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7 Common Spine Problems to See a Chiropractor About

Written By Natural Healing Arts Medical on February 16, 2018

Being diagnosed with a spine condition can be very worrying.

After all, your spine is key to your body's ability to move and function properly. Spine problems also cause a lot of pain and discomfort for many and is a notorious issue that comes with age.

Like everything else, it is best to be educated about these problems before making any hasty assumptions. While some spine problems are serious, most can be helped with a little bit of therapy.

Here are seven common spine problems you may want to see a chiropractor about.

1. Abnormal Curvature

Abnormal curvature has become very standard in our country. In fact, schools are beginning to administer scoliosis exams for their students. While all of us have curves in our spine which help to balance our bodies, very pronounced curves can be a sign of a concerning spine condition.

Scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis are all types of abnormal curvatures which may impact our spine's ability to do its job correctly. These curvatures put extra pressure on the vertebrae or disks, which could end up causing a lot of pain.

If you believe your spine is abnormally curved, make sure to go see a chiropractor. It is an issue that is best to find out about and correct early before it causes bigger problems in the future.

2. Bulging Discs

Between each vertebra in our spine is a disc. These serve three primary functions: to absorb shocks in the spine, to hold the vertebrae together, and to allow for mobility of the spine.

A bulging disc is the first sign of a weakening disc, which can ultimately lead to larger problems for our backs. As the discs start to bulge, it will start to tear at the disc and cause it to extend past where it should be.

Sometimes, this change will be unnoticed and can go without symptoms until it causes worse damage. Usually, though, you will want to see a chiropractor if you experience pain, especially in your lower back area.

3. Herniated Disc

Also known as a slipped or ruptured disc, a herniated disc is one of the more well-known spine problems. When the exterior of the disc is pushed out too much (past when the disc is simply bulging), a herniated disc occurs. This causes pain, numbness, and weakening of your extremities.

Usually, people with physically demanding jobs are the ones at most risk of a herniated disc. Herniated discs can lead to serious problems, especially when they occur near the end of our spinal cord. Disc herniation in this area can lead to bladder problems and potential paralysis.

If you see a chiropractor and they diagnose you with a herniated disc, there are several options to correct it. Spinal decompression is just one of many strategies chiropractors can use to help you recover from a herniated disc.

4. Compression Fractures

One of the most common fractures in the spine is known as a compression fracture. This type of fracture usually happens to people with osteoporosis but can also affect anyone.

Compression fractures will initially cause pain, but can ultimately lead to deformity or loss of muscle. They're quite common in the United States and usually occur following a physically straining ability such as lifting, bending, or falling.

While surgery may be advisable, most chiropractors will suggest patients rest in order to recover from a compression fracture.

5. Spinal Instability

If your adjoining vertebrae begin to slip back and forth or are permanently mispositioned, you may be suffering from spinal instability. Spinal instability usually occurs when a disk is weakened or when the vertebrae are slightly fractured.

Spinal instability typically happens in the lower back, with painful symptoms such as lower back pain or immobility. Patients may also feel that the portion of their back where the slip happened is unstable.

In order to correct these types of spine problems, chiropractors may use a surgical approach or avoid it, depending on the severity. The surgical approach will require a restabilization and fusion of the spine.

6. Spinal Stenosis

As we age, our body begins to weaken. One unfortunate side effect of it is that our bone channels begin to narrow.

When this happens along the bone channel of our spine, we are suffering from spinal stenosis. Stenosis is a painful problem which can make part of our body feel painful or numb. As the bones begin to constrict on the spinal cord, we will feel sharp pains throughout our body.

After an MRI scan to confirm the diagnosis, chiropractors may suggest some exercises to relieve the spinal stenosis. In worst-case scenarios, surgery can be used to relieve the spinal cord before a patient is put on a rehab program.

7. Nerve Problems

Ultimately, all the spine problems listed above lead can to nerve problems. When our bones or discs press on the spinal cord, it leads to a sharp pain caused by an intrusion on the nerves traveling through the spine.

Nerve problems are generally uncomfortable and can be serious. If the spine problems are severe enough, they can significantly interrupt the communication between our body and our brain.

Any break in communication can lead to issues like numbness or loss of feeling. In severe cases, it can lead to complete paralysis or an inability of your brain to detect issues that your body is suffering.

For this reason, it is best to take every spinal issue seriously.

Are You Suffering from Spine Problems?

If you're suffering from spine problems, it is a good idea to see a chiropractor before your condition worsens. These issues can be very serious and the spine is a part of the body you will not want to be irresponsible with.

Please contact us if you need professional help for your back issues. Our team is ready to help you recover and get you back to feeling great once again!


Posted In: Chiropractic