Hidden Signs of Spinal Compression

Spinal compression can cause pain in areas other than your back as well as other symptoms you might be surprised to experience. When spinal compression causes pain and dysfunction, it’s important to get medical care before the issue gets worse. 

Haddis T. Hagos, MD, and the team at Pain Management Associates LLC specialize in using today’s most advanced pain management therapies to treat the root causes of spinal compression. 

From back pain to referred neuropathy, our team helps determine the best solution for your spinal compression symptoms. 

Understanding spinal compression

Spinal compression happens when something, like an injury or inflammation, presses on your spinal cord. Your spinal cord is a collection of nerves in your spine that connects to your brain, with all other nerves in your body branching out from it. 

Spinal compression can happen anywhere along the spinal cord, but it’s most common in your neck (cervical spine) and lower back (lumbar spine). Some of the most common underlying causes are:

• Herniated discs
• Scoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Spine injuries
• Spine tumors

Our team explores possible causes and finds the location of compression based on your symptoms and a comprehensive evaluation. 

Expected and unexpected spinal compression symptoms

You might naturally expect back or neck pain to come from spinal compression, but these may not be your only symptoms. Surprisingly, spinal compression can cause pain in other areas, too. This depends on which nerves are compressed: If a compressed nerve travels to your arm, you might feel cramping, pain, or numbness in your arm. 

When spinal compression affects the lumbar spine, symptoms often affect the legs. You might have trouble walking or experience sciatica (radiating burning or pain down the back of your leg). 

It’s also possible, but less likely, to experience other below-the-waist symptoms from spinal compression. Cauda equina syndrome, a serious type of spinal compression in the lower back, can cause sexual dysfunction, trouble holding your bladder or bowels, and even a complete inability to stand up. 

What you can do

Don’t ignore symptoms that might be related to spinal compression because they might get worse. Before coming in for treatment, you can manage milder symptoms like pain and discomfort with heat or an ice pack. 

Pain Management Associates LLC recommends spinal compression treatment based on the severity of your symptoms and the underlying cause of your pain. After careful evaluation, Dr. Hagos and the team may treat your spinal compression with:

• Nerve blocks and other spinal injections
• Spinal cord or nerve stimulation
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Spinal decompression therapy

They may also recommend physical therapy alongside your procedures for optimal healing and recovery.

Take a moment now to request an appointment online or over the phone for expert spinal compression care at Pain Management Associates LLC.