The Basics of Spinal Pathologies

Many patients who come to our offices often wonder why they are being seen for degenerative disc/joint disease, disc bulges, etc. By the time a patient is seen by our providers, they have endured their symptoms for quite some time and upon reading their MRI reports are surprised to see words like “disease.” For while our patients are unique in their individual ways, a majority of the spinal pathologies we encounter daily are just natural degenerative phenomena associated with being human. 

Over time the outer layer of the disc becomes weaker due to wear and tear. This allows for the inner layer (like toothpaste) to push outwards which leads to narrowing of the space where the large spinal nerves come off the spinal cord. This occurs most commonly in the neck and lower back regions of the spine. The spinal nerves carry fibers for pain, sensation, and movement. As a result, patients can experience symptoms with varying degrees of pain, numbness/tingling, and even weakness, and difficulty moving. 

A doctor examines medical x-rays.

While all of this can be quite frustrating to deal with, it isn’t uncommon for humans to deal with it at some time or another. Patients undergo a variety of workups and treatment options before arriving at our doorstep and this can take some time. When the road brings us to you, rest assured that you will get a thorough evaluation, explanation of your condition, and the best possible solution to get you back to your normal lifestyle. 

Spinal pathologies vary on an individual basis, and not all are due to the normal degenerative processes. Each patient is evaluated and treated on their specific individual condition and we will gladly be there to guide you and answer all of your questions throughout the process. 

Visit us at www.scccns.com or www.drmesiwala.com to find out more