As we grow, our bones, and most substantially, our spines grow and elongate along with us. But as we continue to age, it is also common that we lose that bone density and often shrink because of old age. There are several reasons why your spine changes throughout your life and there are ways to correct changes that could be detrimental to your health. If you are searching for a minimally invasive discectomy in Los Angeles, contact Dr. Yashar’s team today and schedule an appointment now. Continue reading to learn how your spine changes as you age and what warning signs to look for later in life.
Natural Changes
The elongating of the spine is a natural occurrence in our bodies. The spine grows along with us and eventually rests at the final length after the completion of puberty. These natural changes are beneficial to the health and life of each person, but there are also dangerous changes that occur naturally that should be closely monitored in patients over the age of 55. The spine begins to slowly lose bone mass after women begin to experience menopause and can result in the diagnosis of Osteoporosis as a result. We assimilate the shortening of our spine to the natural progression of aging, but, this process could be a result of tiny spinal fractures in vertebrae.
Bone Mass Depletion
If you notice that your height has begun to dwindle, there are a few things to consider that may lead to receiving a minimally invasive discectomy in Los Angeles. Women who have started menopause are more likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis and lose spinal bone mass as a result to the decrease in estrogen. Both men and women over the age of 55 are at risk for the early stages of bone mass depletion, as the weight on older patients’ frames can fluctuate, and increase the strain put on the spine. Patients over the age of 65 should be regularly checked for the loss of bone mass, or distinct changes in the alignment of the spine, as the bone of vertebrae become increasingly more and more likely to begin losing density. Height loss and small misalignments in the spine should be reported to your doctor for observation, and course correcting treatment may be prescribed to delay any surgical treatment.
Dealing with Spinal Changes
Unfortunately, changes in spinal structures are very common in older patients. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis, but men are also in danger of large bone mass reduction, as they tend to gain more weight in their old age than women. There are effective ways to embracing the changes in spinal structure, however. The first is to continuously see your doctor for checkups and ensure that any significant spinal changes are reported.
Chiropractors are a great relief to patients with severe back problems and those that are registered can even aid in the lengthening of the vertebrae to relieve the bones of the stress they have been carrying.
Yoga and other stretching inspired classes are also effective preventative treatments to consider. The stretching techniques taught in classes have been proven to strengthen participants and elongate the spinal structure. They are also tailored to aid in decreasing back and joint pain symptoms, and the muscles that are strengthened through the class also help take pressure off the spinal bones.
If no exterior treatment is making enough of a difference, talk to your doctor about a minimally invasive discectomy in Los Angeles to restore your spine. Contact Dr. Yashar’s office today to schedule your first appointment and discuss all spinal recovery options so that you can get back to looking and feeling better now!
