頸椎椎間盤病變

一般為退化性疾病。由於年齡增長，頸椎椎間盤會逐漸失去所含水分，繼而失去吸收震動能力。當椎間在頸椎區域破裂時會對一條或多條神經以至脊髓產生壓力，引起頭部或手臂的疼痛。在本港，約三至四成超過四十歲人士患有頭椎椎間盤病變，而且人數隨年齡增加。患者一般感到頸部或手部痛楚，肢體乏力，行動困難，甚至出現失禁情況。如不及早治理，頸椎神經會因長時間受壓，而大大減低康復機會。

脊椎的結構

u        脊柱由三十三節脊骨組成，包括七節頸椎、十二節胸椎、五節腰椎、五節融合的薦椎及四節已融合的尾骨，用作支撐人體及保護脊髓。

u        上部的七節頸椎骨由纖維軟骨(椎間盤)分隔，可有助吸收活動時所產生的震盪，容許身體作出種種動作。

u        脊骨中空位置是脊髓神經，經椎間孔穿出椎管後，形成大大小小的神經分支，並分佈於頸背、胸腹及四肢，使身體產生感覺及進行各種活動。

甚麼是椎間盤病變

椎間盤病變可是由創傷、長期勞損或退化而致。當患者的椎間盤「核質」膨脹或「外環」破裂時便令神經受壓，進而使頸部及手部產生痛楚。突出的椎間盤甚至會引發不同形狀的骨質，即骨刺，在其周圍產生，增加對神經所產生的壓力，可能會進一步加劇痛楚。若已接受非創傷性的治療後，如藥物或物理治療，仍未能有效地控制病情，則可考慮手術治療。

參考資料: www.back.com, www.brain-spine.com.hk

以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，應向神經外科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

失眠

何謂失眠？

醫學上對失眠的定義是：難以入睡、持續睡眠、隔天清晨醒來汲有睡飽的感覺。失眠是一種症狀而非疾病，必需先找出潛在的病因加以治療，而不是只有治療失眠的症狀而已。

美國國家健康組織﹝National Institute of Health﹞ 把失眠症依病程時間分為短暫性失眠﹝短於一星期﹞、短期性失眠﹝1-3星期﹞及長期性失眠﹝超過3星期﹞。

1.      短暫性失眠：

遇到重大壓力﹝如考試或競賽﹞、情緒上的激動﹝如興奮或憤怒﹞等都可能會失眠。而跨越時區旅行造成的時差反應也會對睡眠有所影響。

 

2.      短期性失眠：

病因和短暫性失眠有些雷同，但時間較長。有人在喪偶、離婚、生命中出現重大變數時，會造成情緒上的衝擊，平復所需要的時間可能長達數星期。

3.      長期性失眠：

這類失眠患者必須到失眠門診求診才行，病史有些達數年或數十年之久，必須找出潛在病因才有治療的希望。

參考資料: http://zh.wikipedia.org
以上所提供的資訊僅作為教育及參考用途，如果你有任何醫療問題，應向神經外科醫生查詢，而不應單倚賴以上提供的資料。

Easing Back Pain Once It Starts

If you are experiencing pregnancy-related back pain, consult with your doctor and follow his or her suggestions as to what's right for you. In addition to the above preventive measures, commonly prescribed therapies for easing pregnancy-related back pain can include:

·         Hot or cold therapy, in the form of a warm bath, a hot water bottle, or an ice pack.

·         Physical therapy specifically designed to address the needs of your changing body as your pregnancy progresses.

·         Anti-inflammatory/analgesic medications, as recommended by your doctor. Acetaminophen has been shown to be safe for pregnant women; others, including aspirin and ibuprofen, are not.

·         Complementary treatments such as chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture. Although these therapies have not been proven effective for treating low back pain, they may provide some relief for pregnancy-related discomfort, and perhaps some stress relief as well. Consult with your doctor first, however, to ensure there is no underlying spinal condition causing the pain.

Reference: www.back.com, brain-spine.com.hk

The information provided aims to provide educational purpose, if you have the described conditions as above, please consult your neurosurgeon.

