jeudi 28 avril 2016

Facts Related To Back Pain Conroe Residents Need To Understand

By Ronald Bennett


Back pain may be either acute or chronic. It is described as acute if it has been experienced for two weeks or less and chronic if it has existed for longer than this. The problem is fairly common and the incidence increases with advancing age. There are a number of things related to back pain Conroe residents need to know if they have been dealing with this problem.

Acute back discomfort is often caused by trauma or a simple strain of muscles. Many of the cases resolve spontaneously without any treatment but for some, intervention is necessary to prevent deterioration. Chronic cases are those that have remained persistent with or without treatment, the commonest causes include osteoarthritis, inter-vertebral disc prolapse, chronic infections (such as tuberculosis) and primary or secondary malignancies.

Inter-vertebral discs are structures that are found between adjacent vertebrae. They act as shock absorbers during movements that occur between the joints of the spine. Their prolapse frequently follows blunt trauma to the spinal column or a heavy lifting event. When this happens, the disc impinges nerves and other structures that are in close proximity. The pain in this case affects both the back and the lower limbs and is observed to worsen with walking.

The main treatment for inter-vertebral disc prolapse is decompression. This can be done using surgical or non-surgical options. Traction is an effective and safe non-surgical option that is often used to solve this problem. It involves the application of a steady force (pull) onto the spine so as to relieve excess pressures. A negative pressure between the adjacent discs allows the disc to slip back into its original position. About twenty sessions are needed on average.

Surgery is used in case the traction option fails to provide the desired results. It helps in the re-positioning of the displaced disc or removal of some vertebral elements. Such may include the whole vertebral body or a small component such as the lamina, the foramen or osteophytes (bony growths). Surgery is less preferred because it is invasive and may lead to complications such as bleeding, nerve injuries, infections and spinal instability.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that predominantly affects large joints. It is characterized by a reduction in joint space, reduced synovial fluid and formation of bony spurs. There is no definitive treatment for the condition but non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) provide relief for most people. Physical exercise may also be beneficial in some cases.

Tumors are described as being primary if they originate from the organ in question and secondary if they have metastasized from other organs. The main primary bone tumor that may affect the spine is multiple myeloma while secondary tumors originate from organs such as the thyroid, the breasts, the kidneys and the prostate gland among others. The symptoms that are associated with tumors are mainly due to compression of nerves.

The cause of back problems is not always obvious from the start. There is often a need to investigate using various blood tests or imaging studies. The blood tests are important when an infection is suspected while imaging studies are preferred in the event of trauma, osteoarthritis, tumors and displacement of inter-vertebral discs.




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