The inability of the spine to protect the neural elements during normal physiologic loads.
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Lumbar instability involves excessive motion between vertebral segments. This motion may be caused by spinal fractures, tumors, infection, scoliosis or other bony abnormalities that weaken the architecture of the spine. When severe, the instability can cause incapacitating deformity or pain as a result of the structural changes. Instability can also lead to damage or inflammation of the nerve roots. Disc degeneration may cause more subtle instability and produce pain from repetitive motion.
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When the spine loses its ability to maintain its vertebrae in normal alignment, it is defined as unstable. Instability causes pain from abnormally stressed joints and the adjacent irritated nerve roots.
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Lumbar instability is when the joints and discs of the back do not function well together. You can have microinstability where the internal movement of the joints and discs are abnormal. You can also have macroinstabity where one disc or joint actually shifts abnormally on it's neighbor.
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When the spine loses its ability to maintain its vertebrae in normal alignment, it is defined as unstable. Instability causes pain from abnormally stressed joints and the adjacent irritated nerve roots.
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Lumbar instability may contribute to back or leg pain. It refers to abnormal motion of the spinal segments under normal conditions. It may also result in certain deformities or nerve compression.
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There are two types, in my mind, of lumbar instability. There is what they call micro instability where if you get an x-ray and there is no sign of movement, but the patient will complain of severe pain in the back with any type of movement. The reason we call that micro instability is that it is not a large instability. You don't see it on x-rays. But usually that is associated with degenerative disc disease.
On the other hand, there are some diseases of the spine where the spine moves an incredible amount on x-rays. That may be caused by arthritis or even congenital problems.
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Lumbar instability is an uncommon cause of low back pain. Instability refers to the inability of the bones in the spine to remain in their proper position with motion. For example, when you bend, the bones in your spine may slip forward and cause pain. Sometimes, these bones, or vertebrae, can put pressure on the nerves as they slip forward and cause leg pain as well as low back pain. X-rays of patients bending forward are the best way to determine if instability is present.
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Instability has been defined in multiple ways, and there is still some controversy over what it involves. Most agree that lumbar instability involves the abnormal motion between two vertebral bodies caused by either an increase in range of motion in a normal plane or motion caused by the translation of the vertebrae in a plane that it should not occur. This can produce an impingement of the neural elements and pain. This pain is usually associated with normal activities and relieved by bed rest.
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Lumbar instability occurs when pathological changes in the lower spine cause abnormal motion. A vertebral fracture, for example, if left untreated could result in abnormal motion (movement that exceeds the normal physiological range of motion). In turn, this excessive motion could lead to increased pain, progressive neurological deficits (by impinging on the nerve roots or the spinal cord), or even result in deformity.
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Pain generated from the lumbar spine under normal activities or the development of numbness, tingling or motor weakness from the lumbar spine under normal activities. There are other radiographic criteria.
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This is a very difficult term to diagnose objectively under any circumstances or with any specific radiographic studies. Articles have been published in the literature with definitions of lumbar instability. Most patients who suffer from chronic back symptoms also suffer from chronic muscle spasm, which prevents their spine from moving enough to diagnose instability. I believe lumbar instability exists when a patient has a disc that is not functioning and results in an abnormal amount of motion diagnosed by the fact the patient has chronic pain. I believe patients who have chronic back pain by definition have lumbar instability.
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Spinal instability is the term used to describe a loss of function of the spinal tissues. Typically, this results in abnormal movement of the tissues of the spine during normal activities. One common form of spinal instability involves a slippage of one vertebral bone relative to another. This is known as "subluxation" or "spondylolisthesis".
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True Lumbar Instability occurs when the ligaments, discs and joints that support the bones of the spine are damaged to the point they can no longer hold the bones together. This causes back pain. As the bones move out of place, they can pinch the nerves and cause leg pain and weakness. The term "Lumbar Instability" is sometimes used instead of Internal Disc Disruption, or Derangement. This is a similar condition in that there is damage to a disc which leads to back pain, although there is no abnormal movement of the bones.
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Lumbar instability involves the abnormal movement of two vertebrae on each other.
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Lumbar instability refers to motion that is in excess of normal physiologic motion. Typically instability will translate as back pain.
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Means that the spine is not stable and usually needs surgery.
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This is a term that Spinal Specialists use to describe when there is excessive motion of the spine. This is generally considered a painful condition.
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Lumbar instability is when the joints and discs of the back do not function well together. You can have microinstability where the internal movement of the joints and discs are abnormal. You can also have macroinstabity where one disc or joint actually shifts abnormally on its neighbor.
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Lumbar instability is abnormal motion or position of adjacent vertebrae in dynamic motion.
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Lumbar instability occurs when there is unnatural movement of the vertebrae. This can be the result of a spinal deformity such as spondylolisthesis, or occur after a decompression procedure.
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The commentary above recounts the experiences of these physicians. Medtronic invited them to share their stories candidly. Keep in mind that results vary; not every patient's response is the same. Talk with your doctor to learn more about any products that are mentioned above.
It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications and benefits of spinal surgery with your doctor prior to receiving treatment, and that you rely on your doctor's judgment. Only your doctor can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
