?How to Help Your Surgeons Have a Successful Laser Spine Procedure
There are numerous advantages to having laser spine surgery rather than open back surgery. Patients who undergo outpatient procedures are not required to stay in the hospital for long periods of time. Because the incision is less than 1-inch, the risks of developing infections or other complications are greatly reduced, and patients can enjoy shorter recovery times. However, with any type of medical procedure, there are certain risks involved. If you are experiencing chronic back pain and are considering surgery, you can work with your laser spine surgeons in order to increase your chances of having a successful procedure.
When you visit a laser spine institute, you will receive a complete medical evaluation. If you haven?t already submitted a copy of your most recent MRI, you will need to bring one with you. If you have not had an MRI, you will need to have one done. During the evaluation and consultation, it is important to be completely candid and answer the questions as honestly as possible. Don?t be afraid to admit that you are suffering from severe pain, and let the physician know if you are having difficulty walking or moving around. Also, make sure that you mention any episodes of numbness or tingling in your extremities. When you describe your symptoms as accurately as possible, you can assist your physician in making the right diagnosis and recommending the best course of treatment.
Any type of back surgery should be performed after other methods of pain relief have failed. Your surgeons want to make sure that you have tried other forms of pain management, including chiropractic treatments, physical therapy, exercise and acupuncture. If you have exhausted other forms of treatment for pain relief, be sure to let your physician know. If you have any questions regarding alternative pain management techniques, your physician can give you additional information.
During the consultation, your physician will go over your records and thoroughly assess your condition. If you are a candidate for laser spine surgery, make sure that you clearly understand the entire process before making a commitment. If you are unsure about any part of the surgery, do not hesitate to ask questions or have your physician provide a more detailed explanation of the procedure and what to expect after the surgery.
Immediately following your surgery at a laser spine institute, make sure that you and your support person thoroughly understand your physician?s instructions for post-operative care. Adhering to the instructions regarding pain control, exercise and wound care can hasten your recovery process and ensure that you have a successful outcome. At your follow-up appointment, don?t hesitate to ask questions or mention any concerns that you may have. After you return home, continue to follow your discharge instructions and attend physical therapy sessions if they are recommended. Additionally, it is important to avoid any heavy lifting, twisting or strenuous exercise until you are allowed to resume these activities.
Your laser spine surgeons want you to have a positive experience. By providing accurate details about your condition, having a clear understanding of the procedure and following the recommended instructions, you can have a successful surgery and enjoy a life without back pain.
Friday, 18. January 2013
?Is Bikram Yoga a Good Choice for Back Pain Relief?
Those who are interested in obtaining back pain relief may want to try Bikram yoga. This type of exercise involves performing a series of 26 poses in a heated room along with practicing good breathing techniques. Many patients turn to Bikram yoga to help them eliminate back pain resulting from an injury or muscle strain.
Benefits of Bikram Yoga
Bikram yoga is said to increase one?s stamina and flexibility. This in turn helps to provide back pain relief because there is less stress on the joints as a result. In addition to eliminating back pain, this type of yoga can also reduce discomfort in the neck and shoulders. Bikram yoga is also thought to be effective at eliminating depression, improving circulation and reducing pre-menstrual syndrome. Cold-natured individuals might find that their body temperature remains more constant whenever they engage in a regular training program.
How it Works
The founder of Bikram yoga believes that practicing in a well-heated room allows the muscles to be stretched deeper than they might be if they were colder. Exercising in a warm studio is also thought to relieve stress, and this can also help muscles be stretched further. When muscles are more flexible, it often results in back pain relief. The poses are intended to provide flexibility to every joint in the body while also improving circulation. Some claim that this type of yoga also improves lung capacity.
