Your spine or backbone is composed of 26 bone discs, known as vertebrae. The vertebra shields your spinal cord and allows you to bend forwards and backwards, and stand. However, a number of problems, such as the following can change the structure or cause the vertebrae and its surrounding tissues to become damaged  

  Injuries
  Infections
  Tumours
  Changes in bone formation due to ageing   herniated disks, spinal stenosis
  Conditions like scoliosis and ankylosing spondylitis

Spinal disorders often lead to pain and discomfort when bony projections put pressure on the spinal nerves or cord. Over time, spinal disorders limit movement and reduce flexibility.
Treatment varies depending on the disease, ranging from medications and therapy to bracing and surgery.

Endoscopic Spine Surgery: what is it?

Contradictory to traditional open surgery, the new age endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure used to detect and treat a disorder. Unlike open surgery, minimally invasive endoscopic surgery does not require the patient to undergo general anaesthesia. The procedure is possible under local anaesthesia, considering the fact that it can be performed without cutting open the portion of the surgery site.

How does surgery work?

During the procedure, the surgeon first administers local anaesthesia to numb the site of the operation. You will be awake during the entire procedure but will not feel any pain. Then, he/she will make a small incision and insert a slender, tubular instrument   known as an endoscope   with a camera attached on one end through the soft tissues and skin, down to the spinal column. This allows the surgeon to get a clear view of the spinal tissues and understand where the problem exists. The endoscope holds the muscles open, allowing the surgeon to remove the damaged tissues or disk.

Endoscopic spine surgery preserves normal mobility, as the spine is not fused with rods and crews. When performed under an experienced surgeon, the procedure takes less than an hour.

Benefits of the Procedure

The advantages of going for an endoscopic surgery are the following  
  Local anaesthesia
  Surgery and discharge on the same day
  Microscopic incisions
  No removal of bone or muscles
  Zero or minimal blood loss
  Preserves spinal mobility
  Immediate recovery
  Reduced intake of pain medicines
  The high rate of success
  Improved quality of life

Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery has made it possible to rectify spinal problems and disorders without having to go under the knife. With less pain and quicker recovery, you can improve your spine health and get back to your usual activities in a day or two.

Consult a specialist and discuss the procedure in detail before opting for the same.


Endoscopic Spine Surgery Under Local Anaesthesia!

A Simple Guide to Arthritis

One of the most common ailments the elderly suffer from is arthritis. However, arthritis can affect people of all ages. It is a rheumatic disease as in, it affects joints and bones. It can be of many types and the term covers a number of inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint diseases. Some of the most well-known types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, bone spurs, gout, and osteoarthritis.

The causes of arthritis have not been defined but there are a number of factors that increase a person's chances of getting it. Foremost amongst these is increasing age and excess weight. Arthritic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and lupus are said to be hereditary and linked to certain genes. Sometimes, injuries can also cause arthritic conditions. Misuse of steroids can also result in arthritis.

Here is a look at the most common symptoms of the disease :-

Pain around the joints is the most well-known symptom of arthritis. Along with pain, you may also notice swollen or stiff joints.
Increased body temperature around the affected joints and redness in the area is also a symptom of arthritis. These symptoms range from mild to severe, and can be constant or may come and go.
Everybody suffers from occasional joint pains but if any of the above symptoms persist for a long duration, it is best to consult a doctor. The sooner you seek treatment, the easier it becomes to deal with arthritis. If left untreated for too long, arthritis can result in permanent joint damage.

While there is no single cure for arthritis, it can be effectively controlled if treated in time. Since the type and severity of arthritis differ from person to person, treatment for the same must also be tailored to the needs of the individual.

Drugs for arthritis can be categorized as those that treat symptoms such as pain and stiffness, and those that suppress inflammatory conditions.

In some cases, surgery may be advisable. 

Physical therapy and regular exercise are very important when dealing with arthritis.

It is equally important to eat a healthy, nutritious and well-balanced diet. If you are overweight, try and lose the excess kilos.

