LumbarSpine.net
- LumbarSpine.net is
a place for Physicians,
students, or anyone
else interested in the
study of the human vertebrae,
spinal column, and nervous
system and the various
affects they have on
our health and mobility.
- The idea behind this
project was to put a
wealth of information
together in an easy
to understand format,
as well as an easy to
navigate site that we
can all use effectively.
Mission
This idea was born from
a thirst for knowledge
by a group of physicians
to provide all of us the
FACTS, regardless of training
or ideology. We hope it
serves its purpose and
continues to grow!
Back
Pain
What is Back
Pain? Back pain
is one of the most common
medical problems. It effects
most people sometime in
their life. Acute or short-term
low back pain generally
lasts from a few days
to a few weeks. Most acute
back pain is the result
of trauma to the lower
back or a disorder such
as arthritis. Pain from
trauma may be caused by
a sports injury, work
around the house or in
the garden, or a sudden
jolt such as a car accident
or other stress on spinal
bones and tissues. Symptoms
may range from muscle
ache to shooting or stabbing
pain, limited flexibility
and range of motion, or
an inability to stand
straight. Chronic back
pain is pain that persists
for more than 3 months.
It is often progressive
and the cause can be difficult
to determine.
Is there any treatment
for back pain?
Most low back pain can
be treated without surgery.
Treatment involves using
over-the-counter pain
relievers to reduce discomfort
and anti-inflammatory
drugs to reduce inflammation.
The goal of treatment
is to restore proper function
and strength to the back,
and prevent recurrence
of the injury. Medications
are often used to treat
acute and chronic low
back pain. Effective pain
relief may involve a combination
of prescription drugs
and over-the-counter remedies.
Although the use of cold
and hot compresses has
never been scientifically
proven to quickly resolve
low back injury, compresses
may help reduce pain and
inflammation and allow
greater mobility for some
individuals. Bed rest
is recommended for only
1–2 days at most.
Individuals should resume
activities as soon as
possible. Exercise may
be the most effective
way to speed recovery
from low back pain and
help strengthen back and
abdominal muscles. In
the most serious cases,
when the condition does
not respond to other therapies,
surgery may relieve pain
caused by back problems
or serious musculoskeletal
injuries.
What is the prognosis
of back pain?
Most patients with back
pain recover without residual
functional loss, but individuals
should contact a doctor
if there is not a noticeable
reduction in pain and
inflammation after 72
hours of self-care. Recurring
back pain resulting from
improper body mechanics
or other non traumatic
causes is often preventable.
Engaging in exercises
that don't jolt or strain
the back, maintaining
correct posture, and lifting
objects properly can help
prevent injuries. Many
work-related injuries
are caused or aggravated
by stressors such as heavy
lifting, vibration, repetitive
motion, and awkward posture.
Applying ergonomic principles
— designing furniture
and tools to protect the
body from injury —
at home and in the workplace
can greatly reduce the
risk of back injury and
help maintain a healthy
back.
What research
is being done about back
pain? The National
Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
and other institutes of
the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) conduct
pain research in laboratories
at the NIH and also support
pain research through
grants to major medical
institutions across the
country. Currently, researchers
are examining the use
of different drugs to
effectively treat back
pain, in particular, chronic
pain that has lasted at
least 6 months. Other
studies are comparing
different health care
approaches to the management
of acute low back pain
(standard care versus
chiropractic, acupuncture,
or massage therapy). These
studies are measuring
symptom relief, restoration
of function, and patient
satisfaction. Other research
is comparing standard
surgical treatments to
the most commonly used
standard non surgical
treatments to measure
changes in health-related
quality of life among
patients suffering from
spinal stenosis.
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