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 pain is mainly caused by trauma or muscle strains due to strenuous physical activity. Many cases of strain resolve spontaneously with or without treatment. If they fail to respond to treatment, they progress and become chronic. Common causes of chronic pain include infections, osteoarthritis, inter-vertebral disc prolapse and malignancies (whether primary or 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.
Decompression is the mainstay of treatment for disc herniation. There are two main forms of decompression that exist: surgical and non-surgical. Traction is the main non-surgical treatment that is used. This therapy involves the application of a steady pulling force on the spine so as to reduce the pressure that is exerted by the prolapsed disc. A reduction in pressure between adjacent vertebrae causes the disc to slip back to its original position.
Surgical options are considered when the conservative methods fail to give the desired results. During surgery, a displaced disc may be re-positioned or removed. In some cases, there is a need to remove a vertebral body either in part or in its entirety. Some of the parts that may be removed during the operation include the lamina, osteophytes, the vertebral body or the foramen.
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.
The cause of your symptoms may not be clear from the very start. A number of investigations may have to be conducted before the underlying problem is identified. These investigations include both blood tests and imaging studies such as CT scans, MRI images and X-ray images. Images are particularly useful in cases such as tumors, osteoarthritis, trauma and displaced inter-vertebral discs.
Acute back pain is mainly caused by trauma or muscle strains due to strenuous physical activity. Many cases of strain resolve spontaneously with or without treatment. If they fail to respond to treatment, they progress and become chronic. Common causes of chronic pain include infections, osteoarthritis, inter-vertebral disc prolapse and malignancies (whether primary or 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.
Decompression is the mainstay of treatment for disc herniation. There are two main forms of decompression that exist: surgical and non-surgical. Traction is the main non-surgical treatment that is used. This therapy involves the application of a steady pulling force on the spine so as to reduce the pressure that is exerted by the prolapsed disc. A reduction in pressure between adjacent vertebrae causes the disc to slip back to its original position.
Surgical options are considered when the conservative methods fail to give the desired results. During surgery, a displaced disc may be re-positioned or removed. In some cases, there is a need to remove a vertebral body either in part or in its entirety. Some of the parts that may be removed during the operation include the lamina, osteophytes, the vertebral body or the foramen.
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.
The cause of your symptoms may not be clear from the very start. A number of investigations may have to be conducted before the underlying problem is identified. These investigations include both blood tests and imaging studies such as CT scans, MRI images and X-ray images. Images are particularly useful in cases such as tumors, osteoarthritis, trauma and displaced inter-vertebral discs.
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