We have your back!<\/em> \u2122<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_video admin_label=”Spine Cartoon Video” src=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/616258363″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” prev_background_color=”#004279″][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text above the video” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Many of us have gone through back pain and realize how disruptive it can be. We have watch friends and relatives struggle with back problems sometimes for years. For those of us who have never had back pain we should be grateful.<\/p>\n
Back pain is a result of a number of things going wrong with our body. The muscles controlling the multiple joints of the spine and pelvis become either too weak to control movement of the joints or too tight to allow normal excursions of joints that are designed to move.<\/p>\n
This results in the loads going through the spine increasing to the point where ligaments get inflamed, discs herniate, spurs develop and nerves get impinged upon. What can you do about it?<\/p>\n
First cut back your activity. Back pain means you are asking your back to do something it can\u2019t. So spend less time upright and weight bearing. Try to cut back to a level where your back doesn\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n
Now that you have found an activity that your back can handle, the next step is to increase the back\u2019s capability so it can handle more. You do this with an appropriate exercise program involving strengthening and endurance.<\/p>\n
The strengthening should focus on the muscles of the back and abdomen They should be done in a supine position. The endurance exercises should be done semi or non-weight bearing either on a bicycle or in a pool.<\/p>\n
Sitting tends to worsen back problems. Try a towel roll in the small of your back. Get up every 10 minute and stretch your back. Consider a kneeling chair.<\/p>\n
Remember. Pain means your back can\u2019t do what you\u2019re asking it to do.<\/p>\n
If you try to take pain medication and keep doing what you are doing, then your pain is going to get worse. The remedy for your pain then becomes more prolonged and involved.<\/p>\n
Back pain means you can\u2019t do it. Back off.<\/p>\n
Start an exercise program. Pain medication doesn\u2019t cure your back, so don\u2019t act like it does.<\/p>\n
This is Dr. Vaksha, a spine surgeon here in our office<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/317061986″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text above the video” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Many of us have gone through back pain and realize how disruptive it can be. We have watch friends and relatives struggle with back problems sometimes for years. For those of us who have never had back pain we should be grateful.<\/p>\n
Back pain is a result of a number of things going wrong with our body. The muscles controlling the multiple joints of the spine and pelvis become either too weak to control movement of the joints or too tight to allow normal excursions of joints that are designed to move.<\/p>\n
This results in the loads going through the spine increasing to the point where ligaments get inflamed, discs herniate, spurs develop and nerves get impinged upon. What can you do about it?<\/p>\n
First cut back your activity. Back pain means you are asking your back to do something it can\u2019t. So spend less time upright and weight bearing. Try to cut back to a level where your back doesn\u2019t hurt.<\/p>\n
Now that you have found an activity that your back can handle, the next step is to increase the back\u2019s capability so it can handle more. You do this with an appropriate exercise program involving strengthening and endurance.<\/p>\n
The strengthening should focus on the muscles of the back and abdomen They should be done in a supine position. The endurance exercises should be done semi or non-weight bearing either on a bicycle or in a pool.<\/p>\n
Sitting tends to worsen back problems. Try a towel roll in the small of your back. Get up every 10 minute and stretch your back. Consider a kneeling chair.<\/p>\n
Remember. Pain means your back can\u2019t do what you\u2019re asking it to do.<\/p>\n
If you try to take pain medication and keep doing what you are doing, then your pain is going to get worse. The remedy for your pain then becomes more prolonged and involved.<\/p>\n
Back pain means you can\u2019t do it. Back off.<\/p>\n
Start an exercise program. Pain medication doesn\u2019t cure your back, so don\u2019t act like it does.<\/p>\n
This is Dr. Vaksha, a spine surgeon here in our office<\/h2>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/317061986″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.26.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
ANATOMY OF THE SPINE<\/h2>\n
Spine is a complex structure which is made of multiple bones called vertebrae along with their associated ligaments, capsules, muscles, and nerve structures.\u00a0 It extends from the base of the skull to the pelvis.\u00a0 Spine is essentially made up of 33 vertebrae.\u00a0 The lower four vertebrae are joined together to form the coccyx or the tailbone.<\/p>\n
![\"X-ray](\"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Untitled.jpg\")
X-ray of the lumbar spine in the lateral view<\/p><\/div>\n
The five vertebrae above the tailbone are joined together to form the sacrum.\u00a0 Rest of the other vertebrae are mobile units.\u00a0 The spine is divided essentially into 3 parts.\u00a0 The neck or the cervical spine, the mid back or the thoracic spine, and the lower back or the lumbosacral spine.<\/p>\n
