Your spine consists of 33 bony vertebrae plus spinal discs, muscles, ligaments, tendons, fluid, and your spinal cord. Injury or damage to any of these areas can cause spine problems.
If you’ve had a back or spine injury, you can receive all of the diagnosis and treatment options you need at Dignity Health. Find a doctor today.
The signs and symptoms of common spine conditions and injuries often depend on which spinal nerves are affected. Generally, spine problems cause back pain, which may limit or get worse with movement. Spine conditions that affect your spinal cord can lead to a wide range of symptoms because your spinal cord carries nerve signals throughout your body.
Nerve-related symptoms include:
It’s essential to see a doctor right away if you have back pain with any nerve symptoms. Some spinal conditions and injuries require urgent (same day) or emergency care for rapid diagnosis and treatment.
Spine conditions are rare, and the most common cause is traumatic injury. Almost half of all injuries to the spine are caused by car crashes.
Sporting activities such as diving, contact sports, horseback riding, and others are also common sources of injury.
Arthritis, degenerative joint disease, repetitive strenuous activities, improper lifting, and tumors are other common causes of non-trauma-related spine problems. Spine conditions can also be present at birth.
There are four regions in your spine:
Common spine conditions and injuries include:
Some of the factors that can increase the risk of spine conditions include:
You can keep your back as healthy as possible by:
The information contained in this article is meant for educational purposes only and should not replace advice from your healthcare provider.