Spine Conditions
& Symptoms
Back pain, neck pain, numbness, weakness — understand what's causing your symptoms and explore your treatment options with Orange County's trusted spine specialists.
Back pain, neck pain, numbness, weakness — understand what's causing your symptoms and explore your treatment options with Orange County's trusted spine specialists.
The spine is a complex structure of bones, discs, nerves, and soft tissues. When any component is damaged, degenerated, or compressed, it can cause pain, stiffness, numbness, or weakness that significantly impacts your daily life. At Restore Orthopedics & Spine, we diagnose and treat the full spectrum of spinal conditions — from common disc problems to complex deformities.
A disc's soft inner material pushes through a crack in the outer layer, often pressing on nearby nerves. Causes sharp pain, numbness, or weakness radiating into the arms (cervical) or legs (lumbar). May resolve with conservative care; surgery indicated when symptoms persist or worsen.
Narrowing of the spinal canal that compresses the spinal cord or nerve roots. Causes leg pain and cramping when walking (neurogenic claudication), numbness, and weakness. Most common in patients over 50. Treated with injections, therapy, or decompression surgery.
Age-related wear and breakdown of spinal discs causing chronic back or neck pain, stiffness, and reduced flexibility. Despite the name, it's a natural aging process — not a progressive "disease." Treated with therapy, injections, and fusion or disc replacement when severe.
A vertebra slips forward on the one below it, causing instability and nerve compression. Symptoms include lower back pain, leg pain, and tightness in the hamstrings. Mild cases respond to therapy and bracing; severe cases may require fusion surgery.
Pain, numbness, or tingling that radiates along a nerve path — down the leg (sciatica) or into the arm (cervical radiculopathy). Caused by disc herniation, stenosis, or bone spurs compressing a nerve root. Often responds to injections and therapy.
Abnormal curvature of the spine — including scoliosis (side-to-side curve), kyphosis (forward rounding), and complex adult deformity. Can cause pain, imbalance, and functional limitations. Treated conservatively when mild; complex deformity correction surgery when severe.
Fractures of the vertebral body caused by osteoporosis, trauma, or cancer. Cause sudden severe back pain, height loss, and stooped posture. Treated with bracing, kyphoplasty, or vertebroplasty. Learn more about VCF symptoms →
Compression of the spinal cord in the neck causing difficulty with fine motor skills, balance problems, gait changes, and hand weakness. A progressive condition that often requires surgical decompression to prevent further neurological decline.
Many people live with back or neck pain assuming it will resolve on its own. While some pain does improve, certain symptoms warrant prompt evaluation by a spine specialist:
Pain lasting more than 4-6 weeks that hasn't improved with rest and over-the-counter medication
Radiating pain, numbness, or tingling into the arms or legs
Weakness in hands, arms, or legs — dropping objects, difficulty gripping, foot drop
Balance or gait changes — unsteadiness, difficulty walking, feeling clumsy
Loss of bladder or bowel control — this is a medical emergency requiring immediate evaluation
Our preservation over procedure philosophy means we always start with conservative options:
Conservative care: Physical therapy, medication management, activity modification, bracing, and lifestyle changes. Effective for many conditions.
Injection therapy: Epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, and facet injections for targeted pain relief and diagnosis.
Minimally invasive surgery: Decompression, fusion, disc replacement, and kyphoplasty when conservative measures have been exhausted.
Every treatment plan starts with a thorough evaluation including imaging review, physical exam, and an honest conversation about your options.
Call (714) 598-1745If you experience sudden severe back pain with loss of bladder or bowel control, rapidly progressive weakness in the legs, or numbness in the groin/saddle area, seek emergency medical care immediately. These may indicate cauda equina syndrome, which requires urgent surgical treatment.
Detailed guide to VCF warning signs, risk factors, and treatment.
Non-surgical pain management options for spine conditions.
On-site imaging. Same-day referral processing.
Restore Orthopedics & Spine provides expert orthopedic care from our Orange, CA clinic — conveniently located for patients throughout Orange County including Irvine, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Fullerton, Tustin, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Yorba Linda, Brea, Placentia, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Beach, as well as neighboring Los Angeles County communities including La Habra, Whittier, Downey, Cerritos, Long Beach, Lakewood, Norwalk, La Mirada, and Buena Park.
Same-week appointments. On-site MRI and X-ray. Most insurances accepted.