I need a back condition that would be 'naturally' occuring(meaning that he didn't fall and get hurt, but that his lifestyle would contribute to) and need surgery.
James

I'm not sure I understand what you're looking for, but if you go to www.webmd.com they have a symptom checker. You can put in some general information about the character (weight, sex, smoking or non) and put the symptoms the character is experiencing in and they will give you a list of possible causes. It's not the same as asking a doctor, but...


Elisabeth

Well, there are...

Appendicitis (okay, isn't exactly occuring due to a certain lifestyle, but definitely needs surgery)

Stones of the gall bladder (cholecystolithiasis)= most definitely due to life style, occuring in most western countries. Though the risk factors are being female, obese,over forty and having many children ( I guess this doesn`t fit for Clark. But there are also men having this condition) Needs surgery, because it will come over and over again if you don't remove the gall bladder

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) Well, let's hope he won't need surgery, because it has to be really, really bad before physician stop conservative therapy and start surgery. Happens due to too much alcohol or the above mentioned stones of the gall bladder.

Thats what comes to my mind right now. I might be back with more.

Thanks, Sweetie, that web site is perfect.

Bone Spurs on the lower spine which are causing damage to the spinal column.

From webmd.com

What is a bone spur?

A bone spur (osteophyte) is a bony growth formed on normal bone. Most people think of something sharp when they think of a "spur," but a bone spur is just extra bone. It’s usually smooth, but it can cause wear and tear or pain if it presses or rubs on other bones or soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, or nerves in the body. Common places for bone spurs include the spine, shoulders, hands, hips, knees, and feet.

What causes bone spurs?

A bone spur forms as the body tries to repair itself by building extra bone. It generally forms in response to pressure, rubbing, or stress that continues over a long period of time.

Some bone spurs form as part of the aging process. As we age, the slippery tissue called cartilage that covers the ends of the bones within joints breaks down and eventually wears away (osteoarthritis). In addition, the discs that provide cushioning between the bones of the spine may break down with age. Over time, this leads to pain and swelling and, in some cases, bone spurs forming along the edges of the joint. Bone spurs due to aging are especially common in the joints of the spine and feet.

Bone spurs also form in the feet in response to tight ligaments, to activities such as dancing and running that put stress on the feet, and to pressure from being overweight or from poorly fitting shoes. For example, the long ligament on the bottom of the foot (plantar fascia) can become stressed or tight and pull on the heel, causing the ligament to become inflamed (plantar fasciitis). As the bone tries to mend itself, a bone spur can form on the bottom of the heel (known as a "heel spur"). Pressure at the back of the heel from frequently wearing shoes that are too tight can cause a bone spur on the back of the heel. This is sometimes called a "pump bump" because it is often seen in women who wear high heels.

Another common site for bone spurs is the shoulder. Your shoulder joint is able to move in a number of directions due to its complex structure. Over time, the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that make up your shoulder can wear against one another. The muscles that allow you to lift and rotate your arm (called the rotator cuff) start at your shoulder blade and are attached to your upper arm with tendons. As these tendons move through the narrow space between the top of your shoulder and your upper arm, they can rub on the bones. Bone spurs can form in this narrow area that, in turn, pinch the rotator cuff tendons, resulting in irritation, inflammation, stiffness, weakness, pain, and sometimes tearing of the tendon. This condition, rotator cuff disorder, commonly occurs with age and/or repetitive use of the shoulder. It is also common in athletes, especially baseball players, and in people such as painters who frequently work with their arms above their heads.

What are the symptoms?

Many people have bone spurs without ever knowing it, because most bone spurs cause no symptoms. However, if they are pressing on other bones or tissues or are causing a muscle or tendon to rub, they can break that tissue down over time, causing swelling, pain, and tearing. Bone spurs in the foot can also cause corns and calluses when tissue builds up to provide added padding over the bone spur.

How are bone spurs diagnosed?

A bone spur is usually visible on an X-ray. However, since most bone spurs do not cause problems, it would be unusual to take an X-ray just to see whether you have a bone spur. If you had an X-ray to evaluate one of the problems associated with bone spurs, such as arthritis, bone spurs would be visible on that X-ray.

How are they treated?

Bone spurs do not require treatment unless they are causing pain or damaging other tissues. When needed, treatment may be directed at the causes, the symptoms, or the bone spurs themselves.

Treatment directed at the cause of bone spurs may include weight loss to take some pressure off the joints (especially when osteoarthritis or plantar fasciitis is the cause) and stretching the affected area, such as the heel cord and bottom of the foot. Seeing a physical therapist for ultrasound or deep tissue massage may be helpful for plantar fasciitis or shoulder pain.

Treatment directed at symptoms could include rest, ice, stretching, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen. Education in how to protect your joints is helpful if you have osteoarthritis. If a bone spur is in your foot, changing footwear or adding padding or a shoe insert such as a heel cup or orthotic may help. If the bone spur is causing corns or calluses, padding the area or wearing different shoes can help. A podiatrist (foot doctor) may be consulted if corns and calluses become a bigger problem. If the bone spur continues to cause symptoms, your health professional may suggest a corticosteroid injection at the painful area to decrease pain and inflammation of the soft tissues next to the bone spur.

Sometimes the bone spurs themselves are treated. Bone spurs can be surgically removed or treated as part of a surgery to repair or replace a joint when osteoarthritis has caused considerable damage and deformity. Examples might include repair of a bunion or heel spur in the foot or removal of small spurs underneath the point of the shoulder.

Thank you also, Bakasi for your suggestions.

I was looking for something more long term and life threatening. So, even though I can use them I appreciate your contribution.

James

osteoporosis and/or spinal arthritis and/or herniated disks. Lifestyle factors: overweight, lack of exercise, poor nutrition.

Long term and life threatening? Well, there is of course cancer. Risk factors usually are - smoking, working with chemicals, in some cases obesity.
This is both long term in development and treatment.

Another life threatening condition would be Aortic dissection or Aortic aneurysm. The first one has a very acute onset, involving chest or back pain. Depending on the exact place it must be treated with an acute surgery. The healing would take some time. Risk factor: Hypertension.

An aortic aneurysm has a longer history of development. Usually you would keep an eye on it, until the diameter of the Aorta is about 4 cm (about 2 inches??? I'm not sure) The risk of rupture of the aorta increases with the diameter of the vessel. An acute rupture is most likely to be lethal. The recovery from the surgery would also take some time, I suppose.

Thank you for all your suggestions. I've picked which one I want to use.

James