Nov 06, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sarah Ellis, (303) 765-6484, sarahellis@centura.org
Health News Update: Back on Track
Common Back Troubles & Treatment Options
DENVER (Nov. 6, 2009) –With four out of five Americans suffering from back pain, amounting to an estimated $100 billion a year in related costs, back pain is a cause for concern. Gin-Ming Hsu, MD, and David LaValley, MSPT, spoke at a Porter Adventist Hospital community seminar during Bone & Joint Week about the common causes of back pain and how to treat it.
The most common back pain conditions include muscle and tendon strain, followed by ligament sprain, joint arthritis, degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, stenosis (narrowing of the spine) and compression fracture. Other causes include tumors, spondyloisthesis (slipped vertebrae) or scoliosis, a curvature of the spine.
As people age, it is more common to see degenerative changes of the spine leading to complications such as arthritis and stenosis. In addition, weakness of the bones can lead to compression fractures. Stenosis of the spine can cause a person to walk hunched over or favor leaning on a grocery cart while shopping, since that position helps alleviate some of the pressure.
Symptoms of low back pain include aching, throbbing, numbness or tingling; a limited range of motion, pain in the legs and limited function. Leg pain often means a nerve is pinched.
Dr. Hsu, a rehabilitation and pain management specialist and director of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit and Pain Services at Porter Adventist Hospital, provides specific guidelines for seeking medical care related to back pain.
He says that people with back pain may need to go to a doctor if they have had previous low back pain, unrelenting pain for more than 72 hours, or a history of osteoporosis. Other reasons that may require a visit to a doctor could include unexplained weight loss or a history of cancer. Dr. Hsu recommends seeking quick medical treatment if there is associated radiating pain into the legs or a fever for 48 hours, constant pain at night, or loss of bowel and bladder function.
An X-ray or CT Scan, MRI, discogram, or electrodiagnostics can help determine the cause of back pain. There are many conservative treatments once the problem has been diagnosed. Conservative treatment may include rest, ice and heat therapy, massage therapy, physical therapy, chiropractic sessions or interventional pain procedures such as injection therapy. Medications can include analgesics, muscle relaxers or anti-inflammatory drugs. Medications for back pain can have serious side effects and may require monitoring by a physician.
To prevent back pain, Dr. Hsu and LaValley emphasize strengthening of the core muscles. “Strengthening the core muscles helps to minimize movement of the back,” says LaValley, lead spine therapist for the Porter Spine Institute. “A weak core leads to more movement in the back.”
Activities such as pilates, yoga and abdominal exercises all help with core strength. Body mechanics are also important; remembering to bend with the knees instead of the back is helpful, and keeping legs stretched out can help reduce stress on the back. Additionally, aerobic exercise a few times a week can also help to rid the muscles of waste products and create endorphins to help with a healthy back.
Conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, and spinal disorders affect millions of people, making musculoskeletal disorders a leading cause of disability within the United States. Porter Adventist Hospital celebrated Bone & Joint Week, October 12th – 20th, in order to bring awareness to this health issue. The physicians and healthcare providers at Porter Adventist are renowned for their expertise in orthopedics, and several of them shared that knowledge with the community during this annual event. For more information about the Porter Spine Institute, please visit www.porterhospital.org/spine or call 303-225-8340.
About Porter Adventist Hospital
Porter Adventist Hospital is a full service, Nursing Magnet® designated, 368-bed acute-care referral center for complex medicine and surgery patients that specializes in cardiac care, cancer care, joint replacement, spinal care and transplant. Porter is sponsored by Adventist Health System and is part of Centura Health, Colorado’s largest hospital and health care network delivering advanced care to more than half a million people each year, across 12 hospitals, seven senior living communities, medical clinics, Flight for Life® and home care and hospice services. Porter’s and Centura's strength lies in the ability to offer a team of connected networks and shared resources to deliver accessible, reliable and cost-effective health care across the state. For more information about Porter Adventist Hospital, visit www.porterhospital.org or the Media Room at http://porter.mediaroom.com.
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