What does it mean?
Not familiar with some of the terminology. Don't worry: Here's a brief explanation of what these terms mean in relation to your spine:
Ankylosing Spondylitis: previously known as Bechterew's disease, Bechterew syndrome, and Marie Strümpell disease, a form of Spondyloarthritis. It is a chronic, inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease. It mainly affects joints in the spine and the sacroilium in the pelvis, and can cause eventual fusion of the spine. It is a member of the group of the spondyloarthropathies with a strong genetic predisposition. Complete fusion results in a complete rigidity of the spine, a condition known as 'bamboo' spine.
Anulus Fibrosis: The tough outer ring of a vertebral disc; it encases the nucleus pulposus (see description below) within the disc.
Arthritis: A group of over 100 different conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. The most common form, osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) is a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. The major complaint by individuals who have arthritis is pain. Pain is often a constant and daily feature of the disease. The pain may be localized to the back, neck, hip, knee or feet. The pain from arthritis occurs due to inflammation that occurs around the joint, damage to the joint from disease, daily wear and tear of joint, muscles strains caused by forceful movements against stiff, painful joints and fatigue. The most important factor in treatment is to understand the disorder and find ways to overcome the obstacles which prevent physical exercise.
Facet Syndrome: An irritation of one or more of the joints on the back of the spinal vertebrae, which comprise the spinal column.
Herniated Disc: Displacement of the center of a vertebral disc through a crack in the outer layer. Disc herniation can put pressure on spinal nerves and cause pain.
Muscle Guarding: Muscle spasm/tension, often in response to a painful stimulus.
Nucleus Pulposus: A gel-like substance within each intervertebral disc, surrounded by the annulus fibrosus.
Osteoporosis: A disease of bone that leads to an increased risk of fracture due to the bone mineral density (BMD) being reduced, bone microarchitecture being disrupted, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone being altered. Osteoporosis is most common in women after menopause, when it is called postmenopausal osteoporosis, but may also develop in men. Given its influence in the risk of fragility fracture, osteoporosis may significantly affect life expectancy and quality of life.
Sciatica: Pain radiating down the leg(s) stemming from the lower back, buttocks, hips, or adjacent anatomical structures, frequently attributable to spinal dysfunction.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spine at one or more of three locations: in the center of the spine, where nerves branch from the spine, or in the space between vertebrae. This puts pressure on spinal nerves and can cause pain.
Spondylosis: Otherwise known as spinal arthritis, spondylosis is a degenerative condition in which spinal discs weaken, particularly with age.
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