You wake up and your back is already unhappy. You stand for a long time and your back begins to ache. You’re doing yard work pulling weeds and suddenly back pain sets in. You’re exercising and you trip only to tweak your back. You sit in a chair and suddenly sciatica pain shoots down your…
To better understand cervical disc replacement, you’ll want to know about the spine and the cervical region. The spinal column provides the body’s main support structure. It contains five regions with the first region refer to as the cervical region, which involves the neck. The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae or bones. They stack…
Spring has sprung and the weather outside is delightful. The garden calls your name. But you’re reluctant to work on it in fear of back pain. The good news is you can enjoy gardening. Just follow these tips to minimize back pain and prevent injury. Warm up before digging in Going from 0 to 60…
Sciatica is one of those things where there’s no question whether someone has it or not. The pain or the shock-like feeling is so strong that it can’t be mistaken for anything else. One patient dealing with sciatica knew exactly what the pain or shock was. She remembered having it one time while pregnant. A…
Before learning about cervical disc herniation, it helps to have a quick synopsis of the spinal anatomy. The spinal column represents the body’s main support structure. This contains five regions with the top region being cervical, which pertains to the neck. In the spine are bones known as vertebrae. Each region has multiple vertebrae. A…
Let’s start by analyzing the word spondylolisthesis. Spondylo refers to the spine. Listhesis means slipping. Put them together and the word refers to a slip in the spine. Before going further, here’s a quick review of the spine’s anatomy. The bones in the spine are called vertebrae. They comprise the spine’s building blocks. Discs sit…
The spine’s anatomy may be complex, but it contains a sophisticated system of bones, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Think of the spine like the internet in which the nerves provide the connections. They flow everywhere from the tips of the toes up to the brain. The nerves also branch out on the sides of…
The cervical spine refers to the neck region of the spine that supports the body. In a relaxed position, the typical cervical spine has a “C” shaped curve called lordosis. The opening of the curve goes toward the back of the neck. Kyphosis is the opposite of lordosis. Cervical means relating to the neck. While…
Also known as tic douloureux, trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic condition affecting the trigeminal nerve. The nerve provides sensations in the face including the forehead, eyes, mouth, sinus cavities, and jaw. The condition occurs when a blood vessel compresses on the nerve. It causes pain during face-related activities such as teeth brushing, face washing, eating…
The anatomy of the spine is an amazing and complex thing. That’s because it contains bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It’s like the internet inside the spine as the nerves flow from the brain on down through the spine down and ends at the tips of the toes. They also branch out on the…