What does spinal instability mean?

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Spinal instability means that there is too much movement in your spine. This can happen if you have a traumatic injury to your spine from a fall or accident. It can also happen with severe degeneration, or with other conditions in your spine. If you have too much movement in your spine, there could be pressure on the bones in your spine or on the spinal nerves. This could cause symptoms like low back pain, or symptoms in your legs like pain, weakness, or numbness.

Only your doctor will know for certain if you have spinal instability. Your doctor will usually order X-rays, an MRI, or CT scan if spinal instability is suspected. Your doctor may want to look at your spine in different positions by having you bend forward or backward, and may repeat these tests over time to see if the amount of spinal instability is changing or staying the same.

Even if you have this condition, there might not be anything to worry about. Some people with only a little bit of spinal instability don’t have any symptoms can be okay for years even without treatment.

 
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