SPINE SURGERY PLUS

Bone spurs, or an overgrowth of bone, commonly occurs. As cartilage wears away, the bones begin to rub against each other. Cartilage is the protective covering of joints. Bone overgrowth/arthritic spurs: Osteoarthritis is the “wear and tear” condition that breaks down cartilage in your joints, including your spine.The spinal cord and/or nerve roots become compressed or pinched, which causes symptoms, such as low back pain and sciatica. What they share in common is that they change the structure of the spine, causing a narrowing of the space around your spinal cord and nerves roots that exit through the spine. The nerve fibers or “nerves” (the “mini cable network”) then go out to all parts of the body. Nerves roots are the initial segment of a bundle of nerve fibers that come off the spinal cord and exit the spinal column through side spaces between the vertebrae called the neural foramen. It is completely surrounded by the bony parts of the spine. The spinal cord – the body’s “master cable cord” that sends and receives messages between the body (including muscles and organs) and the brain – runs through the center of the spinal canal. Ligaments are strong fiber bands that hold the vertebrae together, keep the spine stable and protect the disks. Between each vertebrae body is a flat, round pad called an intervertebral disk that serves as a cushion or shock absorber. Part of the lamina called the spinous process is the ridge you feel when you run your hand down your back. Each vertebrae has a round front portion (the body), a central ring-shaped opening (the spinal canal), flat bony areas (facet joints) where one vertebrae comes into contact with others above and below it, and bone sections along the sides (transverse processes) and back (laminae). Your spine supports your body’s weight and protects your spinal cord. It begins at the base of your skull and ends at your pelvis.

SPINE SURGERY PLUS

Your spine (or backbone) is a stack or column of 24 bones (vertebrae) plus the fused bones of the sacrum and coccyx. Other conditions that affect the spine, such as scoliosis, or injury to the spine can put you at risk for developing spinal stenosis. Younger people who are born with a narrow spinal canal can also have spinal stenosis. Spinal stenosis can develop in anyone but is most common in men and women over the age of 50. Symptoms usually worsen when walking or standing and might decrease when lying down, sitting, or leaning slightly forward. Symptoms of lumbar canal stenosis include pain, numbness or weakness in the legs, groin, hips, buttocks, and lower back. The nerves become increasingly irritated as the diameter of the canal becomes narrower. The narrowing of the spinal canal or the side canals that protect the nerves often results in a pinching of the nerve root of the spinal cord. Narrowing of the spinal canal usually occurs due to changes associated with aging that decrease the size of the canal, including the movement of one of the vertebrae out of alignment. Lumbar canal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal or the tunnels through which nerves and other structures communicate with that canal. Spinal stenosis can occur anywhere along the spine but most commonly occurs in two areas: Normal spine with no narrowing of the space around the spinal cord or nerve roots exiting the spinal column. Depending on where and how severe your spinal stenosis is, you might feel pain, numbing, tingling and/or weakness in your neck, back, arms, legs, hands or feet. For this reason, you may not have any symptoms for a long time even though some changes might be seen on X-rays or other imaging tests if taken for another reason. It is most commonly caused by osteoarthritis or “wear-and-tear” changes that naturally occur in your spine as you age. Spinal stenosis usually develops slowly over time. A tightened space can cause the spinal cord or nerves to become irritated, compressed or pinched, which can lead to back pain and sciatica. Less space within your spine reduces the amount of space available for your spinal cord and nerves that branch off your spinal cord. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of one or more spaces within your spine. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of space around the spinal cord itself and the nerve roots that branch off your spinal cord.

Spine surgery