Spine Conditions
You might be surprised to hear that we see a lot of patients who did not even realize they had an annular tear. Why? Because there are many different types of tears that can occur.
It’s not unusual for annular tears to heal on their own. This is one reason why many people don’t realize they’ve had one before or simply thought it was a more common back pain problem.
On some occasions an annular tear may cause pain or disc damage which typically only occurs if the damaged disc touches a nerve root.
If you believe you have an annular tear, consulting a physician is important in order to determine the source of the pain. Through an MRI, our Board Certified Spine Surgeons will be able to see if you have an annular tear or a damaged disc. The symptoms along with the MRI scan will determine the location of the tear.
Types of Annular Tears by location:
- Cervical Annular Tears (C1-C7)
- Thoracic Annular Tears (T1-T12)
- Lumbar Annular Tears (L1-L5)
Types of Annular Tears
- Peripheral Tears – An injury such as a fall or car accident is the most common cause of this type of annular tear. These tears begin on the outside layer of the discs that surround the disc.
- Concentric Tears – An annular tear that has the layers of the annulus fibrosus separate entirely or partially.
- Radial Tears – This type of tear is typically due to the normal aging process. These tears can cause disc herniations or bulges.
Causes of Annular Tears
The spine supports most of your body weight therefore wear and tear can happen very easily. As we get older, our discs get prone to being damaged by it becoming less flexible and more brittle. There are also other factors to consider that can cause an annular tear.
- Your job that requires you to do certain tasks with your body repetitively
- Bad posture when lifting
- Working on a computer all day and staying stagnant in one position or working with two computer screens and moving your neck back and forth all day
- Body weight
- Injuries such as a fall or car accident
One of the most common causes of an Annular Tear is the gradual degeneration of the disc due to age. This is most commonly known as Degenerative Disc Disease.
