-Diseases-
Cervical Disc Herniation- Protrusion of disc(s) in the neck towards the spinal cord or nerve roots. Cervical disc herniations can cause pain or weakness in the neck, shoulder, arm, or leg, along with sensory problems.
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Lumbar Disc Herniation- The most common form of herniation, a lumbar disc herniation is a protrusion of the disc(s) in the lower back. This protrusion can cause pain or neurological symptoms such as pain, weakness or numbness, or even bowel or bladder symptoms.
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Thoracic Disc Herniation- The thoracic spine is made up of the middle twelve vertebrae. There is very little extra space around the spinal cord in the thoracic area.
Therefore, when a herniated disc occurs in the mid-back, it can be extremely serious,
possibly leading to paralysis below the waist. Thoracic disc herniation is much less common than a lumbar disc herniation.
For more information on Disc Herniation, visit http://www.back.com/causes-mechanical-herniated.html
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Spinal Stenosis- The narrowing of a portion of the spinal canal. Stenosis can occur in all areas of the spine, but it is most common in the cervical and lumbar spine. The compression of nerves can produce pain, numbness and tingling in the legs. Most cases of spinal stenosis occur in the low back (lumbar spine) and most often affect the sciatic nerve.
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Cervical Stenosis- Degenerative changes that cause a narrowing of the column for the spinal cord in the neck, creating pressure against the spinal cord or nerve roots. Narrowing usually occurs from overgrowth of disks, ligaments or bony structures that impinge upon the central spinal canal, leading to problems with arm or leg strength, balance control, sensory symptoms, bowel or bladder dysfunction or pain.
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Lumbar Stenosis- Narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back usually due to overgrowth of bone or ligaments of the spinal bones. Narrowing can cause pressure on the nerves to the leg that may lead to pain, trouble walking, sensory or bladder symptoms.
For more information on Stenosis, visit http://www.back.com/causes-mechanical-stenosis.html
-Spinal Infections-
Discitis-
Discitis, or disc space infection, is an inflammatory lesion of the intervertebral disc that occurs most often in children. The infection possibly begins in one of the continguous end plates, followed by the infection of the disc. A characteristic of the disease is severe back pain.
For more information on Discitis, visit http://www.back.com/causes-inflammatory-discitis.html
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Spinal Epidural Abscess- An inflammation that includes a collection of infected material (pus) located in the epidural space, which is the outer membrane covering the brain and spinal cord (the dura) and the bones of the skull or spine. This infection can result in compression of the spinal cord and nerves as they leave the spinal canal.
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Vertebral Osteomyelitis- An infection in the vertebral body itself, caused by either a bacteria or a fungus. Bacterial or pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis is more common.
Its presentation is different from a disc space infection.
It may represent infection somewhere else in the body that has seeded the spine through the blood stream.
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-Spinal Tumors-
Astrocytoma- A nervous system tumor that grows from astrocytes (glial cells, which are the supporting cells of the nervous system). Symptoms are often unnoticed until the tumor has become quite large. A diagnosis is made either after surgical resection or with a guided (stereotactic) biopsy. Treatment can consist of surgical excision, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Some patients with minimal symptoms may be observed with serial imaging studies.
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Chordoma- Chordomas are rare, benign, slow-growing tumors that are usually located at the base of the skull or lower portion of the spine in patients 50 to 60 years old. Although these tumors are benign, they can invade the adjacent bone and put pressure on nearby neural tissue. The best way to diagnose a chordoma is with a CT scan or an MRI, and are treated with complete surgical resection, or, when necessary, post-operative radiation therapy and stereotactic radiosurgery.
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Ependymoma- Ependymomas are a rare type of glioma (a tumor of the glial cells) and develop from the ependymal cells which line the ventricles (fluid-filled spaces in the brain) and the central canal of the spinal cord. They can be found in any part of the brain or spine but are most commonly found in the main part of the brain, the cerebrum. Ependymomas may spread from the brain to the spinal cord in the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
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Hemangioblastoma- Hemangioblastomas are benign, vascular tumors that can occur in the brain and spine. They can occur as a single lesion, or through a genetic syndrome known as von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL). Patients suffering with VHL develop multiple tumors within the brain and spinal cord over their lifetime. Most lesions occur within the cerebellum, the part of the brain responsible for balance and coordination.
Hemangioblastomas occur in two basic forms, solid and cystic. Solid tumors consist entirely of tumor cells. Cystic tumors are composed of a small solid component, adjacent to a much larger cystic portion of tumor.
With either form of hemangioblastoma, an enlarging tumor will press on the brain and can cause neurologic symptoms, such as headaches, weakness, sensory loss, balance and coordination problems, and/or hydrocephalus (a build up of spinal fluid).
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Meningioma- Tumor that grows from the meninges (dural covering of the brain), whose symptoms depend on the size and location of the tumor. Most meningiomas are benign tumors although some can be more aggressive and malignant. Surgical resection can be curable for some patients while others may be best treated with irradiation approaches. In some patients, both open surgery and radiation may be required.
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Nerve Sheath Tumor- Primarily Intradural spinal cord tumors that arise from a dorsal (back) nerve root and cellular components that surround nerves, primarily Schwann cells. These tumors are typically benign, and mostly affect patients between the ages of 30 and 50.
Symptoms depend on size and location of the tumor. Upper cervical and foramen magnum tumors have symptoms that include pain in the
back of the head, severe stiffness, hand and forearm weakness with atrophy (decrease in size)
and clumsiness of the hand. Patients may also experience motor symptoms that are different on either side of their body, as the tumor is located off to one side. Thoracic tumors put pressure on the spinal cord,
resulting in leg stiffness, fatigue, severe stiffness, loss of sensory feedback regarding joint position, and eventually bowel and bladder functions are impaired.
Tumors located lower on the spine may cause back pain.
Nerve sheath tumors are diagnosed by an MRI and treated with surgical excision. Malignant tumors may require additional treatment with radiation or chemotherapy.
For more information on tumors, visit http://www.back.com/causes-tumors.html
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-Spine General-
Chiari Malformation- Malformation that may occur either in a child's development, or in later life. The malformation consists of a protrusion of the bottom portion of the cerebellum into the upper portion of the spinal canal that can lead to headaches, arm or leg symptoms, or problems with the nerves that supply the head and neck. Treatment generally consists of surgical decompression of the base of the brain, or spinal fluid diversion (shunting), depending on the cause of the malformation.
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Hyperhidrosis- Commonly known as sweaty palms and feet. Patients generally note increased sweating in the palms of their hands, feet and possibly also in the trunk.
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Spinal AVM- Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are vascular abnormalities that consist of arteries and veins that are connected differently than they are in other areas of the body. They are congenital (from birth), rare in the spine, and usually diagnosed with an MRI. Symptoms occur by compressing the spinal cord or by bleeding and are treated by observation, a procedure call embolization, and/or surgical resection.
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Syringomyelia- A cavity of fluid that occurs within the spinal cord. The cavity can enlarge slowly and may lead to pain, loss of sensation in the limbs or weakness. They can be found after injury, in relation to tumors or of causes unknown.
