AHMEDABAD, OCT 23
Millions of people are affected by back pain every day and often end up missing work and social activities because of it. In most cases, the first impulse for most people is to self-medicate and to ignore the symptoms till the pain becomes unbearable, says a spine specialist.
On World Spine Day, there is a need to raise awareness on recognizing signs of spine problems and getting diagnosed on time. It is also important to take steps for better spine health. These include sleeping on your side since sleeping on yours to mach puts too much pressure on your spine, stretching regularly to keep your back and neck flexible, engaging in regular strengthening, and aerobic activity and maintaining a healthy weight.
Speaking on this occasion, Dr Bharat Dave, Director and Spine Surgeon, Stavya Spine Hospital & Research Institute, Ahmedabad said, “Back pain is often considered as a normal part of ageing or life. While it is true that we may become more susceptible to certain types of painful back conditions with age, it is also important to recognize any signs and symptoms early on for better treatment.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has given an added blow to spine health since majority of the people are working from home and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Most people do not undertake consultation due to fear psychosis. Many even associate any spine surgery or treatment with lifelong paralysis or being unable to perform everyday activities. This needs to change and only accurate information can remove this lack of awareness,” Dr Bharat Dave added.
Nowadays there are specialists for spine-related issues with whom it is possible to find ways to improve the pain and enjoy life again, no matter your age. The treatment options have also advanced considerably. There are options available in which surgeons can achieve the same operative goals as an open procedure, but in a less invasive way.
Spine surgery can correct deformities or injuries, reduce pain and improve function. Most patients report pain reduction and can return to normal activity. An accurate diagnosis is critical to ensure selection of a proper treatment course.
Minimally invasive spine surgery
In a minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS), with the use of dilator tubes, the surgeon accesses the lumbar spine through small skin incisions and tunnels created by separating muscle along its natural divisions through spinal navigation. After placement of bone graft, the surgeon uses a special “live action” x-ray machine to visualize the spine and determine where to place the screws. A stiff wire is inserted through skin and muscle to the screw insertion point on one vertebra and dilator tubes are slowly passed down over the
guide wire. A screw, attached to a screw extender, is inserted through the muscle to the vertebra and the process is repeated. A minimally invasive system is then used to insert the rods through the screws. The screw extenders and rod inserter are removed. The separated muscle flows back together, and the skin incisions are closed, leaving only thumbnail-sized skin incisions.
