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A physicians Advice on Back Pain
Ever had back pain? Most of us will answer yes. The pain can be anywhere from a dull ache to one which causes permanent loss of work.
What Are The Causes
Majority of low back pain is caused by strains on the muscles and ligament of the back. Other more serious are due to a protruding disc or very rarely a tumor or infection. Limit my remarks to muscle or ligament strain as well as some words on sciatica and disc problems.
What Should I Do?
Research and treatment has changed over the past 20 years. It was no more than 20 years ago that strict bed rest was prescribed for long periods of time. Now here is what is needed: 1. Today we use bed rest for a maximum of 1-3 days. 2. Anti-inflammatory medication, like Advil or Aleve, along with muscle relaxants are the mainstay of today's treatment. 3. I also recommend using ice packs for the first 24 hours and then use heat alternating with ice (15 minutes on and 15 minutes off) helps the pain and relaxes the muscles. 4. Call your doctor if after 4-5 days you are not getting any better or if you have trouble controlling your bladder or bowels. 5. If you have severe agonizing back pain, more than you have ever had, go to an emergency room. You may not have muscle train but have trouble with the aorta (the large blood vessel that carries blood to your legs)and you could be starting to have a tear in it.
What Is Sciatica? It is a..
..term that is sometime used interchangeably with low back pain. True sciatica is low back pain combined with a pain through the buttock and down one leg. The pain usually goes past the knee and may go into the foot and toes. Sometimes, weakness in the leg muscles or toe occurs with sciatica.
What About A Disc
It is caused by the pinching or pressure on a nerve coming out of the spine that goes to a leg or an arm. There is a weakness of the ring around the disc and allows the disc to protrude or herniated into the nerve. This becomes weakened with age or lifting the wrong way.
Treatment of both sciatica and disc
Initially is the same as for a back strain. Surgery should be considered ONLY as the LAST RESORT if it does not get any better over a period of 6 -10 weeks.
At this stage it is always worth another opinion from a neurosurgeon. As mentioned in another part of this article if there is a sudden change in leg or foot weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control seek medical attention urgently.
Prevention Of Back Pain Is Key
..because once you have a back problem you are susceptible to it happening again and again. 1. Learn how to lift. Lift with your knees. In other words squat before you lift and don't bend over what you are going to pick up. 2. If your work involves a lot of lifting use a waist belt. 3. Exercises to tone your muscles can help as well as stretching.
Looking For Exercise Equipment
To build up your abdominal and back muscles I have had excellent service from Workout Warehouse. There is strengthening equipment that you should consider and available at most This system will easily improve the tone and strength of your back.
What About Back X-rays - Be Careful
1. As a rule routine back x-rays are not helpful or needed. This has been shown in numerous studies. Don't get any un-needed radiation. 2. As a rule of thumb if your back isn't getting better after 4-6 weeks of conservative treatment than your doctor may opt to get an MRI or Cat Scan of your lower back. These are the tests of preference, but only after conservative treatment.
Ask your doctor what will change in my treatment if it shows I have or not have a disc? There should be good options that she/he has
Dr Bob here again. What about other
Alternative Forms Of Treatment
for low back pain? Studies have shown the appropriateness of chiropractic or osteopathic care and manipulation. Compared side by side with medical care the time for healing was about the same for both and the cost for traditional medical care was more than chiropractic care. Remember - xrays are not needed. If this is caused by muscles or ligaments and sometimes disc and sciatica you will improve
Do I Need To Change My Mattress?
A 2003 study from
The Keys to Back Pain
Prevention is definitely the key. Each of us needs to be careful how we pick up – and that’s with our knees flexed. If you are doing a lot of lifting use a back belt.
Exercise regularly, including stretching exercises. Stretch the muscles of your legs and your back. Do this for about 5 minutes prior to either working or exercising.
If you injure your back use ICE for the first 24 hours and then ice alternating with heat, 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off. Remember bed rest is not generally been found to be helpful with back pain.
Stay away from routine x-rays of your back, they cannot and generally will not help in the treatment of your back. Yes, even for “re-alignment” of your back.
Submitted by www.physician-on-health.com/backpain.html
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