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.
There is no definitive treatment for this problem. Over the counter analgesic agents are usually prescribed. They include non-steroidal analgesic agents such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen among others. If these fail to relieve the pain, stronger drugs such as opioids may be used. Surgery is reserved for the very severe cases and involves placement of prostheses to replace affected articular surfaces. Exercise has a role as well.
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 are also offered widely. The former is a practice that involves the use of needles to restore wellness. These needles are inserted in specific predetermined areas of the body to influence the flow of life energy (qi). Acupressure works in similar fashion but instead of needles, pressure is exerted using the palm of the hand.
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.
There is no definitive treatment for this problem. Over the counter analgesic agents are usually prescribed. They include non-steroidal analgesic agents such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac and naproxen among others. If these fail to relieve the pain, stronger drugs such as opioids may be used. Surgery is reserved for the very severe cases and involves placement of prostheses to replace affected articular surfaces. Exercise has a role as well.
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 are also offered widely. The former is a practice that involves the use of needles to restore wellness. These needles are inserted in specific predetermined areas of the body to influence the flow of life energy (qi). Acupressure works in similar fashion but instead of needles, pressure is exerted using the palm of the hand.
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