Conditions We Treat

As we age, the degenerative process takes its toll on the discs, bones, joints, and ligaments in the neck and back. This is why the likelihood of back pain increases as we age or participate in activities that place stress on the neck and back.

At Grabel Spine, treatment for spinal stenosis can help with chronic back and leg pain. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal. This frequently leads to symptoms of back, leg, and buttock pain, often accompanied by numbness and tingling, particularly with standing and walking (“neurogenic claudication”). Surgical widening of the spinal canal often produces dramatic relief of symptoms and allows patients to return to an active lifestyle.

Spondylolisthesis is instability of the spine that usually results from degenerative changes. A vertebra can slip or move, causing displacement and pain. Spondylolysis is a stress fracture of the vertebra that can also cause spondylolisthesis.

Sciatica ("lumbar radiculopathy") refers to pain that travels from the back down into the buttocks and leg, often from one or more nerve roots being impinged. A variety of underlying conditions can lead to sciatica. Disc herniations are among the most common causes of this. A similar condition can occur in the neck, producing a condition called cervical radiculopathy. The hallmark of this condition is pain, numbness, or tingling traveling into the shoulder, arm, and/or hand.

The intervertebral disc serves as a cushion between adjacent segments of the spine. Sometimes, the discs can wear out or develop a weak spot in the outer portion that allows the inner portion to escape  (“herniate”). When this occurs, a pinched nerve condition can arise, leading to pain traveling down the arm or leg. Often, this condition can be treated without surgery but sometimes surgical discectomy is required.

Myelopathy occurs when the spinal cord is compressed. Spinal cord compression develops from trauma, spinal stenosis, infections, disc herniations, and other underlying conditions. Advanced compression of the spinal cord can produce loss of strength and sensation and interfere with many of the body’s critical functions. Severe myelopathy demands expert medical attention. Surgical intervention in the form of decompression of the spinal cord, with or without fusion, may be required.

Adult spine deformities include scoliosis and flat back deformities. Adult spinal deformities involve a deviation of the alignment of the spinal column of more than 10 degrees when viewed from the front or loss of the normal curvature when viewed from the side. This group of spinal column conditions can produce significant pain and a reduction in the ability to function normally.

Spinal fractures (broken bones) most often happen due to trauma or osteoporosis, which refers to a condition that weakens bones and makes them high risk for breakage. Patients with weak bones can easily suffer a fracture from minor falls or car accidents.

Spinal tumors are associated with an abnormal growth of spinal tissues. Spinal tumors can be benign, meaning harmless, or malignant, meaning cancerous.

Spinal tumors originating from spinal tissues primarily are rare and usually benign. Most cancerous tumors originate in another area and eventually spread to the spine. Because the spine is such a large area, spinal tumors can cause a variety of symptoms depending on where the tumor is located.