Back Pain

Although some instances of back pain may be mild and may resolve with conservative treatment, some problems associated with back pain and spinal injuries can snowball into something huge and dangerous if left untreated. These complications can include:

• Changes in bladder control, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and bladder stones.
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Changes in bowel control
• Muscle atrophy, weakness, and visible loss of muscle.
• Numbness and loss of sensations in the arms or legs that may contribute towards pressure injuries.
• Abnormal circulatory control may cause swelling in hands and feet, low blood pressure, and blood clotting.
• Respiratory complications include an increased risk of pneumonia, lung problems, and difficulty breathing.
• Increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
• Numbness in the groin that may lead to an impacted sexual health.
• Increased risk of depression and other mental health issues.
• Muscle tone issues.

When you visit a back pain doctors, he/she will ask you questions about your pain and other symptoms. The doctor will perform a thorough physical exam to check your spine and posture for abnormalities. The doctor may also ask you to bend your back or lift your legs to see if the changing positions affect your pain. He may test your muscle strength, reflexes, and sensation to further determine the extent of the problem. The doctor will also inquire about any of your previous imaging tests, any medications or regimens you are on, and any relevant history.
The doctor may then order some imaging tests that can help him diagnose your condition, after which he will plan an orthopaedic treatment for back pain that may include conservative or surgical options.

To diagnose issues effectively, an orthopaedic specialist may carry out the following tests:

Medical History and Physical Exam

The doctor will ask many different medical questions related to your symptoms and duration to determine the cause of your back pain. They will also perform a physical exam and may ask you to walk on your heels or toes or bend your legs and knees while lying flat on your back. He may carry out other physical tests to determine the source of the pain.

Blood Tests

The doctor may order blood tests that can help identify certain cause of lower back pain, including inflammatory conditions.

Imaging Tests

For some patients, the doctor may need additional imaging tests to diagnose the source of back pain. These tests include:

• X-rays: X-rays are used to see your body's bones. Therefore, if the doctor suspects problems related to the bones, such as fractures, degeneration due to old age, or changes in the spine's alignment, he will order an X-ray. 
• MRIs: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a sophisticated test that uses a strong magnet to create a series of images to produce an image of the spine. MRIs are used to visualise soft tissues such as discs, ligaments, tendons, and nerve roots around the spine for diagnosing back pain.
• CT Scans: A CT scan or CAT scan uses a scanner to produce images of the back from different angles to create a three-dimensional view of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues. 

Nerve Tests

If the doctor suspects nerve root damage, he may order an electromyogram or EMG test in which tiny needles are placed into the muscles and electrical activity is monitored. The results allow the doctor to determine the extent of nerve damage and whether the pain is associated with a muscle or nerve root disease.

Endoscopic spine surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that effectively treats many conditions associated with severe back pain, including disc herniations, spinal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, and other diseases related to the lumbar, cervical, and thoracic regions of the spine. Endoscopic spine surgery is generally considered safe; however, as with any further surgery, there are a few risks involved, such as bleeding, infection, and nerve damage. However, this type of surgery has a good success rate of 90% and above and is considered safer compared to traditional open spine surgery.

If you suffer from pain, numbness, or other neurological problems associated with a spine condition, you may be a candidate for endoscopic spine surgery. This surgery is also effective in repairing a spine deformity, increasing spine stability, decompressing nerve roots, and treating disc herniations. However, some conditions, such as infections or malignancies, may be too advanced to be treated by endoscopic surgery. In such cases, a standard open spine surgery will be required.
Endoscopic spine surgery is commonly used to treat herniated discs, degenerative disc diseases, spinal stenosis, and other spine conditions. The most common endoscopic spine surgeries include Microdiscectomy and Deuk Laser Disk Repair.