My Hospital

                                             Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore India

Apollo Hospitals - Bangalore is a modern state-of-the-art superspecialty facility which offers high end solutions to diseases of the spine and spinal cord. The hospital  has focused on treating difficult spine diseases covering the whole spectrum. Be it simple neck pain or most complex C V Junction anomaly, we have expertise to treat all these disorders.

Bangalore's top hospital for advanced treatment for Neurological and Spinal diseases. This is a super specialty set up offering cutting edge medical care bundled with care and compassion. Equipped with top end diagnostic and therapeutic gadgets, we attract a large number of patients from India and abroad.

Facilities available

• 1.5 Tesla superconducting MRI scanning with comprehensive functional scanning capabilities
• 64 slice CT scanner with top notch images for cerebral angiogram
• PET Scanner
• Dedicated high end Neurosurgery operating suite
• Operating microscope
• Neuronavigation (Frameless stereotaxy) and conventional frame stereotaxy
• Ultrasonic aspirators
• Neuro Endoscopes (Brain and Spinal)
• Dedicated ICU for  patients with a large number of ventilators
• Ultra comfortable Suites and Private rooms for privacy and care
• Latest True Beam Stereotactic Radiosurgery Unit ready for installation.
• Last but not the least, well trained neurosurgeons, neurologists, neuroradiologists, Intensivists, Nurses and technicians to make sure that your loved ones get utmost care

154/11 Opp IIM B
Bannerghatta Road
Bangalore -560076
Karnataka

Appointments call Mr Madan (My secretary) at +91 72590 31451



Beware of those ‘whip’ lashes!

http://neurosurgeonbangalore.com

Dr Arun L Naik
Spine Surgeon- Neurosurgeon

Whiplash injuries are due to sudden extreme backward-forward bending of the neck mainly seen in car accidents. You may experience severe pain with neck restriction, dizziness, vomiting sensation and host of other complaints in the immediate period. Majority of these injuries are self limiting and innocuous. If diagnosed and treated in time, you can be back on your feet or else it may turn up to be a ‘pain in your neck’ in true sense of it.

God forbid- If you have ever been in a car accident and experienced pain in your neck, you have most likely had whiplash. Whiplash, also called neck sprain or neck strain, is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck. It is usually caused by sudden extension (backward movement of the neck) and flexion (forward movement of the neck) like the whip. Speeds as low as 15 miles per hour can produce enough energy to cause whiplash in a passenger in your car, whether or not they are wearing a seat belt! Rarely contact sport injuries or diving may cause whiplash.

What exactly happens?

The neck consists of seven vertebrae (spine bones) held together by muscles and ligaments, intervertebral discs (shock absorbers), joints enabling motion, and a system of nerves. The complexity of the neck's anatomy coupled with its diversity of motion makes it susceptible to whiplash. Thankfully only soft tissues of neck are injured, sometimes there may be injury to the intervertebral joints, discs, ligaments and nerve roots.

Most people experience neck pain either immediately after the injury or several days later. You may also suffer from neck stiffness, headache, dizziness, swallowing difficulty, voice change, shoulder and back pain. Muscle tears result in burning pain with tingling sensations. 'Wry neck', a condition associated with whiplash, occurs when the neck muscles responsible for head rotation/extension cause the neck to twist involuntarily.

Alright, any remedy?

A physical and neurological examination is performed to evaluate the patient's general condition. Fortunately, whiplash is treatable and most symptoms resolve totally in a matter of a few days. Initially, whiplash is treated with a soft cervical collar for 2 weeks. An X-ray of the neck is done to rule out bony fractures or for future reference in case of delayed symptoms. Heat therapy to relieve muscle tension and pain may be useful initially. Painkillers help to keep the pain at bay. Muscle relaxants are given to relive muscle tension. Once the pain subsides, you have to see a physical therapist for rehabilitation purposes. Physical therapy helps to reduce muscle spasms, increase circulation, and promote healing. PT may include the following modalities: moist heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and exercise to restore range of motion and build strength. For most patients, the symptoms of whiplash usually subside in 2 to 4 weeks.

If not relieved promptly, what next?

