Back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with about 80% of people expected to experience it at some point in their lives. While some may struggle with back pain for just a few days due to overworked muscles, millions of people face chronic back pain that lasts for more than three months.

Neck pain is another prevalent issue, affecting about 33% of people annually. Like back pain, it significantly impacts quality of life.

Since spine issues can contribute to both neck and back pain, it’s important to identify the signs of a spine problem to get the care needed for chronic neck or back pain.

Below, our team at Spine and Brain India highlights the most common spine issues.

Common Spine Issues

The best way to treat back pain is to target its underlying cause. Some of the most common spine issues are:

Herniated Discs

Herniated discs can occur in any part of your spine: cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back), and lumbar (lower back). When a disc herniates, the gel-like center leaks through the outer shell, pressing on nerves and causing pain.

Herniated discs, also known as bulging or slipped discs, can cause mild to severe pain depending on the severity and nerve compression. Symptoms may include tingling, burning sensations, weakness, or loss of movement. Treatments include physical therapy, stretching, warm compresses, pain medication, and in rare cases, surgery.

Spinal Stenosis

Spinal stenosis is a common issue where the spinal canal narrows and compresses nerves. About 5 out of every 1000 people over age 50 experience symptoms of spinal stenosis, including:

• Numbness or tingling in the upper limbs (hands or arms)

• Numbness or tingling in the lower limbs (feet or legs)

• Muscle weakness

• Balance issues

• Neck pain

Severe cases can cause urinary urgency and fecal incontinence. Treatments include physical therapy, pain medication, steroid injections, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, stem cell therapy, and surgery.

Arthritis

Arthritis can affect any joints in your spine, causing grinding sensations, stiffness, swelling, and pain. Treatment options include exercises, stretches, pain medications, and steroid injections. Surgery is also an option if conservative treatments don’t provide relief.

Whiplash

Whiplash primarily affects the cervical spine and is often caused by car accidents or other jarring motions. Symptoms include neck pain, headaches, muscle pain, brain fog, confusion, and mood changes.

Which Spine Condition is Causing Your Symptoms?

This list covers just a few potential spine issues. At Spine and Brain India, we specialize in diagnosing and treating spinal conditions. To create the right treatment plan, it’s crucial to identify the source of your pain. We review your symptoms, medical history, and diagnostic imaging tests such as x-rays, MRIs, or CT scans.

Once we determine the cause of your pain, we can recommend appropriate treatments, whether it’s physical therapy, interventional pain management, or surgery.

To get started, schedule an appointment at Spine and Brain India and explore the treatments that are right for you.