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Therapy for stress-free days Non-surgical spinal decompression is ideal for those with constant neck pain and backaches
N A complete history of the patient is for examination and diagnosis. A thorough physical examination of the neck and back includes range of motion testing, as well as palpation and inspection of the spine
on-Surgical Spinal Decompression is a revolutionary new technology used to treat disc injuries in the neck and in the lower back. This safe, drug-free treatment works by gently lengthening and releasing the spine, creating negative pressures within the spinal discs. This reversal of pressure creates a vacuum effect within the disc space, and helps to pull the bulging disc material back into place, taking pressure off pinched nerves and surrounding soft tissue. Lasting results for chronic back and neck pain have been achieved with this innovative new technology. If you suffer from long-standing back or neck pain, including pain that radiates into your leg, you are probably a candidate for the therapy. An examination, history, and review of diagnostic imaging will be necessary prior to starting care. A short trial session of Spinal Decompression Therapy, usually 10 minutes, is also performed to make sure the patient is comfortable with the equipment. This is done to ensure that this treatment is right for the patient. There are very few patients who will not be able to undergo Spinal Decompression Therapy, including cases of severe osteoporosis, certain types of spinal fusion surgeries, rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy. Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is very effective at treating bulging discs, herniated discs, pinched nerves, sciatica, radiating
arm pain, degenerative disc disease, leg pain and facet syndromes. Proper patient screening is imperative and only the best candidates are accepted for care. The average treatment times are between 15 to 20 minutes each session over the course of several weeks. During treatment, most patients experience a gentle stretch in the low back or neck. Some patients may experience light side effects such as mild muscular soreness during treatment. The sensation would be similar to what a person might experience at the onset of a new exercise regimen. However, most patients find this therapy quite comfortable and relaxing and tend to fall asleep during their session. Additional therapies to spinal decompression may include electrical muscle stimulation and cold therapy. Exercise and nutritional programmes may also be prescribed to support the benefits of spinal decompression therapy and improve patient outcome.
nerve roots or the area of the spinal column that may have sustained injury. Additional specialised tests are also performed to determine the extent of nerve root irritability. When a physician does the necessary testing to assess motor strength, reflexes and sensory distribution, he can then isolate exactly which nerve root is being affected.
Patient diagnosis and examination A complete history of the patient is for examination and diagnosis. A thorough physical examination of the neck and back includes range of motion testing, as well as palpation and inspection of the spine. A thorough neurologic examination is also performed to determine the main areas of muscle weakness or neurological dysfunction, and this can help narrow down the affected
To visit or not to visit The first contact for the patient should be their doctor or physician. The general practitioner should be able to take care of a majority of the problems such as physical therapy, medication and recommended exercises. Once the pain becomes chronic or the patient is diagnosed with Sciatica, their doctor should refer them to a spine specialist.
Knowing when surgery is required Surgery tends to be the choice of the patient. Most patients decide to look into surgery when the pain is so bad that it affects their lifestyle, hobbies and ability to cope with people. This is also a last option for many people when everything else has failed. Surgery is generally a patient’s only option when it is a life or death situation (trauma or cancer), nerve damage or impending nerve damage due to progression of problems and deformities.
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CENTRES FOR SPINE CARE & TREATMENT
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ATLAS SPINAL CENTER
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Safe and painless care
A neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic spine surgeon? Both specialties receive basic surgical spine training and are qualified to perform spine surgery. The difference is that orthopaedic surgeons complete a postgraduate residency training programme of the surgical treatment of musculoskeletal disorders while neurosurgeons complete training in neurological disorders. With the advancement of technology, most spine surgeons practicing today typically need additional training, such as a fellowship, that allows the surgeon to perform unique and technically advanced spine operations, more often than a surgeon receiving basic orthopaedic or neurosurgical training. Recovery after surgery The sooner the patient is out of bed, the less de-conditioned they will be. An aggressive rehabilitation programme, such as a pool exercise programme where gravity is removed is assigned to patients till they are able to tolerate the exercises. Technology has advanced enough that spine surgery has now become minimally invasive. This gets patients back to their regular lives faster and better than traditional surgery. Paralysis after surgery may exist but it is exceedingly rare and very unlikely. Proper communication with the doctor about potential problems during surgery will get you better tuned into the benefits and risks. Choosing the right medical expert If you have a non-surgical problem, it is best to first consult your primary physician or non-surgical spine specialist. This is because they will be able to provide more non-surgical tools and alternatives to surgery to help you recover. If you have a more serious and surgical problem, it is best to consult a surgeon first rather than choos-
Atlas Spinal Center looks directly into the root of the problem for pain relief Latha Krishnan
If you have a non-surgical problem, it is best to first consult your primary physician or non-surgical spine specialist ing a pain management specialist or chiropractor. The decision to pick one spine surgeon over another should be
AMERICAN SPINE CENTER
Non-surgical treatment protocols for spine diseases Cutting edge therapy at the American Spine Center relieves spine diseases with 70 to 75 per cent success The American Spine Center, originating from its primary Center of Excellence in Birmingham, Alabama, US, and concentrating in research and treatment of spine pathologies through its own unique non-surgical procedures, is now established in Dubai Healthcare City. The centre provides IDD (Intervertebral Differential Dynamics) therapy, a cutting edge non-surgical computer-driven technology providing decompression therapy to the spine and relieving patients of spine diseases such as disc hernia, bulging disc, disc compression and acute or chronic conditions of the spine with proven excellent results.