The cervical spine is made up of upper seven vertebrae. It allows movement of head. The thoracic spine is made up of twelve vertebrae and hinges the ribs in the front to make the chest.\u00a0 The lumbosacral spine is made up of five lumbar, five sacral, and four coccyx vertebrae and it helps in distributing the weight of the upper body to the pelvis and the lower limbs.<\/p>\n
ANATOMY OF THE SPINE VERTEBRAE<\/h2>\n
Vertebra is the basic unit of the spine.\u00a0 Each vertebra is made up of two parts, the front solid portion called the body, which is strong and stable and stacked over each other to provide stability to the spine.\u00a0 The back portion of the vertebrae is made of a V shaped flat bone called the lamina and is joined to the body by two pedicles.<\/p>\n
The lamina forms the arch over the back of the body make a canal through which the spinal cord and nerve roots pass and are protected.\u00a0 There are vertebral foramina below each pedicle through which the nerve root from the specific level passes out of the spinal canal to supply the structures in their respective areas.<\/p>\n
The portion of the junction of the lamina with the pedicle is called pars interarticularis.\u00a0 This may be involved or fractured in some patients (especially young patients) causing instability of the spine.\u00a0 There are articular processes above and below from the back of lamina called facets which articulate with the facets above and below on each side to form the facet joints.\u00a0 The two vertebral bodies articulate with each other also through an intervening intervertebral disk.<\/p>\n
INTERVERTEBRAL DISC<\/h2>\n
Intervertebral Disc is present in between bodies of vertebrae above and below. It helps providing stability as well as mobility to the spine.\u00a0 It also acts as shock absorber preventing injury to the vertebral body.\u00a0 A disk is made up of outer fibrous rings called annulus fibrosus and the inner jelly called the nucleus pulposus.<\/p>\n
The disk can be damaged due to injury or wear and tear or aging.\u00a0 This may lead to herniation of the nucleus through the annulus fibrosus causing herniated disk.\u00a0 This herniated disk may cause compression over the spinal cord or nerve roots, which may lead to radicular pain down the leg or the arm called radiculopathy.\u00a0 Degeneration of the disk itself may cause back pain.<\/p>\n
FUNCTION OF SPINE<\/h2>\n
The spine functions to keep our body erect and straight as well as protect all the nerves in the form of spinal cord and the nerve roots that come from the brain within the spina canal and are distributed all over the body.<\/p>\n
The mobile segments of the spine in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine are essentially made of three joints in between each vertebra which allow movement at well as stability.<\/p>\n
The spine is wrapped around with muscles especially on the back and on its sides.\u00a0 The major vessels of the body run along the front of the spine in the thoracic and lumbar spine while the food and wind pipe runs in front of cervical spine with other many complex and vital structures around the spine.<\/p>\n
SPINE DISEASES<\/h2>\n
Due the complexity of itself and its surrounding structures, spine is prone to many type of diseases.\u00a0 The diseases that usually affect the spine are either of the following types:<\/p>\n
\n- Congenital or developmental – These types of conditions are usually present at birth or develop in the early developing years of life.\u00a0 Development of scoliosis either at birth or during adolescence is an example of this type of problem.<\/li>\n
- Traumatic spine injury – These injuries happen either due to motor vehicle accident or falls or other such accidents.\u00a0 The patients may suffer a fracture or a dislocation or a combination of the two.\u00a0 Such patients need to be treated accordingly under supervision of a spine surgeon.<\/li>\n
- Neoplastic – It means the patient has neoplastic lesion or tumor involving the spine.\u00a0 These lesions may be either malignant or benign and usually need a diagnostic workup to rule out or confirm the diagnosis before a treatment can be planned and carried out.<\/li>\n
- Infective – It means that the spine is involved in an infection.\u00a0 Infection of spine is an uncommon phenomenon but may happen especially in patients who are immunocompromised like patients of HIV or AIDS or patients who are on chemo or radiotherapy or on immunosuppressive medications. It is also common in IV drug users.<\/li>\n
- Metabolic and Inflammatory diseases of the spine – These usually include osteoporosis or osteomalacia which means weakening of the bone structure.\u00a0 This usually happens due to ageing but may also happen due to medications or diseases. Most common inflammatory disease of Spine is Rheumatoid arthritis which usually involve the cervical spine or the neck.<\/li>\n
- Degenerative – This is the most common cause of diseases of the spine, usually involves the cervical or the lumbar spine.\u00a0 It essentially involves ageing process but can be accelerated due to injuries or over use of the spine or bad posture for a long time.\u00a0 Most of the patients usually present with pain in the affected area, either the neck or the lower back in most instances.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
PRESENTATION OF THE PATIENT WITH SPINE PROBLEM (SYMPTOMS)<\/h2>\n
Most common presentation of a patient with spine problem is pain localized to the neck or back. The pain may be in the midline along with in paramedian location. It may be associated with muscle spasms.<\/p>\n
