This animation describes how the many parts of the spine — including the vertebrae, intervertebral disks, and facet joints — work together to allow us to stand and move.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Spinal injections are used in two ways. First, they can be performed to diagnose the source of back, leg, neck, or arm pain (diagnostic). Second, spinal injections can be used as a treatment to relieve pain (therapeutic).| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Cervical spondylosis, commonly called arthritis of the neck, is the medical term for the wear-and-tear changes that occur in the cervical spine (neck) over time. The condition is common—but many people with cervical spondylosis experience no noticeable symptoms| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure used to correct problems with the small bones of the spine (vertebrae). It is essentially a "welding" process. The basic idea is to fuse together two or more vertebrae so that they heal into a single, solid bone.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that attacks multiple joints throughout the body. Although there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, there are a number of treatments that can help relieve joint pain and improve functioning.| orthoinfo.aaos.org
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs (pronounced en-saids), are the most prescribed medications for treating conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, and tendinitis. Over-the-counter, nonprescription NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.| orthoinfo.aaos.org