Spine Disorders

1. Degenerative Spine Disorders

These are "wear and tear" conditions typically associated with aging or repetitive stress. They are the most common cause of chronic back and neck pain.

• Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD): Not actually a "disease," but a condition where spinal discs lose water content and elasticity, reducing their ability to absorb shock.
• Herniated Disc: Also known as a "slipped" or "ruptured" disc. The soft inner core of a disc leaks through a tear in the outer layer, often irritating nearby nerves.
• Spinal Stenosis: A narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. It most commonly occurs in the lower back and neck.
• Spondylosis: A general term for age-related wear and tear of the spinal disks, often referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine.

2. Spinal Deformities

These conditions involve an abnormal curvature or alignment of the vertebral column that can be congenital (from birth) or develop over time.

• Scoliosis: A sideways curvature of the spine, often appearing as an "S" or "C" shape. It is most commonly diagnosed in adolescents.
• Kyphosis: An exaggerated forward rounding of the upper back (thoracic region), often leading to a "hunchback" appearance.
• Lordosis (Swayback): An excessive inward curve of the lower back (lumbar) or neck (cervical) region.
• Spondylolisthesis: A condition where one vertebra slips forward over the one below it, often caused by a stress fracture or disc degeneration.

3. Inflammatory and Autoimmune Disorders

These disorders occur when the body's immune system attacks the joints and ligaments of the spine, or when systemic inflammation settles in the vertebral column.

• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS): A rare type of arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in the spine. In severe cases, it can cause some of the bones in the spine to fuse together.
• Axial Spondyloarthritis: A broader category of inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine and the sacroiliac (SI) joints.
• Discitis: Inflammation of the intervertebral disc space, often caused by an infection.

4. Traumatic Injuries and Tumors

These conditions are often acute or result from serious underlying cellular changes.

• Vertebral Compression Fractures: Often caused by osteoporosis, these occur when the bony block (vertebral body) in the spine collapses.
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): Damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal, often causing permanent changes in strength, sensation, and other body functions.
• Spinal Tumors: Abnormal growths of cells within or surrounding the spinal cord. They can be primary (originating in the spine) or metastatic (spread from other organs like the lungs or breast).

5. Summary Table: Symptoms & Risk Factors