Category: Conditions

Facet joints are small joints found at almost each spinal level (cervical, thoracic, lumbar). These joints aide in twisting motion and associated stability in the spine. The angles of the facet joints vary at each spinal level to provide limitations to excessive rotational forces that can lead to instability and injury. Symptoms can include back pain that may/may not radiate into posterior aspect of lower extremities or neck pain that may/may not radiate to the head and shoulders. Symptoms can be treated with non-surgically with medication, therapy, and facet joint injections, facet blocks, radio frequency ablation to name a few. In some cases of destabilizing spine injury, surgery may be an option.

Nerve damage, usually in the hands and feet with symptoms of weakness, numbness, and pain. Peripheral neuropathy can occur from disease such as diabetes mellitus. Can also result from injuries, toxins, and or infections. It is important to seek out the underlying cause of the neuropathy. Treatment is inclusive of medications, supportive care and treating the underlying condition.

Pain that persists after adequate healing of spine surgical site. Despite the surgery being successful, one may experience unchanged or worse pain. Also there may have been post procedure complications such as infection, nerve damage, or failure for the surgery to achieve the intended anatomical goal. This condition is referred to as post-laminectomy syndrome. With cervical post laminectomy syndrome, the symptoms can involve the neck and upper extremities. With lumbar post laminectomy syndrome, symptoms can involve the lower back and lower extremities. Treatments are inclusive but not limited to medication, therapy, biofeedback, injections, and spinal cord stimulation.

Pressure on sensitive points in the muscle results in pain. Myofascial pain syndrome can occur after repeated injury or overuse of muscles. Sometimes it manifests a tender muscle knot and pain can be persistent. Treatments include therapy, medication, trigger point injections, relaxation techniques.

Inflammation in the bursal sac. A bursa is a thin sac around a joints that serves as a shock absorber between bone and surrounding soft tissue. The bursal sac is made up of a membrane that contains fluid. Trauma, friction, repetitive use can result in swelling that is localized, tenderness, pain in the affected area. Examples are bursas in the hip, knee, shoulder, or elbow areas. Can be treated with supportive care, rest, ice, medications, and injections just to name a few.

A type of headache that can vary in intensity. It can be associated with nausea and sensitivity to light as well as sound. Some times migraines are preceded by warning symptoms, known as an “aura”. Some triggers include certain foods or drinks, stress, exercise, and hormonal changes. It is important to rule out other causes of headaches.

Pain in the upper or lower extremities that may or may not develop after an injury. The exact cause of complex regional pain syndrome isn’t well understood but may involve abnormal inflammation or nerve dysfunction. Complex regional pain is characterized by pain that is greater than would be expected from the injury that causes it. Treatments include but are not limited to medications, heat or cold therapy, physical therapy, biofeedback, sympathetic blocks, and spinal cord stimulation.

Chronic pain describes pain that lasts more than three to six months or pain beyond the point of tissue healing. Chronic pain can be a lifelong struggle for many. There are some identifiable causes like normal aging/degeneration, joint pain or spine related pain. Others like fibromyalgia are not well understood. Treatment works best if the source is identified, inclusive of but not limited to medication, therapy, psychological counseling, biofeedback, supportive care, and injections. In some cases, surgery may be an option.

The coccyx is the true tailbone, at the very bottom portion of the spine. Persistent tailbone pain is known as coccydynia. Pain can be worsened by sitting or putting pressure on bottom of the spine. Symptoms can be treated with non-surgically with supportive care, medication, therapy, ganglion impar block, to name a few.

A breakdown of the cartilage in a joint can often lead to dysfunction and limitation of motion in the affected area. At times asymptomatic but the inflammation of surrounding structures can lead to aches and pains that cause a decline in daily functioning with repeated use.