Conditions that can be Successfully Treated
Patients who suffer from discomfort due to injury, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, or herniated discs can often obtain back pain relief from performing Bikram yoga. That?s because these conditions often result in limited movement, and becoming more flexible helps to eliminate stiffness. In the case of herniated discs, it can also help reduce some of the pressure placed on the disk, which in turn helps eliminate pain. Since it also improves circulation, more nutrients and oxygen can be brought to your back muscles and the bones and cartilage in your spine.
Conditions that cannot be Treated
When pain is caused by fractures, tumors or diseases such as scoliosis, Bikram yoga is usually ineffective at providing back pain relief. These conditions require more aggressive treatments including surgery. Patients who are thinking of trying Bikram yoga should have a complete physical examination in order to rule out one of these conditions before beginning a program.
How Relief is Obtained
The maximum relief is obtained whenever poses are performed in a precise manner. During a workout, it?s important for individuals to take their time and perform each stretch only as far as they can comfortably. While doing so, good breathing and posture should also be maintained. It?s also important to stay well hydrated since excess sweating can occur due to the heat of the room where the exercise is performed. For best results, this type of exercise should be done two to three times each week.
It may take a few treatment sessions before pain relief is noticed. Once symptoms have been relieved, it is important to keep up with this exercise in order to continue enjoying the benefits from it. Doing so can provide a host of other health benefits in addition to eliminating back pain.
Friday, 11. January 2013
?New Findings to Support Yoga?s Effectiveness in Treating Neck Pain
According to the Journal of Pain, yoga is an effective way to help manage neck pain. A recent study performed in Germany shows that a majority of patients who tried various yoga poses reported a substantial amount of pain relief and were also able to complete normal activities much easier.
This study showed that one type of yoga in particular was most effective at relieving neck pain. Known as Iyengar yoga, it involves the use of special props. Participants who were given instruction in this type of exercise reported more improvement than those who were placed in a control group that offered traditional types of exercise.
The amount of pain that subjects felt was measured at the beginning of the study and then again at 4 weeks and 10 weeks. Each time, those who were in the yoga control group reported greater pain relief than those who were assigned to doing regular exercise.
Experts feel there are a number of reasons why yoga can be effective in helping to reduce discomfort in the neck. Perhaps the main reason is that yoga is a relaxing form of exercise that helps to reduce tension. When tension is eliminated, the muscles in the neck naturally relax, thereby reducing pressure on the joints. Patients are also less likely to notice pain when they are relaxed since stress increases the body?s pain receptors.
Another reason why yoga may be effective at treating neck pain is because it offers toning. When neck muscles are strong, they tend to provide better support for the neck and head. This can serve to reduce the amount of headaches patients feel as a result of muscle strain. It also helps them recover from injuries sooner. Those who have strong neck muscles may be able to forego the use of neck braces to help support muscles in this area.
Good posture is an essential part of reducing neck pain, and yoga also helps patients improve their posture. This in turn places less stress on the back, which means some back pain could also be eliminated with this form of exercise. Those who practice good posture on a regular basis are less likely to be afflicted with ongoing discomfort in the neck as a result.
Flexibility is another important benefit of practicing yoga. This is because several poses also help to increase one?s range of motion. When neck muscles are flexible, it can make it easier to turn the head from side to side without straining. Lengthening the neck can also relieve some of the pressure in the cervical area, thereby eliminating some discomfort. Maintaining good flexibility is an ideal way to reduce the effects of osteoarthritis, a condition that is often associated with pain in the cervical area.
Yoga can provide the best benefits when it is used as a preventative measure to neck pain. When exercises are performed on a regular basis, patients will be stronger and more flexible than they were before. This can go a long way toward preventing injury and reducing the signs of aging. Lyengar yoga has been proven effective at relieving this neck pain in both men and women.
Monday, 07. January 2013
?Back Pain Relief for Seniors
Back pain is one of the most common health complaints of senior citizens. While many factors may be involved in back pain, the most common are degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis or facet joint disease and simple wear and tear. Old sports injuries, vehicle accidents or a lifetime of office work may also be to blame.
