Backache and Joint Pain
Back pain and joint discomfort are common issues affecting millions worldwide. Approximately 8 out of 10 individuals will experience back pain at least once in their lifetime. The causes vary, ranging from routine activities to traumatic incidents like sports injuries or even conditions like arthritis. Acute back pain can range from feeling like a simple muscle ache to a sharp, stabbing pain that makes it hard to move. Chronic back pain lasts around 3 months or more.
Most people get better with treatment. Firstly, patients should start with basic treatments like losing weight, taking medicine, and doing physiotherapy exercises. If those don’t work, then you might try other treatments like minimally invasive Ozonucleolysis.
Slipped Disc
Your spine has 24 bones called vertebrae in different sections: cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. Soft disks filled with a jelly-like substance sit between these bones. They help keep your spine stable and absorb shock. When one of these disks slips out of place or breaks, it’s called a herniated disk. If it presses on a nerve, it can cause back pain, arm pain, or something called sciatica.
Symptoms of a Slipped Disc or Back Pain
The signs of a slipped disc or back pain can vary:
- You might feel a dull ache in your lower back after doing something new or different.
- The pain can start slowly and gradually become worse over time.
- After a few hours, the pain might get so bad that it’s hard to move around easily.
- Sometimes, the pain can suddenly become very severe without any warning.
- This severe pain might feel like being stabbed with a knife, according to some people.
- Serious pain can make it tough to do your regular activities.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is a big nerve that goes from your lower back down each leg. It controls some leg muscles and sends feelings to your thigh, lower leg, and foot. Sciatica is when you feel pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling, starting from your lower back and going all the way down to your toes. Usually, it only affects one side of your body.
Symptoms of Sciatica
The symptoms below indicate that the damaged disc is pressing on a sciatic nerve. These nerves run from the base of your back through your buttocks and down the back of each leg to your feet.
- It often starts with pain in the lower back.
- You’ll usually experience pain in your buttocks, thighs, legs, and feet.
- You might feel weakness in the leg or foot affected by the pain.
- Some people experience numbness or tingling sensations in the leg or foot.
- Sciatica can occur simultaneously with back pain or develop later. The pain might shift from your lower back to your leg.
- The pain and discomfort can make it hard to move, sit, or stand comfortably.
- Lifting the affected leg while lying down is also painful, which doctors may use as a diagnostic test for sciatica.
- Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body.
Other Conditions That Might Cause Back Pain
The below conditions can all contribute to backache and may require specific treatments for relief.
- Arthritis: Arthritis is inflammation of the joints, which can cause pain and swelling. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent damage. There are different types of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis caused by aging or repetitive injuries, and rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks the body’s joints.
- Failed back syndrome: This happens when someone continues to have back or leg pain after having back surgery. It could be because of leftover disk herniation, scar tissue from surgery, or pressure on a spinal nerve.
- Spondylitis and ankylosing spondylitis: These are conditions where the vertebrae in the spine become inflamed. It could be due to genetic factors, infections, or other reasons.
- Frozen shoulder: This is a condition where the shoulder becomes stiff with limited mobility and high pain levels. It can occur in people with diabetes or due to other reasons.
- Knee pain: Pain in the knee can also cause discomfort in the back. Injuries to ligaments, menisci, or tendons in the knee, as well as conditions like tendinitis, can lead to backache.
- Tennis or golfer’s elbow: These conditions, which cause pain around the elbow, are not only associated with playing tennis or golf but can also occur due to other activities like excessive computer use or even injuries.
- Sports injuries: These include various injuries like sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, tendon injuries, and muscle pain, which can all lead to backache.
Minimally Invasive Ozone Therapy for Herniated Disks
Minimally Invasive Ozone Therapy for Herniated Disks is a procedure aimed at lessening pain and promoting healing in individuals with herniated disks in the spine. This innovative therapy involves the targeted injection of an oxygen-ozone mixture into the affected area, offering a non-surgical alternative to traditional treatments.
Additionally, the oxygen-ozone mixture promotes tissue regeneration and healing within the damaged disk. By stimulating the production of fibrous tissue and new blood vessels, the therapy encourages the repair of the herniated disk, leading to long-term relief from symptoms.
Overall, minimally invasive ozone therapy for herniated disks offers a safe, effective, and minimally disruptive treatment option for individuals suffering from back pain due to disk herniation. By targeting the underlying cause of the pain and promoting natural healing processes, this innovative therapy improves the quality of life for those affected by this condition.
Oxygen-Ozone Therapy: A Highly Effective Minimally Invasive Treatment
The actions of ozone in oxygen-ozone therapy:
- Ozone helps to shrink the size of the herniated disk, which can reduce pressure on nearby nerves and tissues, easing pain.
- Ozone therapy can enhance blood flow to the affected area, promote healing, and reduce inflammation.
