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Straight Spine
A straight spine is a common name for a condition in which the backbone loses a percentage of one or more of its normal curves. The
spine
is multiply curved to allow greater weight bearing and shock absorption qualities. A typical spine is curved in the shape of a letter S. The cervical and lumbar regions maintain a lordotic curve, with the open end of the curve towards the back of the body. The thoracic spine maintains a kyphotic curve, with the open end of the curve towards the front of the body. Partial loss of one or more of these normal curves is often blamed as the cause of painful symptoms throughout
the back.
Straight Spine Causes
There are many reasons why a patient might lose spinal curvature. Congenital conditions are a common cause of curvature loss. Some patients are simply either born with a lesser curved spine or the predisposition to develop it during their lifetimes.
Lordosis
or
Kyphosis
in one spinal region can cause a straightening of curvatures in other spinal regions. Degenerative or postural changes can create the ideal circumstances for the minimizing of typical spinal curvatures.
Back injury
can also produce a lessened curvature either in the direct area of trauma or in the surrounding spinal levels. Finally,
spinal fusion surgery
can flatten out operated spinal levels or neighboring vertebral levels.
Straight Spine Symptoms
Symptoms of this condition can be diverse and might mimic many other
back pain
syndromes. Many doctors feel this condition is a major source of pain, while others write it off as much to do about nothing. Minimal to moderate loss of spinal curvature is rarely symptomatic, although it is often blamed for back pain when no other more obvious cause is available. This sometimes makes a straightened spine one of the ever growing number of
back pain scapegoat
conditions. Very severe spinal straightening can be a problem for the patient and might create pain or general sensitivity throughout the affected region or even the entire spine. While this condition is rare, it is possible and drastic treatment is usually the prescribed course of action.
Recommendation on a Straight Spine
This condition was a part of my personal diagnosis. In addition to my 2
herniated discs
and
degenerative disc disease,
I was also diagnosed several times as having both a decreased lumbar curvature and a
military neck
(also called a
straight neck
condition). I blame it on my upbringing and having it drilled into my head to STAND UP STRAIGHT. Martial arts training for all those years is akin to military training and keeps the student standing at attention for many long hours. Some doctors thought that this condition was
postural
and others related it to my other spinal conditions. None of my doctors seemed to think this was my primary cause of pain, but most thought that it was a contributor. In the end, I proved them all wrong. I still have a
straight back
and neck, but I no longer have ANY pain. Just goes to prove that the spine is not such a delicate structure after all and some variation from the norm is harmless and coincidental to any pain. If you have long term pain blamed on your straightened spinal column, make sure to try
knowledge therapy
before undergoing any drastic treatments to correct your curves.
Straight Spine to Back Pain
7/16/08 Revised 9/24/08
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