Basics On Back Pain Conroe Patients Should Have

By Ronald Bennett


Back pain may be described as being acute or chronic. The former term is used if the problem has been in existence for not more than two weeks. The latter term is for symptoms that have been experienced for more than two weeks. This problem is common and is grows more common with advancing age. There are some important things on back pain Conroe residents need to know if they have 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 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 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.

The tumors cause symptoms by increasing or reducing the mass of bones of the spinal column or by compressing nerves and soft tissues. Primary bone tumors originate from bone directly while secondary tumors are those that have originated from other organs. The most common type of primary tumors is known as multiple myeloma. The treatment of symptoms is dependent on dealing with the primary tumor.

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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