Whatever the cause of the pain, most seniors feel that back pain relief is on the top of their lists for desired health treatments. There are many different ways that seniors can receive relief from back pain. These treatments depend on the scope, severity, and nature of the pain. In any case, unless pain is expressed as highly severe or even unbearable, physicians will suggest that senior citizens use more conservative treatments before trying procedures like laser spine surgery.
Conservative Back Pain Treatments
Those seeking back pain relief are often encouraged to try one or more of these methods before visiting a laser spine institute. Your physician can help you make your decision. Common conservative treatments include:
? Massage - Deep tissue, Swedish, shiatsu and other forms of massage can be beneficial for seniors suffering from back pain. Depending on the massage type, it can relieve muscular tension, relax joints and ligaments or even re-align the body's musculoskeletal structure. For back pain caused by stress, massage therapy is highly effective.
? Lifestyle Treatment - Lifestyle treatment includes exercising more, eating healthier, and taking care of your posture. It involves adding little routines to your day to either decrease your sedentary tendencies or improve your general health. In particular, by exercising your back, you can strengthen the muscles. This may help to relieve pressure on one particular part of the back and thus contribute to back pain relief.
? Pain Medication - A common treatment of elderly individuals suffering from back pain, pharmaceutical medications can be an effective pain management tool. However, you may want to seek a different form of treatment if you are also taking other pills. This is because many pain medications are contraindicated for use with other medications. Consult with your physician before beginning any pain medication regimen
Laser Spine Surgery for Seniors
If conservative treatments fail to relieve your pain, laser surgery may be more appropriate. Laser spine surgery interchanges open back surgery as the most effective way to achieve relief from chronic, severe or otherwise intense back pain. It is an ideal way to manage pain from osteoarthritis and may even permanently treat some conditions such as ruptured discs or bone spurs.
How it Works
When you visit a laser spine institute, you will find that the procedure is quite reasonable. After you receive the initial X-rays and MRI scans, you will come back within a couple weeks for your surgery. Procedures only require a small incision of less than 1-inch. Surgery is typically complete within an hour. As an outpatient procedure, you can go home the same day. Patients are required to return the following day for a brief postoperative appointment. Consult with your physician to see if laser spine surgery is right for you.
Sunday, 06. January 2013
?How to Protect Your Neck from Injury
Neck pain can be caused by a number of things. Sometimes it's preventable, but sometimes it isn't. With that in mind, it pays to do what you can to avoid injuring your neck. Once a neck injury has occurred, recovery can be a long process. In the meantime, you'll have to deal with pain on a daily basis. There's even a chance that the pain could become chronic, meaning that it could last for months and may not be alleviated through regular treatments. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of injuring your neck.
Do Not Abuse Alcohol or Drugs
Alcohol and drugs negatively affect your health in a number of ways. Over time, abusing these substances can weaken your body and make you more susceptible to injuries. Another problem is that alcohol and drugs lower your inhibitions and can make you do things that aren't safe. For example, people who are intoxicated are far more likely to be involved in car accidents, which can seriously injure their necks and spines. When intoxicated, many individuals will not realize it if they have suffered a major injury.
Use Protective Gear
The right protective gear can help to prevent neck pain and injuries while enjoying certain sports or activities. Check to see if any kind of protective gear is available or recommended before engaging in any strenuous activity. While playing football, for example, it's crucial to wear all the necessary pads. Protective gear can also help to prevent neck injuries while riding horses. It's always better to wear protective gear than it is to go without and end up with an injury that causes severe pain for the foreseeable future.
Be a Safe and Defensive Driver
Even a minor fender bender can cause a neck injury that triggers serious pain. All it takes is a sudden jolt for whiplash to occur. There are many ways to reduce the risk of injuring your neck while you're behind the wheel. Being a defensive driver is important to ensuring your safety. Never assume that anyone else on the road will do the right thing. Always be prepared for the worst. This will help you avoid having to make sudden stops, which can cause whiplash and other neck injuries.
