By Jerry Thompson


Back pain affects men and women in almost equal proportions. The incidence increases as age advances hence it will affect a significant number of seniors. Generally, it is classified into acute and chronic. The acute form is that which has been in existence for two weeks or less while the chronic form is pain that has been experienced for more than two weeks. There are some facts on back pain relief Blue Bell, PA clients need to know if they are struggling with this problem.

Treatment is dependent on the underlying problem. Most cases of acute pain are due to muscle strain such as that which occurs after involvement in strenuous physical activity. They tend to resolve spontaneously with time or with over the counter analgesic agents. In a few cases, they may fail to resolve to the medication and progress to become chronic.

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.

No definitive treatment for osteoarthritis exists. The main method that is used for relief is over the counter analgesic drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples include ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and aspirin. Steroids and opioids may be prescribed if the NSAIDs prove ineffective. Exercise is often prescribed alongside these drugs. Surgery is reserved for the most severe forms that are characterized by extensive damage to the articular surfaces.

Infections may cause both acute and chronic pain. Bacterial infections can be easily managed using antibiotics. The antibiotics may, however, not be effective against tuberculosis. A specific set of drugs is available for this. Tuberculosis causes marked deformity and subsequent spine instability due to its destructive effect on bony structures. Corrective surgery such as spinal fusion may be needed in this case to restore normalcy.

Tumors of the spine are also characterized by pain among other symptoms. They are of two main forms: primary and secondary. The primary tumors are those that originate directly from the bones the commonest of which is known as multiple myeloma. Other examples include giant cell tumors and osteogenic sarcoma. Secondary tumors, on the other hand, originate from other organs and spread to the spine. Such organs include the thyroid, the kidneys, the prostate and breasts among others. Treating the tumors helps manage the symptoms.

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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