Pain Syndromes in the Spine
Neck and back pain, especially occurring after strenuous activity, is usually not caused by serious changes in the spine or compression of nerves. Diagnostically essential are a detailed medical history, a thorough and targeted physical examination, and a critical assessment of imaging findings. Especially in chronic pain, combinations of causes are common: degenerative changes in […]
Herniated Disc
Back pain that radiates into the leg or arm can indicate a herniated disc. The intervertebral discs are located between the vertebral bodies of the spine. They consist of an elastic outer layer of fibrous cartilage and a gel-like core (nucleus pulposus). In a herniated disc, disc tissue protrudes out from between the vertebral bodies. […]
Spinal Canal Stenosis
Spinal canal stenosis is the most common indication for spinal surgery in older age. Causes are degenerative bulging of intervertebral discs and, over the course of months and years, reactive thickening of adjacent ligaments and bone, which narrow the spinal canal and press on the nerves and spinal cord. Symptoms usually begin gradually with pain […]
Inflammation and Tumors in the Spine
Tumors in the spinal canal, such as meningiomas or neurinomas (schwannomas), are overwhelmingly benign and grow slowly, so that symptoms usually develop gradually and the diagnosis is often made only late. Tumor-related compression of the nerves or spinal cord can cause pain, impairments of sensation and coordination, disturbances of bladder and bowel emptying, paralysis, and, […]
Spondylolisthesis (Spinal Slippage)
Spondylolisthesis (or vertebral slippage) refers to the displacement of a vertebral body. Most often there is a rotation or forward shift (ventrolisthesis or anterolisthesis); the reverse case is referred to as retrolisthesis. The fourth or fifth lumbar vertebra is most frequently affected. Spondylolisthesis often occurs as part of general degenerative changes in the spine and […]
Vertebral Fractures
A vertebral body fracture is a break in one or more vertebral bodies. A vertebral fracture can result from an accident, but it most commonly occurs in older patients with osteoporosis, often following an everyday trauma such as a fall at home. Due to the loss of bone mass, vertebrae can collapse in on themselves […]