The pain is usually aggravated with activity and relieved with rest.\u00a0 Occasionally, the patient may have radiating pain down the extremity with or without tingling, numbness, weakness of the muscles, involvement of bowel or bladder or gait. Bowel and bladder may be in the form of retention or incontinence.<\/p>\n
The patient may also have sexual dysfunction rarely. Rarely in cases of thoracic spine disease there may be radiating pain or tingling and numbness along the chest or abdomen.<\/p>\n
RED FLAGS<\/h2>\n\n- The patients who have back or neck pain with any of these following conditions should seek medical attention as soon as possible.<\/li>\n
- Cancer, neoplasia or malignancy.<\/li>\n
- Unexplained weight loss of more than 10 pounds in the last 6 months.<\/li>\n
- Immunocompromised comorbidities like on chemo or radiotherapy or having disease like HIV or AIDs or being on prolonged corticosteroid therapy.<\/li>\n
- IV drug users.<\/li>\n
- Urinary tract infection.<\/li>\n
- Fever of more than 100 degrees centigrade.<\/li>\n
- Significant trauma from a fall or accident.<\/li>\n
- Bowel or bladder involvement in the form of incontinence or retention.<\/li>\n
- Weakness in the major joint of arm or leg.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
SPINE HEALTH<\/h2>\n
Our spine is S-shaped and curved which curves to the front in the neck and lower back while curving towards the back in the thoracic spine. A healthy spine with a good posture and strong musculature is the key to prevention of spine problems.\u00a0 There are multiple lifestyle changes that can be done to prevent developing spine problems as well as prevent deterioration of preexisting diseases.<\/p>\n
Regular exercises which also include core strengthening exercises which help\u00a0 strengthen muscles in the front and the back of the spine are helpful in prevention of spine disease. These exercises can be performed at home or in the gym with or without the help of a physical trainer. Yoga is one of the many good exercise routines that can help stretch and strengthen all muscles of back apart from the muscles of the extremities.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_sidebar area=”sidebar-1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Spine Surgeries Are you having back pain? Are you considering surgery? looking for a second opinion? Dr. Vaksha is one of our surgeons, and he has clinical fellowship training in Spine, Sports and Arthroscopic surgery, and over 15 years of experience with Spine and Sports Surgery. Watch him talk about the spine in this video, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":3986,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Spine Surgery NYC | Complete Orthopedics","_seopress_titles_desc":"Spine surgical care & back pain management in New York & Long Island. Trusted spine specialists with highly experienced doctors at Complete Orthopedics.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Many of us have gone through back pain and realize how disruptive it can be. We have watch friends and relatives struggle with back problems sometimes for years. For those of us who have never had back pain we should be grateful.\r\n\r\nBack pain is a result of a number of things going wrong with our body. The muscles controlling the multiple joints of the spine and pelvis become either too weak to control movement of the joints or too tight to allow normal excursions of joints that are designed to move.\r\n\r\nThis results in the loads going through the spine increasing to the point where ligaments get inflamed, discs herniate, spurs develop and nerves get impinged upon. What can you do about it?\r\n\r\nFirst cut back your activity. Back pain means you are asking your back to do something it can\u2019t. So spend less time upright and weight bearing. Try to cut back to a level where your back doesn\u2019t hurt.\r\n\r\nNow that you have found an activity that your back can handle, the next step is to increase the back\u2019s capability so it can handle more. You do this with an appropriate exercise program involving strengthening and endurance.\r\n\r\nThe strengthening should focus on the muscles of the back and abdomen They should be done in a supine position. The endurance exercises should be done semi or non-weight bearing either on a bicycle or in a pool.\r\n\r\nSitting tends to worsen back problems. Try a towel roll in the small of your back. Get up every 10 minute and stretch your back. Consider a kneeling chair.\r\n\r\nRemember. Pain means your back can\u2019t do what you\u2019re asking it to do.\r\n\r\nIf you try to take pain medication and keep doing what you are doing, then your pain is going to get worse. The remedy for your pain then becomes more prolonged and involved.\r\n\r\nBack pain means you can\u2019t do it. Back off.\r\n\r\nStart an exercise program. Pain medication doesn\u2019t cure your back. So don\u2019t act like it does.\r\n
ANATOMY OF THE SPINE<\/h2>\r\nSpine is a complex structure which is made of multiple bones called vertebrae along with their associated ligaments, capsules, muscles, and nerve structures.\u00a0 It extends from the base of the skull to the pelvis.\u00a0 Spine is essentially made up of 33 vertebrae.\u00a0 The lower four vertebrae are joined together to form the coccyx or the tailbone.\r\n\r\nThe five vertebrae above the tailbone are joined together to form the sacrum.\u00a0 Rest of the other vertebrae are mobile units.\u00a0 The spine is divided essentially into 3 parts.\u00a0 The neck or the cervical spine, the mid back or the thoracic spine, and the lower back or the lumbosacral spine.\r\n\r\nThe cervical spine is made up of upper seven vertebrae. It allows movement of head. The thoracic spine is made up of twelve vertebrae and hinges the ribs in the front to make the chest.