You must also look after your joints to ensure that there is no further degradation of bone or muscle tissue. Avoid staying in one position for a long time, and try and maintain a good posture. These simple techniques can be very effective when dealing with all types of arthritis.

A Simple Guide to Arthritis

Pain in the joints continues to bug mankind till this very day. There are different types of joint pains, which might occur all of a sudden, with no signs of receding. The most common of them all are arthritis, tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, back pain and repetitive muscular strain. These joint pains are sometimes impossible to diagnose properly by the regular modes of diagnosis. In those cases, resorting to the homeopathic mode of medication might be a good idea as it is a medication based on treating the actual cause of the disease and sustained use might result in complete remission of the pain.

Some commonly used homeopathic medications for pain in the joints are as follows:
1. Rhus Tox: This is the most commonly used in homeopathic preparation for severe joint pains, the symptoms of which include severe pain after relaxation, pain triggered by slightly wet weather and pain after walking or running for a long time.

2. Arnica Montana: When the symptoms are pain in every joint of the body resulting in body aches and pertaining injuries due to accidents, Arnica Montana serves as the perfect medication.

3. Actea Spicata: This medicine is primarily used as a remedy for pains in the small joints of the hands. The symptoms for which the medication can be implemented are rheumatoid arthritis in the joints of the finger and swollen wrists after usage of the hand.

4. Colchium: This medicine can be used in case of Rheumatoid Arthritis (inflammatory and chronic form of arthritis).

5. Bryonia Alba: This medication can work wonders if the symptoms include severe pain in the knee joints while walking, severe swollen joints and osteoarthritis (affects the flexible tissues present at the bone ends).

However, it is always advisable to take medication as prescribed by your doctor, as the potency and frequency can only be decided by your doctor.

Homeopathic Treatment for Pain in the Joints

Spondylitis, or cervical spondylitis, is a common condition that affects a large section of the adult population. This most common disorder of the cervical spine is a degenerative condition. There are soft disks between the vertebral bones which shrink with age and gets stiff. This leads to formation of small bone spurs. This reduces the space available for the disk to move, causing nerve pinching.

Causes:

Ageing is the most common cause for spondylitis. Injury, incorrect sleeping posture, and heavy weight-lifting can also cause spondylitis. While earlier it was common in people who were 60-plus, with more people spending more time at their computers and workstations, the onset happens much earlier in 30s and sometimes even in 20s.

Symptoms:

Most symptoms related to spondylitis are centered on the neck and shoulder regions. There is pain and stiffness in the neck that can extend to the shoulders, nape of the neck, arms, and sometimes even the fingers. In rare cases, the pain can extend into the forehead and back of the head too. Associated symptoms include numbness, weakness, and a pricking sensation in the hands, arms, and sometimes fingers.

Homeopathy in cervical spondylitis:

Homeopathy treats the root of the issue after taking into account all symptoms. Listed below are some common homeopathic remedies for spondylitis.

Conium: there is neck pain along with vertigo when lying down or turning in bed. There is constant mild pain in the back of the head and a tight sensation in the forehead region.
Rhus tox: when the neck pain is worse in the morning and with rest, rhus is a good option. Moving the neck helps relieve this pain, which is often as a result of some injury.
Kalmia latifolia: when there is pain extending from the neck to the arm and hand and fingers, kalmia works wonders. There may also be pain from the nape of the neck to the shoulder blades. The pain is increased with leaning forwards or looking down. The patient may also have nausea with the pain.
Gelsemium: when there is pain extending from the neck to the back of the head, centering in the occipital region. The patient also feels weak, dull, and dizzy. The pain is triggered by emotional excitement.
Silicea: when there is pain extending from the neck to the eyes and forehead, silicea provides good relief. The patient will have intolerance to cold and feels chilly. The pain is improved by heat pads and lying down.
Calcarea phos: if the radiographs show bony changes in the cervical spine with the spondylitis, this is very useful. The bony spurs that form can be painful and cause nerve pinching leading to vertigo.

