Back Pain Glossary | SouthCountySpineCare:

 A

acupressure
Type of massage in which continuous pressure is exerted on a trigger spot for 3-5 minutes.

acupuncture
Traditional Chinese treatment in which thin needles are placed at specific spots along the body.

acute
Illness or symptoms that appear suddenly and have a short course.

alkaline phosphatase
Enzyme released by bone-forming cells called osteoblasts. Blood levels of the enzyme are elevated in people with Paget’s disease.

analgesic
An agent that alleviates pain without causing loss of consciousness.

ankylosing spondylitis
Chronic inflammation of the facet joints and sacroiliac joints (between the sacrum and the pelvis).

annulus fibrosus
Tough, fibrous layers of tissue that cover an intervertebral disk.

 B

balance exercise
A type of exercise that, when practiced regularly, can increase balance and help prevent falls; examples are tai chi and yoga.

biofeedback
Back pain treatment in which the person practices different relaxation methods while using electronic sensors to measure bodily functions, such as muscle tension, breathing patterns, and heart rate.

bisphosphonates
A class of drugs that help preserve bone mass by slowing bone resorption.

body mechanics
Habitual ways of moving that can affect back health.

bone mass
The amount of bone tissue in the body.

bone mineral density testing
Radiological testing to measure bone density. Testing gives accurate measurements of the amount of bone but not the actual structure or quality of bone.

bone quality
The architecture/geometry and the material properties of bone and bone tissue.

bone remodeling
Process by which old bone is resorbed and new bone is formed.

bone resorption
Breakdown of old bone.

bone scan
Imaging test that involves injecting radioactive technetium and then measuring how much radioactivity is taken up by specific areas of bone. This test can detect metastatic cancer, bony overgrowths in Paget’s disease, bacterial infections of the spine, and small fractures that are not visible on x-rays.

bone spur
See osteophytes.

 C

calcitonin
A naturally occurring hormone involved in calcium regulation and bone metabolism.

calcium carbonate/citrate
Forms of calcium used for calcium supplementation.

cauda equina
Bundle of nerve roots at the bottom of the spinal cord.

caudal epidural block
Injection of medication directly into the base of the spine.

cervical spine
Refers to the neck.

chiropractor
Health-care professional who uses techniques such as physical manipulation and adjustment of the spine, massage, application of heat or cold, and electrical stimulation to treat back problems.

coccyx
A term for the tailbone.

collagen
A soft protein that hardens with the deposition of calcium and phosphorus; it is a main component of bone.

Colles fracture
A common type of fracture in which the break occurs across the end of the main bone of the forearm.

compression fracture
Fracture of a vertebral body that results in loss of height or complete collapse of the vertebral body; it usually occurs in bones weakened by osteoporosis.

computed tomography (CAT or CT) scan
Imaging technique in which the person lies on a special table while x-rays are passed through the body and sensed by a detector that rotates 360 degree around the person. A computer combines the information into a cross-sectional picture that shows body structures and fluids, blood clots, tumors, and bones.

CT myelogram
CT scan carried out after contrast material is injected into the spinal canal; it offers good detail of bone and soft tissue.

 D

decompression surgery
A procedure that involves enlarging the spinal canal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord.

deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Blood clotting that occurs in the deep veins of the leg.

dietary reference intake (DRI)
Recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals as determined by the Institute of Medicine.

disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Drugs that interfere with tumor necrosis factor, which contributes to inflammation.

diskectomy
Surgical treatment for a herniated disk that takes pressure off a pinched nerve by making an incision in the annulus fibrosus and removing the extruded nucleus pulposus.

disk replacement
Surgical procedure that replaces a herniated disk with an artificial one.

displacement
Movement of bone fragments from their original positions.

dowager’s hump
Kyphosis in the upper back. Common in older women, it can result from disk degeneration, the collapse of vertebrae due to osteoporosis, or both.

dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
A test to measure bone mineral density wherein two x-ray beams are directed at the spine or hip joint, and a computer calculates the amount of energy that passes through the bone.

