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Spinal Injury
Spinal Injury is damage to one or more of the actual components of the spine.
Back injuries
can include damage to the spinal nerves, vertebrae, intervertebral discs, muscles, and ligaments. Injuries to the spine are more specific and focus on the spinal bones and discs. Spinal injuries can be very serious, but most will heal after receiving proper treatment.

Spinal Injury / Intervertebral Discs
* Herniated Discs
Spinal disc injury can result in a herniated or
ruptured intervertebral disc.
The spinal discs act as shock absorbers in between the vertebral bones and also help to increase spinal flexibility. When one or more of these structures are damaged, there is the possibility that the entire spinal region can be affected. Disc injuries are most common in the lumbar and cervical areas of the spine, since these areas experience the most spinal movement. These are also the areas of the spine that degenerate the fastest.
Degenerative disc disease
might rarely be a contributing factor towards serious chronic pain resulting from a spine injury.
Spine Injury / Vertebrae
* Fractured Vertebrae
Spinal bones can be injured from any significant trauma. Most often, one of the vertebral projections is chipped or broken. The spinous process and transverse process are the bony “fins” that project from the rear of the spine. These are the ridges you can feel through your skin when you touch the spinal area. These parts of the vertebrae are more fragile than the flat vertebral bodies. In order for the actual vertebral body to be injured, the trauma must be concentrated and severe. However, if the patient has weak bones or
osteoporosis,
a compression fracture can occur from a minor injury or even without any trauma at all.
Spinal Injury / Additional Structures
* Back Muscle Pain
* Spinal Cord Injury
* Spinal Nerve Injury
Recommendation for Spinal Injuries
Injuries to
the back
and spine can be scary and horribly painful. Any injury to the spinal structures will most likely be the worst pain a person will ever experience in their life. Most spinal injuries require immediate
treatment
and serious injuries might require
surgical correction.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the body is designed to heal. Most spinal injuries will heal with time. Proper treatment,
rehabilitation
and mental attitude are crucial in order to make a full
recovery.
Do not get caught in a lifelong web of chronic pain. It is very important for the patient to work towards becoming pain free. Do not adopt the attitude that you are permanently injured or defective. Medicine has developed some miraculous technology in the field of spinal medicine. We have come a long way from the time when a spinal injury often meant permanent disability or even death.
Spinal Injury to Back Pain Home
8/29/06 Revised 8/6/08

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