Back Pain Diagnosis

Back Surgery

Herniated disk or ruptured disc or bulging disc is recommended for surgery if the condition of the patient has worsened.  In severe herniated disc, the bulged disc presses the nerves or muscles exaggeratively and the pain troubles the patient a lot. A slight movement or motion of the body causes  a lot of pain. In condition, the person almost becomes disabled and cannot make the slightest movements.

Before the herniated disk surgery is carried out the doctor would first confirm the position of the bulging disc and its severity. Magnetic resonance imaging is done to get the exact location of the herniated disk and its protruding nerves. If the images taken don’t convince the doctor of a severe condition, he may not carry out the surgery. Surgery is the last option of treatment.

There are many advanced steps in the surgery for this sort of herniated disk of the spine. But, blades are not the first choice of many doctors. The surgery of herniated disc is called Microdiscectomy or microdecompression spinal surgery.

In carrying out the surgery, the small portion of the cartilage or the bone is removed under the nerve root. This relieves the neural impingement and more room for the nerve is thus provided. The nerve not only gets free from the thrust but also gets space for healing soon.

Another form of surgery for herniated disk is called Percutaneous Microdecompression or Endoscopic Discectomy. In this form of surgery, lasers are used for shrinking the herniated disc. This is the most advanced form of spinal surgery that treats the patient without any cut or tear.

After the surgery, the patient needs to follow certain restrictions and maintain proper postures for sleeping as well as sitting and walking. After two to three weeks, he or she is recommended some physiotherapy sessions for continuing for as long as possible.

Herniated Disc, Pinched Nerve.

There are many different terms used to describe spinal disc pathology and associated pain, such as “herniated disc”, “pinched nerve”, and “bulging disc”, and all are used differently by doctors.

Unfortunately, there is no agreement in the health care field as to the precise definition of any of these terms, and patients are often frustrated when they hear their diagnosis referred to in different terms by health care practitioners. A variety of additional terms such as ruptured disc, torn disc (or disc tear), slipped disc, collapsed disc, disc protrusion, disc disease, and black disc often add to a patient’s confusion.

Rather than try to reconcile the terminology used to refer to a herniated disc or other disc problems, it’s generally more useful for patients to gain a clear understanding of the precise medical diagnosis, in other words, to gain an understanding of the actual cause of the upper or lower back pain, leg pain, neck pain or other symptoms.

The spine care professional arrives at a clinical diagnosis of the cause of the patient’s pain through a combination of a review of the patient’s medical history, a complete physical exam, and, if appropriate, the results of one or more diagnostic tests.

Two Causes of Pain: Pinched Nerve vs. Disc Pain

In identifying the cause of the patient’s pain, there are two general types of spinal disc problems physicians classify as the cause of the pain:

• Pinched nerve – When a patient has a symptomatic herniated disc, it is not the disc space itself that hurts, but rather the disc herniation is pinching a nerve in the spine. This produces pain that is called radicular pain or radiculopathy (e.g., nerve root pain) leading to pain that may be referred to other parts of the body, such as from the low back down the leg or from the neck down the arm. Leg pain stemming from a pinched nerve in the lower spine is usually described as sciatica. On Spine-health, this type of condition where there is nerve root pain is referred to as a herniated disc. Other causes of a pinched nerve may include spinal stenosis and bone spurs from spinal arthritis.
• Disc pain – When a patient has a symptomatic degenerated disc (one that causes low back pain and/or leg pain), it is the disc space itself that is painful and the source of pain. This type of pain is typically called axial pain. On Spine-health, this type of condition where there is actual disc space pain is referred to as degenerative disc disease.

Pregnancy Back Pain

While there is always that feeling of discomfort when you are carrying a child in your uterus, pregnancy back pain is something that you can reduce, perhaps even prevent, with the use of certain techniques. Additionally, consider these pregnancy back pain techniques as early training when your back bears the strain of constantly lifting your 7 to 10 pound baby or your 20 pound toddler.

Causes
Pregnancy back pain affects 50 percent of women. The cause could be any of the following:Extra weight – You’ll obviously be gaining weight during your pregnancy since you have two mouths to feed. But while the extra weight is good for your baby, it can be bad for your back.

Change in weight bearing
Your spine is responsible for keeping your body upright. It supports your weight, making sure that majority of it is distributed in the center for better balance. When you are with child, the weight shifts to your uterus, thus disrupting normal weight bearing. This change could lead to back pains and various other aches.

Hormonal change
During pregnancy, your body produces hormones that cause your pelvic bones and joints to soften, loosening the muscles around them in preparation for your baby’s passage. This causes pliancy in your pelvic organs, leading to discomfort as you walk, especially up and down the stairs.

Techniques to Overcome Pregnancy Back Pain

There are a number of self-care strategies that will reduce pregnancy back pain. First is posture. You know already what the healthy posture is: back straight, shoulders level and parallel to the ground. Granted that it can’t be helped if your posture is affected as your body weight is gradually transferred to your uterus, try to assume this healthy posture in early pregnancy.

As much as possible do not pull your shoulders too far back in an effort to offset the weight of your uterus. This will lead to pregnancy back pain. Instead, talk to your doctor about how to adjust your posture in order to accommodate your growing belly.

Another strategy to help you manage pregnancy back pain is to sit with your feet slightly elevated. This will ease off the strain on your back by allowing you to relax your shoulders. Also, don’t cross your legs and change positions often. Avoid standing for long periods of time.

When you sleep, sleep on your side. Bend both of your knees with a pillow between them and another one under your abdomen. Relief for pregnancy back pain can be achieved by placing a specially shaped total body pillow under your abdomen.