“We have been here for less than a year but our comprehensive treatment and IDD therapy has been saving many patients from surgery. More than 500 patients have consulted us in this short period and about a third of them have undergone IDD therapy achieving 70 to 75 per cent good results,” informs Dr Hassan Jabbar Shaikh, Consultant Pain Medicine at the American Spine Center in Dubai. The Accu-SPINA state-of-the-
art equipment used for IDD therapy provides a computer-directed, robotic approach to the rehabilitation of spine dysfunction and can be programmed to target each patient’s specific medical condition and adjusted according to the healing response. The IDD protocol usually consists of 12 to 16 treatment sessions over a twomonth period followed by maintenance treatment sessions for four more months. “The treatment is also augmented by pain management techniques such as physiotherapy, injections and medication that trained and licenced consultants, medical practitioners, physiotherapists, and nursing staff administer at the centre,” adds Dr Shaikh, who has over two decades experience as a consultant in pain medicine in the UK and in Dubai since 2008. Pain relief for spine diseases through non-surgical procedures is surely gaining in popularity here and the American Spine Center is at the forefront of the movement. Also being the first centre of its type in the region combining consultancy, service and comprehensive pain management and therapy, and proving successful, the centre is awarding its franchises all over the Middle East and Levant regions. A new centre will begin providing its services in Jeddah immediately and more are coming up in Abu Dhabi and other Gulf cities. Several smaller clinics around the UAE are also in the offing. — Latha Krishnan
based on their training, expertise, knowledge of technological advancements, ability to perform the operation that you are going to have, whether they are board certified and your compatibility with the surgeon’s personality. Your surgeon should be someone you are able to talk to with ease, and understands your needs and problems because you will be seeing them post operation for office visits and check-ups. Also, keep in mind that you should be able to speak to the surgeon prior to the surgery and are not being screened by a nurse practitioner.
Atlas Spinal Center, based in Dubai Healthcare City, has introduced to the UAE, an innovative American technology for curing spinal related ailments using a non-invasive and painless technique. The centre is able to treat patients suffering from chronic migraines, neck pain and back pain using a percussion sound waves-based treatment that has been in use for 40 years in the US. Its FDA-approved treatment tries to treat the cause of the problems. “If a person is suffering from chronic pain such as in the neck or back, or suffering from migraines and headaches, we always look to the spine first. Rather than seeking to only mask the symptoms with pain pills and medicines, we examine the spine and neck to find the source of the problem,” says Dr Katie Gross. Years of clinical research in the Atlas Orthogonal treatment have highlighted the significance of a
Dr Katie Gross disrupted nervous system as being the source of many ailments. The central nervous system is analogous to an information superhighway. The brain communicates and controls the rest of the body through the nervous system that runs through the spinal column. Any disruption in this intricate network can lead to various symptoms as the nervous system controls everything in the body. When the spinal column is misaligned, it can put pressure on the brain stem
and spinal nerves leading to various painful symptoms. The Atlas Spinal Center’s ‘Atlas Orthogonal’ treatment focuses on restoring the natural alignment of the spine and relieving the pressure on the spinal nerves. The centre has been very well received in the UAE since its opening in September 2011. “We’ve already treated hundreds of patients since our opening. Our patients come from a diverse background including UAE nationals and expatriates and even have had several patients flying in from other GCC countries, India, Pakistan, Africa and the UK. We try to put up as many testimonials as we can on our facebook page,” adds Dr Gross. “Our centre is committed to providing the best overall patient experience. We have invested in the best medical technology, recruited the most experienced and qualified doctors from the US, and have a strong focus on providing the best service to our patients. And as a way to demonstrate our commitment to the local community, we will extend a free consultation to the readers of Khaleej Times during this month.” Atlas Spinal Center is offering a Free Consultation to readers of Khaleej Times. Call 04-451 8877 now for your appointment.
