The spine allows you to maintain an upright posture, stand and bend. The spine encloses and covers the spinal cord. Besides, the spine gives the body structure and support. A healthy spine enables one to move with flexibility. Therefore when the spine is affected by different conditions, a person cannot move normally. Further, because the spine encloses many nerves, the pain becomes unbearable. That is why Dr. Patrick S. McNulty committed his life to become the best spine specialist. Here we are going to discuss the conditions of the spine and the treatments available.
1. Pain
You can experience lower back pain due to personal injuries or injuries at the workplace, degenerative diseases such as arthritis, and spine defects. For instance, if you have issues with the muscles and connective tissues at your back, you will experience unbearable pain. Furthermore, compression of the sciatic nerve can result in you experiencing shooting pains in the gluteus and legs.
2. Sciatica
If you experience pain, numbness, or prickling sensation that radiates through the back to the leg, you are suffering from sciatica. Additionally, weakness in one or both legs points to sciatica. The root cause of the pain is compression of spinal nerves. Even though age puts you at risk of sciatica, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and lifting heavy objects predispose you to the condition.
3. Scoliosis
After proper imaging, the doctor will inform you that your spine is C or S-shaped if you have scoliosis. The spine deformity becomes noticeable because of uneven shoulders or hips or breasts and projecting shoulder blades.
4. Neck Pain
Chronic pain that lasts for two to four weeks is a symptom that you have an issue with the spine. Besides, if you experience weakness, numbness, or tingling either in the arms in addition to the neck pain, you need to see the doctor urgently.
5. Kyphosis
If you feel unable to stand up straight, you could be suffering from kyphosis. You are unable to stand straight because the spine has curved forward. The condition mostly comes with age since the disks usually narrow as one grows old.
What to Expect After Visiting the Doctor
Once you make an appointment, the orthopedic surgeon and spine specialist will take down a comprehensive history and conduct a physical exam to identify how you respond to specific stretches. If he is unable to detect the cause of the pain from the history and physical exam, he will conduct the following tests to ascertain the diagnosis.
- X-rays
- MRI
- CT scan
- Discography
- Myelography
- Spinal injections
- Bone scan
Treatment Options
Depending on the nature and extent of the spine condition, the orthopedic surgeon will recommend the following treatments to remove the pain.
- Physical therapy
- Reconstruction surgeries
- Nerve blocks
- Chiropractic treatment
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Spinal injections
- Fusion surgeries
Spine pain lowers the quality of life for so many people. The solution to spine pain lies with McNulty Spine, a Las Vegas facility under the leadership of a very renowned orthopedic surgeon and spine specialist. Patients go there when they are in pain, and once treated, they can continue with their everyday life. Make a call today or request an appointment online.
