • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
      • Treating Upper Thoracic Curves
    • Brace Articles
    • Patient Testimonials >
      • Grant's Testimonials
      • Paul's Testimonials
    • WCR Partner Testimonials
    • Grant's MS Thesis
    • Our Patients
    • Patients and Sports
    • Patients and Hobbies
    • Brace colors
    • Scoliosis Fashion
  • Patient Resources
    • WCR Brace Clinics >
      • USA Clinics
      • China Clinics
      • Canada Clinics
      • Australia Clinics
      • WCR Brace Clinic Finder
    • WCR Certified Practitioners
    • Professional Contacts & References
    • Forms & Insurance
    • Clinical Photos and X-rays
    • Scoliosis Rehab PT, CA
    • Blog
  • Events
    • Brace Clinic Calendar
    • Sosort 2022 - San Sebastian, Spain
    • Past Events >
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis 2018 >
        • Award for Advancements in the Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis
      • Past USA WCR Clinics and Conferences
      • Advancements in Conservative Treatment Of Scoliosis 2017
      • Shanghai Clinic
      • AAOP Meetings
      • BSPTS Schroth PT Training
    • Past SOSORT Conferences >
      • sosort2019 San Francisco - CA
      • SOSORT2018 Dubrovnik/Croatia
      • SOSORT2017 Lyon/France
      • SOSORT2016 Canada
    • Northeast Region Re-Align Clinic
  • Services
    • Scoliosis & Spine Online Learning
    • Prosthetics
    • Orthotics >
      • Pediatric Orthotics
      • Cranial Remolding Band
  • Hope's Embrace® Undershirts
  • Wall Grids
  • WCR Brace Fitting Evaluation
  • For PTs/Orthotists
  • WCR Measurement Order Form
  • Masterclass Conferences
  • Careers