If symptoms continue or worsen after 6 to 8 weeks, further x-rays and other testing my be necessary to see if the patient suffered a more severe injury. Age and pre-existing health conditions like arthritis may increase the severity of whiplash. If symptoms persist, cervical traction may be undertaken. Trigger point injections containing a local anesthetic may help alleviate pain and tenderness. Severe extension injuries like whiplash can rarely damage the intervertebral discs. If this occurs, surgery may become a necessity.

Road to recovery

During the recovery phase, the goal is to help the patient resume normal activities at their pre-injury level. The guidelines set forth by the spinal physician and/or physical therapist should be closely followed. A home exercise program customized by the physical therapist is a key to rebuilding strength and increasing range of motion. It may be necessary to continue physical therapy and modalities for sometime.

Good posture can root out your back pain!

Dr Arun L Naik
Neurosurgeon and Spine Surgeon India

http://neurospinesurgeonindia.com

Correct posture is a simple but very important way to keep the many intricate structures in the back and spine healthy. It is much more than cosmetic—good posture and back support are critical to reducing the incidence and levels of back pain and neck pain. Back support is especially important for patients who spend many hours sitting in an office chair or standing throughout the day. 

What problems are caused by poor back support and posture?

Not maintaining good posture and adequate back support can add strain to muscles and put stress on the spine. Over time, the stress of poor posture can change the anatomical characteristics of the spine, leading to the possibility of constricted nerves, as well as problems with muscles, discs and joints. All of these can be major contributors to back and neck pain, headaches and fatigue.

How to identify good posture?

Basically, having correct posture means keeping each part of the body in alignment with the neighboring parts. Proper posture keeps all parts balanced and supported. With appropriate posture (when standing) it should be possible to draw a straight line from the earlobe, through the shoulder, hip, knee, and into the middle of the ankle. When moving from one position to another, the ideal situation is that one’s posture is adjusted smoothly and fluidly. 

What are examples of bad postures?

The following are examples of common behavior and poor ergonomics that need correction to attain good posture and back support:

· Slouching with the shoulders hunched forward

· Lordosis (also called "swayback"), which is too large of an inward curve in the lower back

· Carrying something heavy on one side of the body

· Tucking a telephone receiver between the neck and shoulder

· Wearing high-heeled shoes or clothes that are too tight

· Keeping the head held too high or looking down too much

· Sleeping with a mattress or pillow that doesn't provide proper back support, or in a position that compromises posture

· Undertaking strenuous gym workout without proper guidance

Avoid these bad postures while sitting in an office chairThe following bad habits are especially common when sitting in an office chair for long periods of time.

· Slumping forward too much while sitting in an office chair

· Absence of a proper lumbar back support in your chair

· Sliding forward on the seat of the office chair

Just try out these to improve your posture

It is important to determine where improvement is needed, such as when sitting in an office chair. Next, patients must work on changing daily habits to correct those areas. This effort will improve back support and over time help decrease back pain and neck pain. It will take some effort and perseverance, and will seem a little unnatural at first. It is typical to feel uncomfortable, and even feel a little taller, but over time the new posture will seem natural and more comfortable.

· Be sure the back is aligned against the back of the office chair. Avoid slouching or leaning forward, especially when tired from sitting in the office chair for long periods

· When sitting on an office chair at a desk, arms should be flexed at a 75 to 90 degree angle at the elbows. If this is not the case, the office chair should be adjusted accordingly

· Knees should be even with the hips

· Keep both feet flat on the floor. If there's a problem with feet reaching the floor comfortably, a footrest can be used along with the office chair 

And what about standing?

· Stand with weight mostly on the balls of the feet, not on the heels

· Keep feet slightly apart, about shoulder-width

· Let arms hang naturally down the sides of the body

· Avoid locking the knees

· Be sure the head is square on top of the neck and spine, not pushed out forward

· Stand straight and tall, with shoulders upright

It is important to note that an overall cause of bad posture is tense muscles, which will pull the body out of alignment. There are a number of specific exercises that will help stretch and relax the major back muscles. Some people find that meditation or other forms of mental relaxation are effective in helping relax the back muscles. Many people find treatments and activities such as massage therapy, yoga, tai chi or other regular exercise routines help in curing backaches.

For further details log on to http://neurosurgeonbangalore.com