Spine

Your spine consists of two-dozen vertebrae. Soft, rubbery discs surround and protect these sensitive structures, acting as shock absorbers for the spine. These cushiony discs are surrounded by a hard outer shell called the annulus. A herniated disc manifests from tears or breaks in the annulus, which pushes the discs into the spinal canal. This The post A Patient’s Guide to Herniated Discs appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

In the past, the standard treatment for many cervical (neck) problems such as disc herniations, pinched nerves, and spinal stenosis was cervical fusion surgery. A fusion involves causing two bones to grow together(fuse), which removes the normal motion between the bones. Disc replacement surgery is a newer treatment option that replaces a herniated or degenerated The post What You Need to Know About Cervical Disc Replacements appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

A lumbar discectomy is a surgery that aims to fix a disc in the lower back. Your backbone, or spinal column, is made of bones called vertebrae, which help protect the spinal cord. Between each vertebra is a disc, which provides cushioning and support. As we age, these discs change by dehydrating and shrinking, and The post Lumbar Discectomy: A Patient’s Guide appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

A lumbar laminectomy is a surgery that involves removing a portion of the lamina, the back part of a vertebra that surrounds the spinal canal, to relieve pressure on pinched nerves. The compression of nerve roots may arise due to a combination of factors, such as bony overgrowths, bone spurs, disc herniation, and thickening of The post A Patient’s Guide to Lumbar Laminectomy appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve. There are two sciatic nerves, one on the right side and one on the left. These large nerves originate in the lower back and course through the hips, buttocks, and posterior thighs as far as the knees. The right and left sciatic The post Sciatica: What Patients Need to Know appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

A spinal fusion is a surgical procedure that is performed on a person’s spine, which permanently joins two or more vertebrae to each other. By infusing the two or more vertebrae to each other, a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon ensures that the vertebrae heal into a single, solid bone. There are many conditions for which The post A Patient’s Guide to Spinal Fusion appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

A pinched nerve typically occurs when surrounding tissues such as disc, bone, cartilage, or joints compress against your nerve in the spinal column. This pressure disrupts the nerve’s function and can lead to painful and debilitating symptoms. A pinched nerve can occur in many areas of the body, but it most frequently occurs in the The post Pinched Nerves: What Patients Need to Know appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

Spondylosis refers to an umbrella term for spinal conditions from ‘spine degeneration.” Spondylosis is a condition caused by age-related changes to the spine’s vertebrae, joints, and discs. As discs change by dehydrating and shrinking, signs of further degeneration of the spine may develop, and bone spurs may appear. Further, Spondylosis can manifest in the lumbar The post What Patients Need to Know About Spondylosis appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

The lower area of the spine, commonly known as the lumbar region, consists of five vertebrae. When the spinal canal narrows in the lumbar region, it compresses the nerves that travel through the lower back and into the legs and feet. This narrowing and subsequent compression is known as lumbar spinal stenosis and can be The post What You Need to Know About Lumbar Spinal Stenosis appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.

Spinal stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal, a structure housing the spinal cord and its nerve branches. The cervical spine describes the upper area of the spine, consisting of 7 bones called vertebrae that form the neck. Over time, the discs in the spine that separate and cushion vertebrae may gradually dry The post A Patient’s Guide to Cervical Spinal Stenosis appeared first on New Jersey Spine Specialists.