What is spinal instability?
Spinal instability is a term used to describe abnormal movement between 2 vertebrae. The stabilizing system of the spine may be divided into 3 subsystems: the spinal column, the spinal muscles, the neural control unit.
Clinical instability is an important cause of low back pain. As we get older, our discs degenerate and lose tension, which allows them to bulge and thus permitting an increase in movements to appear between the vertebrae. Pain appears when flexion or extension causes the vertebrae to slide forward and backward, or rotate abnormally.
This irritates the nerve, which has become tethered to the disc, vertebra, facet joint margin and ligaments in the foramen, and cannot move freely. Because the nerve cannot accommodate the abnormal movements, it will cause back and/or leg pain, arthritic overgrowth of the joints and it will lead to the development of bone spurs. Other symptoms of spinal instability include:
Once a disc is no longer able to function normally, the degeneration process of all parts of a spinal segment begins. Diagnosis starts with a complete history and physical exam, during which your doctor will check how your back works through various types of motion. In order to correctly diagnose your problem, you may be asked to wear a back brace for a period of time to see whether it provides any relief for your pain. Other diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
Conservative treatment is recommended if you have been diagnosed with spinal instability, and includes the use of a special brace to support and stabilize your spine, physical therapy and stabilization exercises. Surgery is reserved for patients with severe instability when conservative treatments failed to provide positive results and pain relief.
Disclaimer: We do not assume responsibility for the use of the provided information or its interpretation. Our efforts are towards providing current and reliable information; however these should not be considered, or used as a substitute for diagnosis or treatment.
Source: https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/
Related Questions About Common Spinal Conditions
When your back pain hasn't gone away, or when it's severe enough, you should consider calling right away.
See full answerChronic back pain is defined as pain that lasts longer than 3-6 months. About 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which can vary from mild to excruciating, episodic to continuous, merely inconvenient or completely incapacitating.
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See full answerA herniated disc is “non-contained” which means that a tear or break is present and a section of the gel-like nucleus pulposus has slipped into the spinal canal while a bulging disc is “contained“, meaning that the outer layer of the disc does not have any tears or ruptures, and no portion of the nucleus has leaked out of the disc.
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