Degenerative changes in the spine may be assigned any of a number of diagnostic labels. These would include degenerative spinal arthritis, osteoarthritis of the spine, discogenic spondylosis and spondyloarthrosis. These changes, often attributed...
The thoracic spine is the mid-portion of your back and extends from the base of the neck to the bottom of the rib cage. It is made up of 12 thoracic vertebrae, which are separated by soft spongy discs that aid in shock absorption. The thoracic...
The part of the spine that runs through the lower back---the lumbar spine---can degenerate as people age. In fact, lumbar spinal degeneration is a common problem that many people experience when they get older, according to the University of...
OPLL, or Ossified Posterior Longitudinal Ligament, describes a general disease where the spine is compressed due to ossifications of the ligaments that run parallel to the cervical spine. These ossifications can take the shape of bone spurs or a...
A diagnosis of scoliosis may come as the result of a school screening. It might be found as a result of a friend or relative noticing a postural asymmetry. It may come as an incidental finding on an X-ray taken for an unrelated condition. For mild...
The low back is made up of individual lumbar vertebrae that are designed to move and meet the vertebrae above and below at several joints. The lumbar spine offers support and stability to the rest of the body and is a common place for arthritis to...
Arm pain caused by a pinched nerve is often the result of nerve compression in the cervical spine. The nerves in your arms exit out of the spine in your neck. If these nerves become pinched, either due to swelling, a slipped disc or degenerative...
Any part of the eye can be affected by degenerative changes that decrease vision and interfere with activities of daily living. Some degenerative changes occur because of aging; others are related to heredity factors. Having regular eye exams and...
Cooking food naturally is a good way to avoid chemicals, preservatives and artificial ingredients, as well as ensuring that the nutrients haven't been processed out. Frying scrambled eggs in a little bit of butter is more natural than using...
Arthritis, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are among the most prevalent diseases affecting Americans. Although the development of any disease involves the complex interplay of several factors,...
Scoliosis, also known as curvature of the spine, affects approximately 6 million people in the United States. Scoliosis refers to curvatures that are side-to-side and of an angle greater than 10 degrees in magnitude. Typically beginning between...
Osteoarthritis, also referred to as degenerative joint disease, occurs when the cartilage between the joint begins to wear and thin out. With prolonged suffering the bone may thicken and spur, meaning the surface of the bone is no longer smooth...
The term spondylosis is used to indicate degenerative changes to the discs and vertebrae in the spine. It has also been called degenerative disc disease. It happens as the discs located between the vertebrae begin to lose their fluid. In addition,...
Bicuspid aortic valve, or BAV, is a congenital valvular defect where the aortic valve has only two leaflets instead of the usual three. This condition has a strong genetic component affecting multiple family members across generations, with males...
Back and leg pain often occur simultaneously. According to the Mayo Clinic website, any condition that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve--the body's largest nerve--can cause sciatica, or pain that radiates into the leg. There are numerous low...
Psoriatic arthritis is a debilitating and chronic condition accompanying psoriasis (a skin condition characterized by silver plaques and red patches). Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include joint pain and swelling. Most joints in your body can be...
Osteoarthritis of the spine is a common condition, and occurs partly due to the normal wear and tear that happens with age. It can also be the result of an injury or illness. And while osteoarthritis cannot be cured, it can be treated. There are...
At the base of the spine are paired pelvic joints formed by the sacrum and each of the two iliac bones. These "sacroiliac" joints are recognized as a potential source of low back pain. Though physical signs may be inconsistent, a 1996 study...
Most neck pain occurs due to disintegration or the intervertebral discs and stenosis or narrowing of the cervical canal of the neck. Stenosis can cause narrowing of the nerve foramina or canals in the spine leading to pinched and compressed...
In 2001, according to the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, 122,316 lumbar fusions were performed. That number is 113 percent higher than in 1996. Lumbar fusions increased the most for patients older than 60....
The shoulder is one of the most intricate joints in the body. Because it is attached to other numerous muscles and bones, shoulder pain as the result of weightlifting can be debilitating, making even simple tasks like lifting unbearable. Because...
Given the right conditions, joints can make cracking, popping, grinding or snapping noises. These kinds of noises are particularly noticeable in the neck. If you hear noises in your neck but they are not associated with pain, it is probably...
Guggul, also referred to as Indian bedellium, is a popular herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda is the traditional medicine practiced in Chopra, a subcontinent of India, and is practiced in other parts of the world as an alternative...
The soles, or bottoms, of the feet support your entire weight. This area is designed in an arch to provide maximum support and reduce the stress of standing, walking and running on your feet and the rest of your body. The sole contains the plantar...
While problems with the ankle are relatively common, primary osteoarthritis rarely occurs in the ankle. When ankle osteoarthritis does occur, it is usually caused by a remote significant trauma. When you think you have osteoarthritis of the ankle,...
Degenerative Arthritis is often referred to as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, and is a progressive, wear-and-tear breakdown of the joint surfaces and nearby soft tissues. Symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain, inflammation, and...
Back pain and other symptoms can be caused by many factors. A person can pull a muscle, have degenerative changes in the spine due to arthritis or stenosis, or may have a herniated disk. Since some of the symptoms of a herniated disk can mimic...
Back pain is a frequently occurring problem. Many of the problems that lead to back pain are degenerative in nature and occur over long periods of time. While it is a common notion that some degeneration is normal with age, it is possible to avoid...
Comprising the spinal column are bones called vertebrae, which are separated by soft spongy discs that aid in movement and absorb shock. Discs have two parts--a tough and fibrous outer layer called the annulus, and a soft jellylike center portion...
Tibialis Posterior pain is a degenerative form of pain. Learn more about what it is and how to treat it in this medical video clip.
Back pain can slow down your lifestyle if you let it. Facets are the joints in your spine. Learn how to treat facet syndrome in this medical treatment video.
