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This information is provided to help you make an informed decision about your spine surgery. If you have any additional questions, please ask your physician as he or she is the only one qualified to comment on your specific condition.
A glossary is also provided to help you become familiar with medical terms your doctor may use to describe your condition and treatment.
The Healthy Spine
The spine is one of the most important structures in the human body. It supports much of the body's weight and protects the spinal cord, which carries communication from the brain to the rest of the body. The spine is strong but flexible, allowing a wide range of movements.
The spine extends from the base of the skull to the tailbone, and is made up of 33 bones, known as the vertebrae .
The first seven vertebrae are in the neck, or cervical region. The next 12 vertebrae have the ribs attached, protecting the heart and lungs. These are called the thoracic vertebrae. Next is the low back area, called the lumbar region, which contains five vertebrae.
The remaining nine vertebrae are in the last two regions of the spine, the sacrum and the coccyx.
The vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions are separated by discs. Discs serve as cushions between the vertebrae and help to protect the vertebrae and nerves that run from the spinal cord to the rest of the body.
The vertebrae in the sacrum and coccyx are fused segments, which means they do not have discs between them.
Problems of the Back
It is estimated that 38% of the adult UK population have low back pain in any year 1,2. Most back pain is acute, meaning that it occurs for a short time and then heals. In some cases, however, the pain and symptoms can last for months or keep coming back; this is considered a chronic, or long-term, problem and requires a doctor's care.
Because the spine is so important for support and movement, a problem with the spine can disrupt even the simplest activities of life.
Conditions of the Spine
There are a number of conditions that can cause pain and affect movement, including spinal stenosis, scoliosis, tumour, infections, fractures and degenerative disc disease . People with low back conditions may have symptoms such as pain or numbness that travels down one or both legs, weakness in their leg muscles, and problems or pain when they urinate. The pain often occurs when the nerves that run through the spine become pinched.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is one of the common causes of back pain. As people age, the discs can lose their elasticity, flexibility, and their ability to serve as shock absorbers for the spine.
DDD happens when the soft centre of the disc dries out and shrinks. This narrows the openings through which the nerves run, pinching the nerves between the vertebrae (see Illustration B). Most people have very few problems when this happens. But for others, the pressure on the nerves is very painful.
People with degenerative disc disease may have symptoms that include back pain, leg pain and weakness in their legs.
Treatments
There are many treatments for spine conditions and degenerative disc disease. You may have already tried some or all of the non-surgical treatments, and they may have helped you for a time. Non-surgical treatments include rest, ice or heat, medication, steroid injections, exercise and physical therapy.
If these non-surgical treatments do not bring relief after a period of time, you and your doctor may decide that a surgical treatment may be right for you:
A glossary is also provided to help you become familiar with medical terms your doctor may use to describe your condition and treatment.
The Healthy Spine
The spine is one of the most important structures in the human body. It supports much of the body's weight and protects the spinal cord, which carries communication from the brain to the rest of the body. The spine is strong but flexible, allowing a wide range of movements.The spine extends from the base of the skull to the tailbone, and is made up of 33 bones, known as the vertebrae .
The first seven vertebrae are in the neck, or cervical region. The next 12 vertebrae have the ribs attached, protecting the heart and lungs. These are called the thoracic vertebrae. Next is the low back area, called the lumbar region, which contains five vertebrae.
The remaining nine vertebrae are in the last two regions of the spine, the sacrum and the coccyx.
The vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions are separated by discs. Discs serve as cushions between the vertebrae and help to protect the vertebrae and nerves that run from the spinal cord to the rest of the body.
The vertebrae in the sacrum and coccyx are fused segments, which means they do not have discs between them.
Problems of the Back
It is estimated that 38% of the adult UK population have low back pain in any year 1,2. Most back pain is acute, meaning that it occurs for a short time and then heals. In some cases, however, the pain and symptoms can last for months or keep coming back; this is considered a chronic, or long-term, problem and requires a doctor's care.
Because the spine is so important for support and movement, a problem with the spine can disrupt even the simplest activities of life.
Conditions of the Spine
There are a number of conditions that can cause pain and affect movement, including spinal stenosis, scoliosis, tumour, infections, fractures and degenerative disc disease . People with low back conditions may have symptoms such as pain or numbness that travels down one or both legs, weakness in their leg muscles, and problems or pain when they urinate. The pain often occurs when the nerves that run through the spine become pinched.
