Back Pain & the Spine

The human spine is comprised of a column which sits 33 bones, tissue and cartilage that extends from the base of the skull to the pelvis. All 33 bones – known clinically as vertebrae – act as a protective sheath, enclosing the nerve tissue and ganglion known as the spinal cord which affects human locomotion and mobility, pain and reaction time or agility. What keeps the vertebrae from grinding together are the intervertebral disks, a type of cartilage that absorbs shocks to the system from movement such as running, jumping, walking, and so on.

The cervical vertebrae make up the seven vertebrae that form the upper area of the spine, between the shoulder blade while the thoracic vertebrae are comprised of the 12 bones found between the neck and lower back. The lumbar vertebrae are the five vertebrae located in the lower back. These are the largest and strongest vertebrae in the back and are found between the chest and the hips. Last but not least, the coccyx and sacrum are the bones located at the base of the spine which are made up of five fused vertebrae – the sacrum – and the coccyx – or tailbone – is made up of four fused vertebrae.

After you visit your primary care physician or specialist and have given a complete medical history of yourself and your condition as well as an extensive physical exam then your doctor will more than likely schedule you for a diagnostic x-ray or scan. X-rays are used to provide accurate detail of the spine's structure while checking for any spinal instability, fractures or tumors. A CT scan can image specific conditions such as spinal stenosis or a herniated disc, while an MRI scan can provide the physician with details regarding the cartilage in the spine as well as nerve roots. Most MRI scans are used prior to surgery so that the physician may plan the procedure.