\u00a0 The lumbosacral spine is made up of five lumbar, five sacral, and four coccyx vertebrae and it helps in distributing the weight of the upper body to the pelvis and the lower limbs.\r\nANATOMY OF THE SPINE VERTEBRAE<\/h2>\r\nVertebra is the basic unit of the spine.\u00a0 Each vertebra is made up of two parts, the front solid portion called the body, which is strong and stable and stacked over each other to provide stability to the spine.\u00a0 The back portion of the vertebrae is made of a V shaped flat bone called the lamina and is joined to the body by two pedicles.\r\n\r\nThe lamina forms the arch over the back of the body make a canal through which the spinal cord and nerve roots pass and are protected.\u00a0 There are vertebral foramina below each pedicle through which the nerve root from the specific level passes out of the spinal canal to supply the structures in their respective areas.\r\n\r\nThe portion of the junction of the lamina with the pedicle is called pars interarticularis.\u00a0 This may be involved or fractured in some patients (especially young patients) causing instability of the spine.\u00a0 There are articular processes above and below from the back of lamina called facets which articulate with the facets above and below on each side to form the facet joints.\u00a0 The two vertebral bodies articulate with each other also through an intervening intervertebral disk.\r\nINTERVERTEBRAL DISC<\/h2>\r\nIntervertebral Disc is present in between bodies of vertebrae above and below. It helps providing stability as well as mobility to the spine.\u00a0 It also acts as shock absorber preventing injury to the vertebral body.\u00a0 A disk is made up of outer fibrous rings called annulus fibrosus and the inner jelly called the nucleus pulposus.\r\n\r\nThe disk can be damaged due to injury or wear and tear or aging.\u00a0 This may lead to herniation of the nucleus through the annulus fibrosus causing herniated disk.\u00a0 This herniated disk may cause compression over the spinal cord or nerve roots, which may lead to radicular pain down the leg or the arm called radiculopathy.\u00a0 Degeneration of the disk itself may cause back pain.\r\nFUNCTION OF SPINE<\/h2>\r\nThe spine functions to keep our body erect and straight as well as protect all the nerves in the form of spinal cord and the nerve roots that come from the brain within the spina canal and are distributed all over the body.\r\n\r\nThe mobile segments of the spine in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine are essentially made of three joints in between each vertebra which allow movement at well as stability.\r\n\r\nThe spine is wrapped around with muscles especially on the back and on its sides.\u00a0 The major vessels of the body run along the front of the spine in the thoracic and lumbar spine while the food and wind pipe runs in front of cervical spine with other many complex and vital structures around the spine.\r\nSPINE DISEASES<\/h2>\r\nDue the complexity of itself and its surrounding structures, spine is prone to many type of diseases.\u00a0 The diseases that usually affect the spine are either of the following types:\r\n\r\n \t- Congenital or developmental - These types of conditions are usually present at birth or develop in the early developing years of life.\u00a0 Development of scoliosis either at birth or during adolescence is an example of this type of problem.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Traumatic spine injury - These injuries happen either due to motor vehicle accident or falls or other such accidents.\u00a0 The patients may suffer a fracture or a dislocation or a combination of the two.\u00a0 Such patients need to be treated accordingly under supervision of a spine surgeon.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Neoplastic - It means the patient has neoplastic lesion or tumor involving the spine.\u00a0 These lesions may be either malignant or benign and usually need a diagnostic workup to rule out or confirm the diagnosis before a treatment can be planned and carried out.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Infective - It means that the spine is involved in an infection.\u00a0 Infection of spine is an uncommon phenomenon but may happen especially in patients who are immunocompromised like patients of HIV or AIDS or patients who are on chemo or radiotherapy or on immunosuppressive medications. It is also common in IV drug users.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Metabolic and Inflammatory diseases of the spine - These usually include osteoporosis or osteomalacia which means weakening of the bone structure.\u00a0 This usually happens due to ageing but may also happen due to medications or diseases. Most common inflammatory disease of Spine is Rheumatoid arthritis which usually involve the cervical spine or the neck.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Degenerative - This is the most common cause of diseases of the spine, usually involves the cervical or the lumbar spine.\u00a0 It essentially involves ageing process but can be accelerated due to injuries or over use of the spine or bad posture for a long time.\u00a0 Most of the patients usually present with pain in the affected area, either the neck or the lower back in most instances.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
