Spine-Pain

Hernias present as bulges in the groin area that can become more prominent when coughing, straining, or standing up. They are often painful, and the bulge commonly disappears on lying down.

The diagnosis of inguinal hernia rests on the history given by the patient and the physician’s examination of the groin. Further tests are rarely needed to confirm the diagnosis. However, in unclear cases an ultrasound scan or a CT scan might be of help, especially to rule out a hydrocele.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hernia

The advent of injectable medications such as Clonidine, a drug originally used for high blood pressure, and Wydase, a protein which can dissolve scar tissue, have allowed epidural procedures to be at the forefront of modern pain management programs.

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article604.html

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What are the results?

About 50% of patients experience pain relief. If you don’t notice any such benefit, additional injections likely won’t help either. If you experience some pain relief, one to two more injections can be performed, usually in 2-week intervals. The benefits of ESI tend to be temporary. Some patients experience pain relief for as little as 1 week and others for up to 1 year. Most importantly, patients may experience enough relief to get moving again, resume normal activities, and/or continuing a physical therapy program.

http://www.precisionradiotherapy.com/PE-ESI.htm

A human clinical study of the Freedom™ Lumbar Disc started in the last quarter 2005. The company has completed extensive biomechanical and biocompatibility evaluations of the Freedom™ Lumbar Disc and has completed manufacturing process qualification and validation. A clinical study demonstrating safety and performance for the CE Mark began in Europe in late 2005. An IDE submission for a pivotal study in the US is planned for 2007. It is anticipated that AxioMed will receive a CE mark in early 2007 and proceed with commercialization in Europe in parallel with a US Pivotal Study.

http://www.axiomed.com/technical-info.html

What is Lumbar Fusion Surgery?

The goal of lumbar fusion surgery is to relieve pain, numbness, tingling and weakness, restore nerve function and stop or prevent abnormal motion in the spine. This is done by fusing the vertebrae together. The lumbar fusion can be done in the front or the back of the spine.

If the fusion is performed in the front of your spine, the surgeon will remove the disc (cushion between vertebrae) and any arthritic areas, and place a bone graft between the vertebrae where it eventually fuses to the surrounding vertebrae to stop abnormal motion. If the fusion is performed in the back of your spine, a bone graft will be placed on the sides of the vertebrae where it will grow together to the vertebrae to stop abnormal motion.

http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article1562.html

MIS TLIF includes the PLF described above, as well as performing an interbody fusion, which means the intervertebral disc is removed and replaced with a bone spacer (metal or plastic may also be used). A MIS TLIF involves placing only one bone graft spacer in the middle of the interbody space, without retraction of the spinal nerves.

http://uscspine.com/treatment/min-invasive-spinalfusion.cfm

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Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion spacers

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20070129804.html