Degenerative Disc Disease is not a “disease” but a condition in which wear and tear on the spinal discs causes them to lose their cushioning and height. This can lead to chronic low back or neck pain and is a common part of the aging process.
Spinal Stenosis
A narrowing of the spaces within your spine, which can put pressure on the nerves that travel through the spine. It occurs most often in the lower back and neck, frequently caused by wear-and-tear changes in the spine related to osteoarthritis.
Spondylolisthesis
A spinal condition where one vertebra slips forward over the one below it. It is most common in the lumbar spine and can lead to spinal instability and compression of the spinal nerves or the spinal cord itself.
Herniated Disc
A condition in which the soft, jelly-like center of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in the tougher outer ring (annulus fibrosus). This can irritate nearby nerves and result in pain, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg, commonly in the low back.
Hypothenar Eminence
The group of three muscles at the base of the little finger (pinky). It consists of the abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, and opponens digiti minimi, which control the movements of the fifth digit.
Thenar Eminence
The group of three muscles at the base of the thumb on the palm of the hand. These muscles (abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis) control the fine movements of the thumb, including opposition.
Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
An extrinsic flexor muscle of the fingers that flexes the middle phalanges at the proximal interphalangeal joints. It also assists in flexing the metacarpophalangeal joints and the wrist.
Palmaris Longus
A small, superficial muscle of the forearm that is absent in about 14% of the population. It acts as a weak flexor of the wrist and tenses the palmar fascia.