DEGENERATED DISCS:
Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back and neck pain, and also one of the most misunderstood. Simply put, degenerative disc disease refers to symptoms of back or neck pain caused by wear-and-tear on a spinal disc. In some cases, degenerative disc disease also causes weakness, numbness, and hot, shooting pains in the arms or legs (radicular pain). Degenerative disc disease typically consists of a low-level chronic pain with intermittent episodes of more severe pain. Degenerative Disc Disease can cause spinal osteoarthritis in some patients. The key difference is that DDD describes what is happening to the spinal discs. These changes in the discs can then lead to arthritis or radiculopathy such as sciatica or a pinched nerve in the neck. Degenerative discs and osteoarthritis often occur hand in hand because the disc and facet joints (the joints in the back affected by osteoarthritis) are both part of the same three-joint complex.
Sciatica/Pinched Nerve:
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the Sciatica nerve, which branches from your lower back through your hips and buttocks and down each leg. Typically, Sciatica affects only one side of your body.
HERNIATED OR BULGING DISCS:
- A Herniated Disc is a condition which refers to a problem with a rubbery disc between the spinal bones. This condition occurs when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through a crack in the tougher exterior casing. Some herniated discs cause no symptoms. Others can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg. Not every disc needs intervention. When needed, treatment includes medication, physical therapy, and possibly surgery.
- A Bulging disk, on the other hand, doesn’t always affect the entire perimeter of a disk, but at least a quarter if not half of the disk’s circumference is usually affected. Only the outer layer of tough cartilage is involved. As opposed to a herniated disk, which results when a crack in the tough outer layer of cartilage allows some of the softer inner cartilage to protrude out of the disk. Herniated disks are also called ruptured disks or slipped disks, although the whole disk does not rupture or slip. Only the small area of the crack is affected.
MUSCULAR SPASMS:
A muscle strain, or pulled muscle, occurs when your muscle is overstretched or torn. This usually occurs as a result of fatigue, overuse, or improper use of a muscle. Strains can happen in any muscle, but they’re most common in your lower back, neck, shoulder, and hamstring, which is the muscle behind your thigh.
OSTEOARTHRITIS:
Osteoarthritis of the spine, usually in the neck or lower back. This is a condition of the discs between vertebrae with loss of cushioning, fragmentation and herniation related to aging. There may be no symptoms. In some cases, the spine loses flexibility and bone spurs may pinch a nerve root, causing pain or weakness. Treatment can include exercise, medication, and physical therapy.
SPRAIN/STRAIN:
A sprain is the stretching or tearing of a ligament. Ligaments are the fibrous bands of tissue that connect two or more bones at a joint and prevent excessive movement of the joint. A strain is an injury to either a muscle or tendon. Tendons are the tough, fibrous bands of tissue that connect muscle to bone. With a back strain, the muscles and tendons that support the spine are twisted, pulled or torn. When the lumbar (lower) spine is strained or sprained, the muscles and tissues become swollen. This inflammation causes pain and may cause muscle spasms.
TYPES OF BACK/NECK PAIN
- Radicular pain
- Axial pain
- Referred pain
- Neuropathic
CAUSES OF BACK/NECK PAIN
- Bulging, herniated (also known as a ruptured or slipped disc)
- Spinal fractures or strained muscles and ligaments
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Migraines
- Dehydration
- ALS or muscular dystrophy
SYMPTOMS OF BACK/NECK PAIN
- Skeletal asymmetry (such as scoliosis or ankylosing spondylitis)
- Symptoms of Back/Neck pain
Sharp shooting, stabbing, or dull pain - Unexplainable muscular weakness
- Stiffness of the surrounding muscles
- Grating and grinding
- Shortness of breath due to muscular compensation of spinal imbalance
- Headaches beginning at the back side of the neck that radiates to the front side of the head
- Pain the increases with movement such as elongated standing, sitting, bending and walking
- Pain at rest