I thought I just sprained my back on the icy road... Is it this 'disease'?

Many people dismiss back pain as a simple strain, but it could be a sign of a 'spinal tumor'.On the 7th, snow will fall across most regions nationwide, continuing the severe cold. The snow falling from the morning will mostly stop in the metropolitan area, inland Gangwon, and mountainous areas by morning, while in the Chungcheong and Gyeongsang regions, it will mostly stop in the afternoon.

The minimum temperature in the morning is forecasted to be between -14 and 0 degrees, and the maximum daytime temperature between -8 and 3 degrees. The fine dust concentration is expected to be in the 'Good' to 'Moderate' range across all regions.

Today's health = Once again, heavy snowfall and sub-zero cold have caused roads across the country to freeze. The most important thing to watch out for in such weather is falls. Falling on slippery ice can cause injuries to various parts of the body, including the spine.

However, if symptoms of leg numbness accompanied by pain severe enough to disturb restful sleep occur, this may not be just simple back pain but an early sign of a 'spinal tumor'.

The spine serves as the pillar of our body and is an important structure that protects the spinal cord, which is part of the central nervous system. It is mainly composed of vertebrae (skeletal structure) and the spinal cord passing through them, and tumors that develop in this area are called spinal tumors.

The most common form is the metastasis of tumors originating from other organs to the spine, but there are also patients with tumors growing within the vertebrae or spinal cord. Treatment strategies vary depending on the type of tumor and symptoms, but complete resection through surgery is generally recommended.

The most characteristic symptom of spinal tumors is persistent pain in the back, waist, or neck. As the tumor enlarges and compresses nerves, it can cause numbness and loss of sensation in the legs or arms. Because of this, many patients mistakenly think it is a common back or neck pain. If the pain worsens despite rest and symptoms persist for more than several weeks, it is necessary to see a specialist for an examination.

Professor Heo Joon-seok of Korea University Anam Hospital's Neurosurgery Department said, "Early diagnosis of spinal tumors is more important than anything else," and advised, "If pain leads to other neurological symptoms such as leg numbness, you must visit a hospital and consult a specialist to determine the treatment method."

Jang Ja-won jang@kormedi.com