In Reply to: Calsification of the Vertibre?!?!? posted by Mike on December 19, 2000 at 21:15:24:

: Hello, If there is anyone who can help me on this information please e-mail me ok?

: For years I've had middle back pain and I've always associated it with working and never really thought about having an X-Ray until now.

: They did an X-Ray and what he found out was there was some Calsification right between the two vertibre or something like that.

: What exactly is Calsification? I'm sure it has something to do with Calcium right? Well anyone who knows a little about it or has gone through it please e-mail me. I would like to find some more information before I hear back from the doctor.

: Thank You
: Mike
Dear Mike: Did your doctor say anything about your two vertebre being fused together? Basically, over the years when we use our backs, some of the cartilage rubs off the ends of bones. The body then tries to replace that cartilage by forming calcium deposits in that area. All of the ends of bones in joints have cartilage. It is a smooth surface that is on bones in joints that are lubricated with fluids in our body. What it SOUNDS like happened to you over the years by working is that yoy have wear and tear on it. We ALL get wear and tear in our bodies over the years. Your spine is a very incredible, complex part of your body. It can twist, allow you to move your arms and legs very precisely in any durection you tell it too. However, it has tiny little joints throughout it, some of which are called facet joints, that allow the tiniest motion to be executed by you. I have arthritis in my facet joints, which is bits of calcium that have formed to protect the areas where the cartilage has rubbed off over the years.
A good example of cartilage is a chicken bone. Have you ever looked at the bone of a leg of chicken? Even noticed the smooth end on the bone? That is cartilage. Did your doctor say anything about any problems of the disk (a soft spongy pad that lies between each vertebre)in that area? It would NOT show up on a regular bone xray; you need an MRI to show the soft tissue. Often times, if the vertebre look out of line, there COULD be a disk bulge. I had a friend whose neck fused itself with calcium from the top to the bottom.

I hope I've been of some help. Perhaps others will post to you with additional or possibly a better explanation of what is going on in your back. I've had 2 back surgeries, one on my low back and neck fusion at C5-6. The disk had calcified in my neck, along with a large bone spur on the vertebre. Talk about pain! Take care, Mike, and good luck to you. PatG