SPINAL ISSUES COULD ALTER THE BRAIN AS WELL

In the first piece of the series, we learnt about the causes of spine problems. In the second piece, we have Dr. Subbaiah Goli, a spine surgeon at Star Hospitals, tell us about the various symptoms of spine issues and how to handle them :

Pain

The most common symptom is the pain. One could have pain in lower back or sometimes it is radiating pain in the nerves. Radiating pain in the nerves happens when there is compression on the nerves coming to the leg (from the lower back) during which one suffers numbness, tingling or burning sensations, or even weakening of muscles and loss of bladder control.

If there is pain in the neck there will be radiating pain in the hands, or there will be a tingling sensation. There could also be difficulty in holding things or even walking. There is weakening of muscles in the presence of this kind of pain.

Poor alignment

Of various functions the spine plays, keeping the head in the center is one. If the spine bends, the head may not be in the center. That is why a lot of patients complain that they feel bent towards one side or bent forward.

Fever

At times, there could also be fever or an unreasonable loss of weight or appetite. That is because there could be an infection or tumour in the spine.

What to do when there are such symptoms

One must never ignore the symptoms. Consult a doctor. If there is back pain that goes down to the leg, get a check up done.

If one is below 18 or above 55 years of age, one must not ignore back pain. In those below 18, there could be infections in the spine. It is quite common. For those above 55, there could be a tumour or even a fracture.

All the symptoms are a red flag which one must not ignore. Some people say that they have had back pain for several years. Do not get into such situations, as in these situations there occurs an adaptive change in the brain such that it is able to control the change. So, it is best to get treatment done as soon as possible.

For Appointment: Dr. G.P.V. Subbaiah, Consultant Spine Surgeon, Star Hospital.