Another way to avoid neck pain is to drive only the safest vehicles. Stick with cars or trucks that have airbags, and always buckle up before hitting the road. Modern vehicles are also equipped with active head restraints. These special restraints deploy instantly when an accident occurs, and they can dramatically reduce your risk of suffering an injury that will cause serious neck pain.
It's easy to take your neck for granted. By exercising a little extra caution, you can dramatically reduce your risk of suffering from neck pain. Keep in mind that even seemingly minor pain can escalate into chronic pain, so it's much better to avoid injuries and other problems altogether. If you do injure your neck, seek medical attention right away. You may be tempted to completely immobilize your neck, but doing so can actually exacerbate the problem. A physician can help you determine the appropriate course of action.
Friday, 04. January 2013
Neck Pain, Night Sweats, Dizziness, and Other Severe Symptoms
Neck pain is a common affliction that will impact up to two-thirds of all adults at some point in their lives. While neck pain may be caused by benign issues like poor posture, muscle tension or over-exertion, neck pain can sometimes signal a serious underlying medical issue. If neck pain is accompanied by night sweats, dizzinesss, and other severe symptoms, it?s important to contact a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Understanding the Cause of Neck and Back Pain
While neck pain may be felt in the neck and head, it can be caused by musculoskeletal disorders in the upper and lower back. The human neck comprises three joints that allow for a wide variety of different movements. The neck itself is supported by additional joints in the upper back that provide a supportive structure for the head. If this musculoskeletal support system is impacted adversely, muscles surrounding this joint system may tighten. This condition will often lead to acute or chronic pain in the neck.
Neck and back pain can also be caused by obesity, metabolic disorders, poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, a lack of exercise, excessive exercise, heavy lifting, genetic predispositions, and much more. Since many of these conditions will remedy themselves with time, there is often no need for a physician visit.
If neck and back pain is mild and intermittent, it will often resolve itself with time. To manage mild to moderate pain, individuals should apply heat directly to the site with pain. In addition, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can be beneficial for relieving pain and inflammation caused by certain spine health issues.
Understanding Severe Neck and Back Pain
If an individual has severe neck and back pain, it?s important to visit a healthcare provider. Sharp, stabbing pain in the neck can be a symptom of serious health issues like head and neck cancer, a spinal disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spondylosis, acute coronary syndrome or a severe infection.
In many cases, these severe spine health issues will be accompanied by a variety of other symptoms. This can include night sweats, fever, swelling, numbness, weakness, bilateral symptoms, gait disturbance, weight loss, muscle atrophy, and more.
Understanding Night Sweats
Night sweats, commonly called hyperhidrosis, are caused by abnormal sweat gland activity. In some cases, night sweats are accompanied by excessive perspiration while awake. While night sweats can be caused by a variety of health issues, they are usually harmless. However, night sweats combined with other symptoms can indicate a serious underlying medical condition.
A night sweat caused by an infection or a medical condition can be described as hot flashes that occur at night. Unlike regular sweating, night sweats are not contingent on an individual?s environment. Individuals with night sweats may find themselves drenched with sweat after waking on a relatively cool evening.
Brucellosis, a type of bacteria, can cause neck discomfort and night sweats. In addition, night sweats can be caused by cerebral strokes, head injuries, cerebral palsy, infectious mononucleosis, lyme disease, sleep apnea, lymphoma, and more.
Since the human body contains dozens of interconnected systems, night sweats and severe pain can indicate a variety of different health conditions. Always contact a physician or other healthcare provider for treatment. A physician will use a combination of imaging technologies, tissue cultures, biopsies, and other techniques to determine the underlying cause of neck and back pain.
?Cupping, Yoga, and Other Unconventional Methods for Neck Pain
For neck pain, you may try over-the-counter remedies like topical analgesics, NSAIDs or heat therapy, but when these treatments don't work, you may wonder where to turn. Outside of Western medicine, there are remedies people have used for hundreds if not thousands of years to treat a host of ailments, neck pain included. While these therapies may not work for every condition, they're worth investigating if you aren't finding relief elsewhere.
