Broken Back

A broken back is a severe injury which should receive immediate expert medical attention. The spine is comprised of 24 individual vertebral bones, as well as the sacrum and the coccyx. Any of these spinal bones can fracture causing what is known as a broken spine or back. Damage to the spinal bones does not signify definite injury to the spinal cord or nerves. Only a qualified doctor can properly diagnose spinal damage and possible injury to the neurological spinal tissues.

What is a Broken Back?

A broken spine is defined as one or more broken, fractured or misaligned vertebral bones. The condition has a wide range of health implications and possible symptoms. An accurate diagnosis is very important for any patient with a suspected vertebral fracture. The patient should insist on an MRI or CT scan if there is any indication of potential neurological damage at the injured vertebral level. Common indicators of nerve damage are weakness, tingling or numbness in the affected location.

Causes of a Broken Back

Osteoporosis is a quiet condition which can cause vertebral fractures without suffering any trauma. The actual weight of the patient is sometimes all that is required to cause a broken spinal bone. A single vertebral stress fracture might go completely unnoticed by the patient and their doctor. Many of these minor cracks are normal parts of the aging process for some patients with low bone density and are completely asymptomatic.

Fractures can also come from any significant trauma such a fall, car accident act of violence or sports injury. Once again, vertebral bones might be chipped or fractured in a minor and almost insignificant way. These types of injuries are usually not serious and will heal completely with minor medical supervision. Serious breaks or multiple breaks can cause huge problems for the patient. Besides threatening the actual spinal cord or spinal nerves, extreme trauma often causes spinal instability. This condition almost always requires surgical intervention to stabilize the spine and insure no further damage to sensitive tissues.

Broken Back and Spinal Cord Injury

Even major trauma to the spine does not guarantee that the patient will suffer a spinal cord injury. Many patients break multiple vertebral bones and do not injure their spinal cord at all. It is possible to actually bruise or injure the spinal cord in a minor way. This type of damage might heal completely with time or might leave some permanent neurological effects. It is possible to experience a complete spinal cord injury from any significant vertebral break. This condition is most often disastrous for a patient, since it results in paralysis below the injured spinal level. In rare circumstances, it is possible to damage or even sever the spinal cord without suffering any broken or fractured vertebral bones at all.

Recommendation for a Broken Back

A damaged spine should always be taken seriously. Even minor damage can cause complications which can threaten a patient�s future functionality. Minor spinal damage should heal well and leave the patient fully capable of living life to the fullest. Make sure to learn how a proper rehabilitation program can help you to regain lost function from many spinal fractures. Spinal cord injuries are the worst type of damaged spinal structure. An injured cord can and will definitely change a patient�s life drastically. Not all spinal cord damage is permanent and some function can be regained, even in cases of significant injury. To learn more about regeneration from cord injuries, I highly recommend seeking out a specialist in spinal neurology.

Broken Back to Back Pain Home 9/3/07 Revised 8/7/08