Be the perfect patient? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to health. There are rules that apply to most, such as eat healthy, exercise frequently and take vitamins, but for every rule there is an exception and that exception could be you. For the most part, following doctors orders and committing to a good check-up schedule is a good place to start. This keeps the dialogue with your physician open and frequent appointments can be used to manage a specific illness or medical concern. Follow these steps to being a good patient and listen to your physician’s advice. When you have health concerns, call, and when you’re unsure, ask questions. Never ignore symptoms that don’t go away and always be your own advocate. It’s your job to manage your health. A doctor can help, but not if you don’t approach them honestly about your concerns.
The most common cause of back pain ? There are three common types of nerve root issues that lead to back pain: spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis and osteoarthritis. In all three conditions, the nerve root is affected causing often-severe back pain. In spinal stenosis the pain results from narrowing of the spinal canal near the nerve roots. It can appear in one area, or several areas, of the back. In spondylolisthesis, a vertebrae slips over another vertebrae and creates a painful, unstable back. Spondylolisthesis most commonly occurs with joint issues, typically after a fracture or a degenerative joint disease, or as the result of a defect to the joints. Lastly, osteoarthritis occurs when both discs and joints begin to wear down. This ailment becomes more common as people age and leads to pain, swelling, instability and stenosis in one or several areas of the spine.
Only a small percentage (less than 10%) of patients with adult scoliosis will ever need surgery. However, if surgery is considered necessary, it is typically related to back and leg pain that interferes with activities of daily living. The most common corrective spinal surgery for the treatment of scoliosis is spinal fusion. During this procedure, the spine is fused to bone graft material to hold the spine in a straighter position. Fusion surgery may be incorporated into other procedure. This might include spinal decompression, stabilization, osteotomy or vertebral column resection to correct the deformity. In adults, most cases of scoliosis will never progress once the skeleton has matured. However, there are exceptions. The goal of scoliosis treatment for adults is to reduce any active pain, and restore physical function and balance to the body to prevent any future problems. Discover extra info on https://yuanspine.com/specialties/adult-scoliosis/.
Many complain of low back and buttock pain. While there are several reasons this could occur, sacroiliac joint pain and dysfunction is one cause, and it often requires some level of medical intervention. SI joint pain and dysfunction is an ailment that commonly affects runners and other athletes as well as some people who do not identify as either. The two SI joints are in a person’s pelvis, part of the stable ring structure that also includes the symphysis pubis. Several muscles including the hamstrings, abdominals, hip flexors and gluteal muscles attach to the SI joints. This joint is different from other joints because it only allows for about two degrees of rotation and less than one millimeter of movement backward and forward, but it is a joint nonetheless. The SI joint connects a part of the spine called the sacrum to the pelvis, and as a result it absorbs a lot of stress between these two bones, which can lead to pain, especially if there is an underlying problem.
SI joint dysfunction isn’t always the cause of SI joint pain. Other potential causes of SI joint pain include sacral stress fracture, lumbar disk herniation, piriformis syndrome (a rare diagnosis that involves irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve) and ankylosing spondylitis (chronic, dull pain felt in the back, hip, and butt that often results in morning stiffness but subsides with exercise). If SI joint dysfunction is the cause of pain, an individualized treatment plan will be developed that includes both rest as well as modified activity. The goal is to rehabilitate the affected muscles by targeting the underlying cause of dysfunction and pain. In some cases, runners can change their approach to running to reduce or eliminate pain. A biomechanical evaluation of the runner can be done to assess whether or not this is the problem. Sometimes improper training, weak muscles or imbalanced muscles can be to blame. Overtraining can also be to blame. Manual therapy performed by a sports osteopath, chiropractor, physical therapist or athletic trainer is sometimes recommended as part of a doctor-prescribed therapy protocol.
Dr. Yuan treats a range of spinal disorders in patients of all ages including herniated discs and stenosis in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Dr. Yuan never recommends surgery first and is a thought leader in managing degenerative spinal stenosis. Dr. Yuan is a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon and fellowship trained spinal surgeon. He specializes in the treatment of all spinal disorders including issues with the neck and back. He treats conditions that affect the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine utilizing both surgical and non-surgical interventions. Dr. Yuan emphasizes non-surgical treatment first and only recommends surgical procedures when absolutely necessary to better a patient’s quality of life. Read additional details at Lumbago.