Spine Center – People experience various types of health issues that may be serious or not. Issues can get worse if people ignore the symptoms. Many people experience pain in the lower back and the neck. Sometimes it may not be related to any serious issues, but you may have to consult a spine specialist if the pains get worse and if it is accompanied by other symptoms. These specialists include chiropractors, physical therapists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, anesthesiologists, and others that are trained in this field.
To know which type of specialist you need help from in a spine center, you must know about the severity, nature, and duration of the symptoms experienced.
Seeing a specialist
Though 80% of the population in the United States alone experience back and neck pains and seek help from a specialist, many are still not aware of the spine-related issues. For some people, back pain is something that they experience once, or occasionally.
For others, it may be something they experience episodically over their lifetime. Scientists and doctors expect more people to face such issues as time goes by, especially as they age. Most people experience more severe symptoms as they grow older. In some instances, the people experience numbness, weakness, and tingling along with the pain. In such cases, the wisest thing to do is see a doctor.
The surgeons have been trained and specialized in certain fields to help the patients. There are many spine-related issues like osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, and more, which can be identified by only a professional. Besides age, other factors may lead to spinal injuries or other issues. Some of these include тАУ trauma, tumors, fracture, deformity, or other abnormalities.
Preparation
Meeting a doctor may be something that creates anxiety for many. If you are one of these types of people, here are some things that doctors usually ask their patients.
- When did you begin experiencing the symptoms?
- Did the pain spread to other parts of the body like the arms or legs?
- Did you begin to experience the pain suddenly, or was it a gradual process?
- Was there any particular event or trauma, like an accident, that occurred before you began to experience the pain?
- Do the symptoms affect your daily life and activities, like walking or driving? If so, how?
Before the physical examination, the doctor or nurses usually ask for some other information like the medical history of your family, any allergies you have, history of previous surgeries, medications that you are currently taking, and other related questions.
The patient may have to indicate on a diagram of a body where they are experiencing pain. They may also have to tell the doctor about the severity of the pain experienced and other sensations like numbness. They usually also note down the patientтАЩs height and weight, and their pulse and blood pressure.
The examination
The type of examination usually depends on the conclusion the doctor reaches after they ask the patient the questions given above. However, in most cases, the examination in the spine institute is in two stages тАУ physical and neurological.
During the physical examination, the specialist feels the area of the spine where you have said that you experience pain to find any spasms or tenderness, in a process called palpation. They also check whether the length of both sides of the patient is of equal height.
The doctor will ask them to move their head and shoulders in motions such as тАУ turning their heads from one side to another in different directions, twisting the shoulders, bending forwards and backward, and more. They do this to evaluate the spinal motion range of the patient. They measure the length of each leg and also raise them individually to see whether they are straight.
The extent of the neurological exam mostly depends on the results of the physical exam. Usually, they follow the following steps:
- The patient will have to walk around the room in different ways тАУ on tip-toe, for example, so that the doctor can examine your balance, posture, and other factors.
- You may have to stand with your legs together, without arm support. You may have to repeat this with your eyes open and closed.
- The resistance of the patient can be checked to evaluate the strength of the patientsтАЩ muscles, extension, and more.
- The patientsтАЩ perception of certain sensations will be tested in different ways. The sensation on their legs and their perception of vibrations will be tested. Their reflexes are also tested similarly.
- The patientтАЩs eye movement and how they follow movement is also checked.
Before going to a spine center, you can prepare yourself for the questions the doctor may ask you. Think about and list the symptoms and family history.
If possible, take a copy of your previous tests and x-rays with you. List out your doubts and queries so that you do not forget to ask any. Also, try to go with somebody else so that they can help you through the process and so that they also listen to what the doctor says.
