NECK

Bulging Disc
Degenerated Disc
Herniated Disc
Spinal Stenosis

LUMBAR

Bone Spur
Herniated disc
Sciatica
Spinal Stenosis
Spondylolisthesis or Anterolisthesis

NECK

Bulging Disc:  when the outer portion of the disc weakens, it allows part of the disc to bulge back toward the nerves.  Sometimes it causes pain and other times it does not cause pain.  If the bulging disc hits a nerve, it can cause symptoms similar to a herniated disc and spinal stenosis.  If it does not hit a nerve, it can cause neck and low back pain.

Degenerated Disc (Degenerative Disc Disease) – is the aging of the disc.  It can occur at any age even in people in their 20s.  It frequently does not cause pain but occasionally causes low back pain or neck pain

Herniated Disc:  (Slipped disc) in the neck (Cervical Spine) – the pinched nerve is caused by a ruptured/slipped disc.  The disc is the shock absorber or cushion between the vertebrae.  It allows the spine to move.  The outer-portion of the disc is very tough (like gristle on a steak) and called the annulus fibrosa.  The inner portion of the disc is very soft and called the nucleus proposa.  A small tear in the outer part of the disc (annulus) allows the inner part of the disc (nucleus) to squirt out the tear and hit the nerves.

Symptoms:

1. Arm, hand, or shoulder pain or tingling
2. Shoulder blade pain
3. Weakness and numbness
4. Headaches

Spinal Stenosis in the Cervical Spine (neck) – pinched nerve caused by herniated disc, bone spurs, or arthritis that partially closes the spinal canal.
Symptoms:

1. Arm or hand pain
2. Arm or hand numbness
3. Arm or hand weakness
4. Headaches
5. Neck pain; however, patient may have no neck pain
6. Pain around the shoulder blade
7. Leg weakness
8. Unsteady gait
9. Leg and feet tingling

Bone Spur: is the formation of extra bone.  It is usually a sign of aging of the spine.  A bone spurs frequently does not cause pain.  However, it can cause severe pain if the spur pinches a nerve in the neck or back.  See spinal stenosis and sciatica.

Herniated disc: (slipped disc) in the low back (lumbar spine) – The pinched nerve is caused by a ruptured/slipped disc.  The disc is the shock absorber or cushion between the vertebrae.  It allows the spine to move.  The outer-portion of the disc is very tough (like gristle on a steak) and called the annulus fibrosa.  The inner portion of the disc is very soft and called the nucleus proposa.  A small tear in the outer part of the disc (annulus) allows the inner part of the disc (nucleus) to squirt out the tear and hit the nerves.
Symptoms:

1.  Leg pain
2. Buttock pain
3. Tingling in the legs
4. Weakness and numbness

Sciatica:  is a pinched nerve in the low back that can give you buttocks, leg or foot pain.  It can also cause numbness, weakness and tingling.  Conditions that can pinch a nerve include herniated disc, ruptured disc, bone spurs, arthritis, bulging disc, and spinal stenosis.

Spondylolisthesis or Anterolisthesis:  (slipped vertebrae) – normally the vertebrae (blocks of bone that form the spine) stack on top of each vertebrae.   Occasionally, arthritis or a small fracture since childhood allows a vertebrae to slide out of alignment and pinch a nerve.
Symptoms:

1. Low back pain
2. Leg and buttocks pain
3. Numbness, tingling, and weakness

Spinal Stenosis in the Lumbar Spine (low back) – a pinched nerve caused by overgrowth of arthritis that partially closes the spinal canal.
Symptoms:

1. Leg pain
2. Buttocks pain
3. Tingling in the legs
4. Weakness and numbness
5. Symptoms may be worse with walking and relieved with sitting
6. Patients may walk bent over
7. Patients may walk better with a grocery cart