Dr Adriaan Liebenberg My Spine Explained | Page 18

My Spine Explained
This knowledge is very important as knowing your family is at risk, will
allow you to identify those that have the same genetic tendency early. Not all
the members of the family will have the same tendency and sometimes only
one member of the family will have the genetic trait.
Identifying members of your family who have the same tendency allows for
early referral for a MRI scan, which will allow for the diagnosis to be made.
Conservative and corrective exercise programs can then be instituted by a
team of appropriately qualified personnel which may include an occupation-
al therapist with an interest in spinal conditions, physiotherapist or biokine-
thetist.
Oral medication that reduce the inflammation of the spine can be used in the
short term and in the medium to long term, facet blocks and facet rhizotomies
are a conservative procedure that can relieve the inflammation and pain from
the spine without resorting to surgery. These are performed by appropriately
qualified spinal specialists as day cases.
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