Spinal Disease
Spinal disease is a common condition that affects people of all ages and genders. It’s a condition that’s close to us, and we shouldn’t underestimate it, as severe cases can be harmful to the whole body.
This is because the spine plays a very important role in providing the structural axis of the body, allowing us to stand upright. It also enables various body movements and acts as a protective shield for the nervous system, preventing easy injury.
What are the three types of symptoms of spinal disease?
Dr. Arthit Hongvanit, an orthopedic surgeon at the BNH Hospital’s Spine Centre, explains that symptoms of spinal disease can be divided into three types:
1. Back pain: Chronic or recurring back
pain may indicate poor weight-bearing capacity of the spinal joints or intervertebral discs. This is common in conditions like degenerative disc disease or degenerative spinal joint disease, or more serious conditions such as infections or tumors in the spine.
2. Radiating leg pain: Hip pain radiating
down the leg may indicate spinal nerve impingement or spinal canal issues, such as spinal stenosis or a herniated disc compressing a nerve.
3. Back pain accompanied by leg pain:
This indicates poor weight-bearing capacity of the spinal joints or intervertebral discs, combined with spinal nerve impingement caused by the condition.
Methods to diagnose spinal diseases.
When you see a doctor, they will take
your medical history, perform a physical examination, and order various tests to determine the cause. Fortunately, there are now faster and more accurate diagnostic tools available, such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), which uses magnetic waves to produce sharper images and more accurate diagnoses than conventional X-rays. The tests ordered depend on your history, symptoms, and the discretion of the treating physician.
The approach to treating spinal conditions
The approach to treating spinal
conditions depends on the diagnosis. Treatment methods for patients with back pain due to spinal abnormalities can be broadly divided into four types:
Method 1: Observation
No treatment is needed. Most general
back pain that occurs spontaneously improves or resolves on its own within 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, if the pain isn’t severe, simply observing the symptoms is enough. If the symptoms tend to improve and eventually disappear, no further action is required.
Method 2: Medication and Physical Therapy
If the patient experiences increased back
pain that interferes with daily life, Method 2 can be initiated. Medications include common pain relievers like paracetamol or stronger pain relievers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Many types and groups of NSAIDs can effectively reduce pain and inflammation. However, caution is advised as these drugs can irritate the stomach, so they should be used for short periods (1-2 weeks). Once symptoms improve, the medication should be stopped.
Muscle relaxants can also be used to
reduce pain, especially when muscle spasms are present.
Physical therapy includes the use of
ultrasound or electrical stimulation, which can reduce muscle spasms and improve pain.
Traction machines for the neck or back
help stretch the spinal joints and intervertebral discs, reducing pressure on the nerves and improving pain.
Chiropractic care is an alternative
medicine approach that research shows can reduce acute back pain. However, for chronic pain and deformities, research is still unclear.
Acupuncture is another alternative
treatment that can reduce back pain, especially pain from muscle spasms.
Method 3: Injections into the Spinal Canal
This method is used specifically for
patients whose primary symptom is radiating nerve pain, such as arm or leg pain, due to a herniated disc compressing a nerve.
The method involves injecting
corticosteroids, which are excellent anti-inflammatory drugs, into the affected area of the spinal canal. The medication reduces the inflammation of the compressed nerve, leading to improved pain.
Method 4: Surgery
First and foremost, it’s important to state
that not everyone with back pain needs surgery. Only 5-10% of patients require surgery because medication and physical therapy have been ineffective.
Can back pain from spinal diseases be prevented?
In fact, we can prevent back pain from spinal conditions in several ways:
1. Daily habits: When working, sit with a
straight back or lean against the chair’s backrest; avoid slouching. When lifting objects from the floor, don’t bend your back; instead, bend your knees and keep your back straight. This reduces the chance of injury to the spine and intervertebral discs.
2. Weight control: Maintain a healthy
weight to avoid excessive strain on the spine.
3. Avoid alcohol and smoking: Studies
clearly show that these contribute to the degeneration of intervertebral discs.
4. Regular exercise: Consistent exercise
strengthens muscles, tendons, and the spine, making them less prone to injury and reducing the likelihood of spinal conditions. General exercises like aerobics, jogging, or swimming are better for overall muscle development than targeted exercises.
5. Adequate daily calcium intake:
This can reduce the risk of osteoporosis or brittle bones.
In summary, there are many treatment
methods available today for spinal conditions, but no single method is best. Each method has its pros and cons. Accordingly, before starting treatment, it’s essential to know your specific condition, research carefully, consult your doctor, and choose the most suitable method for the best treatment outcome.
ทำนัดหมายแพทย์ออนไลน์ | Appointment
นพ. อาทิตย์ หงส์วานิช
ศูนย์กระดูกสันหลัง
ความชำนาญพิเศษ
ศัลยกรรมกระดูก และ โรคกระดูกสันหลัง
ภาษา
ไทย, อังกฤษ
– Advance Trauma Life Support(ATLS), American College of Surgeons
– Live Surgery and Workshop of Full Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital and St Anna Hospital, Germany
– Hand-on XLIF and Workshop of XLIF surgical technique, NuVasive Inc. Diego, USA.
– Doctor of Medicine (Second class honour) Chulalongkorn University school of Medicine (1996-2002)
– Diploma in Clinical Science Program in Surgery, Prince Of Songkla University, Thailand
– Certified Thai board of Orthopaedic Surgery. The medical council of Thailand and Royal Thai College of Orthopedic Surgeons
– Certified Clinical Spine Fellowship, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
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