Diseases of the spine

In this article I will describe the main Diseases of the spine So you can identify them and prevent them from happening again.

Back pains are very common, I do not know anyone who has not suffered at least once in life. They are usually caused by a contracture caused by poor posture.

Anatomy of the spine

The spine consists of 26 disc-shaped bones, called vertebrae, joined together by tendons and ligaments. This structure is highly resistant, yet flexible, and is designed to protect the bone marrow and keep us upright.

In the spine can be differentiated four regions:

1. The cervical area (the neck). The neck holds the entire weight of our head and is the first protective barrier of the nerves of the marrow, which leave the brain and reach the lower back, and other nerves that innervate the rest of the body. This region is composed of 7 vertebrae (C1-C7), the upper ones are smaller and the size of the vertebrae increases as it descends. The segments between the two upper vertebrae (C1-C2 and C2-C3) * are especially important for head rotation, while the two lower segments (C5-C6 and C6-C7) are for flexion And neck extension. In the following link you can see a video about the anatomy of the vertical zone of the column.

2. The dorsal area or Thoracic (Upper back). This area is attached to the rib cage, each vertebra joins a rib, and together form a sturdy structure designed to protect vital organs located in that position, such as the heart or lungs. This region consists of 12 vertebrae (T1-T12) that remain firm and are not flexible, therefore, in addition to protecting the internal organs, they serve to maintain the posture.

3. The lumbar area (The lower back). This area has a lot more mobility than the dorsal area, but it should also carry the full weight of the torso and sometimes it is not strong enough, so it is the area of ​​the spine that more problems usually give. This zone is composed of 5 vertebrae (L1-L5), most of the mobility of this zone is due to the segments between the last three vertebrae (L3-L4 and L4-L5), therefore, most Of the lesions are located in these segments. In the next link You can see a video on anatomy of the lumbar spine.

4. The Sacred Zone (The lower part of the spine). The end of the lumbar spine is a sacral bone, this bone is embedded in the iliac bones of the pelvis through the sacroiliac joints and has a hollow triangle shape to connect the spinal cord With the lower part of our body.

In the next link You can see an interactive video as a summary of the anatomy of a spine.

* The segments are named indicating the two vertebrae between those that are.

Injuries and diseases of the spine

The spine Is a complex structure, formed by multiple ossicles and joints, so it is not strange that sometimes something happens in one of the structures that form and feel neck, back and even legs pain.

The potential problems with spinal-related pain are:

• Pinching or irritation of the long nerves that go towards the legs and the arms.
• Pinching or irritation of the short nerves that are around the spine.
• Distension of the erectors muscles of the back (the two large muscles that are on both sides of the column).
• Some injury to bones, ligaments and / or joints.
• Problems related to the segments that are between the vertebrae.

These problems can be caused by multiple conditions or conditions, among which are:

• Infections.
• Injuries.
• Tumors.
• Diseases such as Ankylosing spondylitis and the scoliosis .
• Age-related bone changes, such as spinal stenosis and disc herniation.

Below are the main causes of back pain categorized according to the height of the column where the problem occurs.

Cervical pains

The intricate structure of the cervical vertebrae is forced daily simply by daily tasks (like working in front of a computer) that overload it. Some of the most frequent conditions are:

• Cervical disc degenerative disease. The most common symptoms in people with this disease are stiffness and neck pain, although they may also be tinged, numb or weak in the neck, shoulders and arms as a result of irritation or nerve impingement in the cervical area due to The degeneration of the discs. In addition, this disease can degenerate into a cervical stenosis and other progressive diseases and increase the chances of suffering a cervical disc herniation. In the next link You can see a video with a more detailed explanation of the disease.

• Cervical disc herniation. The Hernias Occur when a portion of the inner part of the disc moves and clings or presses the nerves. It is usually caused by trauma or injury to the neck and symptoms appear spontaneously. Symptoms include sharp pain, tingling, and muscle weakness, often beginning in the neck and extending to the shoulders and arms, and may even feel on the fingers. In the next link You can see a video with a more detailed explanation of the cervical disc herniation.

• Cervical stenosis. Cervical stenosis is a progressive disease in which the nerves are pinched at the level of the neck. The pinching occurs because, with age, the joints of the spinal canal become harder and these end up pinching and compressing the nerves causing a cervical myelopathy. For obvious reasons, this condition is more common in older people. In the next link You can see a video with a more detailed explanation of the cervical stenosis.

• Cervical osteoarthritis. Cervical osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease or simply arthritis of the neck, is caused by degeneration of the joints of the neck. People who suffer from this disease feel a sharp pain in the neck that extends to the shoulders or shoulder blades, that pain is more intense at the end and at the beginning of the day and improves when the person begins to move and with the rest. Sometimes they may also suffer from headaches, especially in the back. In the next link You can see a video with a more detailed explanation of cervical osteoarthritis.

• Neck pain and stiffness. The most frequent causes of neck pain and stiffness are muscle strain or strain, which in turn can be caused by poor posture, a sports injury, some activity that requires turning the head from side to side (such as swimming), Suffer continuous stress, etc.; Diseases of the spine, as explained above; Infection or meningitis . Symptoms of people with this condition include pain (which may range from mild to extreme), difficulty moving the neck sideways, and sometimes head, shoulder and arm pain. These symptoms usually last between two days and a week and disappear spontaneously, although it is advisable to learn exercises and postures to keep day to day to prevent it from being produced again.

