How to treate neck and/or back pain?

The causes of neck and/or back pain can be numerous. Since different ailments can be manifested by the same signs, a detailed clinical examination and precise diagnosis by X-ray and/or magnetic resonance imaging are required.

 

Pains that are caused by disc pressure on the nerves in the neck most often manifest as back pain between the shoulder blades, not neck pain.

 

Neck pain caused by are due to injury or damage to the soft tissues (ligaments, muscles) of the neck and the small joints of the cervical spine.

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Except in extremely rare situations that are solved surgically, most complaints will go away after conservative treatment, using painkillers and Physical therapy (ultrasound, laser, decompression, exercises).

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In case of failure of conservative treatment, precise diagnostic and treatment procerures are used so called Minimally Invasive Diagnostic and Therapeutic procedures.

After a possible cause of the pain is found on the magnetic resonance imaging (there may be several of them), in local anesthesia, long thin needles, under the control of the X-ray machine with contrast, are given with short-term local anesthetic in the most likely place that causes pain.

If the pain goes away after administration, we have confirmed the location of the cause of the pain. Through the same needle, a long-acting anti-inflammatory drug, anesthetic or other drug, can be given.

The patient can go home immediately.

The advantage of such drug administration is the precision of the place where the drug acts. By administering drugs in the usual ways, through the mouth, into a vein or into a muscle, the drug circulates throughout the body and reaches the painful site in a lower concentration. At the same time, do not lose sight of the side effects of such drugs.

 

If even with such procedures we have not alleviated the complaints, surgical treatment is approached. In the case of the so-called disc herniation, when the inner part of the disc ( cartilage between two vertebrae) protrudes out of its socket and presses on the spinal cord and/or nerves, it is necessary to remove the disc. With today's advanced technology, it is possible to remove the damaged part of the disc under local anesthesia, using an endoscope and special instruments. The patient goes home the same day.

 

In the case when it is necessary to remove the entire disc, a metal implant (so-called cage) is placed instead, the function of which is to keep the distance between the vertebrae. It is also possible to place a disc endoprosthesis, which, in addition to its supporting function,  then in will retain the ability to move the vertebrae, just like a healthy disc. When the damage affected several discs and associated small joints, and the resulting instability occurred after the operation, it is necessary to fuse the spine with metal implants.

This sacrifices part of the mobility, but painlessness is obtained.