Cupping
Cupping originated in the ancient world and spread from the Middle East to Asian and European cultures. Cupping has been practiced in some form for thousands of years, and it enjoys a notable reputation among the cultures that practice it. The principle of cupping is regulating and stimulating blood flow, which is said to promote healing and reduce inflammation, a common source of neck pain. Cupping uses suction, traditionally through heat though modern practitioners often use hand pumps, to dispel stagnant fluids such as lymph or blood. This practice is broken down into wet and dry cupping: Wet cupping is a form of bloodletting and is practiced in many Muslim nations in the world, and dry cupping is the more commonly seen approach in the Western world, in which air pressure sucks the skin towards the cup, creating a vacuum. This vacuum can also be created by placing a lit object in the cup for a moment and removing it prior to placing it on the patient's skin.
The most common drawback to cupping is the marks left behind. Depending on the procedure, these marks may fade nearly instantly or may persist as a bruise for several days after. Whether or not the patient bruises depends primarily on whether the cupping penetrates the surface of the skin or breaks down into the muscles. Many patients find the mild discomfort an acceptable trade if cupping helps alleviate their neck pain.
Yoga
Yoga can alleviate neck pain through relaxation and the loosening and lengthening of muscles. Like any stretching, yoga helps the muscles extend to their full length, which can help with pain caused by muscle cramps. Yoga also emphasizes relaxation as stress plays an important role in pain perception and pain management. This type of exercise can be as gentle or demanding as the practitioner would like it to be, and people of all ages and abilities can perform at least a few of the forms. Best of all, yoga requires no equipment to practice, so those suffering from pain can begin anywhere and at any time.
Diet
While nutrition may not seem important when it comes to pain, it can actually play a substantial role in how you feel. Potassium and magnesium deficiencies can both lead to muscle cramps as both of these minerals are electrolytes, which send electrical impulses to the nerves. Magnesium also plays an important part in muscle contraction, and its absence can lead to stiff and cramped muscles. While you can take supplements, you can also consume a sufficient amount of both minerals through your diet. Bananas, almonds, chocolate, avocados and potatoes offer potassium, while spinach, dark chocolate, almonds and bran are good sources of magnesium.
Sunday, 09. December 2012
The Connection Between Cancer and Neck Pain
Most people associate neck pain with muscular tension, joint issues like osteoarthritis or even spinal conditions like cervical stenosis. However, if none of these are indicated in your physical exam or MRI scan, your pain may have another cause. While it is much rarer than others, cancer may be a root cause of your neck or back pain.
Types of Cancer That Cause Neck Pain
Cancer can form in nearly any area of the body. It can form in the cervical bones, cartilage or joints in and around the neck. It can also form in tissue surrounding these bones. Cancer creates tumors, which cause pain because they exert pressure on nerves in the neck. Types of neck cancer include:
Pharyngeal cancer - The pharynx comprises the upper portion of the esophagus, which is the tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach. Tumors in the pharynx may lead to pain while swallowing, speaking or breathing. This form of neck pain causes headaches and may spread to other parts of the body, including the lungs, esophagus, larynx or mouth. It is often caused by smoking or exposure to toxic dust such as asbestos.
Bone cancer - Also known as osteochondroma or osteosarcoma depending on the malignancy of the tumors, bone cancer can lead to unrelenting neck pain, even while resting. It causes neck stiffness, weakness, fatigue, reduced appetite, numbness, fever, and other low-grade symptoms. Bone cancers often occur when cancer in other parts of the body, such as the organs, larynx, pharynx or esophagus, migrates to the cervical area of the spine. In addition to causing pain, bone cancer can weaken the overall health of the spine, making it more susceptible to future trauma and nerve compression. The causes of bone cancer are not known, though genetics are believed to have a role in a person's predisposition toward the condition.