 E

electromyography
A test that uses electrodes to measure muscle abnormalities.

endorphins
Pain-blocking chemicals produced by the body.

 F

facet joints
Joints formed by the interlocking of bony projections at the rear of adjacent vertebrae.

femur
Refers to the thighbone.

flexion
A forward bending of the spine.

foramina
Spaces between adjacent vertebrae.

fracture
A break in a bone caused by injury or osteoporosis.

hemiarthroplasty
An operation to repair hip fracture that involves replacing the head and neck of the femur with a prosthesis.

 G

 H

herniated disk
Bulging of the central part of an intervertebral disk (nucleus pulposus) through the fibrous layers of tissue (annulus fibrosus) that cover it.

hip replacement
Surgery to implant an artificial hip joint to replace a damaged hip joint. (See also total hip replacement, hemiarthroplasty, and internal fixation.)

hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
The administration of low-dose estrogen with or without progesterone to reduce the symptoms and rapid loss of bone that accompany menopause in women. Women who have had a hysterectomy do not need to take progesterone.

hyperparathyroidism
Excessive production of parathyroid hormone by the parathyroid gland; it weakens bones by promoting loss of calcium from bone.

hyperthyroidism
Excessive production of thyroid hormone that can result in osteoporosis.

 I

intermittent claudication
Pain in the buttocks, thighs, or calves while walking. The pain, caused by impaired blood flow to the legs, stops promptly when the person rests. The pain of spinal stenosis may be confused with intermittent claudication.

internal fixation
An operation to repair a hip fracture that involves inserting metal screws into the bone to hold it together while it heals.

intervertebral disk
Flexible pad of tissue located between vertebrae that acts as a cushion during movement, preventing vertebrae from grinding against each other.

intradiskal electrothermal therapy
A minimally invasive procedure in which the nerves in the outer wall of the disk are destroyed with a heated wire.

ipriflavone
Synthetic isoflavone (structurally similar to isoflavones found in soy) that may prevent or treat osteoporosis.

isoflavone
A plant compound found in soy foods that has weak estrogen-like activity.

 J

 K

kyphoplasty
A new technique for treating vertebral compression fractures in which the collapsed vertebra is expanded using a special balloon and then filled with cement.

kyphosis
An abnormal accentuation of the usual curvature of the upper back and commonly referred to as a humpback or hunchback.

 L

lactose intolerance
An inability to digest the naturally occurring sugars in dairy foods.

laser diskectomy
Surgical treatment for a herniated disk that uses a laser to burn out the inside of the disk; it is a less invasive alternative to diskectomy.

lordosis
Spinal deformity in which the abdomen is thrust too far forward and the buttocks too far to the rear; also called swayback.

lumbar spine
The lower back.

 M

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A sensitive imaging technique that surrounds a person with a powerful magnet while radio waves are passed through the body.

massage therapy
A therapy used to ease tension and relax back muscles.

microdiskectomy
A surgical treatment for a herniated disk that is done through a very small opening, it is a less invasive alternative to diskectomy.

muscle relaxants
Drugs that work by depressing the activity of nerves in the spinal cord and brain; they are used with caution as they cause drowsiness and are potentially addictive.

 N

nerve conduction test
A test that examines nerve function.

n-teleopeptides
A by-product of the breakdown of bone that can be measured in urine tests.

nucleus pulposus
The central part of an intervertebral disk that, as a person ages, slowly loses its water content and shrinks.

 O

open laminectomy
A surgical procedure for a herniated disk in which a small part of the vertebra is removed.

opiates
Drugs that depress the nervous system to block the perception of pain. As they are potentially addictive and have many side effects, they are used for back pain only when all other options have failed.

osteoblasts
Cells that fill small cavities in the bone surface with new bone during bone formation.

osteoclasts
Cells that invade the surface of bone and remove the matrix and minerals, leaving small cavities in the bone surface during bone resorption.

osteomalacia
A softening of bone that results from a lack of the essential minerals calcium and phosphorus.

osteopenia
Low bone mass.

osteophyte
A bony overgrowth, or spur.

osteoporosis
A disease marked by progressively decreasing bone mass; it results in weakened, brittle bones that can fracture easily.

