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Many of us don’t think about it, but our spine supports and protects our bodies throughout the day. It is central to nearly every movement we make and a very important part of the body. Here are 7 amazing facts about the spine: At birth our spine consists of 33 individual vertebrae, several of which fuse together to form 24 vertebrae during our lifetimes. The spine is so flexible it can bend far enough to form two thirds of a circle. The spine has 5 main sections, they are: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacrum and Coccyx. There are over 120 muscles located throughout the spine. Back pain is one of the most common ailments in America with over 80% of the population experiencing it sometime in their lives. There are over 100 joints in the spine which allow for its fluid movement. Over 25% of the spine’s length comes from the cartilage separating spinal vertebrae. Other Interesting Facts About Spine Injuries If you like learning interesting facts about the spine, you may also want to learn more about spine injuries. The following are useful pieces of information about the spine and potential injuries: Spine injuries can often lead to para- or quadriplegia, so you should seek medical attention as quickly as possible if you think you have one These can be treated in many more ways than you might initially think, including surgical procedures that are minimally invasive It’s common to get spine injuries after a vehicular accident, so prioritizing safety on the road is a great way to prevent unnecessary injury Men are far more likely to face spinal injuries than women, as approximately 78% of spine injuries occur in men The spine is connected to the brain and other nerve endings, so neurologists and spine experts often work together Spine injuries can easily impact other areas of your body, including your ability to hear and walk There are several interesting facets within our knowledge of spines and their potential injuries. If you think you have a spinal injury, seeking medical attention as soon as possible is a great way to mitigate negative effects on your body and quality of life. How to Get Treatments for Your Spine Injuries You can get spine treatments for your injuries relatively easily, as you can go into your doctor’s office or visit a spine specialist for an assessment. During assessments, your medical provider will administer numerous tests to determine what issues you might have and what might be triggering certain symptomatic responses in the body. Following an assessment, you can get a referral to a spine specialist or go over a list of potential treatment options, depending on who does the initial check. You can avoid unnecessary obstacles during the healing process by working with a spine specialist and surgeon directly, as they will have the experience and understanding necessary to identify issues quickly and make recommendations. Your surgeon will be able to determine whether you will benefit from very conservative treatment options,

Depending upon where it’s located, symptoms can range from seemingly non-existent to excruciatingly painful. But if you have a bone spur on your spine or heel, you’ll definitely know something is amiss. These tiny outgrowths of bone can have a big impact on your comfort and quality of life if not properly addressed. Bone spurs, also called osteophytes, typically are caused by local inflammation, such as from degenerative arthritis or tendonitis, from injury to nearby cartilage or tendons, or simply the normal wear-and-tear brought on by aging. They can form virtually anywhere in the body, but are most common in places where bones connect to one another in the joints, including the knees, hips, shoulders and fingers, and many bring virtually no symptoms. In fact, patients often have no idea that they have a bone spur until it’s spotted via X-rays performed for entirely different health reasons. But those with the most noticeable and troublesome symptoms are heel bone spurs and spinal bone spurs.   Pain Assessment   Spurs that form in the spine can press against or pinch the spinal cord or adjacent nerve roots. If this is the case, you may experience a host of symptoms including numbness, tingling or pain, plus weakness in the area of the body that the affected nerve supplies. And those occurring in the heel can lead to swelling of the foot, tenderness or pain and difficulty walking. Other symptoms of bone spurs or bone spur-related conditions, such as tendonitis, in various parts of the body can include: Tingling or burning in the hands or feet Dull neck pain Dull lower back pain Loss of coordination in a specific body part Muscle cramps, spasms or weakness Numbness Pain that radiates to the shoulder or down the buttocks or legs Headaches Difficulty controlling bladder or bowels Pain that increases with physical activity Pain that improves with rest or when leaning forward at the waist Fortunately, there are some ways to help ward off the development of bone spurs, including adopting a diet rich in vitamins and calcium to ensure strong healthy bones, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy body weight, and taking safety precautions such as wearing protective gear when playing impact sports that place increased stress on joints. If you’ve already developed bone spurs that are affecting your comfort, mobility or quality of life, NJ Spine and Orthopedic can help. Our orthopedic specialist can prescribe anti-inflammatory pain medications or muscle relaxants to relieve discomfort from nerve compression; develop a customized physical therapy and rehabilitation program; perform cortisone injections into the facet joint space to reduce inflammation and diminish symptoms; or, as a last resort, perform minimally-invasive surgical procedures to remove small portions of bone and relieve pressure on spinal nerves via tiny incisions. Think you may be suffering from spinal bone spurs? Call 855-586-2615 to schedule an appointment with a spine and orthopedic specialist today.   Contact Us