Metastatic cancer - This is the term given for cancer that penetrates the lymph nodes or blood vessels, spreading tumor cells from one non-adjacent organ or body part to another. Though the root cause may be different, metastasis can enable cancer in any part of the body to cause one of the above conditions, potentially leading to neck or back pain. Once a cancer in any part of the body metastasizes and spreads to the lymph nodes or blood vessels, it is very difficult to control or treat.
Treatments for Neck Pain Caused By Cancer
If cancer is the root cause of your neck or back pain, it may be very difficult to treat. If you catch a tumor when it is still benign, you may be able to remove it with a laser surgery treatment. Other treatments include open back surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, depending on the severity of the cancer.
It is important to schedule regular physical examinations with your physician and to report any pain or unusual bodily sensations that don't go away with time. Pain caused by cancer doesn't go away, even at night or while at rest. For neck and back pain that won't relent, contact a physician for a diagnosis as soon as possible.
Saturday, 08. December 2012
Is Physiotherapy Beneficial for Neck Pain Sufferers?
While nearly all people experience some form of neck pain at some point in their lives, the root cause and nature of the pain is not uniform or universal. Physiotherapy encompasses a wide range of treatments, techniques, and methodologies to treat or lessen the pain.
How Physiotherapy Works
The first step for a physiotherapist is to determine the pain's root cause, which will provide important indications for treatment. For instance, pain can be experienced as:
Neck stiffness
Chronic suffering
Acute pain
Additionally, the pain can be localized just to the neck or it can extend throughout the neck and back, shoulders, arms, jaws or head.
Causes of Neck Pain
There are a wide range of reasons why you may be experiencing pain in your neck. Determining the cause will typically be the next step in a physiotherapist's diagnosis.
The neck is a relatively delicate part of the body that constantly supports the weight of the head. While it is highly mobile, is also highly susceptible to injury. For instance, whiplash from an auto accident or chronic strain from long hours at a computer may cause neck pain. Other common causes of neck pain include poor sleeping habits, poor posture, and a stressful lifestyle. Pain may also result from pinched nerves from a construction or sports accident, a degenerative disease or a viral infection.
With more comprehensive causes such as degenerative diseases or infections, physiotherapy may not be able to treat the pain's root cause. For these conditions, other doctors may be required to eliminate the infection or disease.
Similarly, for acute pain or stubborn, long-lasting chronic conditions, laser spine surgery may be more effective than physiotherapy. Laser spine surgery consists of minimally invasive endoscopic procedures that are safe, effective alternatives to open neck or open back surgery. It is an innovative, state-of-the-art treatment that can treat conditions like spinal and foraminal stenosis, pinched nerves, bulging and herniated discs, bone spurs, and more.
However, if pain is simply caused by strain, chronic stress or some other musculoskeletal condition, a physiotherapist may be able to treat it effectively.
Common Physiotherapy Treatments for Neck Pain
Physiotherapists provide a wide range of treatments, including the following:
Flexibility and strength exercises - Commonly known as physical therapy, these are certain stretches and repetitive motions that can help ease neck and back pain. It is important to note that the neck is a sensitive part of the body, and it is not recommended to do these exercises without assistance from a qualified professional
Chiropractic, massage, and manipulation - In cases of intense neck and back pain, physiotherapists can manipulate the muscular or bone structure directly to realign the spine, improve posture, and move muscles where they need to be. For less acute pain, therapeutic massage may improve flexibility, reduce strain, and increase blood flow to affected areas
Hot/cold treatment - For many pain conditions, physiotherapists recommend cold application. For others, however, applying heat is a more effective way to get blood moving around the area of the pain.
Depending on your particular neck pain condition, physiotherapy can be very beneficial and provide much-needed comfort.
