Why do people get cysts on their spine?
The cause of spinal cysts is unknown, but they may result from degeneration and instability of the spine in areas subjected to repetitive motion, particularly the joints in the lumbar region. Patients with spinal cysts may have other degenerative conditions of the spine, such as arthritis and disk disease.
What happens when you have a cyst on your spinal cord?
Syringomyelia cyst (syrinx) in the spinal cord Syringomyelia (sih-ring-go-my-E-lee-uh) is the development of a fluid-filled cyst (syrinx) within your spinal cord. Over time, the cyst can enlarge, damaging your spinal cord and causing pain, weakness and stiffness, among other symptoms.
Are spinal cysts common?
A synovial cyst of the spine is a fluid-filled sac that develops along the spine. It’s the result of degeneration of a facet joint of the vertebrae of the spine. Most synovial cysts develop in the portion of the lower spine called the lumbar spine. These cysts are uncommon and often don’t produce symptoms.
Can a spinal cyst burst?
We try to fill up the cyst with enough medication to pressurize it and ultimately rupture it. Cyst rupture is somewhat painful compared to injection only, but it is usually more effective long-term. I do remind patients that spinal cysts often grow back.
How do you get rid of a cyst on your spine?
The two most common surgeries for a spinal cyst are a decompression/cyst resection or a decompression cyst resection with a spinal fusion. With a decompression cyst resection, we remove the cyst (resection), relieving the pressure from the nerve root.
Can a spinal cyst be drained without surgery?
The fluid-filled sac creates pressure inside the spinal canal that compresses the nerves and causes pain. The best treatment for synovial cysts is generally non-surgical care, including over-the-counter pain medications, activity modification, and injections.
What is a spinal cyst?
What is a Spinal Cyst? A spinal cyst is simply a synovial cyst that forms on the tendons or joints in the spine, often as the result of natural degeneration. It is a benign, fluid-filled sac that can vary in size and often go unnoticed unless they are pressing against a nerve or affecting joint movement.
What are the symptoms of spinal cysts and spinal stenosis?
Depending on the size and location of the cyst, symptoms may be similar to those of spinal stenosis, including: radicular (“pinched nerve”) pain on one or both sides neurogenic claudication (pain or weakness due to compressed nerves) What are the risk factors for spinal cysts? Spinal cysts are more common in people over the age of 50.
Can a cyst on your back cause pain?
It is a benign, fluid-filled sac that can vary in size and often go unnoticed unless they are pressing against a nerve or affecting joint movement. Recent advances in imaging have made the diagnosis of spinal cysts more common than in previous years, but they’re still a relatively rare cause of back pain.
Are spinal cysts dangerous?
Spinal cysts are known as a benign, noncanerous lumps, which means that they are, inherently, not harmful to your body. However, the symptoms they cause can dangerous depending on their size and location. If you have a symptomatic cysts, you should talk to your spine surgeon to discuss treatment options.