| When dealing with back and neck pain, it is important | | | | a herniated disc, bone spur, tumor growing into the |
| to have your painevaluated by a professional. Simply | | | | nerves, andvertebral fracture, and many other |
| dismissing back or neck pain astypical and | | | | conditions. |
| unimportant can be a very harmful mistake. | | | | Sciatica is a certain type of radiculopathy that |
| Overuse or under use of the back muscles is by far | | | | involves inflammationof the sciatic nerve. Pain is |
| the most commoncause of back pain that manifests | | | | experienced along the large sciaticnerve, from the |
| as tightening or spasm of the musclesthat connect to | | | | lower back down through the buttocks and along the |
| the spine. Inflammation and swelling often occur in | | | | back ofthe leg. |
| thejoints and ligaments, especially in the cervical and | | | | A spinal tumor that originates in the spine (primary |
| lumbar regions, aspeople age. | | | | tumor) or spreadsto the spine from another part of |
| Many conditions can cause back and neck pain, | | | | the body (metastatic tumor) cancompress the spine |
| ranging from injury toinfection to simply twisting the | | | | or nerve roots and cause significant pain. |
| wrong way. Traumatic injuries such asthose sustained | | | | Infections of the vertebrae (e.g., vertebral |
| in an automobile accident or other type of accidents | | | | osteomyelitis), the discs,the meninges (e.g., spinal |
| can damage muscles, joints, ligaments, andvertebrae. | | | | meningitis), or the cerebrospinal fluid cancompress the |
| A herniated disc occurs when the nuclear pulposus, | | | | spinal cord and result in serious |
| the inner materialof the disc, pushes through a tear in | | | | neurologicaldeterioration, if it is not diagnosed and |
| the annulus fibrosis, the outermaterial of the disc | | | | treated immediately. |
| causing nerve root compression. The cervical | | | | Facet joints allow movement of the spine. The facet |
| andlumbar regions of the spine have the most | | | | joints are formedby two adjacent vertebra and |
| mobility and the discs thereare more likely to wear | | | | direct or guide movement of the spine. |
| down or be injured. Ninety percent of discherniations | | | | As facet joints degenerate, they may not align |
| occur in the lower two lumbar vertebrae. | | | | correctly, and thecartilage and fluid that lubricates the |
| Spinal stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal canal, can | | | | joints may deteriorate. Bone thenrubs against bone, |
| cause spinalcord irritation and injury. Conditions that | | | | which can be very painful. |
| cause spinal stenosis includeinfection, tumors, trauma, | | | | These are just a few of the conditions that can be |
| herniated disc, arthritis, thickening ofligaments, growth | | | | responsible for backand neck pain. Thankfully, most |
| of bone spurs, and disc degeneration. Spinal | | | | cases of back and neck pains arerelated to |
| stenosismost commonly occurs in older individuals as | | | | mechanical causes and can be readily addressed by a |
| a result of vertebraldegeneration. | | | | trainedchiropractor. The point is, however, pain is a |
| A pinchednerve, or radiculopathy, occurs when | | | | warning signal that shouldnot be ignored. The best |
| something rubs or presses against anerve, creating | | | | place to have your back and neck painevaluated is |
| irritation or inflammation. Radiculopathy can resultfrom | | | | with a chiropractor. |