Least Invasive treatment to Back pain and Neck Pain (brief)
Back, neck, and potentially shoulder pain are conditions occurring around the spine. These may stem from mild strains caused by musclesoften due to sudden twisting, sports, or prolonged sittingwhich can be treated with painkillers, muscle relaxants, or physical therapy.
However, did you know that many people suffer from chronic pain because it originates from spinal or cervical degeneration? This leads to compression between the vertebrae, causing them to rub against each other and impact various nerves (commonly known as a herniated disc or slipped disc). For this type of pain, medication and physical therapy will not provide a permanent cure; they only offer temporary relief.
- These symptoms frequently occur in people due to:
- Aging: (Loss of height is often a sign of spinal discs compressing).
- Poor Posture: Especially while sitting at work.
- Smartphone Addiction: Constant "text neck" positioning.
- Being Overweight.
- Lack of regular exercise.
Sapience Hospital offers non-surgical treatments using an innovative integrated approach. This involves using steroid injections, medical alcohol, or Radiofrequency Ablation (RF) to block the nerves and eliminate pain. This is combined with muscle strengthening through exercise or physical therapy. We have found this method to be highly effectiveeven for many elderly patients who have tried various other treatments without success but saw significant improvement at Sapience.
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Acute vs. Chronic Spinal Pain: Mechanical Causes and Diagnosis
This section focuses on Mechanical Back Pain, which is pain triggered by movement, posture, or physical activities.
1. Acute Neck and Back Pain
Most acute cases are Spondylogenic (originating from the spine and muscles).
- Common Cause: Muscle strain is the most frequent cause.
- Prognosis: Symptoms typically improve within 46 weeks.
- Initial Treatment: Rest, cold/hot compression, oral medication, and physical therapy.
- Warning Signs (Sciatica): If pain radiates down the arms or legs, or is accompanied by numbness and weakness, it suggests nerve involvement. Immediate medical consultation is required to ensure recovery and prevent permanent nerve damage.
2. Chronic Neck Pain (Radiating to Shoulders or Head)
Often associated with prolonged activities such as office work, driving, or poor sleeping posture.
- Clinical Presentation: Neck stiffness and muscle spasms.
- Common Causes: Cervical Spondylosis (degeneration) and Cervical Facet Joint Pain.
- Note: This is particularly common in patients with Office Syndrome who do not respond to standard medication or physical therapy.
3. Chronic Back Pain (Radiating to Hips or Buttocks)
Triggered by long periods of sitting, bending, or arching the back.
Common Causes:
- Discogenic Back Pain: Degeneration of the intervertebral discs.
- Lumbar Facet Joint Pain: Wear and tear of the joints behind the spine.
- Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain: Inflammation or dysfunction of the joint connecting the spine and pelvis.
4. Medical Diagnosis and Screening
To pinpoint the exact source of pain, physicians utilize the following diagnostic tools:
- X-ray: To view bone alignment and major structural changes.
- CT Scan: To get detailed cross-sectional images of the bone structure.
- MRI Scan: The gold standard for viewing soft tissues, discs, and nerve compression.
- Electrodiagnosis (EMG): Electromyography is used to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells (motor neurons) that control them.
- Blood Tests: Performed when the doctor suspects infection or systemic inflammatory spinal diseases (e.g., autoimmune conditions).
Medical Treatment Options for Spinal Pain
The management of back and neck pain follows a stepped approach, ranging from conservative care to interventional procedures and surgery.
1. Pharmacological Treatment (Medication)
Physicians prescribe medications based on the type of pain (inflammatory vs. neuropathic):
- Analgesics: Paracetamol (Acetaminophen).
- Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Such as Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celecoxib, and Etoricoxib.
- Anticonvulsants (for Nerve Pain): Such as Gabapentin, Pregabalin, and Milogabalin.
- Antidepressants (for Chronic Pain Management): Such as Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, and Duloxetine.
- Muscle Relaxants: Such as Norgesic and Mydocalm.
2. Physical Therapy (Rehabilitation)
Physical therapy aims to reduce pain and restore function through various modalities:
- Therapeutic Heat: Hot compression.
- Advanced Equipment: Ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation, High-Power Laser Therapy, and Shockwave Therapy.
- Manual Therapy: Massage for pain reduction.
- Ergonomic Adjustment: Correcting the patients posture during daily neck and back usage.
3. Lifestyle Modification
Long-term recovery relies on lifestyle changes to reduce mechanical stress on the spine:
- Weight management to reduce load on joints.
- Cessation of smoking (smoking hinders disc healing).
- Avoiding heavy lifting.
- Core Stabilization Exercises: Strengthening the core muscles in the neck and back.
4. Spinal Interventions (Minimally Invasive Procedures)
When medication and physical therapy are insufficient, interventional procedures can target the pain source directly:
- Epidural Steroid Injections (ESI): Administered in the cervical (neck) or lumbar (low back) regions.
- Facet Joint Injections: Steroid injections into the joints behind the vertebrae in the neck or back.
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Using radio waves to block pain signals from the medial branch nerves that supply the facet joints (Cervical/Thoracic/Lumbar).
- Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Procedures: Including steroid injections or Cooled/Conventional Radiofrequency Neurotomy of the sacral lateral branches to treat pelvic/hip-related back pain.
5. Surgical Intervention
Surgery is considered the last resort for cases that do not respond to the conservative or interventional treatments mentioned above.
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