PRESENTATION OF THE PATIENT WITH SPINE PROBLEM (SYMPTOMS)<\/h2>\r\nMost common presentation of a patient with spine problem is pain localized to the neck or back. The pain may be in the midline along with in paramedian location. It may be associated with muscle spasms.\r\n\r\nThe pain is usually aggravated with activity and relieved with rest.\u00a0 Occasionally, the patient may have radiating pain down the extremity with or without tingling, numbness, weakness of the muscles, involvement of bowel or bladder or gait. Bowel and bladder may be in the form of retention or incontinence.\r\n\r\nThe patient may also have sexual dysfunction rarely. Rarely in cases of thoracic spine disease there may be radiating pain or tingling and numbness along the chest or abdomen.\r\nRED FLAGS<\/h2>\r\n\r\n \t- The patients who have back or neck pain with any of these following conditions should seek medical attention as soon as possible.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Cancer, neoplasia or malignancy.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Unexplained weight loss of more than 10 pounds in the last 6 months.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Immunocompromised comorbidities like on chemo or radiotherapy or having disease like HIV or AIDs or being on prolonged corticosteroid therapy.<\/li>\r\n \t
- IV drug users.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Urinary tract infection.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Fever of more than 100 degrees centigrade.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Significant trauma from a fall or accident.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Bowel or bladder involvement in the form of incontinence or retention.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Weakness in the major joint of arm or leg.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
SPINE HEALTH<\/h2>\r\nOur spine is S-shaped and curved which curves to the front in the neck and lower back while curving towards the back in the thoracic spine. A healthy spine with a good posture and strong musculature is the key to prevention of spine problems.\u00a0 There are multiple lifestyle changes that can be done to prevent developing spine problems as well as prevent deterioration of preexisting diseases.\r\n\r\nRegular exercises which also include core strengthening exercises which help\u00a0 strengthen muscles in the front and the back of the spine are helpful in prevention of spine disease. These exercises can be performed at home or in the gym with or without the help of a physical trainer. Yoga is one of the many good exercise routines that can help stretch and strengthen all muscles of back apart from the muscles of the extremities.","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-120","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=120"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
X-ray of the lumbar spine in the lateral view<\/p><\/div>\n
The five vertebrae above the tailbone are joined together to form the sacrum.\u00a0 Rest of the other vertebrae are mobile units.\u00a0 The spine is divided essentially into 3 parts.\u00a0 The neck or the cervical spine, the mid back or the thoracic spine, and the lower back or the lumbosacral spine.<\/p>\n
The cervical spine is made up of upper seven vertebrae. It allows movement of head. The thoracic spine is made up of twelve vertebrae and hinges the ribs in the front to make the chest.\u00a0 The lumbosacral spine is made up of five lumbar, five sacral, and four coccyx vertebrae and it helps in distributing the weight of the upper body to the pelvis and the lower limbs.<\/p>\n
ANATOMY OF THE SPINE VERTEBRAE<\/h2>\n
Vertebra is the basic unit of the spine.\u00a0 Each vertebra is made up of two parts, the front solid portion called the body, which is strong and stable and stacked over each other to provide stability to the spine.\u00a0 The back portion of the vertebrae is made of a V shaped flat bone called the lamina and is joined to the body by two pedicles.<\/p>\n
The lamina forms the arch over the back of the body make a canal through which the spinal cord and nerve roots pass and are protected.\u00a0 There are vertebral foramina below each pedicle through which the nerve root from the specific level passes out of the spinal canal to supply the structures in their respective areas.<\/p>\n
The portion of the junction of the lamina with the pedicle is called pars interarticularis.\u00a0 This may be involved or fractured in some patients (especially young patients) causing instability of the spine.\u00a0 There are articular processes above and below from the back of lamina called facets which articulate with the facets above and below on each side to form the facet joints.\u00a0 The two vertebral bodies articulate with each other also through an intervening intervertebral disk.<\/p>\n
INTERVERTEBRAL DISC<\/h2>\n
Intervertebral Disc is present in between bodies of vertebrae above and below. It helps providing stability as well as mobility to the spine.\u00a0 It also acts as shock absorber preventing injury to the vertebral body.\u00a0 A disk is made up of outer fibrous rings called annulus fibrosus and the inner jelly called the nucleus pulposus.<\/p>\n
The disk can be damaged due to injury or wear and tear or aging.\u00a0 This may lead to herniation of the nucleus through the annulus fibrosus causing herniated disk.\u00a0 This herniated disk may cause compression over the spinal cord or nerve roots, which may lead to radicular pain down the leg or the arm called radiculopathy.\u00a0 Degeneration of the disk itself may cause back pain.<\/p>\n
FUNCTION OF SPINE<\/h2>\n
The spine functions to keep our body erect and straight as well as protect all the nerves in the form of spinal cord and the nerve roots that come from the brain within the spina canal and are distributed all over the body.<\/p>\n
The mobile segments of the spine in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine are essentially made of three joints in between each vertebra which allow movement at well as stability.<\/p>\n