- Ozone has analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, which can help relieve discomfort associated with nerve compression and inflammation.
- Ozone therapy can reduce inflammation in the affected area, further contributing to pain relief and improved mobility.
- Ozone may help regulate the immune system’s response, potentially enhancing the body’s ability to heal damaged tissues.
- Ozone therapy stimulates the production of fibrous tissue and new blood vessels, promoting the repair and regeneration of the herniated disk.
By increasing oxygen delivery to the tissues, ozone therapy supports cellular metabolism and function, aiding in the healing process.
What Are the Indications of Oxygen-Ozone Therapy?
- If you have clinical signs of lumbar disk nerve root compression, such as pain, weakness, or numbness in the legs or feet.
- If imaging tests like CT scans or MRIs show evidence of a contained herniated disk in your spine.
- If you are experiencing chronic joint pain and swelling, particularly when conservative treatments have been ineffective.
What Is the Procedure for Oxygen-Ozone Therapy?
The procedure for oxygen-ozone therapy involves targeted injections of an oxygen-ozone mixture into the affected area of the spine. First, the patient is positioned appropriately, often lying on their stomach or side to access the affected area of the spine.
Using imaging guidance, such as fluoroscopy or ultrasound, a thin needle is inserted into the precise location of the herniated disk or area of pain. Then, a small amount of the oxygen-ozone mixture is injected directly into the herniated disk or surrounding tissues.
The oxygen-ozone therapy works to reduce the volume of the herniated disk, relieve pressure on nerves, promote tissue regeneration, and reduce inflammation. The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis, and patients may experience relief from symptoms shortly after treatment. Patients usually undergo follow-up examinations to assess the clinical outcome and ensure optimal recovery.
What Are the Selection Criteria for Oxygen-Ozone Therapy?
- Chronic back pain lasting at least three months despite conservative treatments.
- Presence of neurological symptoms like numbness, weakness, or tingling, indicating nerve involvement.
- Symptoms suggesting nerve root compression.
- Imaging studies showing disk herniation along with clinical symptoms.
- Patients with previous surgical micro diskectomy with recurrent herniation.
What Are the Exclusion Criteria for Oxygen-Ozone Therapy?
- The presence of free fragments of herniated disk material in imaging studies.
- Major neurological deficits associated with disk disease, indicating a higher risk.
- Neurological symptoms not correlating with the affected disk level or location.
- Patients with uncontrolled medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, may be excluded due to increased risks.
- History of allergic reactions to ozone or related substances.
Non-Surgical Minimally Invasive Interventional Procedure
Interventional radiologists specialize in performing non-surgical, minimally invasive procedures for various medical conditions, including back pain. These procedures, guided by advanced imaging techniques such as X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), offer precise localization of the affected area without the need for open surgery. By utilizing flexible catheters inserted through the skin or blood vessels, interventional radiologists deliver targeted treatments to lessen pain and promote healing. It is important for patients to discuss the pros and cons of different techniques thoroughly with their primary physician and interventional radiologist to make informed decisions about their care.
What are the Benefits of Minimally Invasive Interventions?
- It carries lower risks compared to traditional surgery, minimizing potential complications.
- These interventions are often more affordable than traditional surgery, making them a cost-effective option for patients.
- Unlike traditional surgery, minimally invasive procedures leave no visible surgical scars on the skin, improving cosmetic outcomes.
- It enables precise localization of the disease or affected area, ensuring accurate treatment with minimal damage to surrounding tissues.
- Procedures are typically performed under local anesthesia, reducing the need for general anesthesia and associated risks.
- Many minimally invasive interventions are performed on an outpatient basis or require only a short hospital stay, minimizing disruption to daily life.
- Patients can often resume normal activities within a day or two after the procedure, leading to faster recovery and less downtime.
- Minimally invasive interventions can provide fast relief from pain and suffering, particularly for conditions like cancer, improving patients’ quality of life.
- These procedures have been proven safe, providing reassurance to individuals considering treatment.
Exploring Non-Surgical Back Pain Treatment in India
Back pain has become a common complaint that significantly impacts daily life and mobility. With advancements in medical technology and the advent of minimally invasive treatments, individuals suffering from back pain can now access effective therapies without the need for surgery.
For the best non-surgical treatment of back pain, patients should consider visiting India. India offers advanced back pain treatment options at affordable prices. The back pain treatment cost in India is significantly lower compared to many other countries, making it a cost-effective choice for patients seeking quality care.
With a reputation for excellence in medical tourism, India boasts state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled healthcare professionals specializing in non-surgical interventions for back pain. Patients can expect to receive personalized care and access to cutting-edge treatments, ensuring optimal outcomes. By choosing back pain treatment in India, patients can benefit from world-class healthcare at a fraction of the cost.