Leg Pain can occur from Back Problems!

Leg Pain can come from Back problems that may start as

back pain and then spread to the legs. This is also called
Sciatica or psuedo claudiation leg pain.

Back Pain used to be seen mainly in those who worked
 in physically demanding jobs like builders, bricklayers,
 plantation workers, heavy industry workers , construction
 workers and miners. However, nowdays Dr Prem Pillay 
 has noticed that there are more executives who come

 to him for back pain. He has identified prolonged sitting,
 a poor posture, overuse of computers , frequent business
 travel and a unhealthy  executive lifestyle as major reasons
 for this problem. When you sit too long, he explains, there
 is increased pressure in the spine discs. The spine is not
 one bone but about 33 bones with a soft gel like substance
 called the disc in between. The disc allows flexibility and

 movement in the spine.  An Executive Lifestyle with 
computer work and  a lack of movement can cause the
 spine discs to break down and come  out or slip out.
 These slipped discs can pressure on the nerves  and cause
 back pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling, and as the problem 

 gets worse even weakness in the legs. The worse case
 scenario is becoming unable to walk, unable to pass urine
 or pass motion. This  can happen gradually or in some people
 it can happen suddenly even  from a small accident or injury 
once the pressure on the spine nerves is already present.

People who have back pain and leg pain often go for 
massages or manupilation  to therapists and chiropractors.
If the pain does not get  better  after three visits to the 
therapist , or gets worse after the first visit, or comes back
after the therapy  , its best that you see a real spine specialist.
Dr Prem Pillay does warn that massage therapy or 
physical therapy done in the wrong way by unqualified people
can  make the problem worse.  A proper spine and nerve 
examination followed  by an MRI of the spine can reveal
and confirm the problem. X rays alone cannot show the
nerves or pressure on the nerves from  a slipped disc.

In some older people, the back pain with leg pain is 
caused by spine stenosis. This is a narrowing in the spine 
canal which squeezes the spine  nerves. A common story
that Dr Prem hears is that the person cannot  walk far
without the legs feeling uncomfortable. He or she has 
to stop  and rest first before walking further. This is called
spinal claudication pain  or psuedo-claudication leg pain.

Back pain and leg pain can often be treated without
 surgery. The proper  medications and  therapy organized
 by a spine specialist can help the  person recover faster 
and return to his normal lifestyle. Some people require
 spine injections including nerve blocks,  Neuroplasty, 
facet injections, Annuloplasty, Biacuplasty, and RF to the 

medial branch nerves to reduce pain. The better and 
more advanced  type of spine injections such as Discoplasty
treat the root of the problem.  This involves a laser like spine
njection to the disc to reduce the disc pressure on the nerves. 
This can be done as a day procedure  without any surgery.

In some people the problem has become too serious
and requires surgery.  Fortunately modern surgery including
microsurgery and keyhole type spine  surgery has advanced
to a stage that the risks are low and the recovery  can be  
quick. These are minimally invasive spine procedures with
a keyhole  like approach.  Dr Prem gives the example of a
 patient who came to see him because of back pain with leg pains 

 that was worse on sitting for  too long and on walking a short distance.

The test showed that he had  spinal nerve pressure from 
slipped discs and spine narrowing. A minimally  invasive 
advanced microsurgery was done without any metal screws
but  using modern gel implants. He has now recovered
well after a short hospital stay and is walking and working
with a good quality of life.

In conclusion, more people including home and  office
 workers are suffering  from back pain. If this back pain 
is frequent or spreads to the legs, Dr Prem Pillay recommends
 that you see a spine and nerve specialist  for a proper check
 up to find out the root of the problem. Once the causes

 for the back and leg p[ains are found and treated at the source;
 a healthy lifestyle with less sitting, the right exercises and a good
 diet can also work together  lessen or solve frequent back pain 
and leg pain. 

Furthur information is available at 

http://www.spine-neuro.org/
 and http://www.singaporespine.org/
or by contacting clinicsg@yahoo.com or calling +6568354325 for assistance.