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is one of the common causes of back pain. As people age, the discs can lose their elasticity, flexibility, and their ability to serve as shock absorbers for the spine.
DDD happens when the soft centre of the disc dries out and shrinks. This narrows the openings through which the nerves run, pinching the nerves between the vertebrae (see Illustration B). Most people have very few problems when this happens. But for others, the pressure on the nerves is very painful.
People with degenerative disc disease may have symptoms that include back pain, leg pain and weakness in their legs.
Treatments
There are many treatments for spine conditions and degenerative disc disease. You may have already tried some or all of the non-surgical treatments, and they may have helped you for a time. Non-surgical treatments include rest, ice or heat, medication, steroid injections, exercise and physical therapy.
If these non-surgical treatments do not bring relief after a period of time, you and your doctor may decide that a surgical treatment may be right for you:
Glossary
Bone Bank: a laboratory where allograft bone is stored for use in surgery.
Bone Graft: there are two kinds of bone grafts. Autograft bone is bone that is harvested from one place in a person and then transplanted to another location in the same person.
Allograft bone is bone donated from one person and harvested, processed, stored and then transplanted to another person.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD): loss of elasticity and flexibility of the disc. Although it can happen quickly, most DDD develops over time due to use or misuse.
Disc: a fluid-filled, jelly-like cushion between the vertebrae of the spine. Each disc is identified by the vertebrae that surround it. For example, the L4-5 disc is the disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae.
Discectomy: a surgical procedure that involves removing damaged disc material from between the vertebrae.
Fusion: the joining or healing of bones.
Incision: a cut made through the skin and into the body during surgery.
Laminectomy: a surgical procedure that relieves pressure on the spinal nerves by trimming or removing the lamina (roof) of the vertebra to create more space.
Pedicle: a stem-like area on the back of the vertebra that connects the main part of the vertebra to the structures (e.g. the lamina) that project from it. Each vertebra has two pedicles.
Pedicle screw system: a system of screws and rods that holds the vertebrae stable until fusion occurs.
Scoliosis: a condition in which there is a sideways curve to the spine.
Spinal fusion surgery: a procedure to restore and maintain the space between the vertebrae by stabilising the bones until they can grow together.
Spine: the bony column from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The structure is made up of vertebrae and contains five regions: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx.
Stenosis: a general term used to describe a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and presses on the nerve.
Vertebra(Vertebrae): one of 33 bones that form the spine. Each vertebra is identified by number within its region of the spine. For example, L1 is the first vertebra in the lumbar region.
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Bone Bank: a laboratory where allograft bone is stored for use in surgery.
Bone Graft: there are two kinds of bone grafts. Autograft bone is bone that is harvested from one place in a person and then transplanted to another location in the same person.
Allograft bone is bone donated from one person and harvested, processed, stored and then transplanted to another person.
Degenerative disc disease (DDD): loss of elasticity and flexibility of the disc. Although it can happen quickly, most DDD develops over time due to use or misuse.
Disc: a fluid-filled, jelly-like cushion between the vertebrae of the spine. Each disc is identified by the vertebrae that surround it. For example, the L4-5 disc is the disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae.
Discectomy: a surgical procedure that involves removing damaged disc material from between the vertebrae.
Fusion: the joining or healing of bones.
Incision: a cut made through the skin and into the body during surgery.
Laminectomy: a surgical procedure that relieves pressure on the spinal nerves by trimming or removing the lamina (roof) of the vertebra to create more space.
Pedicle: a stem-like area on the back of the vertebra that connects the main part of the vertebra to the structures (e.g. the lamina) that project from it. Each vertebra has two pedicles.
Pedicle screw system: a system of screws and rods that holds the vertebrae stable until fusion occurs.
Scoliosis: a condition in which there is a sideways curve to the spine.
Spinal fusion surgery: a procedure to restore and maintain the space between the vertebrae by stabilising the bones until they can grow together.
Spine: the bony column from the base of the skull to the tailbone. The structure is made up of vertebrae and contains five regions: the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx.
Stenosis: a general term used to describe a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and presses on the nerve.
Vertebra(Vertebrae): one of 33 bones that form the spine. Each vertebra is identified by number within its region of the spine. For example, L1 is the first vertebra in the lumbar region.
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