The spine is wrapped around with muscles especially on the back and on its sides.\u00a0 The major vessels of the body run along the front of the spine in the thoracic and lumbar spine while the food and wind pipe runs in front of cervical spine with other many complex and vital structures around the spine.<\/p>\n
SPINE DISEASES<\/h2>\n
Due the complexity of itself and its surrounding structures, spine is prone to many type of diseases.\u00a0 The diseases that usually affect the spine are either of the following types:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Congenital or developmental – These types of conditions are usually present at birth or develop in the early developing years of life.\u00a0 Development of scoliosis either at birth or during adolescence is an example of this type of problem.<\/li>\n
- Traumatic spine injury – These injuries happen either due to motor vehicle accident or falls or other such accidents.\u00a0 The patients may suffer a fracture or a dislocation or a combination of the two.\u00a0 Such patients need to be treated accordingly under supervision of a spine surgeon.<\/li>\n
- Neoplastic – It means the patient has neoplastic lesion or tumor involving the spine.\u00a0 These lesions may be either malignant or benign and usually need a diagnostic workup to rule out or confirm the diagnosis before a treatment can be planned and carried out.<\/li>\n
- Infective – It means that the spine is involved in an infection.\u00a0 Infection of spine is an uncommon phenomenon but may happen especially in patients who are immunocompromised like patients of HIV or AIDS or patients who are on chemo or radiotherapy or on immunosuppressive medications. It is also common in IV drug users.<\/li>\n
- Metabolic and Inflammatory diseases of the spine – These usually include osteoporosis or osteomalacia which means weakening of the bone structure.\u00a0 This usually happens due to ageing but may also happen due to medications or diseases. Most common inflammatory disease of Spine is Rheumatoid arthritis which usually involve the cervical spine or the neck.<\/li>\n
- Degenerative – This is the most common cause of diseases of the spine, usually involves the cervical or the lumbar spine.\u00a0 It essentially involves ageing process but can be accelerated due to injuries or over use of the spine or bad posture for a long time.\u00a0 Most of the patients usually present with pain in the affected area, either the neck or the lower back in most instances.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
PRESENTATION OF THE PATIENT WITH SPINE PROBLEM (SYMPTOMS)<\/h2>\n
Most common presentation of a patient with spine problem is pain localized to the neck or back. The pain may be in the midline along with in paramedian location. It may be associated with muscle spasms.<\/p>\n
The pain is usually aggravated with activity and relieved with rest.\u00a0 Occasionally, the patient may have radiating pain down the extremity with or without tingling, numbness, weakness of the muscles, involvement of bowel or bladder or gait. Bowel and bladder may be in the form of retention or incontinence.<\/p>\n
The patient may also have sexual dysfunction rarely. Rarely in cases of thoracic spine disease there may be radiating pain or tingling and numbness along the chest or abdomen.<\/p>\n
RED FLAGS<\/h2>\n
- \n
- The patients who have back or neck pain with any of these following conditions should seek medical attention as soon as possible.<\/li>\n
- Cancer, neoplasia or malignancy.<\/li>\n
- Unexplained weight loss of more than 10 pounds in the last 6 months.<\/li>\n
- Immunocompromised comorbidities like on chemo or radiotherapy or having disease like HIV or AIDs or being on prolonged corticosteroid therapy.<\/li>\n
- IV drug users.<\/li>\n
- Urinary tract infection.<\/li>\n
- Fever of more than 100 degrees centigrade.<\/li>\n
- Significant trauma from a fall or accident.<\/li>\n
- Bowel or bladder involvement in the form of incontinence or retention.<\/li>\n
- Weakness in the major joint of arm or leg.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
SPINE HEALTH<\/h2>\n
Our spine is S-shaped and curved which curves to the front in the neck and lower back while curving towards the back in the thoracic spine. A healthy spine with a good posture and strong musculature is the key to prevention of spine problems.\u00a0 There are multiple lifestyle changes that can be done to prevent developing spine problems as well as prevent deterioration of preexisting diseases.<\/p>\n
Regular exercises which also include core strengthening exercises which help\u00a0 strengthen muscles in the front and the back of the spine are helpful in prevention of spine disease. These exercises can be performed at home or in the gym with or without the help of a physical trainer. Yoga is one of the many good exercise routines that can help stretch and strengthen all muscles of back apart from the muscles of the extremities.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_sidebar area=”sidebar-1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Spine Surgeries Are you having back pain? Are you considering surgery? looking for a second opinion? Dr. Vaksha is one of our surgeons, and he has clinical fellowship training in Spine, Sports and Arthroscopic surgery, and over 15 years of experience with Spine and Sports Surgery. Watch him talk about the spine in this video, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":3986,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Spine Surgery NYC | Complete Orthopedics","_seopress_titles_desc":"Spine surgical care & back pain management in New York & Long Island. Trusted spine specialists with highly experienced doctors at Complete Orthopedics.