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.
The major causes of acute back pain are muscle strains and trauma. Most cases resolve spontaneously within a few days. If they fail to abate they may progress to become chronic. Some of the causes of chronic back pain include inter-vertebral disc prolapse, chronic infections, osteoarthritis and malignancies (both primary and secondary).
Inter-vertebral discs are shock absorbing structures that are located between adjacent vertebral bodies. They help in providing cushion when forces are transmitted through the spine. Occasionally, the discs may be displaced from their position and impinge on nerves and other structures. This is likely occur after heavy lifting or when one is subjected to blunt trauma on the back. The resultant pain typically affects the lower limbs as well.
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 when the conservative (non-surgical) options prove ineffective. One of the roles of surgery is to re-position displaced discs. The other role is to remove a vertebral body in its entirety or in part so as to increase the space through which nerve fibers traverse. Some of the elements that may be removed include osteophytes, the foreman and the lamina among others. Possible complications of surgery include infections, bleeding and spinal instability.
Osteoarthritis is another common cause of this problem. It affects large joints such as the knee joint, the hip joints and the spine. The main features of osteoarthritis are reduced synovial fluid, narrowed joint space and formation of joint space. A definitive form of treatment has not been found yet but over the counter pain relievers are often adequate in most cases. Physical exercise is also highly recommended.
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.
It is not always possible to figure out what the problem is from the very beginning. There may be a need to conduct several blood tests and imaging studies for the underlying problem to be identified. Blood tests are useful when one is suspected to have infections while imaging studies help to rule out conditions such as osteoarthritis, displaced inter-vertebral discs and tumors among others.
The major causes of acute back pain are muscle strains and trauma. Most cases resolve spontaneously within a few days. If they fail to abate they may progress to become chronic. Some of the causes of chronic back pain include inter-vertebral disc prolapse, chronic infections, osteoarthritis and malignancies (both primary and secondary).
Inter-vertebral discs are shock absorbing structures that are located between adjacent vertebral bodies. They help in providing cushion when forces are transmitted through the spine. Occasionally, the discs may be displaced from their position and impinge on nerves and other structures. This is likely occur after heavy lifting or when one is subjected to blunt trauma on the back. The resultant pain typically affects the lower limbs as well.
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 when the conservative (non-surgical) options prove ineffective. One of the roles of surgery is to re-position displaced discs. The other role is to remove a vertebral body in its entirety or in part so as to increase the space through which nerve fibers traverse. Some of the elements that may be removed include osteophytes, the foreman and the lamina among others. Possible complications of surgery include infections, bleeding and spinal instability.
Osteoarthritis is another common cause of this problem. It affects large joints such as the knee joint, the hip joints and the spine. The main features of osteoarthritis are reduced synovial fluid, narrowed joint space and formation of joint space. A definitive form of treatment has not been found yet but over the counter pain relievers are often adequate in most cases. Physical exercise is also highly recommended.
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.
It is not always possible to figure out what the problem is from the very beginning. There may be a need to conduct several blood tests and imaging studies for the underlying problem to be identified. Blood tests are useful when one is suspected to have infections while imaging studies help to rule out conditions such as osteoarthritis, displaced inter-vertebral discs and tumors among others.
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