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CENTRES FOR SPINE CARE & TREATMENT
WOORIDUL SPINE CENTRE
Providing freedom from back pain JCI-accredited Wooridul Spine Hospital is planning to launch a flagship hospital in Abu Dhabi later this year Latha Krishnan Khalid Ahmed Sheikh Mubarak, Deputy Director General of the DHA, inaugurates the 13th Dubai Spine Conference
NEURO SPINAL HOSPITAL
Specialist neuroscience healthcare services Neuro Spinal Hospital provides state-of-theart facilities for spine and joint treatment for patients and hosts conferences for professionals in the field Latha Krishnan Premier neuroscience healthcare provider Neuro Spinal Hospital (NSH) in Jumeirah, Dubai, is a world-class, 40-bed neurosurgical, neurological, spinal and orthopaedic specialist facility with dedicated, expert physicians, therapists and surgeons using the most advanced equipment, technology and evidence-based techniques. In addition to its services ranging across every aspect of neuroscience, NSH organises conferences and seminars on spine and joint treatments for neuroscience professionals at various venues and times throughout the year. Recently NSH successfully held the Dubai Spine Conference in collaboration with the Emirates Neuroscience Society, Gulf Neurosurgical Society and the PAN Arab Neurosurgical Society for the 13th
Msaddi, Medical Director of NSH, which prides itself on being at the forefront of bringing the latest technology of treatment to the region. “We were the fi rst to introduce the Brain Suite, the ability to scan the brain through high tesla functional MRI during a surgical procedure. We also have one of three O-arm Surgical Imaging System in the UAE, which provides real-time, intra-operative imaging of a patient’s anatomy with high quality images and a large field-of-view in both two and three dimensions and especially useful during MISS. Within a couple of months we will get the Intra-operative CT Scan, which will be the first one outside the US and increases the accuracy of surgery and ensures maximum safety of the patient,” says Dr Msaddi. Last year, NSH, with the valuable support of the European Spine Society, brought to the UAE, the We were European Spine Course Diploma, the first to consisting of five modules to augintroduce the Brain ment the qualifications of established spine surgeons. About 55 Suite, the ability to attending the Dubai scan the brain through surgeons Spine Conference signed up for high tesla functional the course, which looks set to be yet another successful undertakMRI during a surgical ing from NSH, already part of procedure various training programmes for Dr Abdul Karim Msaddi spine surgeons in the region.
time at Raffles Dubai Hotel. Dubai Spine Conference is a unique and important medical conference held annually in order to present the latest surgical techniques, research, and management strategies in neurology and spinal care. The three-day conference covered Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (MISS) comprehensively including debates on the efficacy of the technique as opposed to traditional surgery, treatment and surgery of traumatic spine and peripheral nerve surgery. “This year we have practical sessions before and after the conference for neurosurgeons, on MISS and surgery of the Peripheral Nerve – Upper Extremity. International faculty demonstrate the procedures, which are very much sought after in the Middle East region,” explains Dr Abdul Karim
Back pain assails most of us, albeit in different degrees, at some point in our lives. But for some of us it can become chronic and debilitating, and freedom from such pain is only too welcome. It is this freedom from pain that Wooridul Spine Centre in Dubai assures its patients through its pioneering and advanced treatment of Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (MISS). Wooridul, which in Korean means “ours or altogether” was set up in Korea in 1982 as a small clinic and grew to become the now world famous JCI-accredited Wooridul Spine Hospital (WSH) in Seoul. Right from the beginning Sang-Ho Lee, Founder and Chairman of Wooridul Hospital, focused on spine care through MISS, that involves small incisions through which an endoscope is introduced and the procedure done precisely. He also founded an academic society for MISS, which has gained popularity. “With MISS, Wooridul has minimised the impact of undergoing surgery as well as shortened recovery time after surgery. The philosophy propounded by our founder, is never to harm but cure the patient and to conduct surgery without touching the normal healthy tissue and we can do that through MISS. Here at Wooridul, we provide total care from the beginning of a spine complaint right from diagnosis to physiotherapy, pain management, MISS and post operative physiotherapy, until the patient is completely recovered and free of pain. And I am very happy that we are getting very positive feedback from patients in the UAE. Many of our patients come to us recommended by other patients,” informs Dr Chan Shik Shim, Medical Director and
Here at Wooridul, we provide total care from the beginning of a spine complaint right from diagnosis to physiotherapy, pain management, MISS and post operative physiotherapy, until the patient is completely recovered and free of pain. And I am very happy that we are getting very positive feedback from patients in the UAE Dr Chan Shik Shim Dr Chan Shik Shim Consultant Neurosurgeon of Wooridul Spine Centre in Dubai. Dr Shim came to Dubai expecting more lumbar problems with patients in the UAE but now finds there are many with cervical problems too. He feels that obesity and sedentary lifestyles of patients here could be responsible for this. He has also treated quite a few patients who have had surgery two or three times and are still suffering from pain. He explains, “Revision surgery that I do here is about 20 per cent, which is much higher than in Korea.” Getting such effective, technologically advanced and internationally accepted care right here in the UAE is a blessing to many patients. This came about due to the partnership between Mubadala Healthcare, a business unit of Mubadala Development Company set up to bring world-class clin-
ical expertise to the UAE and reduce the need for UAE nationals and residents to travel abroad for treatment, and Wooridul Spine Hospital. While Wooridul Spine Centre, an outpatient facility opened in Dubai in February 2011, the flagship hospital in the region will open in Arzanah Medical Complex in Abu Dhabi later this year. “Mubadala wanted the excellence of Wooridul replicated in the UAE and our partnership with them arose from that,” elaborates Dr Shim. “Together Mubadala and Wooridul intend to attract patients from all the Gulf countries nearby, as they too need good spine care.” Wooridul has already expanded its services with centres in Shanghai and Jakarta and will shortly open two Spine Centres in Turkey at Istanbul and Ankara.