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:
Arm, hand, or shoulder pain or tingling
Shoulder blade pain
Weakness and numbness
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:
Arm or hand pain
Arm or hand numbness
Arm or hand weakness
Headaches
Neck pain; however, patient may have no neck pain
Pain around the shoulder blade
Leg weakness
Unsteady gait
Leg and feet tingling
LUMBAR
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:
Leg pain
Buttock pain
Tingling in the legs
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:
Low back pain
Leg and buttocks pain
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:
Leg pain
Buttocks pain
Tingling in the legs
Weakness and numbness
Symptoms may be worse with walking and relieved with sitting
