Max Hospital, Delhi · Ex-AIIMS · 25 Years of Excellence Book an appointment
Dr. Prof. Bhavuk Garg Professor of Orthopaedics & Spine
X-ray of the lumbar spine and pelvis

Patient education

Conditions of the spine

Plain-language guides to the conditions Dr. Garg treats — what each one is, how it is diagnosed, and the options, considering non-surgical care first.

  1. Scoliosis: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Options Scoliosis is a sideways (lateral) curvature of the spine that also involves a degree of rotation. Most curves are mild and need only monitoring; some require bracing or, less often, surgery.
  2. Kyphosis: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Options Kyphosis is an excessive forward (outward) curve of the upper back, producing a rounded or hunched appearance. It ranges from mild postural rounding to fixed structural curves with underlying bone or disc changes.
  3. Slipped (Herniated) Disc: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment A slipped or herniated disc occurs when the soft inner part of a spinal disc pushes through its outer wall and can press on a nearby nerve. Many cases settle with time and non-surgical care.
  4. Osteoporosis & Vertebral Fractures: A Patient Guide Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become thin and fragile, raising the risk of fractures. In the spine this can cause vertebral compression fractures, many of which heal with non-surgical care.
  5. Neck Pain: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Options Neck pain is discomfort arising from the muscles, joints, discs or nerves of the cervical spine. Most cases are mechanical and settle with simple measures.
  6. Spondylolisthesis: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one vertebra slips forward over the one below it. Many low-grade cases cause few symptoms and are managed without surgery.
  7. Spondylodiscitis: Spinal Infection of the Disc Spondylodiscitis is an infection of an intervertebral disc and the adjacent vertebral endplates, usually caused by bacteria. It is a serious condition needing prompt treatment.
  8. Degenerative Disc Disease: Causes & Treatment Degenerative disc disease is the gradual, age-related wear of the intervertebral discs that can cause back or neck pain. It is a common process, not a disease in the usual sense.
  9. Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Sacroiliac joint pain arises from the joint connecting the base of the spine to the pelvis. It commonly causes low back and buttock pain and is usually managed without surgery.
  10. Spinal Tuberculosis (Pott's Spine): Causes & Treatment Spinal tuberculosis, also called Pott's spine, is a tuberculosis infection of the vertebrae. It is treated mainly with a prolonged course of anti-tubercular drugs, with surgery reserved for specific situations.
  11. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back that can compress nerves, often causing leg pain or heaviness when walking that eases on sitting or bending forward.
  12. Spinal Cord Injury: A Patient & Family Guide Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that can affect movement, sensation and other body functions below the level of injury. Care focuses on early management and rehabilitation.
  13. Back Pain: Causes, Diagnosis & When to Worry Back pain is discomfort in the lower back from the muscles, joints, discs or nerves. Most acute back pain is not serious and settles within a few weeks.
  14. Sciatica: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Options Sciatica is pain that radiates from the lower back down the leg along the path of the sciatic nerve. It is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, and most cases settle with non-surgical care.
  15. Cervical Disc Disease: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Cervical disc disease refers to wear, degeneration or herniation of the intervertebral discs in the neck, which can cause neck pain and sometimes arm symptoms.
  16. Cervical Myelopathy: Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Cervical myelopathy is compression of the spinal cord within the neck. It can cause hand clumsiness and balance problems and often warrants timely specialist assessment.
  17. Cervical Radiculopathy: Pinched Nerve in the Neck Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck is compressed or irritated, causing pain, numbness or weakness that radiates down the arm.
  18. Cervical Spinal Stenosis: Causes & Treatment Cervical spinal stenosis is narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck. When it presses on the spinal cord, it can lead to a condition called cervical myelopathy.
  19. Cervical Pain: Understanding Pain in the Neck Cervical pain is the medical term for pain in the neck, arising from the muscles, joints, discs or nerves of the cervical spine. Most cases are mechanical and settle in time.