CONDITIONS

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Do you have a spinal condition that’s causing you chronic pain intense enough to interfere with your life or day-to-day activities? Are you afraid you’ll never be able to get your pain under control or that it might continue to worsen as you age? 

WELL, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. 

Many people with spinal disorders feel frustrated, confused, and helpless about their conditions. As many as 500,000 people suffer from some form of spinal injury each year. The good news is that you can ease your concerns and fears by gaining a better understanding of your condition. 

 

At NJ Spine and Orthopedic, we work to help you understand your symptoms, diagnose your condition and inform you of the various treatments. Below is an overview of the most common types of spine conditions, as well as other orthopedic conditions.

How to Determine the Right Treatment for Your Sciatica Symptoms

Sciatica is a common condition in many adults and is often treated with at-home techniques, such as over-the-counter medication, heat and ice therapy, and simple stretches and exercises. These treatments may reduce your sciatica pain, but the pain may continue or become worse over time. Keep reading to learn more from NJ Spine and Ortho about what sciatica feels like, causes of the condition, what you may expect at a doctor’s appointment, and possible treatments. What Does Sciatica Feel Like? Symptoms of sciatica are typically felt along the path of the sciatic nerve, which is the longest spinal nerve and runs from the lower back into the buttocks and thighs. Sciatica symptoms are categorized in a few ways: Pain and Numbness Sciatic pain typically feels like an ongoing burning sensation starting in the lower back down the front or back of the thigh. Numbness also may be felt in the front or back of the leg. Tingling or weakness in the area may be a sign as well. One-Sided Pain and Posture Issues In most cases, sciatica affects only one leg, which causes the impacted leg to feel heavy. Both legs are rarely affected together. Posture could also be affected by sciatica when sitting, standing, and bending. Common Causes of Sciatica Sciatica is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Understanding the cause of your sciatica can help you treat the issue rather than just masking the pain. Sciatic injury can come from direct nerve compression, inflammation, an abnormal immune system response, or a combination of all three. The most common cause of sciatica, however, is from a herniated lumbar (lower back) disc. The disc typically compresses one or more spinal nerve roots and can cause sciatica either through direct compression (when a lumbar disc bulges) or chemical inflammation (when an acidic chemical irritant from the disc leaks and causes inflammation near the sciatic nerve). Other causes can come from tissue degeneration in the lower back, which can compress the nerve. Degeneration can also cause abnormal bone growths, which may cause compression in one or more nerve roots. Spinal stenosis, most common in adults over 60, may also narrow the spinal canal. Another possible cause is spondylolisthesis, which occurs when a small stress fracture causes one vertebral body to slip on another. These conditions develop over time. However, they can appear sooner due to trauma or personal injury that puts stress on these areas such as weightlifting. Diagnosing Sciatica Discovering the underlying condition of sciatica is essential to form an effective treatment plan. If sciatica is suspected, a doctor will usually look at medical history and conduct a physical examination. The goal is to identify the patient’s leg pain pattern and history. During a physical examination, a doctor may check for: Pain in the lower back, thigh, and leg Leg movements when the leg is extended Response to gentle pressure on the toes or calf region If sciatica is revealed to be the cause of your pain, doctors may refer

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Could a Spine Issue Lead to Foot Pain?

Foot pain is more often associated with ill-fitted shoes or other issues like tendonitis or arthritis. However, there are cases where your foot pain may be linked to spine problems, and you may not even know it. Here, we’ll explore how the spine and foot are linked. What Does a Spine Look Like? Before we get into foot pain and what’s causing it, it’s important to go over the anatomy of a spine. There are five sections to our spine, and they are: Cervical (neck), C1 to C7 Thoracic (middle back), T1 to T12 Lumbar (lower back), L1 to L5 Sacrum (pelvis), S1 to S5 Coccyx (tailbone) Our spine is made up of 33 individual vertebrae, which are all joined together to form the spinal column. The first 24 vertebrae are moveable, and the vertebrae in the sacrum and coccyx are fused. The spinal cord starts at your brainstem and travels down your back before splitting off into each leg. How Is My Spine Causing Foot Pain? Spinal nerves from your lower spine go through your legs and end in your feet. Foot pain can occur if the nerve root—the part that exits the spine—is irritated or compressed in the lower back area. This could lead pain down your spine, into your leg, and settling in your foot. Nerve roots can be damaged in a variety of different ways, but some common ways are: Leaking of contents in an intervertebral disc Age-related narrowing or shrinking of a disc A vertebra slipping over or below another Sciatica is a condition in which the sciatic nerve, or one of the associated nerves, is pinched or compressed. It’s typically the cause when the lower back is the source of foot pain. Symptoms of Foot Pain Resulting from the Spine If you also have pain or numbness in your leg in addition to the foot, it’s likely the pain is coming from the lower back region of the spine. Some pain may include: Difficulty Walking on Tiptoes If the pain is on the bottom of your foot, the condition may be from the sciatic nerve’s S1 nerve root. This specific root affects your calf muscle, which could make walking and other everyday activities a challenge. Foot Drop Foot drop is when there is difficulty lifting the front part of the foot, causing it to drag on the ground when walking. The condition is not a disease but rather a sign of neurological issues. Foot drop could be temporary or permanent. You may need to wear a brace to hold your foot in the correct position. Foot drop can also be from a lower back nerve that produces pain through the calf and ends in the big toe. Heel Walk Heel walk is a limited ability to bring the foot upward, and it can also have numbness in the lower leg and foot. This condition primarily appears when a nerve connected to the sciatic nerve—a major nerve that begins in the lower back and extends