Friday, 07. December 2012
Viable Options for Neck Pain Relief
There are many medical conditions that cause chronic neck pain. These conditions may also come along with pain symptoms that radiate down the arm or legs. Cervical herniated disc is a condition where the disc is pinching a nerve in the neck. Sometimes, symptoms begin with a tingling or numbing sensation and develop over time. Cervical foraminal stenosis is a type of spinal stenosis that is typically the result of wear and tear caused by aging. There are changes in the joints of the neck or at the edges of the discs. Not only is the condition painful, but it can also cause functional impairment. Rheumatoid arthritis and cervical spondylosis are two types of arthritis that cause joint damage and result in pain and discomfort in the neck.
Even simple activities like painting a ceiling, sleeping on the wrong pillow or poor posture can cause neck pain. Car accidents and sports accidents usually cause injury to the cervical area, such as whiplash and ligament sprains. When pain medications like ibuprofen or rest don?t give neck pain relief, there are viable options that are effective for neck pain. Acupuncture, chiropractic services, physical therapy, and laser spine surgery are some of the most common options that work.
Many patients who have tried conventional approaches without success turn to acupuncture for neck pain relief. This mode of treatment can be used for whiplash and degenerative neck disorders. Inserting needles while applying electrical stimulation or heat at precise acupuncture points stimulates the nervous system to release chemicals to change the experience of pain or help the body?s internal self-regulating system.
Chiropractic services have been successful for many who suffer from neck pain. Chiropractors use spinal adjustments to gently move the spinal column into its proper position. Using manual pressure, the discs can be moved to create more space to remove pressure from irritated nerves and to prevent the discs from rubbing against each other. Chiropractors often use ultrasound, massage, and electrical stimulation to help stimulate blood flow to promote healing. Treatment typically includes a series of sessions for neck pain relief.
Physical therapy is also a non-invasive option for neck pain relief. Physical therapists incorporate a variety of techniques in their treatment plans. Hot and cold compressors, deep tissue massage, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation are usually part of the treatment. Treatment is focused on specific exercises to promote muscle strength, increase function, and relieve pain. Physical therapists also help develop exercise plans for patients to do at home.
Laser spine surgery is a minimally invasive procedure for neck pain relief and has been very effective for patients with neck pain. It has been successful in treating conditions like cervical herniated discs, cervical foraminal stenosis, degenerative cervical disease, and pinched nerves. During the procedure, a small incision is made by the surgeon. A tube is then inserted. Cameras and other surgical equipment are inserted into the tube for the surgical procedure. Laser spine surgery has proven to be safe and highly successful. Many patients prefer laser spine surgery to open neck surgery because the recovery is quick and easy. Since only a small incision is made, there is less pain in recovery, and many patients are functional within two hours of the procedure.
If you experience severe neck pain and feel that laser spine surgery is the best option for you, check out Laser Spine Institute at www.laserspineinstitute.com for more information about locations and procedures.
Wednesday, 21. November 2012
How to Prevent Back Pain Problems
Back pain can be caused by a number of things. If you work in a job where you lift heavy objects or sit at a desk all day, you may experience back pain issues. If you have a medical condition such as arthritis, you may also experience back problems. There are countless causes of back pain, which is why so many people are seeking back pain relief. In this article, we will discuss things you can avoid to help prevent the need to seek back pain relief.
Avoid Certain Back Exercises
Strengthening your back muscles is an excellent way to prevent aches and pains. However, you should avoid exercises that put unnecessary strain on your spine, neck, and back. The most common exercise that people do that can harm their necks and backs is a sit-up. When you do a sit-up, make sure you are lifting yourself up with your abs and not your arms. Many people will pull on their neck with their arms when attempting to do a sit-up and this will lead to neck and back problems.
If you are currently dealing with back pain, avoid any exercises that may agitate the area. If you feel pain while you are performing a particular exercise, take that as a sign to stop so that you do not damage your neck and back any further.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes a lot of women to seek back pain relief. The excess weight from the baby puts additional strain on your back. Acute lower back pain is the most common back issue for pregnant women. Although it?s a temporary condition, it can cause painful stiffness and muscle tension in the back area. If you are seeking a lower back pain relief, try to stay off your feet as much possible until the baby arrives.
