Where does it hurt?
Dr. Eubanks treats a wide variety of back problems. He is one of few spine specialists in the area that can take on very complex cases as well as provide expertise in the most common spine conditions. His first line of treatment is always a non-surgical approach when possible. Dr. Eubanks specializes in minimally invasive spine procedures that are sometimes referred to as “laser spine surgery” though the laser instrument is no longer a commonly used component of the surgery.
Common conditions that Dr. Eubanks treats include:
CERVICAL MYELOPATHY
Cervical myelopathy is the result of spinal cord compression in the neck. The cervical spinal column (neck) consists of seven vertebrae with discs and ligament bands between the bones. The spinal cord runs down the middle channel of the vertebrae. As we age, there is some natural degeneration of the spine that results in less space in the spinal column. If there is too little space in the column, myelopathy may result. The symptoms of cervical myelopathy may appear very slowly and be hard to detect. You may feel mild weakness or numbness in your hands that affect your fine motor skills. You may have trouble writing or turning a key. You may also have some pain, stiffness or numbness. Some patients notice a loss of coordination or a change in their gait while walking. Their legs may feel heavy or they may lose their balance.
CERVICAL RADICULOPATHY
Commonly called a pinched nerve, cervical radiculopathy is the clinical description of the discomfort caused when a nerve in the neck is compressed or irritated where it branches away from the spinal cord. Nerves extend out from each vertebra in the neck and travel out to the arms and fingers.
You may feel tingling in the neck, arm or shoulder blade that turns into a dull pain, or you may feel sharp shooting pains. The compression could be caused by factors such as degeneration of the discs in the cervical spine or bone spurs associated with arthritis.
DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE
As a result of getting older, the discs between our bones change. We get stiffer and the disc heights change due to several factors. As you age, discs naturally begin to store less water. Drinking more water does not change this fact, as it is determined by the chemical components of the disc.
The result is a decrease in space between the vertebral bodies and less space available for the nerves exiting from the spine. Because of the decline in space, a pinched nerve is a common occurrence. Degenerative disc disease is one of the primary causes of chronic low back pain.
HERNIATED DISC
The intervertebral discs of the spine are very important for the normal mobility and function of your neck and back. Over time, age, genetics and everyday wear-and-tear can contribute to deterioration of these discs, which, when healthy, act as cushions for the individual bones of the spine. In a herniation, this disc material can spill out the side and irritate the spinal nerves or spinal cord in the cervical and thoracic spine. If this happens, it can cause nerve symptoms such as numbness, tingling or a feeling of your leg, buttock, or back falling asleep. If enough material is compressing the nerve, it can even cause muscle weakness. Too much force on a vertebra from a fall or lifting/bending can cause an otherwise healthy disc to herniate. Discs may also herniate because of tears that come about from overuse or aging.
LUMBAR RADICULOPATHY (SCIATICA)
Radiculopathy is the compression of a spinal nerve or nerve roots that extend from the lumbar spine or lower back. Compression of a spinal nerve or nerve root can cause numbness, tingling, muscle weakness or a burning pain in the arm, leg or buttock.
The compression could be caused by factors such as degeneration of the discs in the lumbar spine, herniation or bone spurs associated with arthritis.
Sciatica is a term used to describe the symptoms of numbness, tingling or shooting pain down the leg, and can be caused by either a lower back condition (most common) or piriformis syndrome.
SCOLIOSIS
Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine has a coronal (sideways) curve. In its adolescent form, it occurs during a growth spurt before puberty and most cases are mild with few symptoms. It can also occur congenitally, at birth or caused by problems of the nervous system that affect the muscles such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.
Perhaps the most common form of scoliosis is degenerative scoliosis. This curvature results from an aging spine and weakening core muscles. When the curve becomes severe enough, it can cause compression of nerves and result in back pain, radiculopathy and neurogenic claudication from spinal stenosis.
SPINAL FRACTURES
A fracture is the break in a bone. Some spine fractures are severe and caused by traumatic events such as a car accident or a fall, while other fractures occur from having less bone density such as compression fractures from osteoporosis.
Some of these spine fractures require surgery to help the bones keep their position while they are healing, while other fractures can be treated with medications or with bracing to help with pain.
SPINAL STENOSIS
Spinal stenosis is one of the most common spinal conditions leading to surgery in elderly patients. Stenosis is a medical term meaning narrowing and can happen in any region of the spine. The bones of the spine, or vertebrae, sit on top of each other with a disc between them. The spinal cord runs through the vertebrae through a channel called the spinal canal.
Spinal stenosis is a pinching of the spinal cord or nerve roots due to narrowing of the canal. Another form of stenosis, foraminal stenosis, refers to narrowing of the holes through which the individual nerves exit the spinal canal. Stenosis can be caused from a combination of spine problems from chronic degenerative arthritis to acute disc herniations.
SPINAL TUMORS
An abnormal mass of tissue inside or surrounding the spinal cord and/or spinal column is a spinal tumor. Like other tumors, they can be benign or malignant (cancerous).
Primary tumors originate in the spine or spinal cord, and metastatic tumors result from cancer spreading to the spine from another area of the body. The spine is a common place for metastatic tumors to arise because of the number of vertebrae in the spinal column.
SPONDYLOLISTHESIS
Spondylolysis is a medical term for a stress fracture to the spine that most often occurs in the lumbar region. It is a common cause of low back pain in student athletes. In this condition, the stress fracture does not heal, and can progress to a forward slippage of one vertebral body on top of the other. This slippage is termed spondylolisthesis.
When this slippage is preceded by a spondylolysis, it is referred to as an isthmic spondylolisthesis. When one vertebra slips on top of another there can be a narrowing of the spinal channel and resulting back pain. By far and away, the most common form of spondylolisthesis is degenerative spondylolisthesis. This happens when one vertebra shifts forward secondary to arthritis in the facet joints of the back.
VERTÉBRAL COMPRESSION FRACTURES
Vertebral compression fractures are small breaks in the vertebrae most often caused by osteoporosis but may also be caused by trauma or disease. Our bones naturally lose strength and thin as we age.
Osteoporosis is a common resulting condition in which bones become weaker and may break more easily. Fractures from osteoporosis happen most often in the spine and cause pain that gets worse with motion. It may be more noticeable when you are lying down or cough. With rest, the fracture usually heals itself over time.