Back ache is a common problem among both men and women. Both are affected in almost the same proportions. The incidence becomes higher with advancing age. For ease of management, it is divided into acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is that which has been experienced for not more than two weeks while chronic pain is that which has existed for more than two weeks. Blue Bell, PA residents need to understand a number of things when looking for back pain relief.
The management of this condition is determined by the underlying problem. In most acute cases, the cause is a muscular strain that tends to resolve within a few days even without treatment. The preceding event is, in most cases, strenuous physical activity. Failure to respond to over the counter analgesic agents may lead to chronicity.
One of the commonest causes of chronic back ache is a condition known as osteoarthritis. This is degenerative condition affecting the large joints. It frequently starts during the sixth decade of life and remains persistent. Some of the joints that are likely to be affected are the knee joints, the hip joints and the joints of the spine. Symptoms are observed to be worse with movement.
While there is no definitive treatment of osteoarthritis (except removal of affected bones in severe cases), analgesic agents are often used to provide relief. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs, NSAIDs are, in particular, quite helpful. Examples include diclofenac, naproxen and aspirin among others. Opioids and opioid-like drugs such as tramadol may be prescribed if the symptoms are severe. Exercise is often prescribed alongside the drugs.
Infections are another cause of both acute and chronic pain. If the causative agent is isolated and found to be bacterial, antibiotics are usually prescribed and they provide relief in a matter of days. The most feared infection is tuberculosis. This is because, the infection usually destroys the vertebral bodies and may result in marked spinal instability. Surgery (spinal fusion) is often required to restore normalcy.
Tumors cause pain by affecting bony structures as well as soft tissues. There are two main types of tumors that affect the spine: primary and secondary. Primary tumors originate from vertebral bodies while secondary tumors are those that have spread to the spine from other regions. The commonest primary tumor is malignant melanoma. Others are osteochondroma, giant cell tumor and osteosarcoma among others. Secondary tumors originate from other sites including the breast, the thyroid, the prostate and the kidneys among others.
Apart from medical therapies, there are a number of other treatments that have been tried successfully for this problem. Physical therapy is among those that are most effective. It consist of two forms; passive and active exercises. Active exercises are those that are done by the patients themselves while passive exercises are conducted by the therapist. The common practice is to combine both forms so as to optimize on the results.
Acupuncture and acupressure have been tried with varied success. Acupuncture is based on the belief that wellness is dependent on the normal flow of life energy in the body and sickness occurs due to disordered flow. When special needles are inserted into predetermined areas, they help to restore a state of normalcy. Acupressure works in the same way but uses palm pressure instead of needles.
The management of this condition is determined by the underlying problem. In most acute cases, the cause is a muscular strain that tends to resolve within a few days even without treatment. The preceding event is, in most cases, strenuous physical activity. Failure to respond to over the counter analgesic agents may lead to chronicity.
One of the commonest causes of chronic back ache is a condition known as osteoarthritis. This is degenerative condition affecting the large joints. It frequently starts during the sixth decade of life and remains persistent. Some of the joints that are likely to be affected are the knee joints, the hip joints and the joints of the spine. Symptoms are observed to be worse with movement.
While there is no definitive treatment of osteoarthritis (except removal of affected bones in severe cases), analgesic agents are often used to provide relief. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs, NSAIDs are, in particular, quite helpful. Examples include diclofenac, naproxen and aspirin among others. Opioids and opioid-like drugs such as tramadol may be prescribed if the symptoms are severe. Exercise is often prescribed alongside the drugs.
Infections are another cause of both acute and chronic pain. If the causative agent is isolated and found to be bacterial, antibiotics are usually prescribed and they provide relief in a matter of days. The most feared infection is tuberculosis. This is because, the infection usually destroys the vertebral bodies and may result in marked spinal instability. Surgery (spinal fusion) is often required to restore normalcy.
Tumors cause pain by affecting bony structures as well as soft tissues. There are two main types of tumors that affect the spine: primary and secondary. Primary tumors originate from vertebral bodies while secondary tumors are those that have spread to the spine from other regions. The commonest primary tumor is malignant melanoma. Others are osteochondroma, giant cell tumor and osteosarcoma among others. Secondary tumors originate from other sites including the breast, the thyroid, the prostate and the kidneys among others.
Apart from medical therapies, there are a number of other treatments that have been tried successfully for this problem. Physical therapy is among those that are most effective. It consist of two forms; passive and active exercises. Active exercises are those that are done by the patients themselves while passive exercises are conducted by the therapist. The common practice is to combine both forms so as to optimize on the results.
Acupuncture and acupressure have been tried with varied success. Acupuncture is based on the belief that wellness is dependent on the normal flow of life energy in the body and sickness occurs due to disordered flow. When special needles are inserted into predetermined areas, they help to restore a state of normalcy. Acupressure works in the same way but uses palm pressure instead of needles.
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