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 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 structures that are found between adjacent vertebrae. They act as shock absorbers during movements that occur between the joints of the spine. Their prolapse frequently follows blunt trauma to the spinal column or a heavy lifting event. When this happens, the disc impinges nerves and other structures that are in close proximity. The pain in this case affects both the back and the lower limbs and is observed to worsen with walking.

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 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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