The spine is an amazing natural structure, but any surgical procedure must be very carefully performed. The spine is made up of thirty-three separate bones that flex and bend, while protecting the nerve bundle within the bone structure from injury or damage. Made up of muscles, bones, ligaments, and the critical network of nerves, any area of the structure that has suffered damage can lead to intense pain, limited mobility, or impairment.
The spine has three main regions. The cervical region has seven vertebrae, starting at the neck. The thoracic region is the mid-back, with twelve vertebrae. The lumbar region is five vertebrae. Below the lumbar region, are five fused vertebrae, the sacrum and the coccyx or tailbone.
Between each spinal bone (vertebrae) lies a natural cushion that works to absorb the stress of constant motion. This cushioning structure provides a surface upon which the bones can move freely, preventing the bones from touching each other. Each disc has two parts. The outer, sturdy covering is the annulus fibrosus. Within the disc is the nucleus pulposus, a gel-like, malleable substance allowing for flexibility.
The first critical step in treating spinal pain is to diagnose the source of pain accurately. At Progressive Spine & Orthopaedics, our spine clinic is equipped with the most advanced diagnostic technology. Our goal is to identify the source of pain and resolve it with the least invasive, most advanced techniques, and avoid surgery whenever possible.
The spine, when injured or damaged, can lead to very painful symptoms or impairment. You may experience severe pain, weakness in your limbs, pain when bending your back, sitting, or in other positions, muscle spasms, shooting pains, headaches, numbness, tingling, loss of sensation, and an array of other complaints.