Dr. Ashok Rattan

Mentioned throughout history as a curse, leprosy was considered as a punishment of sins by many cultures as it was widespread and common. However, modern science demystified it and de-stigmatized it to the point where the occurrence of leprosy within the population has gone down to very low levels, although it is still prevalent among certain populations.

Prevention of leprosy: Leprosy is caused by the bacterial infection of Mycobacterium leprae and it is classified into multiple types. Leprosy is communicable through contact with common objects or a person by infected droplets within their nose. It primarily affects mucous membranes and the skin and the nerves on the hands, feet, and in extreme cases may cause disfigurement as well. There are no specific ways to prevent leprosy as no specific correlation between transmission and development has been found so far. Leprosy can happen through one time contact or through contact over extended period of time within the same household. Thus preventive measures will primarily include the following:

1. Regular checkups by going to the doctor
2. Ensuring that surfaces are kept clean if you share a household with a leprosy patient
3. Skin biopsies at regular intervals just to check if you may have contracted the bacteria
4. If a rash has developed, then it is urgent that you visit the doctor. Earlier the leprosy is detected, quickly it can treated and resolved

Incidences of leprosy have reduced over the last few decades due to improvements in medicine and early detection. This has allowed people to nip the problem in the bud and does not allow it to spread within their bodies or to other people.

Treatment of leprosy: The primary weapon that modern medicine has against leprosy is known as MDT or multidrug therapy. Multidrug therapy is the combination of multiple drugs, which attack the various aspects of leprosy, such as skin problems, nerve damage, loss of sensation, deterioration of skin conditions etc. This is the proven way to not only reduce symptoms, but also cure the problems in the long run.

Some of the drugs in the MDT used are as follows:

1. Rifampicin and dapsone
2. Rifampicin and clofazimine and dapsone
3. Rifampicin, minocycline and ofloxacin

However, the combination will depend on the type of leprosy the person is affected with, such as paucibacillary leprosy or multibacillary leprosy and thus can only be prescribed by the doctor after thorough and detailed examination.

Much like Myths about Back Pain, there are many misconceptions about neck pain and the spine in general. Seeking credible information is essential to having the best chances for recovery. In that spirit, we at Spine-health wish to clarify a few of the common myths about neck pain.

Myth: Rest Is the Best Way to Help My Neck Pain

Reality: A short period of bed rest may help reduce acute pain of the neck or back, but doctors generally advise against more than one or two days of bed rest. In fact, resting and general inactivity can actually cause more pain, as lack of activity leads to muscle wasting and other harmful effects, which in turn can create more back pain or neck pain and lead to an unhealthy cycle of pain/inactivity/more pain/more inactivity. For most conditions, physicians will recommend a long-term rehabilitation program of active physical therapy and exercise. For more information, see the following article:

Myth: With Its Sensitive Nerves, the Spine Is Easily Injured

Reality: The spine is a uniquely well-designed structure -- the surrounding muscles, tendons and ligaments provide a great deal of strength, flexibility and support for the spine. While there are some exceptions (such as an unstable spinal fracture), in general keeping your spine healthy requires proper conditioning, including stretching, strengthening and aerobic exercise. Activities that can harm the spine include poor posture and body mechanics (e.g. improper lifting technique), and other generally unhealthy factors, such as smoking, lack of nutrition or sleep

Myth: The Doctor Didn't Find Anything Wrong, so the Pain Must Be All in My Head

Reality: Pain is always real. The physician may not be able to find the anatomical cause of the pain, but the pain still exists. And for chronic pain (e.g. pain that lasts more than 2 or 3 months), it's important to proactively treat the pain. While psychological factors (such as depression and sleeplessness) will often need to be included as part of a comprehensive treatment program, it is also important to search out nonsurgical care treatment options that can help alleviate the pain.

Myth: My Pain Is So Bad, There Must Be Ongoing Spine Damage

Reality: With chronic pain, the level and extent of pain is not related to the level and extent of damage or injury in your neck or back. For example, severely degenerated discs may not produce much pain at all, and discs with little degeneration can produce severe pain.

Unlike chronic (long-term) pain, acute (short-lived) pain does correlate to the level of the injury. For example, a deep cut in your skin is more painful and more damaging than a bruise, and the pain will subside as it heals. In this manner, acute pain provides us with a protective reflex -- so that we avoid things that cause tissue damage (e.g. we remove our hand from a hot burner). However, with chronic pain, the pain does not have the same meaning -- it is not protective and does not mean there is any ongoing tissue damage or injury.

Dealing with ongoing back pain or neck pain is a long-term avocation. The last thing you need is incorrect or misleading information to confuse the situation. At Spinomaxx, we strive to provide you with reliable, in-depth information to help you better understand, prevent and seek appropriate treatment for your pain.