What Are Spinal Lesions?
Category: Spine | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
If you’re dealing with spine pain and a visit to a specialist suggests that you’re dealing with a spinal lesion, you’re probably wondering exactly what that means. Is it a non-issue? Is it cancer? Is it somewhere in between? In today’s blog, we’re going to explain what a spinal lesion is, and we’re going to talk about your treatment options.
Types of Spinal Lesions
At the base level, a spinal lesion is classified as any abnormal change to the spinal tissue or spinal cord. Some common types of spinal lesions include tumors, cancers, fluid sacs or any other types of growths that disrupt normal back function. These growths can develop for a variety of different reasons, including:
- Acute trauma
- Repetitive trauma over time
- Spinal cord injury
- Infections
- Genetics
We have gotten better at treating spinal lesions, but they can be complicated because lesions can present a number of different issues. Spinal lesions can cause motor dysfunction, sensory deficits, balance issues and organ compression, and that doesn’t even account for the lesion’s potential to be cancerous. A doctor will need to understand what is being affected by the lesion in order to ensure all areas resolve fully once the lesion is addressed.
Treating Spinal Lesions
On the off chance that your spinal lesion was found when imaging for another reason, it is not causing pain and tests reveal it to be non-cancerous, you may be able to avoid surgery for the lesion. In these cases, watchful waiting and improvements in diet and exercise may be the best bet.
However, if the growth is causing pain, is affecting other structures or is cancerous, surgery will be your preferred option. The specific operation will depend on your exact situation, but there are two main goals when it comes to spinal lesion surgery. The first is to fully remove the lesion so that its chances of returning are minimal, and to ensure the spine remains stabile. If removal of the lesion destabilizes the spine, your surgeon may insert hardware or perform a fusion operation to maintain strength and stability in the area.
So if you’ve been diagnosed with a spinal lesion, or you simply want to get to the bottom of your spine pain, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi today. He can walk you through all your options and get you back on the road to recovery. Contact his office today.
