Lumbago
Munich Clinic
Conservative, minimally invasive and surgical treatments at the Munich East Spine Center
Climbing stairs effortlessly, walking without pain, getting up from a chair, bending over, getting in or out of a car: for many people, this is a problem. Deep-seated lower back pain, which often radiates into the buttocks and down into the thighs, makes their lives a torment.
SI joint problems: causes and treatment options
Doctors often note "lumbago" on referral forms and in medical records. You've probably seen this word before. But that's just the scientific term for a phenomenon everyone knows: a slipped disc!
„Patients and doctors here often suspect the spine or intervertebral discs as the cause of the symptoms,“ says neurosurgeon Dr. Samer Ismail (47) from the Munich-East Spine Center. „But the actual cause of severe lower back pain and lumbago lies in the sacroiliac joint in one out of every three sufferers.“
This largely unknown joint (technical term: sacroiliac joint or SI joint) is located in the pelvis at the lower end of the lumbar spine. It is formed by the iliac bones and the sacrum, the extension of the spinal column. Its function is crucial: it absorbs all forces acting on the pelvis. Under stress, the ligaments loosen, the joint surfaces rub against each other, and can become misaligned and locked. This, in turn, irritates the nerve fibers running through the area, leading to inflammation and pain that can radiate down the leg and even become chronic.
However, caution is advised: X-rays and MRI scans cannot definitively show whether there is damage to the sacroiliac joint. Doctors often resort to the diagnosis of "SI joint dysfunction" when they are unsure of the next steps. Alternative practitioners also frequently refer to blockages without knowing the true diagnosis.
Dr. med. Samer Ismail
Since 2012, we have been certified as a highly specialized spine center throughout Germany and at the WZMO we treat all acute and chronic diseases and pain conditions of the spine.
Conservative therapies for lumbago: Munich Clinic
Munich East Spine Center
Dr. Ismail then advises first on pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications and prescribes physiotherapy. These conservative measures can actually help every second patient.
Minimally invasive therapies for lumbago in Munich at the WZMO
If all these treatments prove ineffective even after six months, the Munich back specialist employs a new and particularly gentle method: "Using a very thin cannula and under constant X-ray camera monitoring, we insert a special probe directly into the sacroiliac joint in the pelvic region," explains SI joint expert Dr. Is-mail. "The patient receives light twilight sedation for this procedure. We then deactivate the nerve pathways with water-cooled radiofrequency waves. The water circulating in the probe generates a temperature of only 60 degrees Celsius, thus interrupting only the transmission of pain signals in the nerve. The nerve itself is not damaged by the water cooling."„
With the help of the new, cooled water probe, patients remain pain-free for two to three years because the pain memory is deactivated. The previously standard procedure of screwing and fusing the sacroiliac joint can usually be avoided. If necessary, further treatment of the sacroiliac joint with the water probe is easily possible later on. Some patients, however, remain pain-free permanently. The success rate of the radiofrequency treatment is over 80 percent.“
New patients are also welcome: Your Center for Spinal Medicine in Munich
a comprehensive anamnesis interview
The identification of pre-existing conditions, for example, using existing X-rays or diagnoses from your family doctor. Please bring along any documents you have available.
the use of imaging techniques (MRI)
If necessary, the use of electroneurography and lumbar puncture
Are you most afraid of the "tube"? Don't worry, we completely understand. Many patients initially feel uneasy when a CT scanner is used. At our practice in Munich, we therefore use state-of-the-art technology that not only offers you more space than other machines, but also allows you to relax while listening to music or watching videos. And a friendly smile and an encouraging word are always part of our daily routine.
Acute back pain? Need advice? We're ready!
Are you already suffering from back pain and suspect you have lumbago? Then don't wait too long, contact us as soon as possible. Book your appointment online or call us during our office hours.
