Managing persistent back painJuly 29, 2021
Cervical herniated discs are caused by poor posture, whereas lumbar herniated discs are caused by hard work or sports injuries.
For weeks, months, or even years, back discomfort can take away the joy from your days. Even if the pain may seem unthreatening, it could possibly be a serious underlying cause. Low back discomfort is a very common occurrence. People may not take this as seriously as they should due to its typical occurrence. But why is this common discomfort taken very lightly by so many when it could potentially be a serious underlying condition? This is because, in many cases, back pain could be as common as a light headache. The lifetime prevalence of chronic low back pain is as high as 84%, implying that everyone would experience discomfort at some point in their lives. As a result, it is no surprise that many people do not take non-specific low back pain seriously or regard it as a potential health condition.
What could it potentially be? Many will take the discomfort lightly up to the point where the agony becomes unbearable. When this occurs, people would naturally ask themselves and start to wonder if this is something they should be concerned about. Should I ignore the discomfort, or could it be something more serious? What are the impacts if one endures the excruciating pain for a long time? 'Back discomfort can be caused by a variety of diseases. One of the underlying conditions could be cervical or lumbar herniated disc. A herniated disc can happen anywhere along the spine, but it most commonly happens in the lower back. It is one of the most common causes of back discomfort in the lower back but only 10-20% patients require surgery,' says Dr Teo Beng Tiong (pix) consultant neurosurgeon at the Regency Specialist Hospital. Cervical herniated discs are caused by poor posture, whereas lumbar herniated discs are caused by hard work or sports injuries. Prominent indicators? However, there are obvious signs that can help you distinguish the difference between a normal back pain or something more severe. Some detectable signs that back discomfort could be a severe problem is the ability to function with the low back pain. The patient's capacity to continue to function in everyday activities is perhaps even more significant than the severity of the low back and/or leg discomfort. If you are unable to go to work, drive to the store, or perform other activities of daily living, you should consider consulting a spine specialist as soon as possible. If you’ve been attending a physical therapist and haven’t seen a permanent resolution of your back pain, it’s probably time to consult with a neurosurgeon as well. Pain that develops down to the arm and leg which causes numbness are also signs of positive neurological signs. Simple treatment plan Many people's discomfort lasts a few months, but only a few people suffer chronic, severe pain. A simple treatment plan would include:
These easy treatment strategies may work for some people, but they will certainly not work for someone who suffers from more severe cases such as a herniated disc. If you have exhausted non-surgical options and are still experiencing symptoms after three months, surgery may be a viable option. A patient with herniated disc requires a much more extensive care and treatment option from a specialist. It is frequently a simple outpatient procedure lasting less than an hour. Hence, a specialist should be consulted if lower back and/or leg pain persists for several weeks or months. If a patient is having neck pain such a pain shooting down to the limbs, numbness, or weakness, this is a clear-cut point to see a spine specialist. Seeing a neurosurgeon sooner rather than later may improve the success of your treatment, whereas waiting too long may result in long-term nerve damage that is unlikely to respond to treatment at all. Back discs are vulnerable to injury. With age, this danger rises. Working with one or more types of spine specialists allows patients to find the best combination of treatment options for their pain. It is natural to be concerned if you require spine surgery. Minimally invasive spine surgery Following a diagnosis of the disease, the neurosurgeon would normally recommend surgery as the last option to help the patient avoid immobility. It is understandable that surgery is not your first choice of treatment. However, it may be the most effective way to deal with pain or loss of mobility. The best option will be to undergo minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS) to completely repair the spinal disc for long-term pain relief. Spine surgery may sound daunting to many people. However, you can find comfort in the fact that there are more surgical options available today than ever before. Technological advancements have reduced the invasiveness of the procedure. Spine surgery has traditionally been done as an open procedure, with a long incision made to expose the spinal anatomy. However, technological advances have allowed for a less invasive procedure to be developed. The goal of MISS is to stabilise the vertebral bones and spinal joints while also relieving pressure on the spinal nerves. Herniated discs and spinal stenosis are common conditions treated with MISS. Minimally invasive surgery vs traditional surgery Most surgeons around the world are familiar with MISS. The main reason why MISS technique is utilised is to reduce the size and number of cuts, or incisions, that are needed to make. It is generally thought to be safer than open surgery. In MISS, neurosurgeons use various methods to operate with minimal stress to the body as compared to traditional open surgery. In general, MISS is associated with less pain, a shorter hospital stay, less blood loss and fewer complications. Due to numerous considerations, such as a greater accuracy rate with relatively less pain and fewer infections, the demand for this procedure has been expanding at a rapid rate. This type of treatment is most definitely less costly, less risky and associated with better outcomes for patients. Motion preservation In most cases traditional spine surgery can often result in losing range of motion in the spine. Therefore, neurosurgeons opt for this surgery to enhance and preserve the quality of life of the patient. The motion preservation surgeries use modern and advanced techniques to greatly reduce the likelihood of losing spinal mobility. The primary goal of motion preservation surgery in the spine is to maintain normal or near normal motion to prevent adverse outcomes. This surgery provides a better range of motion for the patients than traditional fusion surgery. The benefits of motion preservation surgery may include a shorter recovery and rehabilitation period, improved spine movement and flexibility, less stress on the adjacent discs, a lower risk of a second surgery, and less surgical blood loss. |
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