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Many of us have gone through back pain and realize how disruptive it can be. We have watch friends and relatives struggle with back problems sometimes for years. For those of us who have never had back pain we should be grateful.\r\n\r\nBack pain is a result of a number of things going wrong with our body. The muscles controlling the multiple joints of the spine and pelvis become either too weak to control movement of the joints or too tight to allow normal excursions of joints that are designed to move.\r\n\r\nThis results in the loads going through the spine increasing to the point where ligaments get inflamed, discs herniate, spurs develop and nerves get impinged upon. What can you do about it?\r\n\r\nFirst cut back your activity. Back pain means you are asking your back to do something it can\u2019t. So spend less time upright and weight bearing. Try to cut back to a level where your back doesn\u2019t hurt.\r\n\r\nNow that you have found an activity that your back can handle, the next step is to increase the back\u2019s capability so it can handle more. You do this with an appropriate exercise program involving strengthening and endurance.\r\n\r\nThe strengthening should focus on the muscles of the back and abdomen They should be done in a supine position. The endurance exercises should be done semi or non-weight bearing either on a bicycle or in a pool.\r\n\r\nSitting tends to worsen back problems. Try a towel roll in the small of your back. Get up every 10 minute and stretch your back. Consider a kneeling chair.\r\n\r\nRemember. Pain means your back can\u2019t do what you\u2019re asking it to do.\r\n\r\nIf you try to take pain medication and keep doing what you are doing, then your pain is going to get worse. The remedy for your pain then becomes more prolonged and involved.\r\n\r\nBack pain means you can\u2019t do it. Back off.\r\n\r\nStart an exercise program. Pain medication doesn\u2019t cure your back. So don\u2019t act like it does.\r\n
ANATOMY OF THE SPINE<\/h2>\r\nSpine is a complex structure which is made of multiple bones called vertebrae along with their associated ligaments, capsules, muscles, and nerve structures.\u00a0 It extends from the base of the skull to the pelvis.\u00a0 Spine is essentially made up of 33 vertebrae.\u00a0 The lower four vertebrae are joined together to form the coccyx or the tailbone.\r\n\r\nThe five vertebrae above the tailbone are joined together to form the sacrum.\u00a0 Rest of the other vertebrae are mobile units.\u00a0 The spine is divided essentially into 3 parts.\u00a0 The neck or the cervical spine, the mid back or the thoracic spine, and the lower back or the lumbosacral spine.\r\n\r\nThe cervical spine is made up of upper seven vertebrae. It allows movement of head. The thoracic spine is made up of twelve vertebrae and hinges the ribs in the front to make the chest.\u00a0 The lumbosacral spine is made up of five lumbar, five sacral, and four coccyx vertebrae and it helps in distributing the weight of the upper body to the pelvis and the lower limbs.\r\n
ANATOMY OF THE SPINE VERTEBRAE<\/h2>\r\nVertebra is the basic unit of the spine.\u00a0 Each vertebra is made up of two parts, the front solid portion called the body, which is strong and stable and stacked over each other to provide stability to the spine.\u00a0 The back portion of the vertebrae is made of a V shaped flat bone called the lamina and is joined to the body by two pedicles.\r\n\r\nThe lamina forms the arch over the back of the body make a canal through which the spinal cord and nerve roots pass and are protected.\u00a0 There are vertebral foramina below each pedicle through which the nerve root from the specific level passes out of the spinal canal to supply the structures in their respective areas.\r\n\r\nThe portion of the junction of the lamina with the pedicle is called pars interarticularis.\u00a0 This may be involved or fractured in some patients (especially young patients) causing instability of the spine.\u00a0 There are articular processes above and below from the back of lamina called facets which articulate with the facets above and below on each side to form the facet joints.\u00a0 The two vertebral bodies articulate with each other also through an intervening intervertebral disk.\r\n
INTERVERTEBRAL DISC<\/h2>\r\nIntervertebral Disc is present in between bodies of vertebrae above and below. It helps providing stability as well as mobility to the spine.\u00a0 It also acts as shock absorber preventing injury to the vertebral body.\u00a0 A disk is made up of outer fibrous rings called annulus fibrosus and the inner jelly called the nucleus pulposus.\r\n\r\nThe disk can be damaged due to injury or wear and tear or aging.\u00a0 This may lead to herniation of the nucleus through the annulus fibrosus causing herniated disk.\u00a0 This herniated disk may cause compression over the spinal cord or nerve roots, which may lead to radicular pain down the leg or the arm called radiculopathy.\u00a0 Degeneration of the disk itself may cause back pain.\r\n
FUNCTION OF SPINE<\/h2>\r\nThe spine functions to keep our body erect and straight as well as protect all the nerves in the form of spinal cord and the nerve roots that come from the brain within the spina canal and are distributed all over the body.\r\n\r\nThe mobile segments of the spine in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine are essentially made of three joints in between each vertebra which allow movement at well as stability.\r\n\r\nThe spine is wrapped around with muscles especially on the back and on its sides.\u00a0 The major vessels of the body run along the front of the spine in the thoracic and lumbar spine while the food and wind pipe runs in front of cervical spine with other many complex and vital structures around the spine.\r\n
