Posts Tagged ‘pain relief’

Chronic Back Pain

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Chronic back pain can be very difficult to treat, even more so in cases involving unsuccessful back surgery or neuropathic or Nerve Pain. The pain tends to last a long time, and continues even after physiotherapy and is not relieved by the standard types of medical management.

It may be the result of a an old sports injury long since healed, or the result of arthritis or some form of nerve damage.Usually it is the involuntary, habituated contraction of back muscles which can be induced by emotional issues, ongoing reaction to pain or general stress.

There are two main reasons for chronic pain. These include the physical injury and neurological problems. While physical injuries can be identified and treated effectively, it is often difficult to diagnose neurological problems. Chronic pain can also be a result of certain psychological process.

Chronic pain, being acute and recurring, is debilitating and frustrates the patient by hindering their normal day to day activities. Often, patients of chronic pain suffer even for years with the pain progressing in intensity.

Chronic back pain in the back can be caused due to aging when the elasticity of the muscles and strength of the bone decreases to a great extent. There is no flexibility and fluidity in the discs and therefore the vertebrae is not sufficiently cushioned resulting in Acute Back Pain. Chronic pain can be due to lifting heavy objects and not doing so in a safe way, over stretching, spasm in ligaments or muscles, strain and sprain.

Sometimes, chronic back pain can also be a result of a serious medical problem. It is vital to consult a doctor, identify the cause and start treatment in order to manage and bring the pain under control.

Chronic pain in the back is usually diagnosed with x-rays, electro-diagnostic procedures, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography, bone scans, ultrasound imaging, thermography and discography.

Most of the time this pain can be treated without going in for any surgical procedure. Doctors may prescribe medications to be complemented with ice packs, exercise and bed rest. Effective medications include a combination of over the counter drugs and prescription drugs. Only if none of these methods reduce the pain, doctors advise going in for surgery.

Back Injury

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Back injury is one of the most common complaints that can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain that can leave you incapacitated and unable to perform your normal everyday tasks. The pain can come on suddenly or be due to an accident, a bad fall, or from lifting something too heavy. Whether due to an spinal injury or illness this can greatly reduce the quality of life for the suffer and getting the correct therapy or Back Pain Relief from your doctor as soon as possible so the condition does not get agrevated

Injury to the back can occur due to accidents, lifting heavy weights incorrectly or even due to prolonged improper posture such as sitting at a computer all day. It is very important to identify the right cause and location of the pain for your medical practitioner to provide proper care and effective treatment,

Back injury can be caused due to muscle strains. It may have just started as a spasm, which when ignored can progress to a severe back pain. A particular event such as lifting a heavy object incorrectly may have triggered the initial spasm which the patient may not even be aware of or remember.

Ruptured disc can also cause severe back pain and injury. Here, the herniated disc or the intervertabral disc is ruptured leading to acute pain and discomfort. Discogenic pain is one of the most common injuries. Here the back injury is caused by intervertabral disc damage. This injury is diagnosed using a discogram.

Spinal stenosis is a pain in the back that affects older people. With aging, there is a noticeable constriction in the spinal canal as a result of arthritis and other conditions. This tightening of the spinal canal results in acute pain or Chronic Back Pain.

Back injury can also be caused due to lumbar spine arthritis. This condition can cause extreme back pain restricting movement to a great extent. Spondylolisthesis is the slipping of the vertebra as it becomes unstable due to loss of spinal column’s normal stabilizing structures caused by degenerative changes. An unstable spine can cause severe back pain.

Osteoporosis causes severe discomfort and pain. This is caused by vertebra’s compression fractures. These fractures result from weakening of the bones. There are various treatment options for this type of injury. Choosing the right method on time will ensure faster recovery from injury and pain.