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The back
is one of the most important structural parts of the
human body, allowing us to stand upright and balance on two
legs. The term "spine" or "backbone" refers
to the bony structures and soft tissues of the vertebral
column.
The vertebrae are the bony segments surrounding and protecting the soft tissue
of the spinal cord and nerve roots serving different regions of the body. Technically,
the spine consists of 33 vertebrae, although some of the structures
of the lower
back and tailbone are fused together. |
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The spine is also subject to many traumatic
forces that can,
either suddenly or over time, cause what most people simply
call “back
problems.” Sometimes the problem results in minor aches
and pains, sometimes in severe
but intermittent pain, and sometimes
chronic or permanent disability. The types of problems are numerous
and their impact on your life can be significant. In fact, back
problems are so common that approximately 20 million people in
the United States experience back problems each year and, by
the age of 65, more than 80% of all Americans experience a back
injury of sufficient severity to affect their lives and work.
Common Spine Problems:
• Inflammation
• Osteoarthritis
• Whiplash
• Herniated Disc
• Compression Fracture
• Scoliosis
• Stenosis
• Work-Related Injuries
Common Procedures:
Conservative Care
Most often, doctors initiate treatment with conservative care,
meaning that treatment does not involve surgery. This may include
physical therapy, consisting of various exercises designed to
improve mobility and strengthen the back, or it may include ultrasound
treatments, with special sound waves designed to help foster
healing
of the back sprain or strain.
Spinal Surgery
Spinal surgery is done under a general anesthetic and a portion
of the back is opened for surgical work. The surgeon may have
to remove the portion of the backbone known as the lamina in
order to reach the damaged disc and take out
the portion that
is causing problems. If the back is unstable in that area,
the doctor may need to perform a fusion. This improves the
stability and helps ease pain,
but unfortunately does restrict
the movement of that part of the spine. It may be
necessary
to utilize spine instrumentation to aid in the fusion process.
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