A specialist of backs is a something? ending ...eunatolagist?

Question

A doctor specializing in backs is called .........something I don't know the first part but this title/name ends something like eunatologist. No not a neurologist or chiropractor. Can someone please help me out with this. I have been told by my Dr that my back is no good, after having so much pain in my legs & lower back I went to my doctor & was sent for ct scan & xray of my back. I was told it would have to be managed with pain releif but that isn't working. I am only 50 yrs old. I had to see a specialist for something else & I told this dr about my back & was asked who am I being followed up by & that is when I was given the name for a back specialist but I am unabl to read the first part of the word, the last part ends in something like eunatolagist. I can not understand the doctors writting. Hope someone can help out. I am in a lot of pain with my legs from the knees upwards also with th lower back pain

Answer 1

Hi there. A neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic surgeons are the ones who deal with backs, specifically if you need surgery for a disc bulge that is pressing on the nerves causing you the pain.
I have had 2 lots of surgery, one at 20 at L3/4, L4/5 and L5/S1 and the other at 30 (im now 31) at L4/5. There are a lot of options you can consider before you try surgery to relieve the pain.
I would still consult with the specialist as they can refer you for some of these options.
Firstly I would try a physiotherapist as they can give you relief, but also tech you exercises to strenthen your core muscles...chiropractors are not a good idea for someone with sciatica as they generally do not understand the full expent of the underlying propblem and can cause more damage to you.
Together with working with the physio you can try anti-inflammatory medication together with pain relief.
Once you have consulted with the speciallist, you could have an epidural which in theory may shrink the disc back to stop it pressing on the nerves that cause the pain.
You could have a look at doing prolotherapy, have a look at www.prolotherapy.com which will explain the theory behind it. It is a perfectly safe option and I have had some great success with it.
Surgery is probably the last resort, ad you will find that most surgeons only ever operate on about 10% of patients who see them. The surgery is no where near as bad as it used to be even 10 years ago and the recovery is much quicker. I doubt that they would operate as the pain has not gone below the knee yet and you don't have numbness (I hope).
Nothing has to be managed only with pain relief, as a long term option this is not good as your body ends up getting used to it and you have to take more and more...
Do seek the advise of a specialist as they can offer some great options for you, also do some resarch on the internet.
I hope this has helped you a little...good luck and if I can be of any more help just ask.

Answer 2

OTHER - take a look - read the book - before you consider surgery
I use a chiropractor, massage therapist and the principles in the book below

Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas (natural muscle relaxers) daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, (if this does not do it you probably need a chiropractor as well) you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 3

YOU JUST HAVEN'T FOUND SOMEONE THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP YOU YET, BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE. THIS LINK MAY HELP
http://www.northeastmedical.org/medical_rounds/md030.html
GOOD LUCK.