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Also known as decompression surgery, a laminectomy is a type of spinal surgery that is performed with the purpose of relieving pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. It can be performed anywhere along the spine, from the neck to the very lower back.

Back pain is one of the common ailments in the modern world and a leading cause of absence from work. The vast majority of us will hurt our back at some point during our lifetime, and while in many instances it may resolve with no professional intervention, patients with serious or recurring pain may find themselves needing to visit a specialist. Often this is a chiropractor.

Cervical discs are an important part of our anatomy. Nestled between the vertebrae in the neck, they form part of the cervical spine – the section of the spine that runs from the base of our skull, through our neck to our shoulders where is becomes known as the thoracic spine. The cervical spine comprises of seven vertebrae – aptly named C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7, each with a single cervical disc between them. If these discs become damaged or affected by wear and tear, they may require replacing so that the patient is not adversely affected.

Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) is a surgical procedure used to correct problems with the small bones in the spine, known as the vertebrae. There are 33 vertebrae in the human spine, and these interlock to form the spinal column.

Back pain is an extremely common problem, affecting approximately 80% of American’s at some point during their lifetime. While many of these people will find that their back pain resolves itself over the course of a few days, weeks or months, other people may find that develop chronic back pain – a problem which has wider financial implications on patients and society as a whole. Patients who suffer from chronic back pain often spend a great time of time with doctors and chiropractors to discover the cause of their discomfort.

Spinal stenosis is a relatively common condition that largely affects the older generation and is often considered to be a natural part of the ageing process. It is a degenerative change that is characterized by the narrowing of the spinal canal, which in turn puts pressure on the spinal nerves and even the cord.

Degenerative disc disease, also known as spondylosis, is an extremely common condition that refers to the age-related decline of the discs between the vertebrae in the spine. You may also hear it referred to as osteoarthritis of the spine. Although it sounds frightening, it is actually a very normal part of the aging process.

If you are suffering from pain in your lower back, or repeated periods of sciatica, you could be suffering from a herniated disc. Also known as a slipped disc, this is a very common condition that occurs most often in people who are aged between 30 and 50, and is more prevalent in men than in women. Herniated discs regularly occur in the lower part of the back, causing the patient to suffer from a range of symptoms, including both back and neck pain, and numbness, tingling and weakness in other parts of the body, in particular the hips, groin and legs.

From a chronic dull ache to acute pain when you assume certain positions, lower back pain, also known as lumbago, is extremely common. In many cases, the underlying cause of the pain isn’t serious and it improves naturally over the course of a few days or weeks. However, sometimes the pain is long-lasting or comes and goes. When this happens, and the pain is caused by a specific, underlying cause, surgery may be necessary to address the problem and permanently alleviate your symptoms.

Spinal cord injuries are among some of the most severe. This is particularly true for cervical spinal cord injuries. Affecting vertebrae C1 to C7, cervical spinal cord injuries are rare, but extremely serious. In the case of C1 and C2 vertebrae injuries, fatalities often occur. If a patient does survive a cervical spinal cord injury, full or partial paralysis and a lifetime dependency on personal care is a common outcome. Any other spinal injury can also have dramatic repercussions for the long-term health of the patient, and they can expect a lengthy rehabilitation process if they are to achieve the best possible outcome.