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Back Pain

Home ⇒ Condition ⇒ Back Pain

  • Acute back pain is common. 80% of people experience back pain during their lifetime and a s many as 50% of the population will have an episode of back pain in any one year

Acute low back pain is defined as pain in the back, anywhere between the lower ribs and thebuttock crease.

A common cause of back pain is aninjury like a pulled muscle (strain).Sometimes, medical conditions like a slipped disc, sciatica(a trapped nerve)can cause backpain.

Very rarely, back pain can be a sign of a serious problem such as a broken bone, cancer oran infection.

A common concern is a severe acute episode. Some people have ‘spasms’or an acute locking,getting ‘stuck’ in one position. Don’t worry if this happens, the back muscles always ‘unlock’.

Occasionally the pain isn’t relieved and stronger pain killers that contain codeine for instancecan be used for a short time. Stronger painkillers than these need to be prescribed by yourdoctor.Most episodes of acute back pain get better. Once the painis starting to improve it isimportant to get back to normal activity as soon as possible.

  • Epidural Injection for Back Pain
“Epidural” refers to the space surrounding the outer protective covering of the spinal cord. For some people, an injection into the epidural space can help to relieve back pain or sciatic pain (shooting pain from the back down one or both legs) at least in the short term.

An epidural injection for back pain consists of a steroid, a local anaesthetic or a combination of the two. These drugs are put into the epidural space using a special needle. The position of the injection depends on the spinal nerve responsible for the pa in.

This is usually in the lumbar region of the back (below the level of your lowest rib). If the first injection successfully relieves your symptoms, up to three injections to the same area of the back may be given over a six month period. An epidural i njection is routinely performed as a day case, so in most cases, does not require an overnight stay in hospital.

Occasionally the pain isn’t relieved and stronger pain killers that contain codeine for instancecan be used for a short time. Stronger painkillers than these need to be prescribed by yourdoctor.Most episodes of acute back pain get better. Once the painis starting to improve it isimportant to get back to normal activity as soon as possible.

  • Laser Disc Surgery
This is a novel percutaneous technique for managing a disc herniation. We use the most advanced laser technology availabl e and perform this treatment regularly in the lower back .
  • Uses
We use this technique selectively to treat a painful bulging or herniated disc in the lower back.
  • Benefits
Laser disc surgery has about a 7 0% chance of being successful. That is to say 7 out o f 10 patients are completely better. The main advantages of laser disc surgery are that the procedure avoids some of the risks of open surgery and recovery can be faster.
  • Risks
Laser disc surgery has a very low risk of complications .
  • Lumbar Microdiscectomy
Microdiscectomy is one of the most routinely performed operations and lends itself to keyhole surgery.

The aim of the procedure is to remove the loose fragment/s of disc which are pinching the nerve root and causing leg pain (sciatica). We preserve the remaining healthy intact disc because this is a useful cushion or shock absorber in your back.