Symptoms of Spinal Instability
If your spine becomes unstable, the abnormal movement can cause:
- Pain in your buttocks or shooting down your leg
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness in one or both legs
Diagnosing Your Back Problem
If you’re experiencing symptoms of spinal instability, see your doctor. To find the cause of your symptoms, you’ll need a medical exam, which will include a health history, a physical exam of your back, and diagnostic tests. Imaging tests may also be ordered. After you receive a diagnosis, you can work with your medical team to improve the health of your back.
Treating Spinal Instability
After determining the cause of your spinal instability, your doctor will prescribe a treatment plan. Your treatment plan will depend on the cause of your spinal instability and its severity.
Your doctor may want you to work with a physical therapist, an expert in safe movement and exercise. Using these techniques as directed can often improve your symptoms and strengthen the muscles of your spine.
In severe cases, surgery may be recommended. One common surgery for spinal instability is spinal fusion. Spinal fusion surgery can relieve pain by preventing one or more of the damaged vertebrae in your back from moving. The procedure can be performed minimally invasively, in which smaller incisions are used that can result in faster recovery. During the surgery, two or more vertebrae of your spine are joined (“fused”) together permanently with a bone graft. Spinal fusion surgery can involve hardware, such as plates, screws, and cages to stabilize the spinal joints.
After surgery, you may need to temporarily wear a brace. Your recovery plan after surgery may also include working with a physical therapist to help you get safely back to work and your other daily activities.
