Back pain: causes and treatment
Approximately 80 per cent of people are likely to experience some kind of back pain in their lives how much or how little the pain varies with age and for some it might be more general back pain, perhaps due to muscle strain.
For others, however, the culprit could be a herniated disc and if this is the case, patients will finally seek the help of a doctor, as the pain is generally very intense and causes other painful symptoms. These include pain that extends down through either one or both legs, with muscle weakness to the point of being unable to walk properly, inevitably disrupting lifestyle, activities and routines.
The intervertebral discs in the spine are a type of cartilaginous joint, the nucleus of which is made up of a highly flexible, jelly-like substance called mucoprotein gel. The discs are like pads that serve as cushions between the individual vertebrae of the spine.
They serve two primary purposes; they allow spinal movement, and they also act as shock absorbers bearing the impact of weight travelling down through the spine. If a disc is impacted to the point of damage or rupture, the injury can cause some of the inner gel-like substance to bulge or protrude out through the tougher outer ring of the disc, compressing the surrounding nerves and causing pain and discomfort.
A herniated disc is caused by deterioration of the intervertebral disc, most often the result of gradual age-related wear and tear. As you age, the internal gel-like substance of your spinal discs begin to lose their flexibility, causing them to slip out of place more easily and press on the surrounding nerves. An important factor in accelerated disc degeneration is a person’s lifestyle and daily habits. Some people do a lot of heavy lifting in their work and do so using the wrong positions, thus causing the discs to bear the strain of too much weight.
For athletes or those who play sports, a herniated disc can be the result of repetitive motion and heavy impact on the discs or a sudden twist movement. Overweight individuals are also at increased risk of herniated discs due to the additional weight that the discs must support. All of these can be contributing factors for accelerating disc degeneration or causing a tear or rupture of the disc, putting pressure on the surrounding nerves.
If you start to have back pain throughout your entire back and particularly heavy pain in the lower back and waist area that extends down to your legs, and if this is a chronic pain lasting for more than two weeks, you might well have a herniated disc.
In this case, the best course of action is to see a doctor as soon as possible in order to properly and promptly diagnose your symptoms.
A herniated disc is a treatable condition. If the patient’s symptoms are less severe, doctors will first advise medication and physical therapy. If the patient continues to experience severe or acute back pain to the point of being unable to carry out regular daily activities, the doctor may then recommend minimal access microdisectomy for treatment. This type of surgery is known as MIS (Minimally Invasive Surgery), which uses innovative surgical technology that has made ground-breaking and progressive developments in recent years.
The benefits of this type of surgery are far less pain, an incredibly small incision only the size of a fingertip, much lower risk of infection, and most importantly, a much faster recovery rate, eliminating the need for long, drawn out hospital stays. Following surgery, the patient is typically able to return home within 24 to 48 hours.
The best option is always early prevention; you can prevent the likelihood of herniated discs by simply employing proper techniques when moving or using your back.
Some important steps to take follow: avoid lifting heavy objects, if you must sit for long periods of time, try to stretch and change positions frequently, work to develop and maintain core muscle strength (this includes both the back and abdominal muscles). If you know your bones are not particularly strong, try to avoid sports that involve frequent jumping or heavy impact to the spine and take up exercises such as swimming, and other lighter forms of exercise that focus on increased flexibility. All of these changes can help to extend the lifespan of a healthy spine and intervertebral discs and prevent premature disc deterioration.
DR CHALAT WINMOON is a Spinal Surgeon at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital. |Call (02) 022 2494-6.
