Be a good patient? This can be a hard pill to swallow, literally. Not everyone likes the advice a doctor gives him or her, but almost 100 percent of the time the advice given is in the patient’s best interest. Try to put aside pride and do what the doctor tells you. If the doctor’s orders insist on a lifestyle change, then see it through. If you were prescribed a medication and your doctor has reiterated that it is necessary, take the full course. You see a medical doctor for a reason. They have several years of schooling in medicine and that makes them experts in how to treat illnesses and manage health. You may not like hearing that your BMI is higher than average or your sudden weight loss has an underlying cause, but you went to your doctor with your concerns for a reason. Why go if you aren’t going to heed their advice? And if you truly disagree with a treatment, seek a second opinion. Most physicians encourage it.
The most common cause of back pain ? When back pain is chronic (i.e. lasts three months or more and occurs frequently), there is likely a more serious underlying issue that needs to be addressed. A disc problem is one of the most common causes of chronic lower back pain in adults and usually appears as a herniated disc in the lumbar or is caused by a degenerative disc disease. When a lumbar disc herniates, the inner portion of the disc breaks through the tough outer portion causing severe pain in the lumbar spine. The pain is caused by irritation of the nerves in the back, usually as the herniated disc creates swelling in the nerve roots. A degenerative disc disease occurs when the invertebral discs in the back begin to dehydrate over time. This causes the discs to wear down and become more susceptible to injury. Too much force on dehydrated discs can tear, weaken and become painful, often leading to a herniation.
During the surgery, the surgeon will make incisions on the front and right and left sides of the neck in order to enter the space between the two vertebrae. Then, the damaged disk as well as any bone spurs that have occurred in the area as a result of the body reacting to the disrupted disk will be removed. Dr. Yuan uses a drill to widen the opening of the spinal cord to eliminate pressure it was putting on the cord and nerve roots. The vertebrae are then fused using a bone graft, often taken from the patient’s pelvis but sometimes a cadaver bone is used instead. If more than one disc has been damaged or if more stabilization is needed, a titanium plate or screws may be used to reinforce the vertebrae. This can help reduce neck pain after surgery as well as speed up recovery. In most cases the surgery is completed in one to two hours, however, it can take longer in some cases, especially when more than one disc must be removed. The surgeon should be able to provide a more accurate time measurement for the procedure based on the individual’s needs. Find a few extra details at Lumbar Discectomy Surgery.
Southern California neck pain sufferers — Eliminate neck pain with Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion surgery! The cervical spine is made up of seven bones or vertebrae stacked one on top of another forming the neck. In between the vertebrae are cushions called disks. These act as shock absorbers so when they deteriorate with age, the neck can become painful and hard to move. Loss of mobility with cervical disk degeneration is common. Because the upper part of the spinal cord passes through the cervical spine, the vertebrae or cervical disk can press on it when the opening becomes too narrow. Sometimes, the body reacts to a disrupted disk by forming bone spurs, which can also put pressure on the spinal nerves, causing pain. Pushing against the spinal nerves leads to pain, numbness and sometimes weakness in the neck and extremities. When nonsurgical treatments do not provide relief, surgery is often recommended. Anterior Cervical Disectomy Fusion, or ACDF, treats nerve root or spinal cord compression through spinal cord and nerve root decompression for those who suffer from back pain in Southern California. The goal is to stabilize the surrounding vertebrae where the disk has deteriorated. In most cases, a nerve root becomes inflamed because the disk has herniated allowing the jelly-like center of the disc to bulge through and put pressure on the nerve root or because the disc has degenerated and the cushion is no longer there to protect it.
The SI joint absorbs stress experienced in the legs during running and transfers it to the spine. If the muscles are weak or not working optimally, the SI joint takes the brunt of the load. Tightened ligaments often due to arthritis or hormone changes commonly caused by pregnancy can put the SI joint at greater risk of dysfunction. To properly diagnose SI joint dysfunction, your doctor will have to do an examination. Symptoms are usually described as increased pain after running, standing from a seated position, walking up stairs or using other exercise equipment that stretches the muscles connected to the SI joint. Diagnoses often includes several types of imaging including x-ray, CT, a special type of CT called a SPECT and MRI, as well as fluoroscopically guided injections and sometimes lab work.
Long Beach Spine Surgeon, Dr. Yuan, uses surgical and non-surgical treatments to relieve chronic pain in the neck and back. Learn more about the top 5 causes of back pain. Dr. Yuan is dedicated to serving patients using conservative treatments whenever possible. Never sign up for surgery when you don’t need it. If surgery is required, however, Dr. Yuan offers a variety of options for patients, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted procedures. Read even more info at Spine surgeon Long Beach.
