Injuries and diseases of the spine are among the most complex diseases seen in medicine. Back pain is the second most common cause of pain among Americans after headaches. Eighty percent of people experience back pain at some point in their lives. Fortunately, in most cases, spinal problems can be cured without any medical or surgical intervention. However, in some cases, lumbar spine problems can disrupt daily life.

The causes of these diseases include a wide range of causes:

• Diseases and Inflammations.
• Abnormal growth after birth (hereditary).
• With age or abrasion (degenerative).
• Impact or injury such as falling from somewhere.
• Infection with tumors.
• In connection with other health and medical conditions.

Symptoms of spinal cord injury vary depending on the type and duration of the illness. Also, depending on which part is damaged and which part of the body the spinal nerves of that area are innervated; They may also show symptoms in other organs. Common symptoms include the following:

• Shoulders bend slightly or slightly abnormally.
• Back or neck pain can be sudden or recurrent, painful, or accompanied by a burning sensation.
• Inadequate bladder or bowel function. (Difficulty urinating or defecating)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Hand pain
• Pressure or cramping
• Uneven appearance; For example, when one shoulder is higher than the other. Weakness, numbness, or tingling in the arms and legs.

There are many different types of spinal diseases, the full description of which requires the capacity of a complete book. Here are the more prevalent diseases.

High-risk and degenerative diseases of the spine:

• Osteoarthritis (arthritis)
• Degenerative disc disease (acute)
• Herniated disc
• Spinal canal stenosis
• Spondylosis or vertebral arthritis
• Other complications and diseases:
• Ankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis
• backache
• Spinal deformities including kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and scoliosis
• Neck Pain
• Vertebral fractures
• Spinal cord cancer
• Tumors
• Myelopathy (spinal cord injury due to pressure)

Cartilage failure in the joints and discs of the neck and osteoarthritis of the spine. Osteoarthritis sometimes puts pressure on nerves that protrude from the spine, leading to pain in the arms and legs. Osteoarthritis naturally occurs with age, but it can also occur in young people. To treat or eliminate the effects of osteoarthritis, stretching exercises should be performed to increase flexibility and aerobic exercises should be performed to facilitate heart function and increase blood circulation. Osteoarthritis sometimes puts pressure on nerves that protrude from the spine, leading to pain in the arms and legs.

Degenerative disc disease is a disease associated with aging. If a problem occurs in one or more of the discs between the vertebrae of the spine, it can lead to pain. Causes weakness, tingling, and pain in the legs. Contrary to its name, it is not a disease, but a natural process that occurs due to old age. The discs wear out over time and are not as efficient as before, which leads to this condition.

As mentioned, the discs have a jelly core surrounded by an outer ring. A herniated disc is a type of lumbar disc that occurs when some nuclei dislodge due to a rupture in the outer ring. This condition can occur in any part of the spine and can irritate the nerves around it. Depending on where it occurs, it can lead to pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs and arms.

Spinal canal stenosis is more common in people over 50 years of age. Younger people with a history of spinal cord injury or narrow spinal canal may also be at risk. Diseases such as scoliosis or osteoarthritis can lead to spinal canal stenosis. This narrowing of the canal can put pressure on the nerves and spinal cord and cause pain.

It is a condition characterized by narrowing of the intervertebral spaces and the buttocks of the vertebral bodies sticking to the nerve roots. Like many other terms used to describe spinal problems, spondylosis is more of a description than a clinical one. That is, a person has both pain and spinal deformity, regardless of what causes it.

It is a type of osteoarthritis that primarily affects your spine. This leads to severe inflammation of the vertebrae which can eventually lead to chronic pain and disability. In more advanced cases, inflammation can lead to the formation of new bone in the spine. It can also affect other large joints such as the shoulders, buttocks, and knees.

When viewed from behind, the spine should move straight from the middle of the back and have a natural curvature. When spinal deformities occur, the natural curvature of the spine is incorrect in certain areas, as in lordosis, kyphosis, and scoliosis.

Spinal fractures can be caused by direct or indirect trauma and may occur in patients with osteoporosis. Diagnosis of this condition includes careful neurological examination and imaging. Due to the proximity of the vertebrae to the spinal cord, nerves, and blood vessels; Fractures and surgical treatment These fractures can have serious complications.

Spinal cord cancer is when abnormal cells grow in the spinal cord or the bones, tissues, fluid, or nerves that make it up and form a tumor. Malignant tumors of the brain and spinal cord are a rare disease. Symptoms of this cancer include pain, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, and paralysis.

A vertebral tumor is a type of spinal tumor that affects the bones or vertebrae of the spine. Spinal tumors that start in the spinal cord or spinal cord are called spinal tumors. Tumors that affect the vertebrae often metastasize to cancers in other parts of the body. But different types of tumors start in the bones of the spine. A vertebral tumor with pressure on the spinal cord or nearby nerve roots can affect nerve function. Because these tumors grow inside the bone, they can cause pain, vertebral fractures, or spinal problems.

Myelopathy is a type of injury that can be caused by severe trauma, congenital stenosis of the spinal canal, degenerative disc, or hernia. When any part of the spinal cord is compressed or contracted, its symptoms are known as myelopathy.

Sources

1. https://www.webmd.com/back-pain/ss/slideshow-spine-problems
2. https://www.csiortho.com/blog/2018/february/10-common-spine-issues-that-can-happen-to-anyone/
3. https://www.baptisthealth.com/floyd/services/spine-center/common-spinal-conditions-treatments
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/herniated-disk/symptoms-causes/syc-20354095
5. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266630#treatment
6. https://www.neurosurgery.columbia.edu/patient-care/specialties/spine-disorders/conditions
7. https://www.amboss.com/us/knowledge/Vertebral_fractures