Spine Treatments & Procedures

Dr. Atul Jain is a highly experienced spine surgeon who has treated many patients with spinal cord trauma, back pain, neck pain, and spine compression fractures. His treatments are aimed at relieving pain, restoring function, and improving quality of life for his patients. In this blog, we will explore the various treatments that Dr. Jain offers for these conditions, including surgical and non-surgical options, and the benefits and risks associated with each. Whether you are suffering from a spinal cord injury, chronic back or neck pain, or a spine compression fracture, Dr. Jain can help you find the best treatment plan for your individual needs.


SPINAL CORD TRAUMA

What is Spinal Cord Trauma?
Spinal cord trauma is an injury to the spinal cord. It may result from immediate injury to the cord itself or indirectly from the disease of the nearby bones, tissues, or blood vessels.

What causes Spinal Cord Injury?
Some possible causes of spinal cord injuries (from most to least common) include:

• Motor vehicle accidents.
• Falls.
• Gunshot wounds.
• Sports injuries.
• Surgical complications.

How to diagnose Spinal Cord Injury?
By performing an examination, testing for sensory function and mobility, and asking basic questions regarding the accident, a doctor in the emergency room may be able to rule out spinal cord damage.
Emergency diagnostic testing may be required if the injured person complains of neck pain, isn't completely conscious, or has clear evidence of weakening or neurological impairment.
These tests can include:

• X-rays. X-rays can demonstrate vertebral (spinal column) problems, tumors, fractures, or degenerative changes in the spine.
• CT scan. A CT scan can show abnormalities on an X-ray in more detail. Computers are used to create a series of cross-sectional scans that can identify bone, disc, and other disorders.
• MRI. A high magnetic field and radio waves are used in MRI to create computer-generated pictures. This examination is useful for examining the spinal cord and detecting herniated discs, blood clots, or other things that could compress it.

How is Spinal Cord Trauma Treated?

• Medications. In the past, methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) administered through an arm vein (IV) has been used to treat acute spinal cord injuries. However, new study has found that the risks of using this medicine, such as blood clots and pneumonia, exceed the benefits. As a result, methylprednisolone is no longer indicated as a first-line treatment following a spinal cord injury.
• Immobilization. You might require traction to stabilize or align your spine. Alternatives include soft neck collars and diverse braces.
• Surgery. Surgical removal of bone fragments, foreign objects, herniated discs, or broken vertebrae that appear to be compressing the spine is frequently required. In order to avoid future discomfort or deformity, surgery may be required to stabilize the spine.
• Experimental treatments. Scientists are working on techniques to prevent cell death, reduce inflammation, and stimulate neuron regeneration. Hypothermia, for example, is a condition in which the body's temperature is reduced to dangerously low levels for 24 to 48 hours. More research is required.

NECK PAIN

What Is Neck Pain?
Neck pain is a pain in or around the spine under your head, known as the cervical spine. Neck aches can intrude with daily activities and decline your quality of life if left untreated.

What Causes Neck Pain?
Your neck is flexible and supports the weight of your head, so it can be vulnerable to injuries and conditions that cause pain and restrict motion. Neck pain causes include:

• Muscle strains. Overuse for too many hours of your computer or smartphone often initiates muscle strains. Even minor things, such as reading in bed or gritting your teeth, can strain neck muscles.
• Worn joints. Just just like the different joints of your body, your neck joints generally tend to wear out with age. Osteoarthritis causes the cushions (cartilage) among your bones (vertebrae) to deteriorate. Your body then forms bone spurs that have an effect on joint movement and purpose pain.
• Nerve compression. Herniated disks or bone triggers in the vertebrae of your neck can press on the nerves branching out from the spinal cord.
• Injuries. Rear-end auto collisions regularly bring about whiplash injury, which takes place when the top is jerked backward after which forward, straining the smooth tissues of the neck.
• Diseases. Certain diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis or cancer, can cause neck pain.

How To Diagnose Neck Pain?