Sit Up Straight
If you work in an office setting, you may experience pain in your neck and back. This happens when a person sits for extended periods of time. With the invention of computers, this has been one of the main causes of back pain over the last few decades. To relieve yourself of the pain and prevent it from coming back, try to sit up straight and move around from time to time. Take a short walk around the office every hour or two.
Don't Twist
If you work in a job where you have to lift heavy objects, try to avoid twisting your back and spine during lifting. Lifting heavy objects while twisting one?s back can lead to pain and spine alignment problems. If you are in a situation where you have to do this often, keep your back straight, bend at your knees, and move your feet to rotate your body as opposed to twisting your back. This will help you avoid back injuries in the future.
Pain in your back is a common issue with people today. If you have experienced issues with your neck and back before, follow these steps to avoid any injury so that you will not have to seek back pain relief.
Tuesday, 13. November 2012
4 Surgical Options for Treating Chronic Neck and Back Pain
For patients suffering from chronic or acute neck and back pain, understanding the various procedures used in laser spine treatment can provide a greater degree of comfort when exploring these advanced surgical methods. Minimally invasive spine procedures can provide lasting pain relief and allow an added level of mobility for many patients. Additionally, because these procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis, neck and back pain sufferers who choose this option can be on their feet in less time than with other methods of treatment. Here are four advanced treatment options to help patients manage neck and back pain more effectively:
Foraminotomy
A foraminotomy may be performed to treat pinched nerves, to relieve pressure from a herniated disc or to alleviate the pain of arthritis of the spine. This surgical procedure uses advanced endoscopic technology to remove a portion of the foramen, the area of a vertebra that allows nerves to pass from the spinal column outward to other parts of the body. This can reduce or eliminate the pressure on the nerves and relieve the pain caused by this pressure. Patients often report immediate relief from pain after a foraminotomy, making it a valuable method of treating chronic neck and back pain.
Laminotomy
The lamina consists of two bone plates that join to form what is known as the vertebral arch. Each vertebra contains the lamina. However, displacement or improper positioning of the vertebra may cause pain and pressure for some patients. A laminotomy is a laser spine treatment method that usually involves the removal of a portion of these plates. This laser-assisted surgical procedure requires only a 1-inch incision and can often be performed on an outpatient basis, allowing improved mobility after only a few hours of rest and recuperation.
Facet Thermal Ablation
Facet disease is a progressive degeneration of the joints that exist between the vertebrae in the spinal column. Over time, this condition can cause increasing pain for patients and may result in loss of mobility due to discomfort. Arthritis of the spine is often the primary cause for this degeneration. Facet thermal ablation can provide lasting relief for patients suffering from facet disease. This laser spine treatment uses advanced endoscopic techniques to remove any excess bone and tissue from the facet joints. It also eliminates the ability of nerves in the area to cause pain for the patient. Facet thermal ablation can often provide almost immediate relief and improved mobility for patients who suffer from degenerative conditions of the facet joints in the spine.
Endoscopic Discectomy
Herniated discs in the spinal column can create significant pressure on surrounding nerve tissue. This pressure can cause numbness and pain for patients, limiting ones mobility in certain cases. Endoscopic discectomy is an innovative laser spine treatment that can provide relief from pain and pressure on nerves and other delicate tissues. Using advanced laser surgery techniques, the surgeon eliminates the disc material and removes the pressure, often creating instant relief from the pain resulting from the pinched and compressed nerves.
Many medical facilities offer these and other laser spine treatment options for patients, allowing them to manage their back pain more effectively. Patients who undergo these minimally invasive surgeries generally require shorter recovery periods and can resume their normal activities more quickly, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of these advanced procedures to the fullest extent possible.
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