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The treatment of chronic back pain
Author(s) -
MEHTA MARK,
SLUIJTER MENNO E.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1979.tb06410.x
Subject(s) - medicine , degeneration (medical) , facet (psychology) , denervation , back pain , chronic pain , percutaneous , low back pain , dorsum , referred pain , physical therapy , surgery , anatomy , pathology , alternative medicine , psychology , social psychology , personality , big five personality traits
Structures innervated by the dorsal primary ramus play a significant part in the genesis of chronic backache and associated leg pain. The features of this syndrome are described and compared with those in the more familiar clinical picture following intervertebral disc degeneration. However these clinical entities are seldom entirely separate and the diagnosis is often also complicated by psychosomatic factors and the consequences of previous back surgery. A technique of percutaneous facet denervation with a radiofrequency probe, although by no means successful in every case, is entirely safe and a very wothwhile procedure. It has helped many patients, who would otherwise have been disabled by pain and restricted in their activities.