What is the standard anatomy of the spine? The spine as a complex and vital structure consists of 33 vertebrae, each of which has a specific task. These vertebrae are divided into four main parts: - cervical part; It consists of seven upper vertebrae that form the neck.... This part has high flexibility and helps to move the head.... - Thoracic part; The twelve middle vertebrae that form the chest and are connected to the ribs.... This part is less flexible and is more designed to support and protect vital organs such as the heart and lungs.... - Lumbar part; This part includes five larger vertebrae that are located in the lower back.... This area is more prone to problems such as disc herniation due to bearing more weight... - Sacral part and coccyx; These parts are located at the bottom of the spine and are mostly seen as welded together.... These parts play an important role in the stability of the pelvis and its connection to the spine.... Between each vertebra there are discs that act as shock absorbers and provide smooth and frictionless movement of the vertebrae.... These discs consist of a hard outer layer and a soft inner core.. The spine may suffer from diseases and problems for various reasons.. In this part, We introduce some of the most common spine problems and their complications: ### Spinal canal stenosis Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the space in the spinal canal narrows. This narrowing puts pressure on the spinal cord and related nerves, which can lead to pain, numbness, weakness, and movement problems in the limbs. Scoliosis, the spine deviates into an S or C shape Kyphosis causes excessive bending in the back area, while lordosis is a forward deviation in the lumbar area... Severe spinal deviations may require a brace or even surgery... ### Herniated disc A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner core of the intervertebral disc is pushed out of its outer layer.. This condition compresses the surrounding nerves and can cause severe pain, numbness and weakness in the affected area.. Disc herniation occurs mostly in the lumbar region.. but it can also occur in the neck. Lumbar disc is one of the most common diseases of the spine, which is caused by excessive pressure on the intervertebral discs in the lumbar region. This condition can lead to back pain, sciatica, and limited mobility. There are various causes such as lifting heavy objects, inappropriate movements, and even genetics. They play a role in creating this problem.... Lumbar disc treatment usually includes rest, physical therapy and surgery.... ### Spinal infection Spinal infection is one of the types of spinal diseases that can be caused by bacterial or fungal infection. The infection can spread to various structures such as vertebrae, discs, and spinal cord. Symptoms include severe pain, fever, and in advanced cases, immobility. But depending on their location and size, they may cause nerve pressure and pain. be.. treatment of cysts The spine usually involves regular monitoring and in severe cases surgery... ### Degenerative Degenerative disc disease, or disc erosion, is a normal age-related condition in which the intervertebral discs degenerate over time. This problem can lead to chronic pain and limited movement. Symptoms usually include pain in the lower back or neck that worsens with prolonged sitting or certain movements. Spinal cord cancer may originate in cells of the spinal cord itself or spread to the spinal cord as metastases from other parts of the body. Spinal cord tumors can compress the spinal cord and nerves, causing symptoms such as severe pain, numbness, weakness, and even paralysis. Treatment includes surgery, external radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Movement problems.. A slipped disc is usually caused by an injury or degenerative disc disease and may require surgery. Vertebral fractures may be caused by severe injuries such as accidents or falls.. Sciatica Sciatica is pain caused by pressure or stimulation of the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts from the back and extends to the legs. Compression of the sciatic nerve is usually caused by disc herniation or spinal canal stenosis and causes severe pain, burning and numbness in the back and legs in children. Spine problems in children can include the following: - scoliosis (deflection of the spine); Scoliosis is one of the most common spine diseases in children, in which the spine deviates abnormally to the sides. This disease often occurs during rapid growth, such as adolescence, and may require the use of a brace or even surgery... - Kyphosis; Kyphosis, an abnormal arch at the top of the spine that causes it to bend forward... This problem usually occurs in children due to rapid growth and improper sitting posture... - Lordosis of this disease refers to an abnormal curvature in the lumbar region that may cause back pain and movement problems... - Spina bifida; A congenital abnormality that causes defects in the complete formation of the spine and spinal cord and may lead to neurological and movement problems... What are the causes of spinal diseases?.. The causes of spinal diseases can be very diverse.... Some of the most common factors are: 1 .... genetic and hereditary factors; Genetic factors can also play an important role in the occurrence of spinal diseases. In some people, genetic defects can lead to structural problems of the spine that begin in childhood or adolescence. These problems may include curvature of the spine (scoliosis), lordosis or kyphosis. Also, some hereditary diseases such as early arthritis or degeneration of the spine can also be caused by early arthritis or degeneration. .... old age; Aging is one of the main reasons for the occurrence of many spine diseases. Over time, the discs and vertebrae of the spine begin to erode and disintegrate.. physical injuries; Injuries caused by accidents, heavy sports or lifting heavy objects can also cause problems in the spine... broken vertebrae, slipped vertebrae and disc protrusion are among the common problems caused by physical injuries... 