Pinched spinal nerves can develop suddenly or gradually. Sudden compression usually occurs in the setting of an acute joint problem called a “herniated disc,” also discussed in more detail elsewhere.

“Arthritis” is an umbrella term used to explain inflammation, joint pain and joint disease in one or more joints. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, and RA is the second-most common.

Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction is a common cause of low back pain.

An alteration in scapular positioning or motion can make it difficult to move your arm, especially when performing overhead activities, and may cause your shoulder to feel weak.

One particular type of kyphosis is Scheuermann’s kyphosis, also known as Scheuermann’s disease.

When low back pain radiates through the buttocks and down the leg, the symptoms are known as sciatica.

Scoliosis is a medical term taken from a Greek word meaning curvature. This disorder may develop during childhood, and it causes the spine to curve to the left or right side.

Children with scoliosis and their parents have a lot of questions about the condition. In this series of four articles, orthopaedic surgeons from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Scoliosis Research Society answer some of the questions they most commonly hear from patients and their parents.

Costal chondritis, costochondritis and Tietze syndrome are sometimes used interchangeably and characterized by inflammation of the part of the rib that is cartilage.

Spina bifida is a neural tube defect resulting in mild to severe disabilities, depending on where the unprotected portion of the spinal cord is and how much is exposed.