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Old male presented to  me with severe lumbar stenosis. I performed spine decompression on   him and made him walk the next day. A well contemplated spine surgery performed in time can save potential irreversible complications in future.

Dr. Nikhil Jain (FNB Spine Surgery, MS Orthopedics) Best Spine Surgeon @Satyak Healthcare Clinic : Complete spine, mind and body healthcare

Hello friends

In this article I will talk about how lifting heavy weights affects the spine and how it can lead to injury. The muscles which play a chief role in lifting weights from the ground are spine extensors. The spine extensors are designed to bring the spine to neutral and extension from a flexed position.  Because these muscles are oriented vertically, they produce axial loads. This axial load is a compressive force which if very high can injure the vertebrae, discs and joints.  These forces are highest when lifting weights from the ground.

When we lift weight from the ground our spine in combination with pelvis acts like a class 1 lever. The junction of spine and pelvis forms a pivot around which the spine rotates with the help of extensor muscles. These muscles lie behind the pivot joint while the weight lies in its front. In order to lift the lift the weight the torque generated by extensor muscles should exceed the torque generated by weight at the pivot. The torque that can be generated by spine extensor has a top limit because of their natural properties and their fixed attachments. The torque generated by the object on ground is the product of the weight of the object and its distance from the pivot. When these values are in physiological limits the weight can lifted without harm. But in cases where excess amounts of forces are generated there are two possibilities:

1. The person realises his mistake and avoids the effort
2. The person continues to lift the weight and injures his spine

In an average healthy person, spine muscles and ligaments are the weakest structures. Under these conditions they fail to lift the weight and instead of contracting, they get lengthened which then manifests as pain and soreness in the back over next 24-48 hours and which can stay up to a week or even more depending on the severity of the injury.

In other cases where spine is weak and chronically ill, vertebrae or the disc may fail earlier which is a very painful condition.

So how can you prevent it?  

1. Avoid lifting very heavy weights, if necessary use other person’s help or use some tools/ machines
2. When lifting heavy weights, stand close to them and bend your knees to lift it.
3. Do training exercises: specific exercises can reduce the chances of injury, however they cannot be completely prevent it.     

Thank you

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#SPINECARE

Dr Nikhil Jain

FNB Spine Surgery, MS Orthopaedics

Consultant Spine Surgeon

Hello friends
In this article I will talk about the mechanics of spine and back pain. The spine is composed of vertebrae which is bone, discs which are a gel like material, ligaments, muscles and joints formed between them. All these structures function in unison to transmit forces, carry loads and protect the nervous system. All these structures have fine nerves and are pain sensitive. Therefore injury to any of these structures can lead to inflammation and back pain.
The human spine can be compared to the mast of a sailing vessel which holds the sail high and helps in moving the ship. Winds blow in all directions and pushes onto the sails. The ship masts are made of strong materials like steel and aluminium and are supported by Guy wires which are strong steel cables to add to their stability. If the masts are not strong, the force created by winds on the sails will break it and the ship won’t sail ahead. Therefore they are inspected regularly and are replaced if found withered. Human spine is also like a mast made of bones and flesh which is supported by guy wires made of muscles and ligaments. With time all the things in this world wear down and we humans are no different. Age leads to wear and tear in our spines and makes it weak. As humans perform daily routine activities a lot of forces act on our spine and breaks it down. When any of the components of spine gets injured it, manifests as back pain. Neglecting a chronic pain is not advisable because in the end too much wear and tear and too many forces can cause the spine to fail.
Definitely humans cannot replace the spine, yet, but by keeping the muscles strong and healthy the spine can be protected to serve us longer. This can be done by making a few personal rules. Rules are good not only for a society but also for individuals. The rules which you need to follow to keep your spine healthy are as follows:

1. Stay slim, avoid overeating and try not to become overweight
2. Do regular exercise, for both body and spine.
3. Follow good posture etiquettes.
4. Avoid lifting heavy weights. If necessary, use the help of others or use tools and machines.
5. Eat a healthy and nutritious diet to provide energy, essential nutrients and minerals to your body.
   Thank you
   Please like/ subscribe my YouTube channel for videos to stay updated about #SPINECARE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6EYShLeFHnNwbHZVkFoGgg?view_as=subscriber
   You can also visit me on Facebook @satyakhealthcareclinic: https://www.facebook.com/satyakhealthcareclinic/
   And on twitter @spinesurgeonNJ: https://twitter.com/spinesurgeonNJ

#SPINECARE

Dr Nikhil Jain
FNB Spine Surgery, MS Orthopaedics
Consultant Spine Surgeon

SPECIALIST IN:
•Disc prolapse : back pain radiating to legs or arms
•Spondylolisthesis: back pain due to slipping of vertebrae
•Spinal stenosis: difficulty walking with heaviness in legs
•Fractures of spine: due to fall, road traffic accidents, slipping on floor or  osteoporosis
•Spinal compression with walking imbalance, difficulty in passing urine, weakness of hand grip, clumsy hand, difficulty in doing fine activity with hands and fingers
•Curved spine: in children and adults (scoliosis)
•Hunchback/ rounded back (kyphosis)
•Infections of spine: back pain with fever
•Tumours in spine: back pain with weight loss
•Head neck junction disorders

A Blog by Dr. Nikhil Jain (Spine Surgeon)

Disc herniation can present as simple back pain, gluteal pain or pain in the legs associated with back pain. These patients most of the time give the history of “on and off” back pain which has now aggravated in intensity and is not responding to medications.  An acute large disc herniation can also present as back pain associated with numbness in the legs and perineal area along with difficulty passing urine or constipation. Such cases are emergency and need to be evaluated urgently to prevent further damage. Below are the common causes of disc herniation.

Causes:

1. Men between 30-40  years of age  
2. Obesity  
3. Diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia
4. Smokers
5. Driving for long hours, physically demanding work, manual labor, and prolonged sitting
6. Genetic predisposition
7. Acute trauma

Treatment:

Depending on the patient presentation and location of disc herniation the disc prolapse can be managed

1. Conservatively: without surgery
2. SNRB: blocks for pain relief only
3. Epidural blocks: pain relief only
4. Surgery

Though many patients fear surgery, it is the most promising procedure when indicated. I have performed it in many patients and it has a > 95% success rate in patient relief.  

Neurological deficits once if occurred cannot be reversed. The best we can do is prevention and timely intervention. Henceforth, it is important to consult a specialist whenever in doubt.

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