Chronic Back Pain
Published: July 16, 2009
Many people suffer from chronic pain known as Sciatica but it is rarely seen in people under 20 years of age. Sciatica occurs because the outer membrane which surrounds the spinal disc is loose, or ruptured, allowing the disc to protrude through the membrane. A herniated or ruptured disc presses on the sciatic nerve, the large nerve that extends down the spinal column to its exit point in the pelvis and carries nerve fibers to the legs.This compression causes pain down the legs and numbness of the feet.
The Symptoms Include:
- Burning low back pain down through the leg
- Numbness from the waist down through the leg and back of the foot
- Weakness of the leg muscles
- Abnormality in the control of bladder and bowel
Causes
1. The disc can be damaged from an accident or when people move their spines in the wrong way, for example when heavy lifting, incorrect
lifting, exercising wrongly or over exercising.
2. Aging process, sedentary life style with too little exercise or over use of the spine can cause deterioration of the discs until they
impinge upon the nerve.
Treatment Options
Treatment Without Surgery
This is suitable for patients with not very serious symptoms. The treatment can include:
-Taking pain relief medication
-Physical therapy
-Selective nerve root block
Treatment With Surgery
1. Nucleoplasty is the name of the procedure used to describe disc decompression using medical technology to ablate and remove
tissue in the nucleus pulposus of the disc. Because tissue removal is achieved by inserting a small needle
together with local anesthetic, damage to surrounding tissue is minimized. Nucleoplasty is also less expensive than the operation
for disc removal.
2. Minimally invasive surgery (wound size under 3-5 centimeters long) is done by using Fluoroscopic X-ray C-Arm examinations
to identify the anatomical position. This can be carried out only by physicians specially trained in fluoroscopic
diagnostic procedures, radiologists and other specialists. In some cases, minimally invasive surgery is done using the microscope
so the nerve can be clearly viewed and damage to surrounding tissue is minimized.
3. Full Endoscopic Spinal Surgery: The surgery is done with the aid of the endoscope (Full Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy). The technique
is to insert the endoscope (diameter of 8 mm) through the muscle. The lens is attached to the end of the endoscope. After the endoscope reaches the damaged area, the surgical equipment is inserted through the endoscope and corrects the disc pathology. In this procedure, the muscle tissue needs not to be detached from the spine and the bone is not cut. For more information, please contact Orthopedic Center at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya or call the hospital`s Contact Center at 1719.
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