A bulging disc can occur at any level of the spine, from the cervical (neck) region all the way down to the lumbar (lower back) region. However, the vast majority of bulging discs arise in the area of the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. Why is that, exactly? Because over the years, the stress borne […]
A bulging disc occurs when the outer wall of an intervertebral disc extends beyond its normal boundary. It is sometimes referred to colloquially as a “slipped” disc, and is frequently confused with a related condition known as a herniated disc. A common misconception about bulging discs is that they always result in back pain and […]
Facet disease symptoms occur when the cartilage (and sometimes the synovial membrane) that lines the spinal joints begins to deteriorate. This could lead to raw bone grinding against bone and the development of painful, swollen joints and bone spurs. Joint stiffness is another symptom, which can cause a reduced range of motion, particularly in the […]
There are a variety of facet disease treatment methods available to patients in pain and these treatments typically fall under conservative, alternative, and surgical categories. Facet disease, also known as spinal arthritis or facet joint syndrome, often comes with symptoms that can range from mild to severe, and include painful, inflamed joints in the neck […]
Properly ascertaining a facet disease diagnosis can often be challenging for a doctor to confirm, since the symptoms associated with the condition are similar to those that can arise from a variety of other spinal or health conditions. Furthermore, a number of spinal conditions may exist at the same time, so it is extremely important […]
Spinal stenosis surgery should be considered as a last resort, only after all other conservative, non-surgical treatment options have failed. Surgery is reserved for individuals whose spinal stenosis symptoms have become chronic (lasting longer than three months) and debilitating – or for those individuals with an emergency condition like cauda equina syndrome. If your doctor […]
Spinal stenosis in the back or neck involves a narrowing of the tiny spaces within the spinal column, a condition which may or may not cause compression of surrounding spinal nerves. Spinal stenosis can be caused by injury, a tumor, or a congenital defect, but the most common cause is the natural process of degeneration […]
Facet disease has several causes, but the primary reason that the condition develops is age. Aging is a normal process that we cannot control and, as we grow older, our bodily functions begin to change. These changes also apply to the functioning and overall health of the spinal components, such as the intervertebral discs, ligaments, […]
Facet disease, also known as spinal osteoarthritis or facet joint syndrome, is a degenerative condition that affects the facet joints of the spine. The facet joints, which are lined with cartilage and a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid, serve as the connection points between individual vertebrae and give the spine its unique flexibility and […]
Spinal stenosis in the neck is a condition that is not uncommon in older individuals whose spinal anatomy has begun to degenerate. The aging process often causes intervertebral discs to weaken, vertebrae to shift out of place, spinal ligaments to thicken, and bone spurs to develop adjacent to facet joints and along vertebral endplates. Any […]
