For the vast majority of health conditions, the sooner an issue is caught and identified, the better the treatment outcomes will be, and the same is typically said for conditions of the spine. It pays to know some of the potential warning signs of an issue so that you can bring them up to your physician if you begin to notice subtle symptoms. In today’s blog, we spotlight four early warning signs that suggest that you may be dealing with the beginning stages of a spinal problem.
Spinal Symptoms To Watch For
If you’re dealing with any of the following symptoms, consider setting up an appointment with a spine specialist or your primary care physician. That’s not to say that a major problem is certainly brewing, but taking a proactive approach can help either give you peace of mind or tackle an issue when it is the most treatable.
- Numbness – If you’re dealing with numbness in your extremities or any areas of your spine, it’s a good idea to consult with a doctor. Numbness is oftentimes the result of nerve damage, and there are a number of spinal nerves that can be compressed or damaged as a result of normal spinal degeneration. Even if the numbness tends to go in waves or isn’t all that bothersome, odds are it will only get worse if left ignored, so bring it up to your physician,
- Difficulty Walking – If spinal discomfort is affecting the way you walk, or it’s simply making you unsteady on your feet, you’ll want to touch base with a doctor. If you’re walking with a hitch in your step, you’ll be putting excess stress on different joints in your body as you work to protect your back, and that can lead to faster degeneration of areas like your hips and knees. A small mechanical issue can turn into a major problem for your whole body, and it can also greatly increase your risk of a traumatic fall. If back discomfort is affecting your gait, consult with a physician.
- Range Of Motion Restrictions – We don’t expect you to be as flexible as you were in your youth, but if you’re finding that certain movements are difficult or downright painful, there could be a disc or nerve issue at play. Moving your spine and neck from side to side shouldn’t be uncomfortable, but it can be as a result of natural degeneration or because your body never fully healed after an injury or surgery. If you’re having difficulty moving your back or lifting objects, you’ll want to see if an underlying mechanical issue can be corrected to help restore your flexibility.
- Chronic Low-Level Pain – Many people who are experiencing chronic low-level pain simply try to grit their teeth and push on with their day. They assume that this type of discomfort is normal for someone their age and they hope that eventually it will just go away on its own. Unfortunately, low-level pain is much more likely to increase in intensity if you keep going about your day as normal, because you’ll be putting the same type of stress on your spine that led to pain onset in the first place. Remember, chronic pain is never normal, but oftentimes treatment is simpler than you’d imagine. A few simple tweaks to your daily life can put an end to this chronic discomfort and prevent worsening problems down the road.
If you’re dealing with any of the above issues, or you want to talk to a specialist about a different spinal issue that you’re dealing with, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
