By Ronald Bennett


Back pain may be either acute or chronic. It is described as acute if it has been experienced for two weeks or less and chronic if it has existed for longer than this. The problem is fairly common and the incidence increases with advancing age. There are a number of things related to back pain Conroe residents need to know if they have been dealing with this problem.

Acute back discomfort is often caused by trauma or a simple strain of muscles. Many of the cases resolve spontaneously without any treatment but for some, intervention is necessary to prevent deterioration. Chronic cases are those that have remained persistent with or without treatment, the commonest causes include osteoarthritis, inter-vertebral disc prolapse, chronic infections (such as tuberculosis) and primary or secondary malignancies.

Inter-vertebral discs are located between adjacent vertebrae. They act as shock absorbers when forces are transmitted through the spine. The discs may herniate in case of blunt trauma to the spine or a heavy lifting event. When they herniate, they may compress adjacent nerve roots and other structures in its vicinity which results in pain on the back as well as on the lower limbs.

The main form of treatment for disc prolapse is decompression. This may be achieved by use of surgical or non-surgical options. Traction is the main non-surgical modality that is used. It entails the application of a pulling force to the spine with the aim of releasing pressure. When adjacent vertebrae are pulled apart, the prolapsed disc falls back into position. About twenty sessions are required to achieve results on average.

Surgical options are considered when the conservative methods fail to give the desired results. During surgery, a displaced disc may be re-positioned or removed. In some cases, there is a need to remove a vertebral body either in part or in its entirety. Some of the parts that may be removed during the operation include the lamina, osteophytes, the vertebral body or the foramen.

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.

Tumors are described as being primary if they originate from the organ in question and secondary if they have metastasized from other organs. The main primary bone tumor that may affect the spine is multiple myeloma while secondary tumors originate from organs such as the thyroid, the breasts, the kidneys and the prostate gland among others. The symptoms that are associated with tumors are mainly due to compression of nerves.

The cause of back problems is not always obvious from the start. There is often a need to investigate using various blood tests or imaging studies. The blood tests are important when an infection is suspected while imaging studies are preferred in the event of trauma, osteoarthritis, tumors and displacement of inter-vertebral discs.




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