4... unhealthy lifestyle; Factors related to lifestyle can also play a role in spine problems... People who have little physical activity or use incorrect body movements during the day are more prone to problems such as lumbar disc and sciatica. Also, obesity and overweight can put a lot of pressure on the spine and lead to serious problems... 5... inflammatory diseases and infections; Inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and bacterial or fungal infections can also affect the spine... Infections can spread to the spinal cord and intervertebral discs and cause problems such as spinal cord infection and severe inflammation.. 6... Environmental factors; Job conditions or work environments that require frequent lifting of heavy objects or include frequent movements that damage the back can increase the risk of developing spinal diseases... Symptoms of the most common spinal diseases The symptoms of spine diseases may vary depending on the type and severity of the disease.. but some common and common symptoms in many of these diseases include the following: 1... severe and continuous pain; Pain is one of the most common symptoms of spine problems. This pain may be felt in the neck, back, or back, and sometimes spreads to the legs or hands. 2... Sciatica pain; In some diseases, such as disc herniation or spinal canal stenosis, the sciatic nerve is under pressure, which causes severe pain in the lower back and spreads to the legs... 3... burning or numbness; Spinal nerve problems can lead to numbness or burning in the limbs.. These sensations usually occur in the hands or feet and may be a sign of pressure on the nerves.. movement restriction; In diseases such as degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis, the ability to move the back or neck may be severely limited. This limitation may be caused by pain, inflammation or reduced flexibility of the vertebrae... 6... Pain when sitting or standing for a long time; Some spine problems, such as lumbar disc, may be aggravated by sitting or standing for a long time and forcing the person to change position... 7... Spine deviation and appearance change in cases such as scoliosis, structural deviations are seen in the spine and may make the appearance of the person's body asymmetrical. Accurate diagnosis of spine diseases requires a comprehensive examination by a specialist doctor. Diagnostic methods may include the following. - clinical examination; By examining the patient's physical condition, ability to move, and pain intensity, the doctor can evaluate the initial symptoms... - X-ray photography; To observe the condition of the bones and vertebrae of the spine and to detect fractures or deviations... - MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging); For a more detailed examination of the discs, nerves and soft tissues around the spine... this method is the best tool for diagnosing disc herniation and spinal canal stenosis... - CT scan; To see more details of the bones and structures of the spine, if needed... - electromyography (EMG); To evaluate nerve function and identify nerve compression points... - blood test; Investigating the presence of infection or inflammatory factors in the body... Investigating the treatment of spine diseases The treatment of spine diseases varies depending on the type and severity of the disease. In many cases, non-surgical treatments are effective, but in severe cases, surgery may be required. Some treatment methods are: ### Non-surgical treatments 1.... Physiotherapy: exercises and special techniques that help strengthen muscles, improve movement and reduce pain.... This method is very effective in many diseases related to the spine such as disc herniation and chronic back pain.... 2.... Anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers: to reduce inflammation and pain caused by problems such as arthritis or disc herniation.... 3... Spinal injection: including reinjection of the spine to reduce inflammation in the channels Steroids and chest pains.. Spinal cord narrowing or sciatica.... 4... Lumbar and neck braces: to stabilize the spine and prevent the aggravation of the disease in cases such as vertebral fractures or spinal deviation.... 5.... Lifestyle changes: including changing sitting position, proper exercises and weight loss to reduce pressure on the spine.... ### Surgical treatments.. If non-surgical treatments are not effective or the disease has reached a stage where surgery is necessary, there are various surgical methods: 1 .... disc herniation surgery; To remove the part of the herniated disc that has caused compression of the nerves... 2... vertebra fusion surgery; To stabilize the vertebrae and prevent additional movements in the spine... 3... laminectomy; To remove a part of the vertebrae that reduces the pressure on the spinal cord.... 4... Treatment of spinal cord tumors; This includes surgery to remove the tumor and the use of radiation or chemotherapy to control the growth of cancer cells. Based on research, spine diseases can range from small and chronic problems such as disc herniation and spinal canal stenosis to serious problems such as spinal cord cancer and vertebral fractures.... Early diagnosis and proper treatment can help improve the quality of life of patients and prevent serious complications. Consult...