Spondylitis - Causes and Symptoms

Mobility for a person is very important, and when you look through, the hip is a very important component to this. It connects the upper and lower parts of the body and helps in movement. It is a ball and socket joint, where the hip bone provides a socket, into which the upper part of the thighbone (femur) sits into, allowing for free movement.

Like any other human organ, the hip also is prone to damage. Be it natural ageing, infection, injury, or diseases, hip movement can be affected, leading to limited movement and increased pain and stiffness. For these people, being able to get back a hip which will allow them to be back on their feet is a boon for sure. It helps in relieving pain and improving mobility, almost giving people a second lease of life.

Reasons for hip replacement:

With natural ageing, the hip joint can lose its ability to move, due to normal wear and tear of the hip and thigh bones
Diseases of the hips (infectious or autoimmune) can also lead to hip replacement
Injury or trauma is another major cause that requires hip replacement
Joint problems, leading to repeated dislocations
Tumours of the relevant bones
Understanding the procedure in detail

The affected bones (whether diseases or worn out) are replaced with a prosthesis which is compatible with the normal body tissue.
While some materials fuse to the natural bone, others do not and are simply placed as a separate unit
This is a surgery which requires hospitalisation and stays for up to 5 days depending on patient s overall health condition
The entire procedure may take a couple of hours and is usually done under general anaesthesia
An incision is made through the side of the hip
Both the hip and the thigh joints are prepared, diseased tissue removed, re-shaped, etc. to make way for the prosthesis
The prosthesis is introduced through the same incision and positioned into place
As noted earlier, there are two types. The ones which fuse to the bone have pores in them into which normal bone eventually grows.
The other variety is the cemented version, and a glue is used to keep it in place
Most doctors now use a combination, that is cement a porous prosthesis, into which bone will grow, and the incisions are closed
The patient stays in the hospital for 1 to 4 days depending on overall health
Once discharged, infection and pain control are continued
Exercise and physiotherapy play a major role in restoring normal function
Weight management is also very important

Hip Replacement - Understanding The Procedure In Detail!

If you are an avid runner, then you might also be well aware of the type of running injuries one is prone to. It might be foolish to say that running injuries can be prevented. It is because these injuries do happen quite often. Though these cannot be prevented, these can definitely be treated. Furthermore, precautions from your side can always be taken to make sure that these injuries do not cause a major impact on your health and can be cured without much of a hassle. Here are some important points that you need to remember to avoid running injuries or to lessen their adverse impact on your body.


Flexible Body: Flexibility is an important part of a runner s body. You not only need to have the stamina to run, but also must possess flexible features to get you out swiftly from any serious damage. Flexibility is attained when you do regular exercises and stretching in particular. It makes your muscles resilient towards many injuries and provides your body a better shape and long lasting stamina as well.
Strengthen Your Body: Body strength is required if you want to avoid any sports injuries. Special strength training sessions are organised with the coaches of sportspersons. These sessions help in building up muscle strength. This would, in turn, lessen muscle fatigue and make you able enough to perform better.
Balanced Diet: It does not matter whether you are an athletic or not, a balanced diet is needed for everyone. Balanced diet does not mean picking and choosing of food. It means a proper diet chart, mapping everything that your body needs to stay fit. Furthermore, it should contain ample amount of water to keep you hydrated.
Take Rest When Required: It is often said by the elders that too much of work would ruin your health and body. Thus, even for the athletes, it is important to take rest in between periods of heavy training sessions. This would give you a chance to relax your body and relieve you of all the stress. Furthermore, if you are injured or hurt, it would give you ample time to recover from your injuries.
Wear Proper Shoes: As a runner, you need to take care of all parts of your body. This would also include your legs. To prevent any sprains or muscle injury in the leg and to practice for long hours, proper running shoes are needed.  


How To Avoid Running Injuries?

Don't wait any longer, manage your Elbow Surgeon online with a Lybrate doctor today

Consult for Elbow Surgeon - Online and Easy!

FilterClear All

COMMON SPECIALITIES

COMMON ISSUES