A painful disease which causes the joints to swell up and the bones to fuse together. On both sides of the body. Cervical Refers to the seven vertebrae which make up the neck. Coccyx the last bone of the spine, made up of four tiny joined vertebrae. Congenital Present at birth.
Conservative management Refers to non-surgical treatment of back problems.
Counselling the opportunity to talk things over with a trained counsellor, which can offer new ideas for coping. Degeneration of the disc the discs between the vertebrae break up as they become more rigid, restricting movement of the spine and increasing wear on the vertebrae. Epidural Drugs injected into the spine, for the relief of pain. Facet joints the point at which two vertebrae meet and move against each other. Fracture A break in the bone.