Back pain: There’s no need to suffer in silence
A CLEAR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT PLAN CRUCIAL TO RECOVERY
Thinking about your back or neck pain?
The spine is the body’s hardworking foundation, comprised of 34 vertebrae, shock-absorbing discs, plus the spinal cord and nervous system that carry movement and sensation signals to the brain. The spine also supports our bones and muscles— providing stability and strength from top to bottom. The spine is essential for good health, but few people think about their spines until something goes wrong.
“It’s tough to do the things you want in life if your back or neck goes out,’” says Dr. Steven Helper, a Vancouver interventional spine specialist at False Creek Healthcare.
“You’re pretty debilitated. It’s almost unfair how a tiny injury in your back or neck can just shut down your whole body.”
Whether the problem originates in the upper (cervical), middle (thoracic) or lower (lumbar) spine, both acute and chronic pain can severely limit daily activities and restrict mobility. Making things more complicated, “pain is, by definition, an emotional response to injury,” says Dr. Helper. “When something goes wrong in our body, we’re all wired to experience pain in different ways. It begins with our genetic make-up, but is also impacted by our cultural environment, our psychosocial stressors and our past experiences.”
Factors impacting your spinal health
Beyond genetic and other biological factors, lifestyle plays a key role in spinal health.
Sitting in cars, hunching over screens and poor workplace ergonomics can trigger problems. In Greater Vancouver, the cultural emphasis on fitness and outdoor activities also leads to a disproportionate number of overuse injuries.
“There is a larger sub-section of people here with repetitive use, soft tissue presentations who come into my office relative to other places in North America” says Helper.
When it comes to pain, aging is the final (and unavoidable) piece of the puzzle. Spinal deterioration, however, isn’t always to blame for back and neck pain, says Dr. Helper, even if diagnostic images show structural wear and tear. On the other hand, “just because you have pain, doesn’t mean there’s a major pathology present,” says Vancouver neurosurgeon Dr. Navraj Heran. “The majority of pain in the spinal axis is from the muscles.” Pain that radiates into the arms or legs, however, usually indicates nerve involvement and can be a greater cause for concern, says Dr. Heran.
Fixing spine problems starts with a clear diagnosis...
Clearly, spinal pain can be complicated—and that’s why a proper diagnosis is the first step toward relief. A spine specialist will usually request a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Computed Tomography (CT) scan to look for damage, tumours or other visible problems. Temporary nerve blocks or other minimally invasive procedures can also help to isolate the true source of the pain.
...Then continues with the proper procedure
Once patients have a definitive diagnosis, a wide range of options are available to treat common conditions, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, painful discs, sacroiliac and facet joint pain, and muscular pain, among others. Spinal interventions have advanced considerably in the past 20 years to include everything from open surgery to minimally invasive procedures, plus a wide range of therapeutic injections, physical therapies, alternative treatments and long-term oral analgesics.
At False Creek Healthcare, Dr. Helper and Dr. Heran often work collaboratively to develop multi-faceted care plans. Non-surgical radiofrequency treatments, vertebroplasty, discectomy, dynamic stabilization, disc replacement technologies and if required, minimally invasive fusion, among other outpatient procedures, can minimize pain and increase mobility. Spinal specialists emphasize that these treatments are often just one part of a broad rehabilitation program. Rest, anti-inflammatories and supervised pain management will also support the body’s natural healing process.
“It’s important to keep moving around and stay active and manage your symptoms with analgesics,” says Dr. Heran.
Good news: there’s no need to suffer in silence
Most importantly, specialists say there’s no reason to suffer in silence. Most people will be able to resume normal activities, but successful treatment requires realistic expectations and a sense of partnership between the patient and the physician. “The patient has to take some responsibility for themselves, and they’ve got to be an active participant in getting better,” says Dr. Helper. “It’s the lucky person who gets a simple injection and they’re cured.”
Your next steps
To learn more about False Creek Healthcare Centre’s spine diagnostics and surgeries and how their surgeons and specialists can help you, call 604-739-9695 or visit falsecreekhealthcare.com