Dorsal or thoracic pain

Although the structure formed by the dorsal vertebrae and the rib cage is quite strong and has little movement, there may also be problems in this area that cause back pain. The most common are:

• Muscle problems . Upper back pains are mostly caused by the irritation or tension of the muscles located here, this type of pain is called myofascial. The main cause of this pain is usually poor posture.
• Dysfunction of the joints . Some problems in the joints that join the ribs and spine can cause intense pain in this area.
• Degeneration or herniated discs . These conditions are not frequent in the thoracic area, due to their rigidity, but when they occur they produce intense pain.
• Arthritis . As we age the cartilage located in the joints between the vertebrae have to lose weight and even to appear giving as a result arthritis . This can irritate and inflam the nerves, causing pain caused by the tension and pressure caused on the nerves and limiting the movements that the person can perform.
• Vertebral fractures . The most common cause of thoracic pain is compression fractures due to osteoporosis . These fractures usually occur in the last vertebrae of this area (T9-T12).
• Kyphosis (hump). The Kyphosis Can be caused by vertebral fractures, poor posture maintained for a long time or a deformity. Although the main symptom of this condition is deformity it can also produce pain.
• Scoliosis occurs because the spinal bones deviate abnormally to the sides and often cause pain.

In some cases chest pain may be caused by more serious causes such as musculoskeletal diseases or some organs such as the lungs or heart.

Lumbar pains

The lumbar region of the spine is composed of multiple structures and, therefore, there are many causes can give rise to lumbar pains, in addition the problems usually occur in several structures that are related, causing a more complex problem.

The most common causes of low back pain are:

• Muscle problems. The most common cause of low back pain are muscle problems due to muscle tension, this can be caused by poor posture, by performing a task that involves those muscles repetitively or by performing an excessive effort of those muscles , For example, lifting weight. The pain caused by muscle problems usually goes by in several days.
• Degeneration of the discs. The vertebral discs are spongy tissues located between the vertebrae so that there is no friction between them. The degeneration of these discs can cause the vertebrae to rub and cause acute pain.
• Lumbar disc herniation. The most common place where disc hernias are produced is the Lumbar area . The hernia can occur suddenly because of an injury or progressively due to wear. This condition usually causes intense pain and is the most frequent cause of sciatica pain that is reflected in the leg.
• Dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint. The sacroiliac joint connects the lumbar vertebrae with the coccyx. When a dysfunction occurs in this joint, you may suffer from back pain or sciatica.
• Spondylolisthesis. The Spondylolisthesis Occurs when a vertebra slides over the one just below it, which compresses the nerves and can cause leg or even foot pains. This problem usually occurs more commonly in the last lumbar vertebrae or in their union with the sacrum (L4-L5 or L5-S1).
• Osteoarthritis. The osteoarthritis Is caused by the wear and aging of the cartilage that envelops the joints. When this cartilage becomes thin, there may be friction between the vertebrae leading to cracks in the bones, swelling of the joints and nerve impingement. The main symptoms of this condition are pain and mobility limitation.
• Lumbar stenosis. The stenosis Is produced by normal aging, when the channel through which the nerves pass becomes stiff. This stiffness irritates and compresses the nerves, which can result in leg pain, tingling, numbness and difficulty walking.

The sciatic nerve, which runs from the back to the feet passed through the legs, can be damaged or pinched with any of the conditions mentioned. Sciatic nerve problems are characterized by intense pain and tingling that runs all over the leg.

In the next link You can see a video with a more detailed explanation of the problems of the sciatic nerve.

Dolores del sacro

The sacrum is a bone that connects with the pelvis (with the iliac bones) through the sacroiliac joint. Problems in this area are often called Dysfunctions of the sacroiliac joint , Are more common in women than in men, and can degenerate into a problem with the sciatic nerve.

In the next link A video with a more detailed explanation of dysfunctions of the sacroiliac joint can be seen.

Another common problem of this area is coxdynia or pain of coccyx. This condition is also more common in women and is usually caused by local trauma (eg a fall) or after childbirth. This condition is characterized by intense and persistent pain at the end of the spine that gets worse when you press that area, for example, sitting.

In the next link A video with a more detailed explanation of dysfunctions of the sacroiliac joint can be seen.

References

1. Davis, E. (November 1, 2013). Lumbar Spine Anatomy and Pain . Obtained from Spine-health.
2. National Institute of Health, NIH. (S.f.). Spine Injuries and Disorders . Retrieved on June 14, 2016, from MedlinePlus.
3. Ullrich, P.F. (January 10, 2009). Cervical Spine Anatomy and Neck Pain . Obtained from Spine-health.
4. Ullrich, P.F. (August 27, 2009). Spinal Anatomy and Back Pain . Retrieved from"Spine-health,
5. Yezak, M. (January 24, 2011). Thoracic Spine Anatomy and Upper Back Pain . Obtained from Spine-health.
6. Image source