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CONDITIONS

Not sure which spine condition you might have? Find out with our 2-minute Condition Checker.

CONDITION CHECKER

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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 Prevent Back Pain during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting time for expectant parents. While it is a seminal experience, the physical changes that take place in the body can sometimes cause discomfort. This is especially true as pregnancy reaches later stages and the baby grows larger. One of the common issues inherent in pregnancy is back pain, especially in the lower back. In some instances, this pain disappears after the baby is born, while in others, it may linger for months. Working with a back doctor early to prevent back pain during pregnancy is key to effectively managing it. Causes of Back Pain during Pregnancy There are several possible causes of pregnancy-related back pain, the most common of which is weight gain. Pregnancy can increase your weight by 40 pounds or more. This added weight can strain your back muscles, especially since it is not evenly distributed. The way the baby grows shifts your center of gravity shifts as the bulk of your added weight is in the front of your body. Additional causes of back pain include: Expanded uterus: What starts as a pear-sized organ expands to the size of a watermelon by the end of pregnancy. This moves various other organs around in your body and may cause pressure on spinal nerves. Hormonal shifts: Shifting hormone levels in the body do more than just impact your emotions, they impact your body. As it prepares for birth, your body adjusts itself, loosening joints in the pelvic region, a process that is partially driven by hormones. This process decreases joint support, which impacts posture and in turn causes back discomfort. Stress: You may be more tense than usual due to common anxieties surrounding giving birth and caring for a newborn. This may result in more tension than usual around your body, including in your back muscles. Types of Pregnancy-Related Back Pain Pregnancy-related back pain typically presents in two ways: pelvic pain and lumbar spine pain. Pelvic Pain This is the most common form of pregnancy-related back pain as it occurs around the waist, or just below it. You may feel this pain around the tailbone area, and it may sometimes extend into your thighs. It is sometimes worsened by standing up from a seated position or walking up or down flights of stairs. Lumbar Spine Pain This type of back pain occurs above the waist and may extend through the center of your back. You may feel it after standing for long periods or doing repetitive motions that involve the back muscles, such as lifting heavy objects. Pregnancy Back Pain Prevention While some aspects of pregnancy-related discomfort may not be avoidable, there are steps you can take to alleviate back pain. Move around as Much as Possible This may seem counterproductive, but moving is one of the best ways to avoid ongoing back pain during pregnancy. Keep it simple: take a walk or go for a swim. Try prenatal yoga. Do things to keep your body moving, joints lubricated and your body conditioned. This will

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5 Signs You Should Get Checked for Scoliosis

Signs of scoliosis vary, depending on the individual and severity of the condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, scoliosis “is a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents.” Causes of scoliosis vary and may include muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries, genetics, or birth defects. However, sometimes there is no apparent cause at all. Even in mild cases, an official diagnosis can guide more effective treatment. Early intervention can help to mitigate its progression and prevent scoliosis from becoming debilitating. Treatment options vary, depending on the age of onset and extent of the spinal curvature. Possible Signs of Scoliosis Scoliosis signs typically manifest in adolescence but can present at any age. Five of the most common include: Uneven Shoulders Uneven shoulders are among the most common signs of scoliosis. When your spine curves to one side, the other side may appear higher. This difference in shoulder height may be slight in milder cases. However, even a slight difference is a good impetus to get it checked out. Visible Spine Curve In some instances, the curvature of the spine is obvious, especially from the side view. A visibly curved spine may present with a tilt inward at the neck and lower spin with an excessively rounded top because of the extent of the curve. A curvature of more than 45 degrees indicates a potential problem. Constant Leaning to One Side Scoliosis may cause you to lean to one side or another, depending on the way your spine curves. Again, if it is a mild case, leaning may be slight, but persistent. It is typically involuntary, so you may not even realize you’re doing it. Persistent Back Pain Persistent back pain accompanied by some of the other common signs of scoliosis necessitates a check-up with a qualified physician. Muscle spasms or chronic pain from constantly leaning to one side may be to blame for back-related discomfort. A scoliosis diagnosis can help to determine if the condition is to blame and inform an effective treatment protocol. Uneven Waist An uneven waist is another sign that you may need to be checked for scoliosis. In more severe cases, this unevenness may be pronounced and cause discomfort when you move around. Possible Scoliosis Treatment Options There are myriad treatment options for scoliosis, depending on the severity of the condition. Mild cases may simply need monitoring to ensure that the condition does not progress with age. Moderate to severe cases may require the use of a back brace to help correct the spine or other forms of intervention to remedy the issue. Get Checked for Scoliosis by a Back and Spine Doctor Scoliosis may be indicated through other lesser-known signs and symptoms. The experienced back and spine doctors at NJ Spine & Orthopedic understand the complexities of scoliosis and how to best treat it. To learn more about our services or schedule a scoliosis assessment, contact us here or call (866) 272-9271.

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Can Regular Exercise Improve Spine Health in Older Adults?

