What to do when
back pain strikes |
 REST: Stop your current activity, lie down and
get up for a short walk IF YOU HAVE PAIN WHILE DRIVING,
use a pillow or roll-up a towel to support the curve in your lower back.
ICE YOUR BACK: Wrap ice in a towel, and apply
for about 10 to 15 minutes
IF YOU SLEEP on your side, place a pillow
between your legs, and bend your knees. Don't sleep on your stomach!
TAKE PAIN RELIEVER
Consider aspirin (if you tolerate it), acetaminophen (Tylenol) or
ibuprofen.
Once feeling better, reduce the dosage.
APPLY HEAT: After the pain lessen, use a warm
compress or take a hot bath, for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
SEE A DOCTOR: If the pain persists after a
couple of days, see your doctor to have your back checked !
Make an Appointment online NOW with a PMC
Doctor ! |
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| What's
Sciatica ? |
 Nerves that go to the hips and legs are very close to
the discs and bones of your back. When one of these structures get injured, it can put
pressure on the nerves.The sciatic
nerve (the lowest nerve) is often involved, which may lead to pain, or other
sensations such as pins and needles or numbness in the hips or legs. This is known as Sciatica. |
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| Disc Injuries |
When the spine is stressed, the outer ring of the
disc can be damaged or weakened, causing the
center to bulge or even rupture through the outer ring. This is called disc prolapse. |
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$ 40 BILLION / year !
That's the estimate of the cost of back pain to the society in the United
States !Low back pain is one
of the most frequent problems treated by orthopaedic surgeons. After surgery, 20 to 30% of
patients will still experience back pain.
Back injuries are the number-one cause of
lost work time, after the common cold.
Learn how
to prevent back injuries when lifting objects |
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The most common back pain is the lower back, since it bears the majority of
your weight. Low back pain can be caused by a number of factors from injuries to the
effects of aging, including :
 Low back strain or sprain: The muscles in your back can get
injured (strain) when they overwork. A sudden strong movement can injure the ligaments
that interconnect the vertebral bones to provide stability and support to your back
(sprain).
Bad posture (slouching),
Excess weight
Age: aging causes degenerative changes in the disks between
the vertebrae, and arthritis, which can become severe and cause low back stiffness and
pain.
Weak muscles
Osteoporosis and fractures: All bones lose their strength
over time, especially in postmenopausal women. Lumbar vertebrae can get fractured or
compressed from everyday activities.
Smoking
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Most cases of back pain are not serious, and respond to simple
treatments (see "what to do when back pain strikes")
Usually, treatment starts by reducing or stopping the
activity that causes pain, along with taking some kind of pain medication or reliever.
Once the initial pain has eased, it is suggested to exercise
to increase your flexibility and the strength of your abdominal and lower back muscles.
If you smoke, quit smoking to reduce the risk of back pain
recurrence. If you are overweight, try to loose weight with the help of your doctor.
In rare cases, surgery can be considered as when experiencing
severe back and leg pain due to a "slipped disk" squeezing a nerve, or with some
arthritic conditions of the spine.
However, on the long term, the best treament is still prevention !
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Here are some recommendations:
Exercise regularly: walk, swim or even walk in a pool.
Maintaining a good physical condition is key to help you reduce the risks of most health
conditions.
Try yoga to build body's strength and flexibility, as
well as relax and reduce stress
Avoid or quit smoking (to find reasons to quit smoking,
read Smoking can be a deadly addiction)
Stretch before participating in sporting activities
Maintain a proper posture when standing or sitting:
don't slouch !
Keep your body weight within reasonable limits (check
your Body Mass Index now to see if you are overweight)
Reduce emotional stress that causes muscle tension
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Back pain affects about 80% of Americans at some
point during their lives. Sedentary jobs and lifestyles, obesity and strenuous sports can
stress the muscles that support the spine and damage the back. 
