Frequently Asked Questions

Managing your back pain is all about taking timely action. See a trained physician about your condition if pain persists for more than a week of home treatment and rest. Depending upon their assessment of your condition, a physician may advise you one or more of the following: Physical therapy including exercises and other treatments like heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation to ease the pain and strengthen the back Anti-inflammatory or pain medication Epidural spinal injections to manage the pain supporting other treatment modalities Lifestyle modification.

Pain that just doesn’t go away can be frustrating and agonizing. If you have been suffering from unresolved back pain despite medication, physiotherapy, and other pain-relieving treatment, please be assured that you are not alone. Chronic back pain is more common than you would imagine. In fact, it has been noted that as many as 60% Indians cope with significant back pain, some or the other time in their lives. The most common cause of chronic back pain is age related degeneration of the spinal discs. Though aging is a natural process, in some individuals it may lead to unmanageable and incessant pain. The pain may or may not be accompanied by numbness, weakness and stiffness. Another common cause of severe back pain is stress or sports injury. For example, sudden surge in activity or lifting heavy loads can sometimes lead to spinal complications beyond a simple muscle spasm. In most cases, root cause of pain and weakness is some pressure or impingement on highly sensitive structures like spinal cord or nerves, due to: excess bony growth (osteophytes) damage to the disc leading to displacement of the inner core (herniated disc) drying up of the discs leading to reduction in the opening between two adjacent vertebrae dislocation of the spinal joints (spondylolisthesis) fractures due to osteoporosis.

A healthy back is a combination of healthy bones, mobile joints, and strong muscles. Unfortunately, a complex system like our back or spine is prone to issues arising from one or more malfunctioning elements. Any disturbance to the spine and it’s supporting structures due to aging, trauma, lifestyle stresses or other pathologies can lead to spinal complications, most commonly appearing as back or neck pain. Maintaining a healthy spine is almost non-negotiable to ensure a healthy, pain-free and active life. Simple activities such as maintaining healthy posture, regular exercise, good nutrition and regular exposure to the sun, go a long way in maintaining a healthy spine.

Our spine is nature’s extraordinary miracle. Several complex structures come together to provide the human body with a fine balance of protection, support, strength and movement. A healthy spine is not just the bony segments but a combination of several ‘supporting structures’ - protective discs, strong muscles and attached ligaments and tendons. The 24 bony segments or vertebral bodies or vertebrae in the spine are interspersed with a tough, yet soft gel-like cushion or shock-absorber, called intervertebral disc. The muscles surrounding the spine or ‘para-spinal muscles’ are attached to the bones through ligaments. Together these structures, called the ‘natural tension band’ provide mobility, strength and protection to the back. The core of our spine’s movement, structure and flexibility comes from complex biomechanics of the bony vertebrae and supporting structures. Often compared to a ‘crane’, it is said that for the spine to be stable, all elements must be intact and function in unison.

Intralaminar technique - performed from the back of the spine between two laminae Transforaminal technique - performed from the / side of the spine (flank) into the neuroforamen(exit  passage for the nerve ).

Target oriented surgery - less trauma muscle and soft tissue Minimal bone removal - Spinal stability is preserved Less blood loss Lesser infection rates Reduced requirement of post - operative analgesia Through this the patients are mobilised and can be discharge the same day with proper post-operative instructions. ESS procedure can be performed using regional or local anaesthesia instead of general anaesthesia, decreasing the risk of general anaesthesia in elderly patients or patients with co-existing medical conditions.

Disc prolapse (slipped disc) Spinal Canal Stenosis (Cervical and lumbar – narrowing of spinal canal) Refractory back pain Spinal infection – for biopsy and debridement.

Endoscopic Spine Surgery (ESS) is a procedure performed through small incision with help of tubular system assisted with endoscope to visualize the surgical field. ESS is an advanced form of Minimal Invasive Surgery aimed at providing lesser recovery time, early return to work and less post-operative pain than traditional spine surgery methods with improved visualisation. This procedure is performed with a fibre optic tube with light and lens. Through this the muscles are not cut but are pushed aside to permit small tube to enter the spine and a very small high-definition camera is used to see the spine anatomy.

Consultation with our doctors at Aster. If Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a treatment option for you, extended examinations are conducted Once it has been established that there are no contraindications, and you have provided consent, we can proceed to the admission for the surgery. Pre—operative management of medication and preparation are conducted. Surgery is performed, and patients are usually kept awake with light sedation, to better test brain functions, effects and side effects. Patients are then introduced to the Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) neurostimulator, it‘s programming, and functional testing Transfer to a rehabilitation clinic, if required. Regular aftercare for outpatients (at least once a year) and follow-up care for inpatients, if needed.

A lot of research has gone into finding the a suitable patient for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). Preliminary screening can be done by answering following four questions to see if Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) therapy may be useful for you. Are your medicines not able to control your symptoms completely throughout the day – Yes/No Is troubling dyskinesias (involuntary excessive movements) becoming a problem for you? – Yes/No Has your frequency and dosage of DA drugs increased in the last few months? – Yes/No Are drug combinations causing side effects such as: sleepiness, nausea, hallucinations, confusion/other thinking problems, lightheadedness upon standing, behavioral/personality changes? – Yes/No "Yes" to some of the questions above provides you a guidance and you should further ask your doctor if Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy is right for you. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) might be able to help you."Yes" to some of the questions above provides you a guidance and you should further ask your doctor if Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy is right for you. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) might be able to help you.