Conditions

Lower back pain is the most common cause for a work-related disability and one of the main reasons for people staying home from work. The lower back is one of the most important parts of the body as it holds most of our body weight when we stand and is involved in movement when we bend or twist at the waist. Because of its pivotal role and frequent use, the lower back is susceptible to injury and chronic pain. Lower back pain is especially common in older adults who may have decreased bone strength and muscle elasticity. The spongy cartilage pads, called intervertebral discs, that allow for flexibility may wear away and weaken in an elderly person.

Spinal stenosis is the narrowing in one or more areas of the spinal canal as a result of injury or deterioration of the discs, joints or bones of the spine. Most cases of spinal stenosis develop as a result of the degenerative changes that occur during aging. Osteoarthritis is the main cause of spinal stenosis, since this condition causes deterioration of cartilage in the area that leads to the bones rubbing against each other. As bones make repeated abnormal contact, bone spurs form, narrowing the spinal canal.

Lumbar Facet Joint Pain is one of the most common causes of chronic low back pain. These small joints at the base of your spine can be injured, overused or the cartilage cushion on the joint can wear out leading to inflammation and pain. Diagnosis is made with image-guided blocks and treatment with image-guided spine injections, biomechanical re-education, topical and oral medications.

Cervical radiculopathy refers to pain that radiates into the shoulder and arm as a result of injury to a nerve root in the cervical spine (neck). An injured nerve can send pain signals throughout the area into which it extends. Sometimes known as a "pinched nerve," cervical radiculopathy can be the result of a herniated disc, a bone spur, an injury to the spine, or osteoarthritis.

A brachial plexus injury affects the nerves responsible for communication between the spine and the arms, shoulders, and hand. Such an injury occurs when the nerves in this location are stretched or torn. This usually results when the shoulder is forced down and the neck stretches up as may happen when the arm is forced above the head. A brachial plexus injury commonly occurs during contact sports or a vehicular accident, but may also result from other traumatic injury, a difficult birth or a tumor. Usually only one arm is affected. Rarely, brachial plexus injury occurs because of inflammation unaccompanied by shoulder injury, a condition known as Parsonage-Turner syndrome or brachial plexitis.

Chronic pain syndrome (CPS) is a complex condition, the causes of which are not fully understood. Unlike acute pain, which alerts the patient to a possible injury, infection, or disease, chronic pain persists in the absence of evident damage. While the patient may have suffered a traumatic injury or disorder, in patients with CPS, pain persists even after the injury is healed or the disease is cured, continuing to interfere with the patient's quality of life, or even creating serious disability. Patients are considered to have CPS when they continue to suffer pain well beyond the expected time needed for healing, typically more than 6 months or 1 year.

Foot drop, sometimes called drop foot, is a condition in which the patient has trouble lifting the front portion of the foot during walking, causing that foot to drag along the ground. To counteract this problem, the patient may raise the thigh when walking as if climbing the stairs in order to help the foot clear the floor, a method of walking referred to as steppage gait. Foot drop can occur for a number of neurological, muscular or anatomical reasons and may or may not be permanent.

A balance disorder is a complex condition that causes unsteadiness and dizziness, and sensations of spinning, moving or floating. Part of the inner ear known as the labyrinth interacts with other body systems, including those of the eyes, bones and joints, to maintain balance. Normal balance requires the work of three sensory systems: the visual; the vestibular, which is located in the inner ear; and the somatosensory, which involves the muscular and skeletal systems. These systems, as well as the brain and nervous systems, can be the source of balance problems. When these systems do not function properly, vertigo, spinning, disorientation, trouble focusing the eyes, and poor balance may result.

A headache, also known as cephalalgia, is a continuous pain in the head that affects the head, eyes, temples, nose, skin or the entire head. Headache pain can be either sharp or dull. Headaches are classified as either primary or secondary. Headaches, such as migraine headaches, do tend to run in families. Approximately 20 percent of children and adolescents experience headaches. Of the people who develop headaches, 70 percent of them are women. More than 45 million people in the United States experience headaches. More than half of them are migraine headaches. Headaches are the most common reason for days lost at work and school.

A herniated disc (also called a ruptured or slipped disc) is a damaged "cushion" between two bones in the spine (vertebrae). Normally, the gelatinous discs between the vertebrae hold the bones in place and act as shock absorbers, permitting the spine to bend smoothly. When a disc protrudes beyond its normal parameters, and its tough outer layer of cartilage cracks, the disc is considered "herniated."

Pain that radiates down the leg that is combined with numbness and tingling may be sciatica. The condition can be debilitating to the point of a person not being able to sit or stand. The discomfort can last for several weeks, and in some cases, it resolves within a few weeks.

Arthritis is a condition that causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Osteoarthritis is a common form of arthritis caused by the wearing down of the cartilage that protects the bones of a joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition caused by an inflammation in the lining of the joints. Both forms of arthritis cause pain, tenderness, and swelling, and may result in loss of movement in the affected joints. Over time, joints affected by arthritis may become severely damaged. Arthritis occurs more frequently in older individuals, however it sometimes develops in athletes from overuse of a joint or after an injury. It can however, affect people of any age, including children.

Bursitis is a painful inflammation of a bursa, one of the small sacs at the joints that cushion the tendons, muscles and bones. Bursae normally enable fluid movement, but when overtaxed they can inflame and fill with fluid. Once a bursa becomes irritated, gritty and rough, it can create painful friction in the joint. Bursitis usually results either from repetitive stress or sudden injury and presents with swelling, redness and deep, aching pain. The joints most commonly affected by bursitis are the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee.

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, also known as sacroiliitis, is the inflammation of one or both of the sacroiliac joints, the joints that link the pelvis and lower spine by connecting the sacrum to the iliac bones. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction may be caused by injury, pregnancy, osteoarthritis, degeneration of cartilage, or inflammatory joint disease. At times, a structural abnormality, such as legs of differing lengths or severe pronation, may put increased stress on the joint, resulting in this problem. Patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction typically experience pain in the buttocks and lower back that worsens when running or standing. While a traumatic injury may cause this problem, it more often develops gradually over a long period.

Degenerated discs are a common back problem. The spinal discs, which are soft, gelatinous cushions that separate the vertebrae, wear down during the aging process. Because the discs function as between-the-bones shock absorbers, allowing the spine to bend and twist, this deterioration can result in serious back pain. As discs are damaged or wear away, the amount of space between the vertebrae gets smaller. As the space narrows, joints are placed under greater stress, resulting in further degeneration.