Neck & Back Pain
Could yours be genetic?
Does neck or back pain seem to run in your family?
“If you’ve ever wondered if an underlying genetic issue may be the cause of your pain, one of our spine specialists can help you find the answer!” – Stridewell
Genetic factors can cause neck or back pain. Fortunately for our patients, a highly-trained spine specialist will be able to pinpoint the exact cause and customize a corresponding treatment plan. The following describe just a few genetic conditions that can cause spinal problems …
- Increased joint laxity (being double-jointed)
- Abnormal growth of bone and cartilage (skeletal dysplasias)
- Diseases that cause inflammation in bones (like Paget’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis)
- Genetic disorders that cause tumors to grow in the nervous system (neurofibromatoses)
- Diseases and disorders that affect the nervous system’s function (like spinal muscular atrophy, Friedeich’s ataxia, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease)
- Spinal deformities (like scoliosis and kyphosis)
- Disorders and diseases that affect the development of joints and bones in the body (like Larsen syndrome and Klippel-Feil syndrome)
Spinal conditions linked to hereditary factors
The above genetic conditions may make you more likely to develop spine conditions that cause neck and back pain. The following describe some of the spinal conditions linked to genetic factors …
Spinal stenosis
Stenosis is the narrowing of the spine. While often caused by age, it is possible to be born with a narrower spine. In addition, genetic diseases that affect bone and muscle development may lead to the narrowing of the spine.
Spinal osteoarthritis
This is arthritis in the facet joints in the spine. While the exact cause of spinal osteoarthritis is unknown, scientists have confirmed that genetics plays a role.
Radiculopathy
This is the scientific term for a pinched nerve in the spine. While radiculopathy is most often a result of injury, genetic disorders (especially those that affect spinal development) likely play a role.
Myelopathy
Myelopathy is a term for many different types of problems involving the spinal cord. Some of these problems can be a result of hereditary factors that can cause compression on the spinal cord.
