Types of Spine Conditions
Our neurologists and neurosurgeons work in collaboration with orthopedic specialists to treat the full range of spinal disorders that cause pain and disability. At our Comprehensive Spine Center, specialists treat all causes of debilitating or chronic back pain, including:
Degenerative Disc Disease –Caused by damage to a spinal disc, degenerative disc disease can cause moderate to severe pain, depending on the type of damage experienced. Tears in the outer layer of a disc may create severe pain, as nerves are affected. Damage to the core of a disc, where proteins may leak and touch nerves and tissues, can create tenderness and swelling of the disc, which causes pain. Once damaged, a disc will not repair itself. Pain can be chronic or intermittent, and treatment varies according to the patient’s unique needs.
Herniated or Ruptured Discs — Injury, wear and tear from aging, or from disease can cause discs to bulge or to rupture. A herniated disc creates pain as pressure is put onto the nerve roots or the spinal cord, creating pain, numbness or chronic discomfort that may radiate to other parts of the body, like the neck, legs, shoulders, arms or chest, depending on which nerves are affected.
Chronic Back Pain —Chronic back pain can be debilitating, and may be cause by many factors, from muscle strain to injury to a deformity of the spine. Chronic lower back pain may also be associated with a systemic illness or a rheumatic disease.
Spinal Trauma — Our neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons care for patients who need immediate emergency care related to spinal trauma.
Spinal Cord Tumors —When tumors originate in the spine they are usually benign. However, most spinal cord cancers are metastatic or secondary cancers that have spread to the spine from a primary cancer site, such as the lung, breast, prostate, head and neck, or other region. Working together with oncologists, neuroradiologists, neuro-oncologists and other specialists at The David S. Zocchi Brain Tumor Center our neurosurgeons and neurologists provide the most advanced care for tumors of the spinal cord.
Spinal Stenosis —Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the passage where the spinal cord runs. When the spinal canal is narrowed, pressure is put on nerves inside and can cause chronic or severe leg pain. Stenosis usually affects the lower back (lumbar stenosis), but can sometimes affect the cervical spine (cervical stenosis), as well.
Diseases including scoliosis, osteoporosis, arthritis and lordosis may contribute to development of spinal stenosis for some patients. For others, poor posture, degenerative disc disease, age and obesity can also be risk factors.
As the region’s most comprehensive spine surgery program, we provide patients with leading edge care and the most advanced techniques for treating the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine conditions. We utilize minimally invasive spinal surgery, spinal stabilization, motion preservation, spinal fusion, traditional open surgery, disc arthroplasty and disc replacement.
For more information, or to arrange a consultation with a Monmouth Spine Center specialist, please call 1-888-724-7123 or contact us.