The spine is a vital part of our body that supports the weight of the head and torso and allows us to stand, walk and carry out our activities. However, due to various reasons such as poor posture, sedentary lifestyle, aging and injuries, many people suffer from problems in this region, which can cause severe pain. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), back pain is so common that it affects about 80% of people at some point in their lives, and may even lead to incapacity for work and other day-to-day tasks.
Advances in medicine, however, already allow treating the most common back problems with a great chance of success, as explained by neurosurgeon Dr. Matthew Thomas. The expert says that, in most cases, severe pain is caused by a small group of health conditions, which can be treated with changes in lifestyle or even surgical procedures.
“We know that most of these problems can be avoided through healthy life habits, such as maintaining proper posture and regular physical activity, avoiding overweight and sleeping in the right position”, he says. “Even so, it is possible to have genetics that favor the appearance of wear on discs and joints.” In these cases, according to the specialist, treatments with minimally invasive procedures can be performed, which leave small cuts and allow a quick return to the daily routine.
The five most common back problems
Disc herniation: is one of the main causes of back pain, according to neurosurgeon Mateus Tomaz. In this condition, the gelatinous contents of one of the discs between the vertebrae shifts, rupturing the “wall” of the disc and sometimes compressing nearby nerves. This can lead to pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness in the affected region, in addition to limiting the individual’s mobility. Among the causes of hernia are genetic propensity, age, injuries, repetitive effort and spinal overload. Treatment may include pain-relieving medication, physical therapy, muscle-strengthening exercises, and, in more severe cases, surgery.
parrot beak: is the popular name for a very common spine problem, known scientifically as osteophytosis or bone spur. The Doctor. Mateus explains that people with this condition have an abnormal growth of bones around the vertebrae, which forms a bulge similar to a parrot’s beak. The causes of this problem include the natural aging of the body, spinal injuries, inadequate posture, weight overload and sedentary lifestyle. The main symptoms are pain, stiffness, difficulty moving and loss of sensitivity in the affected region. Treatment may also include physical therapy and medication, but in more severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove the bony bulge.
facet arthrosis: It is a degenerative disease that affects the facet joints, which are small joints between the vertebrae of the spine. This problem occurs when the cartilage that lines the joints begins to wear down, causing pain and stiffness in the affected area. Facet osteoarthritis can also be caused by the natural aging of the body, injuries, excess weight, poor posture and a sedentary lifestyle. The main symptoms include pain in the back and neck region, stiffness, a feeling of locking and loss of flexibility. Treatment is similar to that of the other problems already mentioned, which includes the possibility of surgery to remove or replace the affected joints in more serious cases.
Disc protrusion: it is a hernia-like condition where the intervertebral disc begins to shift from its normal position, putting pressure on nearby nerves. However, in protrusion, there is no rupture of the “wall” of the disc. Like hernia, disc protrusion can also cause pain, numbness, tingling and muscle weakness in the affected region. The main causes of this problem and its possible treatments are also practically the same as for a herniated disc.
Muscle spasm: occurs when a muscle contracts involuntarily and fails to fully relax, resulting in pain and discomfort. When this happens in the region close to the spine, it can lead to posture and movement problems, affecting the health of the spine. The most common causes of contractures include stress, sedentary lifestyle, repetitive movements, injuries and poor posture. The main symptoms include localized pain, stiffness, muscle spasms and decreased flexibility. Treatment may include physical therapy, medication, and exercise, but surgery or injections may also be required.
The most modern treatments now available
Endoscopic spine surgery: Also known as “video surgery”, it is an innovative and minimally invasive surgical technique that has revolutionized the treatment of spine diseases, especially herniated discs and stenoses (narrowing) of the canal through which the nerves pass. The Doctor. Mateus Tomaz details that the surgery is much faster compared to procedures with larger openings, involving a lower degree of injury to muscle and bone structures in the back region.
Bone marrow aspirate (BMA) spinal block: it is used to treat people who have chronic pain, both in the lumbar and cervical regions, and who continue to experience pain even after treatments with physiotherapy and medication. “In this procedure, we infiltrate the joints and discs with bone marrow aspirate, which is rich in stem cells and helps in cartilage and joint regeneration. If you have had pain for more than 6 weeks, this procedure may help,” explains Dr. Mateus
Column radio frequency: indicated for patients who underwent lumbar blockade and showed improvement for a period, but then returned to report pain. The procedure is much like a blockade. “The difference is that, instead of injecting drugs into the joints, we use specific needles that transmit heat, generating a thermal lesion that destroys the nerve that is transmitting the pain”, explains the doctor. After this procedure, a longer-lasting pain relief response is expected.
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