Top 11 Spine Diseases

The spinal column is a structure made of bone and cartilage that protects the spinal cord, a set of nerves that connect the brain with the rest of the body. Thanks to the spine, people are able to walk and maintain balance; disorders in this part of the body cause motor and other signs.

In this article we will briefly describe the main characteristics of 11 of the main diseases of the spine, such as spina bifida, scoliosis, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

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spinal diseases

Alterations of the spinal column can be due to very different causes, from failures in intrauterine development to viral or bacterial infections.

However, and since we are referring to the same region of the nervous system, many of the disorders we will describe cause similar symptoms, such as paralysis and rigidity muscular.

1. Scoliosis

Scoliosis is one of the most common spinal diseases, especially in women. It is characterized by the curvature of the spine

, which can worsen over the years; In the mildest cases, this alteration does not cause major complications, but if the degree of deviation is high, it can interfere with breathing.

2. lumbar spinal stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis consists of the narrowing of the spinal canal, which in turn causes an understanding of the spinal cord and lumbar nerves, causing pain. It's about a degenerative disorder usually associated with aging, although it can also appear as a consequence of alterations such as achondroplasia or dwarfism.

3. spina bifida

Sometimes the spinal column does not close completely during intrauterine development; when this happens a part of the spinal cord is partially exposed. The most common is that the alteration occurs in the lower back. Although severe cases are associated with multiple problems, 10-20% of people are born with some degree of spina bifida.

• Related article: "Spina bifida: types, causes and treatment"

4. cauda equina syndrome

The horse's tail (“cauda equina”) is a set of spinal nerves that are located in the lower back. Damage in this region causes signs such as muscle weakness, paralysis, gait disturbances, and sciatic pain due to the appearance of dysfunctions in the lower motor neurons of this part of the spinal cord.

5. Chiari malformation

Chiari malformations are structural defects of the cerebellum, a region of the brain that plays a key role in motor coordination. Sometimes During pregnancy, part of the cerebellar nervous tissue slides through the foramen magnum., hole that connects the base of the skull with the vertebral column. Symptoms vary depending on severity.

6. Transverse myelitis

Transverse myelitis is defined as inflammation of the spinal cord. This disorder involves motor symptoms and signs such as muscle weakness and paralysis, as well as sensory deficits (for example, the appearance of pain sensations in the absence of stimulation). It is mainly associated with infections, tumors, vascular disorders and multiple sclerosis.

• Related article: "Transverse myelitis: what is it, symptoms, causes and treatment"

7. Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological disorder in adults. It is a disease related to progressive degeneration of myelin sheaths that cover the axons of many neurons, allowing the efficient transmission of nerve impulses. This causes muscular, sensory, and psychological symptoms that worsen over time.

• You may be interested: "Multiple Sclerosis: Types, Symptoms and Possible Causes"

8. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

This disease consists of the destruction of neurons involved in voluntary muscle motor skills. The main symptoms and signs are stiffness, atrophy and other alterations of the muscles, which lead to increasing difficulty swallowing food and liquids, to speak and even to breathe; the latter problem usually results in death.

9. ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a subtype of arthritis characterized by inflammation of the joints between bones of the spinal column, usually in the region where the spinal column joins the pelvis. It is believed to be due to disorders related to the immune system and pathological inflammation of tissues. Stiffness and back pain progressively increase.

10. Spondylosis (degenerative disc disease)

Spondylosis consists of gradual degeneration of the intervertebral discs and cartilage that protects the points of union between vertebrae. It is common in elderly people since normal aging involves this process to a greater or lesser degree. Sometimes it affects the spinal cord and nerves, progressively compressing them.

11. hyperkyphosis

“Kyphosis” is a term used to refer to the normal curvature of the spine as it goes from the inside out of the body. If the curvature is equal to or greater than 45 degrees the spine loses the ability to move inward (lordosis), causing postural changes, pain and occasionally deformities and respiratory problems.