When you hear the term “dislocated” in a medical setting, you probably envision a dislocated finger or shoulder joint, but these aren’t the only areas susceptible to a dislocation. It’s actually possible to dislocate your back, but because of its inherent structure, treatment isn’t as simple as just popping the bone back in place. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at spinal dislocations and explain how the condition is treated.
Causes And Symptoms Of Spinal Dislocations
As you probably imagine, a spinal dislocation is pretty rare. The spinal column is incredibly strong and well-protected, so it will take a lot of force for a vertebral segment to shift out of place. And while they are rare, they can also be a very significant injury, especially if the dislocated vertebra ends up compressing key spinal nerves or the spinal cord.
Spinal dislocations typically require a great deal of force, so it’s unlikely that you’ll suffer one simply by bending over to pick up the newspaper off the ground. In most instances, they require a moment of significant trauma, which is why they tend to be more common in motor vehicle accidents, athletic collisions or falls from a great height.
Dislocations are typically categorized into one of two types; a complete dislocation or a partial dislocation, sometimes referred to as a subluxation. A complete dislocation occurs when there is a complete separation between two vertebrae in the spine. A subluxation involves a partial misalignment of the vertebrae and supportive ligaments.
Symptoms of dislocations and subluxations will vary based on individual factors, but suffice to say that a complete dislocation will be much more uncomfortable than a subluxation. Some of the most common symptoms for both injuries include:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Muscle or extremity weakness
- Limited mobility
- Tingling sensation
- Bladder or bowel dysfunction
It’s possible that symptoms of a subluxation are minor or mild, but it’s important to have a subluxation addressed, because prolonged pressure on spinal nerves can lead to irreversible damage. The longer you wait, the harder the issue may be to treat, so don’t assume that you can just ignore a partial spinal dislocation.
Diagnosis And Treatment
A spinal dislocation or subluxation is typically identified during a standard patient evaluation that involves a physical examination, a discussion with the patient about the moment of injury, and imaging tests to confirm the internal damage. An X-ray can help to show the dislocated vertebral segment, but an MRI or CT scan may prove more beneficial in identifying the damage to the ligaments that are supposed to help hold the vertebrae in place.
Once a dislocation or a subluxation is confirmed, your doctor will talk with you about your treatment options. For severe dislocations that are jeopardizing the health of your spinal cord, the best intervention may be emergency surgery to decompress the area and realign the spine. Your doctor will carefully shift the dislocated vertebra back into the correct position before securing and stabilizing the site. After surgery is complete, you will follow a similar rehab to those who do not need surgery to address their dislocation or subluxation.
If your doctor believes the dislocation or subluxation can be managed without surgery, they’ll walk you through your expected recovery protocol. Oftentimes this involves a heavy dose of rest and activity avoidance, but simply protecting your body from stress won’t help the vertebra shift back into a healthy alignment and restrengthen the damaged ligaments. That process really moves forward with the help of physical therapy. A professional physical therapist will help you pursue safe and effective movement exercises to target specific areas of your back without overloading them with strain, which could end up exacerbating your dislocation or subluxation. Whether you pursue conservative care off the bat or undergo a surgical procedure, you can expect weeks or months of physical therapy to help you get back to a pre-injury level of fitness. Most patients can make a strong recovery with PT and activity avoidance, but it will take some time, so you’ll need to learn to be patient.
Vertebral dislocations are rare, but they can be a significant issue in the event they develop. Dr. Jackman and his team can help guide you on a course to recovery for your dislocation, subluxation or similar spinal issue. For more information, or for help with a different back problem, reach out to Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
What Does Spinal Arthritis Feel Like?
