Pain due to spinal damage is rare. In some cases, this may be a condition one was born with. Most patients may suffer from other symptoms such as weakness, stiffness, or numbness in the arms and legs. Spine issues do not affect bowel and bladder functioning.
Conditions Causing Spine Pain
■Abnormal Curvature:
Natural curves of the spine balance the body, when curves become too pronounced or suffer from a twist or extra cure, additional pressure on the discs and vertebrates results in pain.
■Fractures
These may occur due to an injury, repeated stress, or even a condition such as osteoporosis that causes bones to go weak and brittle.
■Degenerated Disc
The natural aging or wear-and-tear results in degenerated discs, which irritate spinal nerves and lead to instability, causing pain.
■Bulging Disc
The weak outer wall of the spinal disc can bulge towards the nerves causing painful nerve irritation.
■Herniated Disc
The rupture or tearing of the outer wall of a spinal disc can cause the soft material in the disc to squeeze out and press on the adjoining nerves. The patient may experience weakness in the legs, numbness, or pain in the back.
■Instability
Slipping of connecting vertebrae back and forth can cause spinal instability. In some cases, this happens even when the vertebrae permanently shift out of position.
■Stenosis
The condition is characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal. It can press on the spinal cord and nerves leading to pain and other symptoms.
■Nerve Complications
Nerve complications may lead to weakness, pain, numbness, and other issues in the body.
Symptoms of Spine Pain
Apart from pain, a patient may experience other symptoms such as
•Dizziness
•Headaches
•Unexplained weight gain or loss
•Sexual dysfunction
•Weakness, slow reflexes •Numbness
•Tingling (pins and needles)
•Fever, chills, sweating
•Bowel or bladder problems
•Stress or emotional issues
When To See a Doctor In case you experience any of the above-listed symptoms, it is essential to consult a doctor or a spine specialist as soon as possible. If you feel that spine pain has become a hurdle in your daily activities, reach out to a doctor. You may need special care and spine pain management under the guidance of an expert.
Diagnosis and Tests
Before suggesting a treatment, your doctor may conduct a sequence of exams or tests. This will help your doctor to understand the exact cause of your spine pain. Some of the standard tests conducted in this respect include the following listed below:
1. Physical Exam: The doctor will assess the patient’s body and its movement. Simple exercises can help determine a patient’s strength, flexibility, tenderness (moving parts of the body), sensation and sensitivity, reflexes, and motor skills.
■X-ray: Details of pictures of bones, organs, and tissues are created by beams of low-dose radiation on film.
■MRI Magnetic: Resonance Imaging uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create images. The test helps display details of soft-tissue structures such as nerves in and around the spine.
■CT Scan: Computed tomography (CT) is a test that uses a computer and X-rays to create cross-section views (“slices”) of various areas of the body. It can highlight abnormal tissue and display bone detail.
■Bone Density: Scan The scan uses an x-ray or ultrasound to measure the exact amount of bone in a specific area. It can help detect and assess osteoporosis (a condition characterized by thinning of bones).
2. Electrodiagnostic: Testing This term covers a wide range of tests to measure electrical activity in muscles and nerves.
The most common tests include:
•Electromyogram (EMG)
•Nerve conduction study (NCS
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