Lower back pain is becoming a common complaint not only among the elderly but also among teenagers, transcending age barriers. Various factors contribute to this issue, with spine problems being a significant cause. Back pain can hinder daily activities and, in severe cases, make it challenging to manage personal affairs. Traditional open spine surgeries have their own set of side effects, but modern medical advancements have introduced endoscopic spine surgery, offering promising results with minimal side effects.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery: A Modern Solution
As people age, bones wear out, causing worn bones to press on the nerves in the vertebra. This compression results in symptoms such as lower back pain, leg cramps, numbness, and even loss of touch sensation during defecation. While surgery may not be necessary in all cases, severe symptoms often require surgical intervention. Endoscopic spine surgery, a contemporary medical procedure, is now available and provides significant relief from these symptoms with fewer side effects.
Age and Lifestyle Impact on Spine Health
Age-related changes significantly impact the spine, leading to worn bones pressing on nerves and causing back pain. Additionally, unhealthy eating habits, poor sitting posture, and bad habits like smoking contribute to the increasing number of teenagers suffering from back pain. Employees who sit for extended periods, especially in front of computers, are particularly vulnerable to these issues.
Additional Causes of Back Pain
Various factors can cause back pain, including kidney stones, pancreatic problems, muscle issues, and, in women, menstrual problems. Symptoms of spine-related back problems include back pain, leg cramps, numbness, and insensitivity to touch during defecation.
Diagnostic Methods
Diagnostic methods for back problems include X-rays, MRI, and, in special cases, CT scans. It is crucial not to neglect severe symptoms like back pain, leg dysfunction, difficulty in walking, and inability to feel the touch of stool, as they indicate a dangerous stage of the problem.
Treatment Procedures
Not all back problems require surgery. In 90 to 95 percent of cases, low back pain can be managed with medication, physiotherapy, spinal exercises, or injections. However, when these treatments fail, and daily activities become difficult, surgery becomes necessary. Endoscopic spine surgery offers a better alternative to traditional open surgery, resulting in quicker recovery and minimal tissue damage.
Endoscopic Surgery: Faster Recovery
Endoscopic spine surgery involves a minimal incision, causing less tissue damage and reducing post-surgery pain. Patients can be ambulatory within a few hours of the operation and may be discharged on the same day. Full recovery and the ability to resume daily activities occur within two to three days after surgery. This procedure has significantly reduced side effects compared to traditional surgeries, with side effects being less than 1 percent.
Precautions Post-Surgery
Patients are advised not to bend forward, lift weights, or smoke for two to three months after surgery. However, all other types of work can be resumed as usual.
Dr. P. Vishwaksena Reddy
MBBS, MS, CH (Neurosurgery)
Senior Consultant, Department of Neurosurgery
Star Hospitals, Hyderabad
For more information, please visit [Star Hospitals](https://www.starhospitals.in)