Mar 16, 2023

Types of Back Injuries & Anatomy of the Spine. Learn About Common Back Problems

If you have back pain, your doctor may ask what type of back injury you've had. Knowing the difference between different types of back injuries can help you understand the cause and treatment options for your condition. Here a basic breakdown about common causes of back injuries:

The spine is the center of your body.

The spine is made up of bones and joints, which together form a main support structure for your body. The spine is divided into five regions: cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), lumbar (lower back), sacral (pelvis) and coccygeal (tailbone).

The vertebrae are the bones in your spinal column. They're separated by intervertebral discs that act as cushions between them to absorb shock during movement or impact.

Anatomy of the back and spine

The spine is made up of a complex network of bones and ligaments. There are 24 vertebrae in the human spine, which are separated by intervertebral disks. These disks provide cushioning between the vertebrae so that they don't rub together. The muscles and ligaments around the spine help support it as well.

🤔The spinal anatomy is complex and can be confusing.

The spine is a complex structure. It consists of bones, cartilage and ligaments. The spine consists of vertebrae that are separated by intervertebral disks. There are also ribs that protect the lungs and heart by enclosing them in the chest cavity.

The spine is made up of 33 bones called vertebrae that are stacked on top of each other like a pyramid with four curves (lumbar, thoracic, cervical and coccygeal).

Vertebrae

👉The vertebrae are the bones of the spine. The vertebrae are divided into five regions:

cervical,
thoracic,
lumbar
sacral (also called "upper" and "lower")
coccygeal (also called "tailbone").

Each region has its own unique characteristics that will be described below.

👉The 7 cervical vertebrae are located at the top of your back near where it meets with your neck. 👉They're shaped like an upside down letter C with two transverse processes on either side of each vertebrae that extend backward and slightly downward from its posterior surface.

👉These processes help form joints between each consecutive pair of cervical vertebrae so they can move freely while supporting weight off-center over time.

👉This help prevent causing pain in other areas such as shoulders or hips due to improper posture

Ribs

✔️The ribs are the bones that protect your lungs. ✔️There are 12 ribs and they're numbered 1 through 12, starting at the top of your spine and going down to just above where your sternum (breastbone)

✔️The last three pairs of ribs are called floating because they don't attach directly with any vertebrae. Instead, they connect with cartilage from other structures in order for them not to move out of place during breathing motions like coughing or sneezing (which would otherwise cause serious damage).

Intervertebral disks

👉The intervertebral disks are a series of soft, gel-like pads that act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae.

👉The outer layer is made up of tough fibrous tissue and water; the inner layer contains collagen.

👉Over time and with repeated stress, these disks can degenerate or become damaged.

This deterioration causes the discs to shrink in size, which can lead to pain or other problems including herniation (when part of the disc protrudes through its outer covering).

Spinal ligaments

Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect bones to other bones. They provide stability and support to the joint, preventing excessive movement. Ligaments are elastic, allowing for movement but preventing overstretching.

Spinal ligaments include:

Facet (or zygapophyseal) joints

Intervertebral discs

Vertebral bodies

Spinal muscles

The spinal muscles are divided into three groups:

erector spinae group,
multifidus group,
longissimus group.

👉The erector spinae group consists of the iliocostalis cervicis and thoracis (both starting at T11), as well as longissimus capitis (T1-6) and spinalis cervicis (T1-6).

👉They run parallel to each other from their origin on one vertebra to their insertion on another. 👉They extend from front to back along the entire length of your spine.

👉These muscles contract when you lift your head or bend forward at waist level.

👉They also help keep your spine in good alignment by pulling it straight when standing upright.

⚠️If these muscles become weak due to illness or injury, then it may lead to lower back pain or sciatica because there isn't enough support for carrying heavy loads over time without proper conditioning beforehand..

Causes of Back Pain

Back pain can be caused by many things. Some of the most common causes of back pain include arthritis, spondylosis (a degenerative condition affecting the spine), degenerative disc disease and lumbar spondylosis.

Spinal stenosis, spinal disc herniation, spinal fractures and osteoarthritis are other common causes of back pain.

Arthritis, which is inflammation of the joints, can also cause back pain.

✔️Arthritis is a disease that affects the joints, causing inflammation and pain. It can be caused by a variety of things, including injury or aging. Back pain associated with arthritis may also be referred to as "degenerative disc disease" or "spondylosis."

Spondylosis is a type of arthritis that affects the intervertebral discs and joints of the spine. It's caused by compression or irritation in the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower spine down through your leg.

✔️This can lead to muscle weakness and pain in your lower back, buttocks, hips, thighs and calves--especially with prolonged sitting or standing (such as when driving).

Sciatica is caused by compression or irritation in the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower spine down through your leg.

✔️Sciatica is a common cause of back pain. It's caused by compression or irritation in the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower spine down through your leg.

The pain can radiate from the lower back down the leg and may feel like it travels along that path all the way to your toes (or even feet).

