- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
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- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
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- Diabetic Diet
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- How to Prevent Diabetes
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- Breast Reconstruction
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- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
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- Health Problems in Pregnancy
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- HIV and Pregnancy
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- HPV
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- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
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- Ovarian Cancer
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- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
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- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
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- Prenatal Testing
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- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
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- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
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- Triglycerides
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- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
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- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
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- Stuttering
Spine Injuries and Disorders
Summary
Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bone discs called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect your spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend. A number of problems can change the structure of the spine or damage the vertebrae and surrounding tissue. They include:
- Infections
- Injuries
- Tumors
- Conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis and scoliosis
- Bone changes that come with age, such as spinal stenosis and herniated disks
Spinal diseases often cause pain when bone changes put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. They can also limit movement. Treatments differ by disease, but sometimes they include back braces and surgery.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Treatments and Therapies
- About Neurointerventions Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
- Artificial Disc Replacement (ADR) North American Spine Society
- Back Surgery: When Is It a Good Idea? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Chiropractic: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Epidural Injections Radiological Society of North America
- Halo-Gravity Traction Nemours Foundation
- Lumbar (Open) Microscopic Discectomy North American Spine Society
- Vertebroplasty for Spine Fracture Pain American Academy of Family Physicians
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Fractures, Compression National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Kyphosis National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Diseases National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Fractures National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Spinal Injuries National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Spondylolisthesis National Institutes of Health
Patient Handouts
- Compression fractures of the back Medical Encyclopedia
- Foraminotomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Kyphosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Laminectomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Lordosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Spinal fusion Medical Encyclopedia
- Spine surgery – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
- Spondylolisthesis Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Spine Radiological Society of North America
- Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Studies National Library of Medicine
- Lumbar and Cervical Discography North American Spine Society
- Spine MRI Radiological Society of North America
Reference Desk
- Definitions A-Z North American Spine Society
Related Issues
- Degenerative Changes in the Spine: Is This Arthritis? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Find an Expert
- Find a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physician American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Find a Physical Therapist American Physical Therapy Association
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
Specifics
- Fractures of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
- Kyphosis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Spinal Cord Tumor Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Spinal Infections North American Spine Society
- Spondylolysis and Spondylolysthesis North American Spine Society
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAS) North American Spine Society
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Getting It Straight: Improve Your Posture for Better Health National Institutes of Health
Encyclopedia
- Halo brace Medical Encyclopedia
- Lumbar MRI scan Medical Encyclopedia
- Lumbar Spine CT scan Medical Encyclopedia
- Lumbosacral spine CT Medical Encyclopedia
- Lumbosacral spine x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
- Spinal tumor Medical Encyclopedia
- Thoracic spine CT scan Medical Encyclopedia
- Thoracic spine x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
Children
- Halo Brace (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
Genetics
- Intervertebral disc disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Spondylocostal dysostosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Spondylothoracic dysostosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Teenagers
- Kyphosis Nemours Foundation
Images
- Lumbar spinal surgery – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Spinal fusion – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Vertebroplasty – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
Videos and Tutorials
- Prevention: Exercise North American Spine Society
Journal Articles
Living With
- Spine Rehabilitation Exercises American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons