Back pain is a common problem that affects men and women in nearly equal proportions. The incidence of the condition appears to increase with advancing age. In general, the problem may be described as being acute or chronic. The latter term is used if it has lasted for less than two weeks and the former used if the duration is more than two weeks. There are a number of things on back pain relief Blue Bell, PA residents need to know if struggling with the problem.
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.
Osteoarthritis is a common cause of chronic back ache. It is a degenerative condition that predominantly affects the large joints such as the knee, the hip and the spine joints among others. It is seen in a significant number of seniors that have reached their sixth decade of life. The symptoms are aggravated by movements occurring at the affected joints.
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.
Several other options other than medical treatment and surgery are available. Physical therapy is among the most commonly used alternatives. There are two main types of exercises that can be used: passive and active. Passive exercises are conducted by the therapist while active exercises are done by the patient. To increase the chances of success, the two are often offered concurrently.
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.
Osteoarthritis is a common cause of chronic back ache. It is a degenerative condition that predominantly affects the large joints such as the knee, the hip and the spine joints among others. It is seen in a significant number of seniors that have reached their sixth decade of life. The symptoms are aggravated by movements occurring at the affected joints.
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.
Several other options other than medical treatment and surgery are available. Physical therapy is among the most commonly used alternatives. There are two main types of exercises that can be used: passive and active. Passive exercises are conducted by the therapist while active exercises are done by the patient. To increase the chances of success, the two are often offered concurrently.
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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