Spanish
Back pain is one of the most common ailments that affects people's quality of life. From an acute and intense event to a chronic discomfort, its causes can be varied and its effects disabling.
This pathology does not have to be a sentence. There are comprehensive solutions to alleviate and prevent this discomfort, through specialized services and professionals entirely dedicated to the health of the spine.
Doctor Radovan Sancevic, neurosurgeon and specialist in minimally invasive surgery at the Santa Paula Medical Group (GMSP), explains that the most frequent cause of back pain is a condition known as acute back pain.
“It's the classic event that the patient tells you: 'Doctor, I bent over or moved and I got an intense, sharp, immediate pain, but so intense that I can't move',” explains the specialist. This pain, although dramatic, is usually short-lived and is caused by a fissure in the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc. However, he mentions that appropriate medical treatment can relieve the pain in a few days.
However, when solving the pain warrants surgery, GMSP has advanced equipment, such as the C-Arm, an X-ray technology that allows surgeons to operate with a real-time fluoroscopic guide, which significantly reduces the margin of error. Dr. Sancevic highlights that around 90% of people with this ailment improve with conventional medical treatment, without the need for surgery.
Prevention and practical exercises
Beyond treatments, prevention is fundamental to maintaining a healthy back. The specialist highlights the importance of patients understanding their own pathology. To this end, he recommends visiting his YouTube channel, where he shares informative videos that educate people about their ailments.
For everyday life, there are simple exercises that can help prevent and relieve back pain:
- Cat-cow stretch: On all fours, arch your back upwards (like a cat) and then let it drop (like a cow). This helps mobilize the spine.
- Knee-to-chest hug: Lie on your back and hug one or both knees towards your chest. Hold the position to stretch the lower back.
- Pelvic tilt: Lie on your back with your knees bent. Press your lower back against the floor and contract your abdominal muscles.