Easing Back Pain Once It Starts

Reference: www.back.com, http://www.brain-spine.com.hk/

If you are experiencing pregnancy-related back pain, consult with your doctor and follow his or her suggestions as to what's right for you. In addition to the above preventive measures, commonly prescribed therapies for easing pregnancy-related back pain can include:

·         Hot or cold therapy, in the form of a warm bath, a hot water bottle, or an ice pack.

·         Physical therapy specifically designed to address the needs of your changing body as your pregnancy progresses.

·         Anti-inflammatory/analgesic medications, as recommended by your doctor. Acetaminophen has been shown to be safe for pregnant women; others, including aspirin and ibuprofen, are not.

·         Complementary treatments such as chiropractic care, massage therapy, and acupuncture. Although these therapies have not been proven effective for treating low back pain, they may provide some relief for pregnancy-related discomfort, and perhaps some stress relief as well. Consult with your doctor first, however, to ensure there is no underlying spinal condition causing the pain.

The information provided aims to provide educational purpose, if you have the described conditions as above, please consult your neurosurgeon.

How Can I Prevent Back Pain During My Pregnancy?

To optimize your chances of keeping back pain at bay, there are a variety of preventive measures you can take:

·         First, maintain a reasonable activity level and — under your doctor's supervision — incorporate exercises that gently stretch and strengthen your back and abdominal muscles. "Keep moving!" advises Dr. Peters. "The ability and motivation to remain active is very important during this time."

·         If you spend your days behind a desk, take advantage of opportunities to get up and stretch your legs — and back — while getting your work done.

·         Maintaining good posture as your body changes is also important. As your center of gravity shifts forward, minimize the strain on your lower back by standing as straight as possible, keeping your shoulders back and your buttocks tucked under. When sitting, keep your feet slightly elevated, if possible. Choose a chair that supports your back — use a small pillow if necessary — and change positions frequently.

·         Be mindful of body mechanics. If you need to pick something up, don't bend over and lift using your back. Instead, squat using your knees, keeping your back straight as you lift. Avoid positions that require bending or twisting. Listen to your body — if something hurts, don't do it!

·         Don't be a slave to fashion. If you're hooked on high-heeled shoes, kick the addiction — at least for a few months. Cute "sensible shoes" do exist — just look for low heels and good arch support. Your clothing can also be back-friendly — look for maternity pants with a low, supportive waistband. Later in your pregnancy, you may want to use a support belt under your lower abdomen.

·         It may seem like the impossible dream at this point in your life, but do try to get a sufficient amount of sleep. Practice relaxation techniques, and keep stress to a minimum. Sleep on your side rather than your back, keeping your knees bent. Place pillows around your abdomen for support, if needed.

Reference: www.back.com., www.ispine.com.hk

The information provided aims to provide educational purpose, if you have the described conditions as above, please consult your neurosurgeon.

Why Does My Back Hurt?

There are a number of reasons you can develop back pain during pregnancy. "It's a multifactorial issue," Dr. Peters says. "Hormonal alterations in soft tissue and even bone tissue play a part, along with changes in weight, spinal alignment, and activity level."

The hormones that are released during pregnancy allow joints and ligaments in the pelvic area to become more pliant and loose, in preparation for the birthing process, Dr. Peters explains. The downside of this softening is that it can affect the natural support your back normally receives, particularly as the weight of your baby increases.

A growing baby also causes your center of gravity to shift. Abdominal muscles stretch and weaken, making it more difficult to maintain good posture and further challenging your natural spinal alignment. "In the third trimester, for example, the forward flexion of the hips brings the pelvis and sacrum forward as well, contributing to a 'swayback' effect in the lumbar spine," Dr. Peters says. "Increasing breast tissue can also accentuate this shift in spinal realignment. Some of these tissue and mechanical alignment alterations are good for the body, in order to distribute weight gain to the middle of the body where, structurally, it's the strongest. But in a woman whose structure is weak where stress is magnified, low back pain can be the result."

Common patterns of pregnancy-related back pain include pain in the lower back, or lumbar spine, and pain that feels like it's centered even lower in the body, in the back, or posterior, of the pelvic area. If pressure is placed on the sciatic nerve or presses on a spinal disc, pain may extend through the hips, buttocks and legs.

