Monday 21 January 2013

Back Pain Causes: Degeneration

I will say “Back Pain” and I am absolutely certain that your reaction will be  "I know about it….. Through personal experience obviously!”. The truth is back pain, like tooth decay and common cold, is affecting a substantial amout of people and the percentage is growing day by day.

egeneration is a pretty commonly used word and most of you all would have surely heard it. It means deterioration which occurs with age. Its also seen more in women the main reason for it is menopause.
Degenerative changes within the spine are the most common pathological finding noted on autopsy and on imaging of the spine. The process of degenerative change occurs in the entire population as it ages and is probably part of the normal aging process. The speed and extent of the degenerative changes appear to be influenced by hereditary factors as well as specific and continuous traumatic events that occur through a person’s life.
Degenerative changes are most evident in the intervertebral discs and the facet joints, usually at the same time, but often to varying degrees. Let us now understand the process which affects individually the different parts of the spine.
The Intervertebral disc: The intervertebral disc is made up of an outer annulus fibrosis and a central nucleus pulpous. Degenerative changes within the intervertebral disc usually start as small circumferential tears in the annulus fibrosis. These annular tears increase in size and extend into the nucleus pulpous .due to this there is loss of water and other contents from the disc which appears as loss of height of the disc. As degeneration continues, the disc collapses, shortening the distance between the two vertebral bodies. This may progress to a stage where there is only dead tissue separating the vertebrae. Due to this even the vertebrae on either side begin to degenerate.
The Facet joints: There is initial inflammation which leads to gradual thinning of the cartilage. This continues till there is loss of the cartilage and there is formation of new bone expanding the volume of the superior and inferior facets and puts further stress on the intervertebral discs.
Cause of pain: Due to inflammation, the tissues involved release certain chemical agents. These chemicals activate nerve endings which in turn releases pain producing substance.
Investigations done: Degenerative change in the intervertebral disc is best visualized in its early stages  by using radiological means. The patient who is suffering is advised for an MRI and a digital X ray as well . As degenerative changes progress, narrowing of the disc happens, it is better visualized with the help of CT or MR images.
We can help!!!
According to the guidelines of MRI scan the consultant neurosurgeon finalises the mode of treatment. Now whats the mode of treatment? Firstly if the symptoms are not that chronic then the patient is managed conservatively i.e with medications. If the problem still persisit then the patient needs to under go a simple procedure which is called as verteboplasty which is done by a simple non invasive procedure. For more details please do conult our leading neurosurgeon Dr. Avneeesh Gupte at “Spine & Brain Clinic” Pune India.

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Dr. Gupte's Brain and Spine Clinic has over a decade, helped a number of patients both national and International in areas of CCSVI, Liberation treatment, Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Alzheimer's , Parkinson's disease , Chronic Back Ache and complicated surgeries related to Spine, Brain, Multiple Sclerosis, Brain tumors etc. The clinic also specializes in non-invasive treatment  popular as MAX therapy and Physiotherapy to relieve painful ailments like Arthritis, chronic back ache, Neck ache, Spondylitis, Multiple Joint disorders etc. The clinic is renowned for Neurosurgery related Medical Tourism packages for International patients visiting India from Canada,  Russia, U.S.A., U.K., Europe and Asia.


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