Common Spine Injuries

The two most common ailments affecting the spine are disk herniation and spinal stenosis. A healthy disc is constructed with a thick, fibrous outer material, the annulus, that protects the nucleus, which is the soft matter within the disc. When a disc herniation occurs, the nucleus squeezes out through a break in the annulus and can pinch nerves as it leaves the spinal column.

Symptoms of a herniated disc:

• Pain in the neck

• Weakness

• Numbness in the neck and arm

When the facet joints become arthritic, movements of the spine can become limited and painful. Spine arthritis affects both men and women equally and occurs most often in those 50 years and older. Spine arthritis is often followed by the onset of disc degeneration and spinal stenosis.

Disc degeneration occurs when discs between the vertebrae wear out, often due to arthritis. Spinal stenosis occurs when the facet joints develop arthritis, which triggers the growth of extra bone around them. This appearance of additional bone can damage the delicate space within the spinal column that is designated for the function of the spinal cord. The extra bone can narrow the passageways of the spinal nerves and may also manifest symptoms that include pain in the neck as well as weakness and numbness in the neck and arm.