A leading cause of disability worldwide, Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people miss work or go to the doctor. Back pain can range from a burning, stabbing, or shooting sensation to a muscle aching. In addition, the pain may worsen with twisting, standing, walking, lifting, or bendin

A leading cause of disability worldwide, Back pain is one of the most common reasons why people miss work or go to the doctor. Back pain can range from a burning, stabbing, or shooting sensation to a muscle aching. In addition, the pain may worsen with twisting, standing, walking, lifting, or bending and may radiate down the leg. However, medical intervention may be required in case of severe damage or injury of the spinal cord. 

Injuries to the spinal cord may occur due to damage to the spinal cord disks, the spinal column, the vertebrae, or the ligaments. It is important to note that a traumatic spinal cord injury may stem from a traumatic, sudden blow to the spine that dislocates, compresses, fractures, or crushes one or more vertebrae. You must also seek medical intervention if the nontraumatic spinal cord injury is a result of cancer, arthritis, infections, disk degeneration of the spine, or inflammation.

When this happens, you must always reach out to a doctor for spinal surgery treatment. At Medinirvana, we will help you connect with the best spine doctor in Delhi.

About The Treatment

1. What is the Procedure?

After the initial medical evaluation, the spinal surgeon may recommend treatment procedures such as physical therapy, epidural nerve blocks, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), radiofrequency ablation, corticosteroid injections, and lifestyle changes like quitting smoking or losing weight. Common spine surgical procedures include laminectomy, laminotomy, microdiscectomy, and spinal instrumentation.

2. What are the Signs and Symptoms?

Common causes of spinal cord injuries:

1.  Motor Vehicle Accidents: A primary cause of injuries to the spinal cord are motorcycle and auto accidents.

2.    Falls: Overall falls constitute for approximately 31 percent of spinal cord injuries.

3.    Acts of violence: Violent encounters like knife and gunshot wounds cause approximately 13 percent of spinal cord injuries.

Spinal cord injuries may be characterised by signs and symptoms, including but not limited to:

• Exaggerated spasms or reflex activities

• Altered or loss of sensation, including the ability to feel cold, touch, or heat

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

• Changes in sexual sensitivity, sexual function, and fertility

• Difficulty breathing, clearing secretion from the lungs, or coughing

• Loss of movement

• Numbness or tingling in the hands, toes, fingers, or feet

• Extreme pressure or back pain in your back, head, or neck

• A twisted or oddly positioned back or neck

•   Difficulty with walking and balance

3. How is it Diagnosed?

A doctor would perform a complete evaluation to ascertain the extent and severity of the injury. The doctor may ask some questions about the accident and conduct some tests for sensory movement and function. These tests may include Computerised tomography (CT) scan, X-rays, and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

If you are looking for the best neurosurgeon in India, then connect with the platform of Medinirvana. A pioneer in the field of medical tourism. Our experts with guide you with the best advice and support in your medical journey.

4. What are the treatment options available?

The spinal surgeon would perform a comprehensive evaluation to ascertain the level and severity levels. The doctor may then recommend treatment options like traditional spinal fusions for treating instability of the spine, severe degeneration of the discs, scoliosis, or a combination of these issues. Alternatively, the doctor may recommend minimally invasive spine procedures like percutaneous instrumentation. Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MIS TLIF) or Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion (LLIF) could also be recommended by the doctor. With advancements in science and incorporation of the latest technology, spine surgery in India is gaining ground. The success rate of spine surgery in India stands at 70-80%.

Different types of spinal surgery include:

• Laminectomy: It involves removing the bone underlying the spinal canal. Laminectomy enlarges the spinal canal and is a possible choice for relieving nerve pressure that is a result of spinal stenosis.

• Discectomy: Generally, it involves partial or complete removal of the lamina (the back portion of a vertebra) for accessing the ruptured disk.

• Artificial disks: The spinal surgeon may implant artificial disks to treat painful movement between two vertebrae because of an injured or degenerated disk.

• Fusion: Spinal fusion can be used for relieving pain by adding stability in case of a spinal fracture. It connects two or more bones in the spine permanently.

• Foraminotomy: Removal of tissue or bone at/in at the neuroforamen (the passageway where nerve roots branch off the human spinal cord and exist at the column of the spine).