Back and neck conditions
Did an injury leave you with chronic back or neck pain, or are you feeling the degenerative effects of arthritis? Is nerve pain causing you ongoing back or neck pain and stiffness?
Countless conditions could be causing your pain whether it’s neck or lower back pain, or leg or arm pain as a result of a nerve compression.
Causes of back and neck pain
The most common causes of chronic or acute back and neck pain include:
- Arthritis: A degenerative condition that takes a toll on the cartilage in your spine, which can result in nerve pain, numbness or weakness. Arthritic spine conditions are most common in individuals 55 and older.
- Muscle strains: This is an injury to a muscle or tendon and commonly occur in the lower back and in the muscles at the back of the thigh (hamstrings). These usually resolve without the need for medical or surgical intervention.
- Lumbar or cervical disc herniation: Sometimes referred to as a slipped or ruptured disc, this can happen if you lift something the wrong way or if you lift something that’s too heavy.
There are many other spine diseases, disorders and deformities that range from common to complex.
Neck and back conditions
HonorHealth’s spine care experts can diagnosis and treat all injuries and conditions of the spine. Some of the most common conditions include:
- Herniated disc: Sometimes called a slipped or ruptured disc, a herniated disc occurs when the soft middle part of the rubbery disc between the vertebrae pushes out and becomes exposed. A herniated disc can affect the nerves, causing pain, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs.
- Instability (spondylolisthesis): This is abnormal or excessive movement between the vertebrae.
- Isthmic spondylolisthesis: This is a defect in the vertebrae where the front and back of the spine connect, causing instability.
- Muscle strain or pull: It usually develops in the lower back and can be treated non-surgically.
- Nerve compression: Sometimes called compression neuropathy, nerve compression occurs when a nerve is under direct pressure and/or becomes trapped by the vertebrae.
- Sciatica: Leg pain caused by nerve compression in the lower back. Sciatica is among the most common back conditions. It usually results from disc herniation or arthritis.
- Scoliosis: This happens when the spine curves to the side, most often developing during growth spurts before the onset of puberty. Alternatively, it can occur in older adults from progressive arthritis of the spine.
- Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spine, often due to arthritis, it puts pressure on the nerves in the spine which can cause lower back and/or neck pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness.
- Traumatic spine fractures: These are usually caused by a traumatic accident, such as a car crash, sports accident or fall.