Chronic Spinal Pain: Treatment Options

by Mr Jwalant S Mehta//Spinal Health

Spinal pain in the neck (cervical) region and lower back (lumbar) region have become most common among people of all ages. Compared to the thoracic region, the neck and lower back region of the spine are easily prone to stress due to their weight-bearing function. Also, the next and lower back regions are responsible for mobility actions such as twisting, moving, and bending. Hence, these two regions are most likely to get affected in case of any injury or accident.

Symptoms of Chronic Spinal Pain

Spinal pain is said to be chronic if it lasts for more than three months. The most common symptoms of chronic spinal pain include the following:

  • Restricted mobility and stiffness in your lower back region.
  • Lack of capability to maintain normal body posture due to pain or stiffness.
  • Pain that persists for more than 15 days.
  • Frequent muscle spasms.
  • Notable loss of mobility functions such as heel walking, ability to tiptoe, etc.

If you have been experiencing spinal pain for a long time, make sure to visit the best orthopedic surgeon for spine UK and get yourself checked at the earliest to avoid future complications.

Common spine conditions

Your spine can also get injured and worn down, just like the other bones. We have listed down the most common spine conditions for you.

  • Osteoarthritis: This is the degeneration of your joint cartilage that usually occurs with aging.
  • Osteoporosis: This is a condition where your bones become brittle and weak and can result in multiple fractures. This is most commonly seen in women post-menopause.
  • Disk Degeneration: Disk degeneration is a condition where the disk between your vertebrae will be worn out, thereby causing pain. Things to avoid with degenerative disc disease include heavy lifting, alcohol consumption, smoking, sitting for long periods, and high-impact exercises.

There are 4 stages of degenerative disc disease – Dysfunction stage, Dehydration stage, Stabilization stage, and Collapsing stage. Do not let your Disk Degeneration issue go out of hand and interfere with your normal activities. Visit your doctor to learn more about treatment options and pain relief for degenerative disc disease.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Spinal Pain

Spinal pain can be diagnosed with the help of an X-ray, MRI, CT Scan with 3D reconstruction or EMG/NCV. The treatment options for chronic spinal pain are basically of two categories – surgical and non-surgical.

Your doctor will analyze the seriousness of your pain and prescribe either surgical or non-surgical treatment. Non-surgical treatment options include treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicines, muscle relaxants, and narcotics for moderate pain, physical therapy, and prognosis.

If you are one of those suffering from spine problems for a long time and looking for the right help, do book an appointment with Mr. Mehta Spine Surgeon, based in the UK. He is one of the best scoliosis surgeons in the UK and is known to help patients with the best treatment approach. Ensure to review the official Mehta Spine website to learn more.