Treatment For Spinal Problems - Artificial Discs

It wasn't too long ago that the only treatment for herniated cervical discs was Spinal Fusion Surgery. This surgery is a method that uses bone grafts, screws and metal plates to attach or fuse two or more vertebrae in the cervical, or neck, area of the spine. While spinal fusion surgery has helped many people overcome severe back pain, it results in a limited range of motion and movement.

Modern spinal disc technology has provided an alternative to spinal fusion surgery that is performed by spine surgeon in Chennai. Cervical herniated discs can now be replaced by artificial discs in a process known as Artificial Disc Replacement, or ADR. The outcome of this surgery will not inhibit range of movement. The patient should regain normal flexibility throughout the cervical region of the spine.

Artificial disc replacement surgery is done by making an incision in the front of the neck and consists of removing the herniated or damaged disc and replacing it with an artificial one, made of either titanium or stainless steel. The new disc will allow for fully normal function and movement in the neck and cervical region of the back.

The Food and Drug Administration have only approved ADR surgery since 2007, but many spinal surgeons will highly recommend this procedure over spinal fusion surgery. Artificial disc replacement is a serious surgical procedure that will take one to two hours to complete. The patient will need to stay in the hospital for post-operative care for at least four days afterwards.

In most cases, a spinal surgeon will recommend ADR for patients who have failed to find relief with other non-surgical methods of back pain treatment. Other factors are also considered, such as if the patient has an allergy to titanium or stainless steel. As with any serious surgical procedure, artificial disc replacement involves a degree of risk, but the lasting relief and alleviation of pain may outweigh the initial risk.

Recipients of artificial disc replacement surgery will need years of follow up care, which will include X-rays to see if the discs are maintaining their integrity. The general consensus is that these discs can last at least 10 to 15 years, the same as other surgical replacements like hip and knee. Physical therapy will also need to be done in the weeks following ADR surgery.

Patients will not need to wear a back brace after ADR surgery, as they would if they had spinal fusion surgery. Artificial disc replacement is more costly than spinal fusion surgery, but patients who undergo ADR will be able to recover and return to work more quickly than those who have had fusion of the cervical discs.

Artificial disc replacement has quickly become the best option for treating severe cervical spine problems. Many people around the world have undergone this procedure and have returned to a pain-free, active and productive life.

Backpain: A Common Phenomenon

Backpain is a common phenomenon in the country with nearly 80% of the population suffering from it. The overuse of the muscles in the back or a strain/injury to the muscles and ligaments supporting the spine are the most common causes of back pain.

Backpain can be acute, recurrent or chronic. Most of the people suffering from back pain fall in the first category wherein the pain vanishes in about six weeks and home remedies prove to be very effective. In the case of the recurrent category, the pain reappears after some time while chronic pain lasts for a longer period of time.

A strain in the back muscles due to bending, twisting or lifting some weight generally leads to backpain. An infection, arthritis or ovarian cysts can also be a cause of back pain. In today's times people often sit in one posture for a long time and thus experience pain in their backs.

Backpain may emerge suddenly but it develops over a longer period of time and is generally a result of a strain in the back muscles. The accumulation of acidic byproducts such as lactic acid and pyruvic acid restricts the normal functioning of muscle tissues and leads to irritation or pain in the muscles. This results in a problem known as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

The effective treatment of one's backpain can only be done after a proper diagnosis of the factors causing the pain is done. A severe back pain may often be the result of muscle spasms emanating from a simple back strain. On the other hand a person with a herniated disc may not experience any pain in his back for a long period of time. So it is very important to know about the real cause of the back pain. An injury to the muscle ligament or tendon is less worrisome and easily curable than a bone fracture or tumor in the spine.

The most common symptoms of backpain due to a herniated disc are the numbness in the legs and the back. Degenerative disc disorder and osteoarthritis can result in a situation where the pain aggravates with the movement of the back. A minor pain in the back can also be due to the initiation of arthritis. An orthopedic surgeon or a spine specialist should be consulted in case of chronic pain.

5 Exercises After a Spine Surgery

Spinal surgery is a major surgery and post rehabilitation is extremely important in getting patients back to full health quickly. The ability to return back to post surgery status depends not only on how successful the surgery is but also the rehabilitative program that the doctor has set.

Exercise is extremely important to recovery after surgery. Exercise will help to get rid of fatigue and aid in a smooth transition back to daily activities. Exercise also helps to decrease further back pain. One excellent low impact exercise is walking.

Walking

Walking causes almost no spinal irritation and helps to align the vertebral column after surgery. Walking also helps speed up the healing process as nutrients can reach the injured tissues to help with repair.

Water activities

Water activities such as water aerobics are good post surgery rehabilitation exercises that are low impact, yet allow a full body workout. The water will support the body weight making it feel like a low gravity setting. As a result, the compressive forces in the spinal columns are significantly reduced, allowing for a better recovery.

Stability Stretching

After surgery, the soft tissues will take roughly 2 to 3 weeks to heal. Once the soft tissues are fully healed, stretching exercises should be done a few times daily to regain a full range of motion. Bear in mind that stretching should only start after your physiotherapist has given the all clear. Due to surgery, the back muscles have lost the ability to stabilize due to a lack of motion. As such, daily stability stretching exercises should be done until the back has fully regained the ability to be stable.

Yoga

Yoga strengthens the core muscles and helps to gain flexibility, range of motion and coordination skills. Yoga also requires flexing and twisting of the body so medical advice should be sought before commencing it.

Exercise bike

An exercise bike provides a whole body workout with low impact on the spine. Make sure that the seat is aligned in a way that you do not need to bend over your back. Start off with low resistance until you are able to gain more strength. As time pass, slowly increase the resistance to build up muscles.

The recovery is as important as the surgery itself. A lengthy recovery time is required following spinal surgery to avoid any complications and further aggravation of the spine. Back rehabilitation exercises are able to help gain strength and regain range of motion which is very important following surgery.

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