Back, Neck & Spine Conditions

Spine Disorders

Your spine is an incredible structure, serving as the central support for your body. It helps you stand tall and move freely. Most importantly, it protects your spinal cord—a vital part of your nervous system that sends messages between your brain and body. When something goes wrong with your spine, it can lead to pain, weakness or numbness that makes everyday activities feel like a struggle.

Spine disorders can affect any part of this crucial column, including your cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper back) or lumbar spine (lower back). Some spine problems are mild and resolve quickly, while others can cause serious, long-lasting complications.

Fortunately, with the expert care and support from Summit Orthopedics, most spinal conditions can be effectively managed—right here in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Common Spine Problems

To understand how to treat spine issues, it helps to know what they are. Spine disorders are medical conditions that affect the different parts of your spine and spinal canal: the vertebrae (bones), the soft, gel-like discs that cushion between them, the nerves that branch out from the spine, and the muscles and ligaments that support everything.

Here are some of the most common spine problems we see:

What Causes Spine Disorders?

Many spine issues are simply a part of the natural wear and tear that comes with age. Over time, this natural aging process can lead to disc degeneration, joint problems or changes in bone structure. However, other factors can contribute significantly, including:

Being overweight: Extra body weight increases the strain on your lower back.
Genetics: Some people are simply born with a predisposition to certain spine conditions, like scoliosis.
Injuries: Sudden impacts, such as those from a fall or a sports accident, can cause direct damage to the spine.
Lack of regular movement or exercise: Sitting for long periods can weaken the muscles that support your spine, increasing the risk of injury.
Other medical conditions: Occasionally, spine problems can develop after an illness, surgery or infection.
Poor posture or repetitive strain: Holding your body in unhealthy positions for long periods or performing the same motions repeatedly can put extra stress on your spine.

Symptoms of Spine Disorders

Recognizing the signs of a spine disorder is the first step toward finding relief. The symptoms you experience will vary depending on the specific condition and which part of your spine is affected. However, some signs indicate a potential issue. These include:

Difficulty walking or keeping your balance: You might feel unsteady on your feet.
Loss of bowel or bladder control: This is a serious symptom that needs immediate medical help, as it can be a sign of dangerous nerve compression.
Muscle weakness or spasms: You might find it difficult to lift objects, or you could feel your muscles involuntarily tightening.
Neck or back pain: This can range from a dull ache to sharp, stabbing pain.
Numbness or tingling: This is often described as a “pins and needles” sensation in your extremities.
Pain that spreads to your arms or legs: This is often described as radiating pain, like sciatica.

When to See a Doctor

Knowing when to seek help for back or neck pain helps you get the treatment you need and may prevent long-term problems. Some minor aches may go away on their own, but the symptoms below are signs you need to see a spine specialist.

You experience weakness, numbness or tingling in your arms or legs.
Your back pain gets worse or doesn’t get better after a few days.

Diagnosing Spine Problems

The right treatment plan starts with an accurate diagnosis. Your spine specialist will ask about your symptoms, your medical history and any injuries or conditions you’ve had before. Then, they’ll do a physical exam to check your reflexes, muscle strength and range of motion to find possible problem areas.

Your doctor may use imaging tests to get a clearer picture of what’s happening inside your spine. These tests can include:

CT scan, which provides detailed, cross-sectional images of the spine
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, which provides detailed images of soft tissues like discs and nerves
Nerve test (like an EMG) or a nerve block, which may be used to find out exactly which nerves are affected and what’s causing your pain
X-ray, which shows bone structures

Treatment Options for Spine Disorders

Nonsurgical Treatments

Most spine problems can be treated without surgery. At Summit Orthopedics, spine specialists start with nonsurgical treatments to help you get back to your daily activities with less pain. Nonsurgical options may include:

Injections: Injections like nerve blocks or epidural injections can deliver medication directly to the affected area, providing significant pain relief.
Lifestyle changes: Losing weight if you need to, staying active and avoiding long periods of sitting can ease pressure on your spine and prevent symptoms from worsening.
Medication: Your doctor might prescribe medicine to relieve pain, muscle relaxants to ease spasms or steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling and discomfort.
Physical therapy: This involves exercises and stretches that build strength in muscles that support the spine, improve posture and reduce pain.

Surgical Treatments

Your doctor may recommend spine surgery if your symptoms don’t improve with nonsurgical treatments or if your condition is severe and causes significant nerve damage or instability. Your options will depend on your diagnosis and can include:

Removing a damaged disc (discectomy): This procedure relieves pressure on nerves.
Replacing a disc (disc replacement): Your surgeon replaces a damaged disc with an artificial one.
Fusing two bones together (spinal fusion): Your surgeon permanently joins two or more vertebrae. The new, stronger bone stabilizes a segment of the spine.

Your doctor at Summit Orthopedics will help you understand all your options and work with you to determine whether surgery is the best next step for your specific condition.

Summit Orthopedics surgeons are available at nearly 30 convenient locations across the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Our state-of-the-art, comprehensive orthopedic centers offer same-day appointments from a team of experts who offer the full scope of orthopedic care.

Find your Summit Orthopedics spine expert, request an appointment or call us at (651) 968-5201 to schedule a consultation.

The neck, back, and spine specialists at Summit Orthopedics have brought together a variety of video and written content on common conditions. We welcome you to explore the symptoms, condition descriptions, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.

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