FAQ

Though TB commonly affects the lungs, it can also affect bones and joints (called skeletal tuberculosis).
In fact, the spine is the most common site of bone TB. Get the best tuberculosis spine treatment in Vizag from Dr. B. Leela Prasad.

Anyone can get TB spine—young or old, healthy or sick, educated or not, well-nourished or undernourished.

TB spine is a medical condition—not a reflection of lifestyle, hygiene, education, or social status.

However, the risk is higher in:

• People with diabetes
• Patients with HIV
• Patients on long-term steroids/chemotherapy/immune-suppressive medications

No. TB spine is not contagious. It does not spread from person to person.

Only lung TB (pulmonary TB) spreads through air when an infected person coughs. Spinal TB itself does not spread.

• Fever, weight loss, and loss of appetite may be present in some patients — but not all.
• Cough is present only in patients with lung TB.

Patients with TB spine do not have cough unless they also have lung TB.

Back pain due to TB spine is often more severe, persistent, progressive and  worse at night.. Unlike routine back pain it doesn’t improve with rest or painkillers.

TB spine is primarily a medical disease and can be cured with proper anti-TB medication alone.

Surgery is needed only in selected cases, such as:

• Weakness or paralysis due to nerve compression
• Severe or worsening deformity (hump)
• Spinal instability
• Large abscess
• No improvement despite proper medication

Most patients recover without surgery. For more information about the treatment, it is recommended to consult the best spine specialist near me.

Paralysis is uncommon and usually occurs when:

• Diagnosis is delayed
• Treatment is inadequate

If treated early, paralysis often recovers well.
However, if treatment or surgery is delayed, recovery may be incomplete.

Early diagnosis is key.

A slipped disc (also called a herniated or prolapsed disc) happens when the soft gel-like center (nucleus pulposus) of a spinal disc pushes out through a tear in the outer layer (annulus fibrosus). This can press on nearby nerves and cause pain, numbness, or weakness.  To get the best slip disc treatment, you need to consult a top spine specialist for better understanding.

Symptoms depend on the level (cervical/thoracic/lumbar) of the disc prolapse. Common symptoms are:

Lumbar (lower back) disc prolapse:

• Lower back pain
• Pain radiating down the leg (sciatica)
• Numbness or tingling in legs
• Muscle weakness

Cervical (neck) disc prolapse:

• Neck pain
• Pain radiating to the shoulder/arm/forearm or hand.
• Tingling or numbness in fingers
• Weak grip strength

No, many people with slipped discs do not have symptoms. 

• A slipped disc is suspected by a good clinical history and thorough physical examination of the patient and confirmed by an MRI scan.

• X-rays are done to rule out other problems and also help in surgical planning.

As mentioned above, the symptoms of a slipped disc resolve within 4-6 weeks in more than 90% of patients irrespective of the treatment modality. This is the natural history of a slipped disc.