Reference: www.back.com.

The information provided aims to provide educational purpose, if you have the described conditions as above, please consult your neurosurgeon

Managing Back Pain During Your Pregnancy

Along with morning sickness, food cravings and weight gain, back pain can be a common complaint during pregnancy. There are a few things you can do, however, to prevent pregnancy-related back pain or manage your discomfort once it starts.

Preparing for a baby's birth can be an exciting time. But as any woman with a dog-eared copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting knows, a certain amount of physical discomfort is normal during pregnancy and, well, to be expected. Back pain is a common complaint in the months leading up to delivery, especially during the final trimester, but there are a few things you can do to manage your back pain so that you can keep the focus on what's most important — getting ready to welcome your new baby!

It's Not Just You...
According to the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, more than 50% of pregnant women report low back pain at some point during their term; some studies have found the incidence to be as high as 70%. "The incidence of low back pain in pregnant women is well over double the incidence of back pain in those who are not pregnant in the same age group," says orthopaedic surgeon John G. Peters, MD, medical director of Medtronic, Inc., the world's leading spinal device company.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, women most frequently report low back pain later in their pregnancies, as the baby grows larger and heavier; however, some women also start feeling low back pain early in their term. Women who may be most at risk for developing back pain during their pregnancies are those who are overweight (though studies are inconclusive on this), or who experienced back pain prior to becoming pregnant. Women who lack flexibility and strength in their back and abdominal muscles and those carrying more than one baby also may be more susceptible.

Reference: www.back.com.

The information provided aims to provide educational purpose, if you have the described conditions as above, please consult your neurosurgeon.

Project Brings smile to cancer kid

 

“I am very lucky to get the operation free of cost,” she said, her eyes sparkling. Wei said she would like to go to school as soon as possible. Wei also added that she would like to become a doctor to take care of patients and reduce their pain.

One of the volunteer-doctors said the cost for acoustic neuroma removal surgery was HK$600,000. He said there were about 100 new cases of acoustic neuroma in Hong Kong each year. However, there are a few cases of giant tumor of more than four centimeters.

The majority of patients in Hong Kong were middle-aged men, he noted, and young patients like Wei were rare. Explaining acoustic neuroma, he said if the disease was found at a young age, the tumor would grow rather fast. He also said patients in Hong Kong with tumor less than two centimeters could opt for a follow-up therapy instead of surgery.

Dr. Joseph Lam Ming-kuen, specialist in neurosurgery who also took part in the free surgery, said the incidence of acoustic neuroma in Hong Kong had been increasing in recent years.

A higher incidence rate could be related to the fact that MRI scanning had become more common for people with loss of hearing on one side. Chief hospital manager of The Hong Kong Hospital, said: “Healing Heart Initiative” would provide free surgery to 10 poor patients in Hong Kong and mainland. Wei was the third person to have received the service, he added.

Reference: www.scmp.com.

The information provided aims to provide educational purpose, if you have the described conditions as above, please consult your neurosurgeon.

Hong Kong Project Brings hope to cancer kid

 

Seventeen years old Wei Qunqun from a poor farmer family in rural Shangdong Province, had acoustic neuroma (hearing-nerve cancer). But, thanks to the humanitarian efforts by “Healing Heart Initiative” Charity Program, she could undergo the surgery free of charge in Hong Kong.

A Hong Kong Hospital charity project “Healing Heart Initiative” and charity group Hear Talk Foundation paid Wei’s medical bills.

Since she was 13, acoustic neuroma badly affected Wei’s learning ability and left her almost crippled. Her hearing ability and sense of balance worsened two years ago. She always felt dizzy and could hardly walk.

The disease could have been fatal if the five-centimeter tumor continued to grow.

However, except for a tiny part that is close to her facial nerve, the tumor had been successfully removed last week by a team of volunteer doctors from Hear Talk Foundation. Wei is able to eat, think and walk and is currently undergoing physiotherapy. She will be released from hospital next week.

Reference: http://www.surgery.cuhk.edu.hk/neuro/default.htm

The information provided aims to provide educational purpose, if you have the described conditions as above, please consult your neurosurgeon.