L
ow back pain can affect us all. Its importance is directly related to its frequency and intensity. Isolated episodes of pain are usually associated with various causes: after unusual physical exertion, for example. If the pain is frequent and its intensity increases, the problem is more serious.
Being overweight, the absence of regulated physical activity and the lack of knowledge about postural hygiene are risk factors for mild low back pain to become a serious health problem.
It should be noted that low back pain can be due to several physical factors: the state of the musculature, the integrity of the vertebrae and fundamentally, the quality of the intervertebral disc.
About the spinal discs
Discs are basically structures made up of liquid. They have two well-defined components: the external part (fibrous ring) and contained by this is the nucleus pulposus, the extrusion of which forms a herniated disc. The discs are pads located between the vertebrae. The discs, the musculature, the ligaments and a part of the vertebrae called the articular processes are key structures to explain the flexibility and movement of our spine in general.
The cause of low back pain in regards to the intervertebral disc stems from dehydration and loss of the nucleus pulposus.
Degenerative disc disease
When obvious dehydration of the disc is diagnosed we go on to name the disease as degenerative disc disease. This pathology can present various degrees of evolution and cause low back pain.
When the patient presents with progressive low back pain, he usually has an inability to carry on a normal life. It is one of the most frequent causes of sick leave, poor physical performance and dependence on pain relievers.
The appropriate diagnosis of this disease can lead us to indicate conservative treatments and potentially surgical treatments that can range from local treatments (infiltrations, facet rhizolysis, nucleoplasties) to surgical treatments, either by immobilizing the affected disc by applying screws and bars, until the total replacement of the disc by a mobile prosthesis.
Lumbar disc arthroplasty consists of removing the diseased disc and replacing it with a mechanical one, without altering the mobility of the spine and preserving the normality of the other discs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Day surgery spinal disc replacement is a minimally invasive procedure where a damaged spinal disc is replaced with an artificial one, typically performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return home the same day as the surgery.
Candidates typically include individuals with specific types of disc degeneration or herniation who have not responded to conservative treatments and meet specific criteria determined by their healthcare provider, such as overall health and the extent of spinal damage.
Recovery involves a period of rest, followed by gradually increasing activity levels as guided by healthcare providers. Patients may undergo physical therapy to regain strength and flexibility, with most able to resume normal activities within a few weeks to months, depending on individual healing and rehabilitation progress.