 P

Paget’s disease
A condition characterized by excessive overgrowth of bone, especially in the spine, pelvis, skull,and femur.

palliative treatment
Therapy aimed at relieving pain and limiting disease complications rather than curing the disease.

parathyroid hormone
Hormone of the parathyroid gland that regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism throughout the body.

pelvis
Basin-shaped structure in the lower part of the trunk composed of the two hipbones, tailbone (coccyx),and lower backbone (sacrum).

percutaneous arthroscopic diskectomy
Surgical treatment for a herniated disk that is less invasive than diskectomy; the procedure involves inserting a probe into the disk to scoop it out.

percutaneous vertebroplasty
A minimally invasive technique to treat vertebral compression fractures that involves the injection of cement into the fractured vertebra.

perimenopause
The time immediately before menopause begins.

peripheral dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
A bone density test that is similar to DEXA and uses a portable machine to measure bone density in the finger, wrist, or heel.

peripheral quantitative computed tomography
A bone density test that is similar to QCT (see below) and measures bone density in the wrist.

peripheral sites
Bone sites other than those central to the body (spine and hip), such as the wrist, heel, and finger.

processes
Bony projections jutting out from the rear of a vertebra.

pulmonary embolism
A blood clot that blocks one of the blood vessels in the lungs.

pyridinium cross-links
A product created by the breakdown of bone that can be measured in urine tests.

 Q

quantitative computed tomography (QCT)
A test used to determine vertebral density by measuring the absorption of radiation by bone.

quantitative ultrasound
A technique that uses sound waves to measure bone density in peripheral sites.

 R

radiographic absorptiometry
A technique that uses xrays to measure bone density in the hand.

relaxation therapy
Treatment that teaches techniques of muscle relaxation and breathing so that a person can deal better with stress, a possible cause of back pain.

resistance exercise
A type of exercise that entails working muscles against weights.

 S

sacroiliac joints
Joints on either side of the sacrum that join the sacrum to the other bones of the pelvis.

sacrum
The flat, triangular bone formed by the fusion of the lowest 5 vertebrae.

sciatic nerve
The nerve arising from the lower spine that extends into the leg and foot.

sciatica
Pain that radiates into the buttocks, down the thighs, and into the calves, and often into the feet; the pain is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve.

scoliosis
An abnormal sideways bend to the back caused by twisting of the spine.

secondary osteoporosis
Osteoporosis caused by certain medications or other diseases.

selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS)
A class of drugs that mimic the actions of estrogen in some tissues and block the effects of estrogen in others.

sensory-evoked potential
A test to examine nerve function.

sequestration
A condition in which fragments of a herniated disk break free.

single-energy x-ray absorptiometry
A test used to measure bone density in the wrist or heel, similar to DEXA,except that it uses one x-ray beam.

spasm
A sudden, involuntary muscle contraction that produces pain; spasms can occur when a muscle or ligament in the back is torn or when a disk or facet joint is injured.

 T

trochanter
Part of the femur that protrudes below the bone’s neck.

 U

ultrasound
The use of high-frequency sound waves to detect osteoporosis and predict the risk of fractures.

 V

vertebra, vertebrae (pl.)
Any of the 33 interlocking bones that form the spinal column.

vertebral compression fracture
Collapse of the front of a vertebra, often producing immediate and intense pain in the area of the fracture; it can be caused by even minor trauma in a vertebra weakened by cancer, osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, or hyperparathyroidism.

vertebral osteomyelitis
A serious bacterial infection of the spine that can cause pain in the neck or back and is usually accompanied by fever.

 W

weight-bearing exercise
Exercise such as walking, jogging, or stair climbing, in which the bones of the feet, legs, and spine bear the body’s weight.

 X

 Y

 Z