Back Pain Signs and symptoms
Back Pain starting in low back and running downwards to leg is an important symptom that drives the patient to the physician. Others symptoms include tingling sensation, difficulty in walking due to pain, weakness in both lower limbs and occasionally incontinence of urine and faeces.
Alexander Technique: This pertains to education about body awareness in different postures. It helps in relaxing the tight musculature in working posture and thus brings about a permanent relief in pain.
Back Pain Prevention
Stress Management:
In many cases the back pain recurs in a stressful situation. Thus, an appropriate stress management strategy is helpful to prevent recurring painful episodes.
Aerobic Conditioning: Aerobic activities as a general routine are recommended. Exercise improves the blood supply and releases endorphins which naturally provide pain relief. Walking is recommended for back pain as it reduces the pressure on the discs.
Correct Posture: Poor posture is one of the leading causes of recurring back pain. Thus, postural advice needs to be continued for a lifetime to prevent any further episodes.
Regular Fitness Routine: This incorporates stretching exercises, cardiovascular activities, strengthening exercises, core exercises to prevent any further episodes of back pain.
Follow Safe Lifting Techniques: Lift any object from the ground by bending the knees rather than the back. Pushing is better than pulling heavy objects. Hold the objects close to the body while lifting them to reduce the stress on the back. Avoid twisting your body while lifting.
Avoid High Heels: High heels alter your posture thus increasing stress on the back. Hence, regular use of high heels should be avoided. Remember! Keep moving. Keep stretching. Keep strengthening. And when the pain goes away, don’t stop! Continue your ergonomic behaviors, improved posture, and exercise program indefinitely. All these activities help your back stay healthy!
Diagnosis: Clinical examination for sciatic nerve compression hints the diagnosis which is further confirmed by X-ray, CT or MRI.
Back Pain Treatment
The main aim in the treatment of sciatica is focused on relieving pressure and inflammation on the nerve root. The treatment modalities of modern science include. Non-surgical treatments like analgesics, ant-inflammatory, rest and stretching exercise. Surgical intervention like microdisectomy or lumbar laminectomy and discectomy (to remove the portion of the disc that is irritating the nerve root) is performed. Surgical treatment is planned if pain is severe and has not been relieved by conservative medical management.
