By Angela Hamilton


According to statistics, back pain is the leading cause of work absenteeism. Ninety percent of adults experience it at some point in their lives resulting in varying degrees of disability. The most important facts on back pain Conroe residents may find beneficial include risk factors, causes, symptoms, prevention and how they can manage the discomfort in case prevention does not work. We will look at each of these aspects in more detail in this article.

The characteristic features of the discomfort range from burning, piercing to just a dull ache. It usually radiates to either the arms or the legs. When the limbs are involved, the disorder may be associated with weakness, numbness or tingling. The symptoms may come from the muscles, bones, joints or nerves. Sometimes, organs like the gall bladder and pancreas are involved.

For one to arrive at diagnosis and formulate a proper management plan, it is important to categorize the back ache. Based on duration of symptoms, the discomfort can be acute, chronic or sub acute. Whereas acute discomfort lasts for a period of 12 weeks or less, the chronic type goes beyond twelve weeks. Sub acute pain falls in between acute and chronic. Based on region of the spine affected, it can be classified as sacral, lumbar, thoracic or cervical.

In over ninety percent of patients, the cause of the symptoms is unknown. No medical condition can be attributed to the discomfort. Only about two percent of cases have underlying disease. Some known causes include inflammation of bone, cancer, dislocation spinal discs, among others.Herniation of spinal discs, also a known cause, frequently results in accompanying neurological impairment. The most common site involved is the lumbar region of the spine, particularly the last two vertebrae.

Under special circumstances, the disorder should be considered with urgency and seriousness it requires. For instance, discomfort occurring after trauma may indicate a fracture. People experiencing this symptom with a known history of cancer should be investigated further for metastasis to the spine. Also, people who develop back pain with underlying conditions such as osteoporosis should be checked further since they are at risk of spinal fracture.

Regardless of the technique used in treatment, the goal is to restore comfort and normal functionality of the individual. For patients with chronic back ache, medication may not be the best approach as the drugs only achieve short term relief. Medication may therefore only be suitable for the acute phase. Treatments such as massage and guided exercises may be effective for chronic symptoms.

Surgical intervention is usually considered a last option in management as the long term risks outweigh the benefits. Some of the conditions where surgery is involved include scoliosis, lumbar disc herniation and compression fracture. Spinal stenosis, attributed to conditions such as degenerative joint disease, also needs surgery.

About one in two women have low back pain during pregnancy. Significant risk is neither associated with the weight gain in pregnancy nor its outcome such as birth weight. Major risk factors include engaging in strenuous activities such climbing stairs or carrying very heavy objects. Such activities should be avoided for the sake of the current and future pregnancies.




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