How should you care for your spinal cord?

It is said that a spinal cord surgery is risky, and should be avoided at all costs. Is that true?

No, this is not true. Surgeries performed by skilled surgeons with modern equipments like microscope, endoscope and drills are highly beneficial.

Also CT scan, MRI scan done before the surgery are very important for the surgeon, because these help in a clear understanding of the condition of the organs as well as the extent of the disease. Therefore accurate and successful surgeries are definitely a possibility.

Do all kinds of spinal cord surgeries offer the same benefits?

Different kinds of surgeries are performed for various spinal cord problems. Appropriate surgery is performed If the tissue in the spinal cord is dislocated, which offers beneficial results.

Sometimes cysts may develop in the spinal cord, or a cyst may develop in another organ and spread to the spinal cord. This may affect the entire spinal cord and the treatment administered may not yield expected benefits. However, do not worry…an experienced surgeon will be able to clearly tell you the expected benefits even before the surgery is performed.

What are the other organs that can be affected due to spinal cord diseases?

The spinal cord may get damaged. The bones may become brittle. The bones may get dislocated. Sometimes cysts may develop on the spinal cord and it may have spread to other organs as well. Due to this the spinal cord may have experienced some pressure and consequently some damage. The spinal cord is a delicate organ and important one as well, as it guides some vital nerves that reach the brain. Therefore any damage caused to the spinal cord manifests in the patient in form of back pain, pain in the hands and legs, numbness, weakness etc.

Patients may get badly affected permanently due to development of cysts in the spinal cord, damage to the spinal cord due to accidents, obstruction of blood flow etc.

What can we do to protect our spinal cord?

We must maintain proper orientation while sitting, walking, working etc. and we must exercise regularly. We must consult a doctor immediately if we encounter any problems with our spinal cord, this will ensure that we avoid any permanent damage.

Dr. G. Jose Jasper, MBBS, MCH, PGDMLS
Neurologist, Kauvery Hospital, Trichy Cantonment

Kauvery Hospital is globally known for its multidisciplinary services at all its Centers of Excellence, and for its comprehensive, Avant-Grade technology, especially in diagnostics and remedial care in heart diseases, transplantation, vascular and neurosciences medicine. Located in the heart of Trichy (Tennur, Royal Road and Alexandria Road (Cantonment), Chennai, Hosur, Salem, Tirunelveli and Bengaluru, the hospital also renders adult and pediatric trauma care.

Chennai – 044 4000 6000 • Trichy – Cantonment – 0431 4077777 • Trichy – Heartcity – 0431 4003500 • Trichy – Tennur – 0431 4022555 • Hosur – 04344 272727 • Salem – 0427 2677777 • Tirunelveli – 0462 4006000 • Bengaluru – 080 6801 6801