As we get older, exercise seems to become less and less appealing, but the truth remains: exercise is good for us. Not moving can weaken our core muscles and lead to other health problems. When your body begins to age, you might think you are too sore for back exercise, but an exercise plan can reduce pain over time. Older adults who exercise regularly develop better muscle tone and reduce their risk of a heart attack and stroke. Regularly exercising the back muscles may help improve and strengthen your spine. How Exercise Helps our Spinal Health The back and abdominal muscles act as an internal corset supporting the vertebrae. The vertebra is discs, facet joints, and ligaments all working together to create the spine structure. When the back and abdominal muscles are weak, they can’t support the back properly, leading to injury. Regular exercise can keep you at a healthy weight, which prevents strain on your back from being overweight. Apart from maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise helps relieve stress on your back. Working on stretching, strengthening, and conditioning exercise can result in stronger muscles that support your spine and body weight. When your spine is supported, it is less likely that you will suffer an injury or back pain. Engaging in exercise helps keep our back healthy by allowing the discs in our vertebra to exchange fluids. A healthy disc swells with water and then squeezes it out, distributing the fluids needed for nourishment for the disc. Fluid exchange helps reduce the swelling in other soft tissues that surround a possibly injured disc. A lack of exercise is sure to increase swelling of the disc as it becomes malnourished and begins to degenerate. Exercise reduces stiffness in our back by keeping the connective fibers of ligaments and tendons flexible. Improved mobility prevents stress and tears in the connective fibers, tendons, and ligaments, preventing injuries. 4 Ways Exercise Helps Our Back To summarize the benefits of exercise for our back, here are five things to remember: Strong muscles to support the back Strong abdominal muscles that improve posture Increased flexibility allows for more mobility A stronger spinal structure prevents injuries Our bodies will grow old and stop working the way we’re accustomed to, but we can prevent pain and future issues with proper exercise. As our back ages, we can help it remain strong and healthy by doing the work. Exercises to Strengthen the Back Every exercise plan serves a purpose. There are workout plans just for losing weight or losing weight in a specific area. When it comes to our back, it’s important to do the right workouts. These exercises can be done at any age and help strengthen our back: Biking Swimming Walking Water exercises Yoga Tai chi Back strengthening exercises can consist of the following: Standing back extension Forward back bend stretch Standing side back stretch Seated backbend stretch Shoulder squeeze Shoulder rotation There are many different types of exercises. What you need to focus on

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Medical illustration of human back nerves

Early Signs of Nerve Damage

Our bodies are made up of many different parts that work together to function as one. When one part is damaged or impaired, it causes pain or, at the very least, discomfort. A significant part of our bodies is our nervous system. A nerve is a white cord-like bundle of fibers surrounded by a sheath that connects the nervous system to the rest of the body. Our nerves send signals to our body so that it functions. Nerve damage is called Neuropathic pain. A nerve injury can be in the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord, or the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord in the peripheral nervous system. What Causes Nerve Damage? Nerve damage often occurs because of an underlying condition, such as diabetes or a sustained injury. Injury to the nerves can occur for any number of reasons, including car accidents, falls, or sports injuries. Diabetic Neuropathy Diabetes is the most common cause of nerve damage in the United States. The high levels of glucose in the blood cause nerve damage. Symptoms vary depending on which Neuropathy you might have. Peripheral Neuropathy: This is the most common type of diabetic neuropathy. Peripheral Neuropathy first affects the feet and legs, and then eventually the hands and arms. Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy are often worse at night. Autonomic Neuropathy: The autonomic nervous system controls the heart, bladder, stomach, intestines, sex organs, and eyes. Diabetes can negatively affect these areas. Proximal Neuropathy: This type of Neuropathy is also called diabetic amyotrophy. Proximal Neuropathy affects nerves in the thighs, hips, buttocks, or legs. It may also affect the abdomen and chest. Symptoms are often only felt on one side of the body, although symptoms can spread. Mononeuropathy (Focal Neuropathy): Mononeuopathy refers to damage that occurs only to a single nerve, usually close to the skin or near the bone. The best-known form of mononeuropathy is carpal tunnel syndrome. Degenerative Joint or Disc Disease Degenerative disc disease is the gradual deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae. Cancer or Other Tumors Cancer and cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy drugs, can cause nerve damage. As tumors grow, they may place pressure on the surrounding nerves. Sometimes cancer can grow from the nerves themselves. HIV Nerve pain caused by HIV often appears in the hands and feet first. Treatments of HIV, such as antiretroviral drugs, can also lead to nerve damage. Early Signs of Nerve Damage Our body has three types of nerves that make up our nervous system. Symptoms of nerve damage vary depending on which nerves are being affected and the cause of the damage. Autonomic nerves: control involuntary or partially voluntary movements of the body which include blood pressure, temperature regulation, digestion, and the rate of our heart. Motor nerves: control your muscles and their movements by sending information to your brain and spinal cord. Sensory nerves: control your sensory functions by sending signals from your skin and muscles to your brain and spinal cord.

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LETS GET IN CONTACT

For immediate assistance, please call 855.586.2615
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Phone: 855.586.2615

Current Clients: 855.706.1011

NJ Spine and Orthopedic is dedicated to delivering minimally invasive laser spine surgeries to eliminate the pain, discomfort, and dysfunction of numerous conditions of the neck and back.

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