If you think you have experienced a spinal injury or suffer from a spinal disorder, seeing a spine doctor or back doctor who specializes in spine disorders is crucial to understanding and alleviating your pain.
What are Spinal Injuries?
General knowledge of the structure of the spine can help you better understand spinal injuries. The spine is made up of the vertebrae (the many individual bones and joints of the spine), the muscles and ligaments that connect the vertebrae, and discs that absorb shock by separating the vertebrae when you move. The spinal cord, a bundle of nerves connecting the brain and the rest of the body, lies inside a space created by the shape of the vertebrae. An injury can occur anywhere along the vertebrae, from the neck down to the tailbone, or coccyx.
Damage to any spot on the spinal cord or to the bones, ligaments, or discs along the spinal cord can cause changes in your level of strength, sensations, and your body’s functioning below the site of the injury. A spinal cord injury could result in pain, loss of movement or sensation, inability to control the bladder or bowels, changes to sexual functioning, or spasms.
Damage to the spine could occur from a traumatic injury or from an existing disorder. The most common causes of spinal injuries are motor vehicle accidents and falls. Some common spinal disorders are:
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spinal fractures
- Cervical myelopathy
- Spine tumors
- Herniated nucleus pulposus
- Spondylolisthesis
- Typhosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Radiculopathy
Diagnosis and Treatment: Spinal Injuries
If you have a spinal disorder or have suffered a spinal injury, treatment by a spine doctor or spine surgeon is imperative to understanding your symptoms and developing a treatment plan to alleviate them. Their work allows us to provide lateral interbody fusion, a minimally invasive approach to spinal fusion surgery.
Get the personalized care you need. Call today to request an appointment at 802-388-3194.