Cervical & Thoracic Spine Flashcards
What sections of the spine are mobile?
Cervical
Lumbar
Where are pain fibers located?
Annulus fibrosis Joint: uncovertebral, facet Ligaments Periosteum Muscle/Fascia
Radicular Pain
Nerve root mediated
Dermatomal pain, numbness, paresthesia
Associated with weakness, hyporeflexia
Reasons for Radicular Pain
Compression
Chemical
Inflammatory
Define Referred Pain
Axial or external pain localized to a site remote from location of nocioceptors
Describe Referred Pain
Dull, achy, non-dermatomal pain
Associated with axial pain
How do intervertebral discs get their nutrition?
Childhood: annular arteries
Adolescence: diffusion
Normal Aging of Discs
Occurs at different rates
Disc dehydration, narrowing
Increase strain on annulus: diffuse bulging, annular tears, focal disc herniation
Stress transfers to uncovertebral & facet joints
Causes of Axial Pain
Facet, uncovertebral joint arthritis
Loss of lordosis (muscular)
Instability
Define Radiculopathy
Pressure related nerve root dysfunction
Causes of Radiculopathy
Disc herniation
Uncovertebral, facet joint spurs
Define Myelopathy
Pressure related spinal cord dysfunction
Causes of Myelopathy
Large disc herniation
Spurs
Congenitally narrow canal
Describe Structural Axial Pain
Dull
Achy
Paraspinal
Describe Referred Axial Pain
Sharp
Stabbing
Intrascapular
Describe Radicular Extremity Pain
Dermatomal
Sharp
Temperature
Wet/dry
Describe Appendicular Extremity Pain
Non-dermatomal
Joint/bone/muscle localized
Muscles to Check for C5
Deltoid
External rotators
Muscles to Check for C6
Wrist extension
Pronator teres
Biceps
Muscles to Check for C7
Triceps
Muscles to Check for C8
Finger flexors
How to Test for Sensory
Light touch
Pin prick
Temperature