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6 Questions to Ask Before Scheduling Spine Surgery During COVID-19

You might be wondering if your back pain is a priority given the pandemic. It isn’t something you should have to live with, but is it safe to schedule spine surgery in New Jersey right now? Some surgeries and hospitalizations simply cannot wait, but COVID-19 has put a brief pause on elective surgeries. However, hospitals and clinics are starting to schedule out once again, so the pandemic may not disrupt your plans after all. It’s important to know what you can expect when going through surgery during these uncertain times. Here are some of the top questions to ask when scheduling your spine surgery during COVID-19. Do I Need to Get Tested for COVID-19? Before going into surgery, you’ll most likely have to be tested for COVID-19, especially if you’re going to a hospital. Protocols will vary from office to office, especially depending on the state and case count in each location. At the very least, patients should expect to answer coronavirus screening questions, like: Have you been outside the state within the past two weeks? Have you been around someone who has tested positive? Are you experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms? If a test is required, testing should happen as close to the surgery as possible. Most tests take between 1–3 days to hear results from, so it’s important the patient self-isolate from the time of testing to their surgery to ensure they do not become exposed. What Safety Precautions Are in Place? When having surgery done, patients should always feel comfortable where the procedure is taking place. It’s important to ask the doctor what steps the hospital or practice is taking to ensure everyone’s safety. Consider asking the following questions: Is there an abundance of personal protective equipment? Are staff members being screened daily? What do cleaning procedures look like? The safety of patients and staff was the top priority of hospitals and clinics before COVID-19, and thankfully, many locations have increased cleaning and sanitation. What If I Test Positive for COVID-19? If you test positive for COVID-19 before your surgery, your appointment will likely be rescheduled. In the interim, make sure to self-isolate, practice social distancing, and wear a face-covering so you don’t infect others. What Will the Day of My Surgery Look Like? The day of your surgery will most likely look different than normal. You may be instructed to call the hospital or office before entering a pre-screening. Some surgeries do not require staying overnight, but you’ll want to know if you can bring someone with you into the hospital. Or, if you’re staying overnight, can you have visitors? Do you need your own face covering, or is one provided? Can I Have Visitors? While it’s important to know what will happen before your surgery takes place, it’s just as important to know what happens after your surgery. Visitation policies differ from hospital to hospital. Some hospitals may allow up to one visitor at a time or may not allow any at all. If you want

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Does Fibromyalgia Cause Back Pain?

Over 80 percent of people, regardless of health issues, will experience some sort of back pain in their life. There are many reasons why your back might be causing you pain, and fibromyalgia is one that is complicated to diagnose. Knowing the difference between fibromyalgia back pain and regular back pain can be challenging. Continue reading to learn more about fibromyalgia, symptoms to watch for, and possible treatments. What Is Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. It’s a complex chronic condition that causes widespread pain and tenderness to the touch that may occur all over or in a specific area. Millions of Americans have fibromyalgia; more women are diagnosed with the disorder than men. What Causes Fibromyalgia? Despite its commonality among Americans, the cause of this disorder is widely unknown. However, some experts believe it is caused by an over-sensitive nervous system or a brain problem. There is a risk of other factors causing fibromyalgia, like: A stressful physical or emotional event, like a car crash Repetitive injuries Central nervous system problems The condition could also be hereditary. Those with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or spinal arthritis have a higher risk of developing fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia Symptoms Fibromyalgia symptoms can appear at any point in life but commonly begin to appear around the age of 45. Back pain is a common symptom of fibromyalgia, but you’ll also experience other symptoms. If you’re only experiencing back pain, you more than likely do not have fibromyalgia. Sleep Problems Sleep problems are one of the most common symptoms of fibromyalgia. Those with fibromyalgia may still sleep for hours but do not feel refreshed when they wake up. They could also wake up multiple times throughout the night due to pain or may experience restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea. Fibro Fog Many fibromyalgia patients say they have trouble focusing, holding conversations, or remembering things. This is known as fibro fog. One explanation of fibro fog is the lack of sleep, but some doctors suggest something unknown in the brain is unique to people with fibromyalgia. Other Health Problems Fibromyalgia often causes other health problems like irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, and painful bladder syndrome. Additionally, fibromyalgia patients seem to have a hypersensitivity to cold, light, and noises. How to Diagnose and Treat Fibromyalgia Pain It may take some time for doctors to diagnose you with fibromyalgia. Since symptoms typically match hypothyroidism, doctors have to rule that out first. Additionally, there are no lab tests for fibromyalgia, leading to a longer diagnosing process. However, three criteria need to be met for a fibromyalgia diagnosis: Pain and symptoms have been ongoing for more than three months There was pain over the previous week in several of the 19 identified body parts, plus fatigue, restless sleep, or other cognitive problems There is no presence of another health issue that would cause the symptoms No two cases of fibromyalgia are the same. Everyone experiences their own type of pain, which is why it’s important to develop

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