Risk Factors
Risk factors for problems like herniated disks, osteoarthritis, and radiculopathy (tingling, numbness or pain in the nerves leading from the spinal column, often down through the back and into the foot) can be attributed to:
- Being overweight
- Poor posture
- Improper lifting techniques
- Repetitive motion (assembly line) or physically demanding occupations
- Sedentary jobs (sitting at a desk, computer for long periods of time)
- Sedentary lifestyle (little or no exercise, TV watching or video game playing)
- Increased age, general degeneration
- Congenital conditions (like scoliosis, known as curvature of the spine)
- Benign or malignant tumors of the spinal cord
Where There’s Smoke...
Add one more reason to quit smoking. Recent studies have shown that individuals who smoke have an increased risk of disk degeneration.
As we age, the fibrous disks between the vertebrae tend to dry out. Smoking also soaks up the moisture that keeps disks flexible. You may bend a certain way only to have a disk burst from too little moisture and too much pressure. The inner disk material often spills out onto the spinal nerves.
Once the disk is bulging or herniated, there is less space between the affected vertebrae. The result is often excruciating pain.
Call 215-481-BONE today to find a neurosurgeon or orthopaedic spine surgeon.