SPINE DISEASES<\/h2>\r\nDue the complexity of itself and its surrounding structures, spine is prone to many type of diseases.\u00a0 The diseases that usually affect the spine are either of the following types:\r\n
- \r\n \t
- Congenital or developmental - These types of conditions are usually present at birth or develop in the early developing years of life.\u00a0 Development of scoliosis either at birth or during adolescence is an example of this type of problem.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Traumatic spine injury - These injuries happen either due to motor vehicle accident or falls or other such accidents.\u00a0 The patients may suffer a fracture or a dislocation or a combination of the two.\u00a0 Such patients need to be treated accordingly under supervision of a spine surgeon.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Neoplastic - It means the patient has neoplastic lesion or tumor involving the spine.\u00a0 These lesions may be either malignant or benign and usually need a diagnostic workup to rule out or confirm the diagnosis before a treatment can be planned and carried out.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Infective - It means that the spine is involved in an infection.\u00a0 Infection of spine is an uncommon phenomenon but may happen especially in patients who are immunocompromised like patients of HIV or AIDS or patients who are on chemo or radiotherapy or on immunosuppressive medications. It is also common in IV drug users.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Metabolic and Inflammatory diseases of the spine - These usually include osteoporosis or osteomalacia which means weakening of the bone structure.\u00a0 This usually happens due to ageing but may also happen due to medications or diseases. Most common inflammatory disease of Spine is Rheumatoid arthritis which usually involve the cervical spine or the neck.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Degenerative - This is the most common cause of diseases of the spine, usually involves the cervical or the lumbar spine.\u00a0 It essentially involves ageing process but can be accelerated due to injuries or over use of the spine or bad posture for a long time.\u00a0 Most of the patients usually present with pain in the affected area, either the neck or the lower back in most instances.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
PRESENTATION OF THE PATIENT WITH SPINE PROBLEM (SYMPTOMS)<\/h2>\r\nMost common presentation of a patient with spine problem is pain localized to the neck or back. The pain may be in the midline along with in paramedian location. It may be associated with muscle spasms.\r\n\r\nThe pain is usually aggravated with activity and relieved with rest.\u00a0 Occasionally, the patient may have radiating pain down the extremity with or without tingling, numbness, weakness of the muscles, involvement of bowel or bladder or gait. Bowel and bladder may be in the form of retention or incontinence.\r\n\r\nThe patient may also have sexual dysfunction rarely. Rarely in cases of thoracic spine disease there may be radiating pain or tingling and numbness along the chest or abdomen.\r\n
RED FLAGS<\/h2>\r\n
- \r\n \t
- The patients who have back or neck pain with any of these following conditions should seek medical attention as soon as possible.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Cancer, neoplasia or malignancy.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Unexplained weight loss of more than 10 pounds in the last 6 months.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Immunocompromised comorbidities like on chemo or radiotherapy or having disease like HIV or AIDs or being on prolonged corticosteroid therapy.<\/li>\r\n \t
- IV drug users.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Urinary tract infection.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Fever of more than 100 degrees centigrade.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Significant trauma from a fall or accident.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Bowel or bladder involvement in the form of incontinence or retention.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Weakness in the major joint of arm or leg.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
SPINE HEALTH<\/h2>\r\nOur spine is S-shaped and curved which curves to the front in the neck and lower back while curving towards the back in the thoracic spine. A healthy spine with a good posture and strong musculature is the key to prevention of spine problems.\u00a0 There are multiple lifestyle changes that can be done to prevent developing spine problems as well as prevent deterioration of preexisting diseases.\r\n\r\nRegular exercises which also include core strengthening exercises which help\u00a0 strengthen muscles in the front and the back of the spine are helpful in prevention of spine disease. These exercises can be performed at home or in the gym with or without the help of a physical trainer. Yoga is one of the many good exercise routines that can help stretch and strengthen all muscles of back apart from the muscles of the extremities.","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-120","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=120"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3986"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/2025divi.cortho.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}