Imaging Test

• X-rays. X-rays can reveal areas in your neck where your nerves or spinal cord might be pinched by bone spurs or other degenerative changes.
• CT scan. CT scans combine X-ray images taken from many different directions to produce detailed cross-sectional views of the internal structures of your neck.
• MRI. MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create detailed images of bones and soft tissues, including the spinal cord and the nerves coming from the spinal cord.

Other Test:

• Electromyography (EMG). If your physician suspects your neck ache is probably associated with a pinched nerve, she or he would possibly recommend an EMG. It involves putting first-rate needles via your pores and skin right into a muscle and performing checks to degree the speed of nerve conduction to determine whether or not precise nerves are functioning properly.
• Blood tests. Blood tests can sometimes provide evidence of inflammatory or infectious conditions that might be causing or contributing to your neck pain.

How is Neck Pain Treated?

Treatment for neck pain may include:

• ice and heat therapy
• exercise, stretching, and physical therapy
• pain medication
• corticosteroid injections
• muscle relaxants
• neck collar
• traction
• antibiotics if you have an infection
• hospital treatment, if a condition such as meningitis or heart attack is the cause
• surgery, which is rarely necessary

Alternative therapies include:

• acupuncture
• chiropractic treatment
• massage
• transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

BACK PAIN

What is Back Pain?
Back pain is a very ordinary problem and will affect many of us at some point during our lives.
The good news is that in most cases it isn’t a severe problem, and it might just be caused by a simple strain to a muscle or ligament.

What causes Back Pain?
Back pain can result from strain, medical condition and poor poster

Strain
Back pain commonly arises from strain, tension, or injury.

• strained muscles or ligaments
• a muscle spasm
• muscle tension
• damaged disks
• injuries, fractures, or falls

Activities that can lead to strains or spasms include:

• lifting something improperly
• lifting something that is too weighty
• making an sharp and awkward movement.

Structural problem
A number of structural problems may also result in back pain.

• Ruptured disks: Each vertebra withinside the backbone is cushioned by disks. If the disk ruptures there can be greater stress on a nerve, ensuing in back pain.
• Bulging disks: In an identical manner to ruptured disks, a bulging disk can bring about extra stress on a nerve.
• Sciatica: A sharp and shooting ache travels via the buttock and down the lower back of the leg, resulting from a bulging or herniated disk pressing on a nerve.
• Arthritis: Osteoarthritis can cause issues with the joints withinside the hips, lower back, and different places. In a few cases, the distance across the spinal cord narrows. This is referred to as spinal stenosis.
• Abnormal curvature of the spine: If the backbone curves in an uncommon way, backache can result. An example is scoliosis, wherein the backbone curves to the side.
• Osteoporosis: Bones, consisting of the vertebrae of the spine, turn out to be brittle and porous, making compression fractures extra likely.
• Kidney problems: Kidney stones or kidney infection can render back pain.

How to Diagnose Back Pain?

• X-ray. These pictures display the alignment of your bones and whether or not you've got arthritis or damaged bones. These photos alone may not display issues together along with your spinal cord, muscles, nerves, or disks.
• MRI or CT scans. These scans generate pictures that could display herniated disks or troubles with bones, muscles, tissue, tendons, nerves, ligaments, and blood vessels.
• Blood tests. These can help determine whether you have an infection or other disorder that might be causing your pain.
• Bone scan. In rare cases, your doctor might utilize a bone scan to examine for bone tumors or compression fractures driven by osteoporosis.
• Nerve studies. Electromyography (EMG) measures the electric impulses produced through the nerves and the responses of your muscles. This check can affirm nerve compression resulting from herniated disks or narrowing of your spinal canal (spinal stenosis).