Sciatica can be caused by:

a herniated disc (a bulge in one of your vertebrae)
spinal stenosis (tightening or narrowing of a canal)
spondylolisthesis (when one vertebra slides forward over another).

Degenerative disc disease refers to damage to a disc that occurs as a result of aging.

✔️Aging can damage the discs in your spine, the cushions between each vertebra.

✔️ As you age, these discs become thinner and less flexible, which can cause them to bulge or rupture.

✔️The nucleus pulposus (the inner part of the disc) can leak out of its normal space, causing pain in your back and leg muscles.

Lumbar spondylosis is a type of degenerative spinal stenosis that affects the lumbar vertebrae (upper back). The spinal canal narrows and puts pressure on the nerves in your lower back, causing pain and numbness.

✔️Lumbar spondylosis most often occurs when you have arthritis in one or more of your vertebrae. You may also be at risk if you have too much pressure on your spine from an injury, surgery or scoliosis (curvature of the spine).

Osteoarthritis, or wear-and-tear arthritis, is another common cause of back pain that usually affects people over age 50.

✔️The disease is caused by the breakdown of cartilage and bone, which leads to inflammation, pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis can affect the back, hips and knees as well as neck and hand joints.

✔️If you have osteoarthritis in your spine it may be treated with plans including physical therapy.

✔️The aim would be reducing swelling around joints or improving flexibility in the muscles supporting them (such as those around the spine).

✔️In some cases surgery may be needed if other methods fail to provide relief from pain or improve mobility enough for you to resume normal activities without experiencing discomfort from movement such as bending down

Treatment for back injury

Back injuries can be very painful and quite difficult to treat. Back injury treatment is different for every person, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution for back pain. Your doctor will want to talk about your condition and come up with a plan of action that works best for you.

Back injury treatment can be quite a complicated task.

Treatment depends on the type of back injury you have. Treatment options include physical therapy, surgery and medication.

Some treatments are more effective than others in treating different types of back injuries. For example, surgery is usually only used if all other treatments have failed to relieve pain or improve function after six weeks. In contrast, non-surgical rehabilitation may be appropriate for patients who have chronic disc degeneration with minimal radicular symptoms (pain) without any evidence of neurologic deficit (loss of function).

Surgery is often a last resort for treating back injuries.

Surgery may be recommended if other forms of treatment have failed and you still aren't able to do your normal daily activities, such as walking or standing upright. Surgery can also be helpful if you've had an injury that has been causing pain for more than six months, even if it doesn't interfere with your ability to work or carry out other daily tasks.

Surgery isn't always successful in treating spinal conditions, but it does tend to work better when the injury is recent rather than older and less severe (as long as there isn't nerve damage).

Physical therapy, or physiotherapy, is the first line of treatment for most back injuries.

It can help you recover from your injury and get back to work or your normal life. In some cases, physical therapy may be all you need to treat your condition. If you're still experiencing pain after several months of physical therapy, though (or if it doesn't seem to help at all) your doctor might recommend surgery or another type of treatment.

🧑‍⚕️If you're dealing with a serious back injury, you will want to talk about it with your doctor and get treatment as soon as possible.

🧑‍⚕️ Recovering from a back injury can take a long time, so it's important to know what the best course of action is and when it's okay to try out methods like physical therapy

🏋️Physical therapy (or physiotherapy) is the first line of treatment for most back injuries--especially if they are caused by overuse or repetitive motions at work or play. A physical therapist will prescribe exercises that can help strengthen muscles around your spine. 🏋️This will hopefully improve flexibility in those muscles and joints, reduce pain levels by improving circulation in your body and reducing inflammation brought on by swelling near the injured areas on the spinal column itself (known as "pinch points").

✔️You can prevent back injury by exercising regularly, avoiding carrying heavy loads, and taking care of yourself physically and mentally.

✔️You can also prevent back injury by getting regular checkups at the doctor's office. This will allow you to catch any problems in their early stages so they can be treated before they become serious.

✔️The spine is one of the most important parts of your body. It's essential for supporting your weight, protecting your spinal cord and vertebrae from injury, and keeping you upright. The anatomy can be confusing at first glance, but once you understand how each part fits together, it will be much easier for you to care for this important structure as well

✔️Stretching is an important part of exercise, but it needs to be done correctly. If you feel pain in your back or other parts of your body, stop stretching immediately and consult a doctor.

✔️If you're experiencing any kind of chronic pain in your back, it's important to see a doctor right away so they can diagnose the problem and develop a treatment plan that works for you.

MendMeShop has some great products that could help support your spine including our Back Brace. This is a fantastic support for those with various conditions of the back.

References

We pride ourselves on being thoroughly researched before we post blog posts, articles or webpages. Here is a list of references used to create this content:

👉Ref 1: Overview of Back Pain, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

👉Ref 2: What is Back Pain, NHS, UK

👉Ref 3: Lower Back Pain, what could it be? John Hopkins Medicine

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