Download Spine Surgeon Dedicated To Getting His Patients

The Bristol Press | BristolPress.com
BRISTOL HOSPITAL
Friday, December 18, 2015 | 3
Bristol Hospital Spotlight:
Spine Surgeon Dedicated To Getting
His Patients “Back” To Health
Spine surgeon Ashish Upadhyay,
MD, joined the medical staff of the
Bristol Hospital Multi-Specialty
Group and the hospital’s Center for
Orthopedic and Spine Health
in November.
and interferes with a patient’s
day to day living. Usually the first
steps in treatment is prescribing
anti-inflammatory medications
and muscle relaxants for acute
pain and having the patient
undergo physical therapy. The
next step may include pain
injections. After all these options
have been exhausted, then we
consider surgery. For me it’s not
only about surgery and getting
rid of the pain—it’s about giving
a patient their quality of life
back and making them useful for
themselves and the community.
Dr. Upadhyay comes to Bristol
Hospital from Adena Regional
Medical Center in Chillicothe, Ohio,
where he practiced orthopedic
spine surgery. He completed
his spinal surgery fellowship at
the Leatherman Spine Center
and Kosair Children’s Hospital
at the University of Louisville.
His fellowship focused on spine
trauma, infection, deformity,
tumors, degenerative spine, and
minimally invasive procedures
of the cervical, thoracic and the
lumbar spine.
Dr. Upadhyay completed
orthopedic surgery residencies at
the University of Illinois, Chicago;
Royal College of Surgeons of
Edinburgh, Great Britain; and the
University of Delhi, India, where
he also received his medical
degree. He comes with the training
background of both orthopedic
and neurosurgery during his
fellowship training in Louisville. He
has received spinal surgery training
from surgeons in Oxford, England
and neurosurgeons at the King’s
College Hospital in London. He
has authored many international
research publications and book
chapters in reputed textbooks in
the field of orthopedics and spine
surgery. Dr. Upadhyay is boardcertified in orthopedic surgery.
In this week’s edition of Bristol
Hospital Spotlight, Dr. Upadhyay
discusses one of the most chronic
and painful conditions affecting
patients today—back pain.
Q: What are the causes of back
pain?
Dr. Upadhyay: There are numerous
causes of back pain which include
basic wear and tear of the back,
as well as aging. Poor posture
and body mechanics are common
reasons for back pain. In this day
and age of the personal computer,
more and more people are sitting
for prolonged periods of time
which also can put excessive
pressure on the spine. Another
Spine surgeon Dr. Ashish Upadhyay of the Bristol Hospital Multi-Specialty Group and the hospital’s Center for
Orthopedic and Spine Health says that 80 percent of Americans will experience an episode of back pain that
will result in missed work or other activities.
three or four times a day will
common cause is people’s
a day or two. Over the counter
help with swelling and soreness.
occupations and injuries at work.
pain and anti-inflammatory
Any job that involves frequent
medications usually help as well.
Q: How do I prevent or delay back
bending, lifting, reaching, sitting,
If the pain continues or becomes
pain?
standing or repetitive motion
very severe, you should contact
Dr. Upadhyay: You really have
contributes to risk factors for back
your primary care physician or
to adopt a healthy and active
pain. At home, lifting children or
the Center for Orthopedic and
lifestyle. Try to develop strength
other heavy loads repeatedly or
Spine Health. You also should see
in your muscles with low impact
improperly can cause back pain.
a doctor right away if the pain
exercises such as walking,
Additionally, arthritis of the spine
accompanies severe shooting pain
ellipticals and cycling. I’ve always
and damage to the discs will
going down the legs (sciatica type
said that swimming is the very
contribute to back pain as well.
pain), trouble urinating, weakness
best exercise for the back—it
Other contributing factors are
or numbness in the legs, fever or
allows you to arch your back and
obesity, smoking and genetics.
unexpected weight loss.
strengthen all the key muscle
groups. Walking in the water also
Q: How common is back pain?
has tremendous benefit. Good
Q: What should I do if my back
Dr. Upadhyay: It is estimated
posture is key, especially when
hurts?
that more than 80 percent of
sitting at a desk. Leaning forward
Dr. Upadhyay: Avoid any of
Americans will experience an
on your elbows while sitting at
those activities that might be
episode of back pain that will
a desk is the worst thing for the
contributing to your back pain.
result in missed work or other
spine. The goal is to keep the neck
This time of year, shoveling
activities. The total costs of back
and back straight as much as
snow is one of those activities
pain are estimated at greater than
possible.
that definitely doesn’t help your
$100 billion annually, with twocondition. Yard work during the
thirds of that due to decreased
Q: When is it time to see a spine
spring and summer time can also
wages and productivity.
surgeon and face the fact that I
aggravate your back. Ironically,
may need back surgery?
continuing to be active to a
Q: Will my back pain get better on
Dr. Upadhyay: I am a spine
reasonable extent can actually
its own?
surgeon. This is my passion and
help with back pain. Staying in
Dr. Upadhyay: The good news
this is how I make my living.
bed for more than one or two
is that most back pains do get
However I want to avoid surgery
days can be harmful, because
better on their own. I usually
at all costs and it’s a last resort.
you tend to lose strength and
recommend reducing the
Surgery may be appropriate for
endurance. In addition to
strenuous activities that can
those who are in constant pain
taking over the counter pain
contribute to your back pain for
or if the pain occurs so frequently
medication, applying an ice pack
Q: What advancements have been
made in spine surgery?
Dr. Upadhyay: If spine surgery is
needed, patients can be reassured
that there have been many
significant advancements within
the last 15 years alone. One of
my areas of special interest is in
the area of minimally invasive
surgery. With minimally invasive
procedures, there is a smaller
incision and scar; decreased blood
loss, fewer days spent in the
hospital, and less pain medication.
For this purpose, computer
navigation is also being used.
Technology has enabled surgeons
to improve their patient outcomes
which include risk for infection
and quicker recovery after surgery.
The other area of advancement
is the motion preserving spine
surgery. Traditionally, back and
neck surgery has focused on spinal
fusion to stop the movement in
the pain producing segments.
With the motion preserving
surgeries like disc replacements
and laminoplasty, there is no more
need for a fusion and patients
can avoid stiffness of the spine.
Spinal fusion and decompression
procedures have advanced as
well. The future is bright for new,
improved methods of spinal
surgery.
For more information on
Dr. Ashish Upadhyay and the
Center for Orthopedic and Spine
Health, please contact the
Bristol Hospital Multi-Specialty
Group, 860.585.3333 or visit
bristolhospital.org