Sunday, June 26, 2016

Basic Facts On Back Pain Nyc Residents Should Have

By Noam Sadovnik


The causes of back pain are greatly variable. Depending on the underlying cause, some cases of back ache tend to resolve spontaneously without any intervention while others are seriously debilitating and require invasive procedures to correct. Once they start experiencing back pain NYC residents need to make it a priority to seek medical care so that if interventions are needed, they can be instituted in timely fashion.

When you visit your doctor, they will first take your history and then conduct a physical all in an effort to have an idea of what the problem could be. It is not uncommon for them to request for various investigations that include radiological images (X-rays, CT scans and MRIs) as well as blood tests. Depending on the findings, you may be referred to an orthopedic surgeon or a physiotherapist to continue with specialist treatment.

The cause of the problem may be any component that makes up the back. These include the joints, bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Muscle sprains and other minor injuries are the commonest. They will be seen in persons that have been subjected to trauma during sports or those that have been involved in the lifting of heavy objects. Apart from analgesic agents, there is usually no need for any other intervention.

The main joint conditions that contribute to this problem are prolapsed inter-vertebral discs and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that mainly affects persons in their sixth decade of life. If you are affected with this condition, you will experience constant pain that is worse when movement occurs around the diseased joint. The management of this condition is mainly through analgesic agents and physiotherapy. The most severe cases may require surgical operation.

Inter-vertebral discs are structures that act as shock absorbers in inter-vertebral joints. Inter-vertebral disc prolapse is usually preceded by trauma to the back or engagement in the lifting of heavy objects. A prolapsed disc impinges on nerves found within its vicinity. This is likely to cause pain and numbness of the back and the lower limbs. The pain may increase when one assumes a seated position and is unlikely to respond to analgesic drugs.

The management of displaced discs is through conservative or surgical options. Traction is the main non-surgical option that is used. It involves the use of a gentle pulling force on the spine. The result is the creation of a negative force within the affected joint. The joint slips back in position and the symptoms are relieved. Up to 20 sessions are usually needed to achieve the maximal effect.

Tumors may be encountered in some cases. Those affecting the bones are usually very painful. Your doctor will attempt to determine whether indeed they are originating from the bone or if they are metastases from other regions. Multiple myeloma is one of the commonest primary bone tumors. It results in significant loss of bone mass. Metastatic bone tumors may originate from the thyroid gland, breasts, kidneys or the prostate gland among others.

Although they are quite rare, infections may still affect the spine. Bacteria and mycobacteria (mainly tuberculosis) are known to result in severe destruction of vertebral bodies leading to spinal instability. Prompt treatment with antibiotics helps prevent this complication. Spinal fusion surgery or a spinal corset may be required to restore function in very severe cases.




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