How is Back Pain Treated?
Medication

• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), consisting of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), can also additionally assist relieve back ache. Take those medicinal drugs handiest as directed by your physician. Overuse can motive critical aspect effects. If OTC pain relievers do not relieve your ache, your physician would possibly recommend prescription NSAIDs.
• Muscle relaxants. If moderate to mild back ache does not enhance with OTC pain relievers, your doctor may also prescribe a muscle relaxant. Muscle relaxants could make you dizzy and sleepy.
• Topical pain relievers. These products furnish pain relieving substances via your skin through creams, salves, ointments or patches.
• Narcotics. Drugs containing opioids, which include oxycodone or hydrocodone, can be used for a brief time with near supervision with the aid of using your doctor. Opioids do not paint nicely for chronic pain, so your prescription will normally provide much less than a week's really well worth of pills.
• Antidepressants. Some types of antidepressants — particularly duloxetine (Cymbalta) and tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline — have been exhibited to relieve chronic back pain independent of their effect on depression.

Surgical and other procedures
Procedures used to treat back pain may include:

• Cortisone injections. If other measures do not relieve your ache, and in case your ache radiates down your leg, your health practitioner can also additionally inject cortisone — a strong anti-inflammatory drug — plus a numbing remedy into the distance round your spinal cord (epidural space). A cortisone injection allows lower infection across the nerve roots, however, the ache comfort normally lasts best a month or two.
• Radiofrequency neurotomy. In this procedure, a great needle is inserted through your pores and skin so the tip is close to the location inflicting your ache. Radio waves are surpassed thru the needle to harm the close by nerves, which interferes with the delivery of ache indicators to the brain.
• Implanted nerve stimulators. Devices implanted under your pores and skin can supply electric impulses to sure nerves to block ache signals.
• Surgery. If you've got unrelenting ache related to radiating leg pain or innovative muscle weak spot because of nerve compression, you would possibly advantage from surgery. These methods are typically reserved for ache associated with structural problems, which includes narrowing of the spine (spinal stenosis) or a herniated disk, that hasn't spoken back to a different therapy.

SPINE COMPRESSION FRACTURE

What Is Spine Compression Fracture?
A compression fracture is described as a fracture that occurs due to compression of the bone in the spine.

What Causes Spine Compression Fracture?
Most compression fractures result from osteoporosis. Bones certainly weaken with age. The vertebrae withinside the backbone grow to be flatter and narrower. Weakened bones are much more likely to fracture.
If you've got mild osteoporosis, you may get a compression fracture from a fall or every other sort of accident. People who've intense osteoporosis can fracture a bone for the duration of each day's activities. These can consist of getting out of a car, sneezing, coughing, or twisting suddenly.

How To Diagnose Compression Fracture?
Symptoms are different for everyone, so let your doctor understand if you’re feeling back pain or other problems.  They may ask questions like:

• How long have you had this back pain?
• What caused it?
• What were you doing when it started?
• Is the ache getting worse or better?

Your physician may also prescribe tests including:

• A spinal X-ray to determine whether a vertebra has collapsed
• A CT scan to provide detail of the fractured bone and the nerves around it
• An MRI scan to show greater detail of nerves and nearby disks

How Is Spinal Compression Fracture Treated?
The majority of fractures heal with ache medication, reduction in activity, medicinal drugs to stabilize bone density, and an awesome lower back brace to reduce movement for the duration of the recovery process. Most people go back to their ordinary activities. Some might also additionally want additional treatment, together with surgery.

Nonsurgical Treatment for Spinal Compression Fractures
Pain from a spinal compression fracture allowed to heal evidently can last up to 3 months. But the ache generally improves considerably in a matter of days or weeks.
Pain control might also additionally consist of analgesic ache medicines, bed rest, again bracing, and bodily activity.
Pain medications. A carefully prescribed "cocktail" of pain medications can relieve bone-on-bone, muscle, and nerve pain medications are often satisfactory in relieving pain.
Activity modification. Bed relaxation may also help with acute pain, however, it is able to additionally lead to further bone loss and aggravating osteoporosis, which increases your danger of destiny compression fractures. Doctors may also propose a brief length of bed relaxation for no a variety of days. However, extended inaction needs to be avoided.
Back bracing. A back brace offers external support to restrict the movement of fractured vertebrae -- similar to applying a cast on a damaged wrist. The inflexible style of a back brace limits spine-associated movement significantly, which might also additionally assist reduce pain.