Most people nowadays in the developed western world is suffering from the pain in the spinal zone. The pain is usually caused by degenerative changes of the spine, and is mostly a result of modern lifestyle with lack of movements and physical activity.Degenerative spinal diseases are not life threatening, however the pain is very uncomfortable and it interferes in normal daily life. Most often the pain occurs in the lumbar part and neck, and rarely in the thoracic part of the spine. Lumbar pain is so common that a new Latin name has been established: lumbago.
There are 2 basic methods to treat degenerative spinal diseases: conservative and surgical. However none of the mentioned methods can completely cure the degenerative spinal disease, but it can more or less successfully alleviate the symptoms and reduce the pain.
Today “new” solutions to ease the painful spinal syndromes are offered in Croatia, and they are not either conservative or surgical. These solutions are being used for over 20 years and are familiar under the name “Pain management”. They are also called "minimally invasive procedures, " but they should not be confused with minimally invasive surgery, because it is not the same. Therefore, the better name for it is “intervention on the spine” (diagnostic or therapeutic).
Polyclinic “Lumbago” was established with the intention to help people suffering from back pain, neck pain, sciatica and other degenerative spinal diseases. To persons whom physical therapy no longer helps, and who cannot or do not want the surgery or where surgery is not indicated.
Polyclinic is also engaged in pain relief due to malignant disease that has spread to the spinal area, treatment of osteoporotic spinal fractures, and other chronic pains.
With spinal interventions source of the pain is trying to be removed that was previously defined using the precise diagnostic examination. The technical basis for these interventions is the use of special needles and x-ray machines, and also patient who is awake and can talk to the doctor during the surgery. After completion of the surgical intervention and short observation, the patient can stand up and with the help of a companion (family member, friend…) go home. The expected effect is much stronger and faster than physical therapy, but not perpetual. Depending on the type of intervention the effect lasts differently and can be repeated several times if necessary.
These techniques sometimes have their limits and it is not possible to remove the pain to all patients. This technique is not surgical procedure and doesn’t need hospitalization and long lasting rehabilitations. After the spinal intervention a certain recovery period is required. However, recovery period is much shorter than traditional surgery and usually it takes several days, rarely 2 -4 weeks.
Evaluation using detailed clinical examinations and radiological diagnostic (MRI or exceptionally CT) whether the patient is a candidate for these techniques is required. Often, clinical examination is not sufficient to identify and determine the source of pain in the spine. In that case it is necessary to implement one of the diagnostic spinal interventions.
After defining source of the pain it is possible to offer the patient an option for the long term solution to its problems using some of the techniques of the therapeutic spinal interventions.