Surgery Not the Answer for Most Back Pain, Sports Doctor
Says
Back pain is a common
problem, but most cases can be treated without surgery, a sports medicine
specialist says.
Sometime during their lives, up to 80 percent of people will
have back
pain that lasts more than three days.
The first step in treating back pain is
understanding it, according to Dr. Gregory Billy, a physical medicine and
rehabilitation specialist with Penn State Sports Medicine.
"A physician should ask about the history of your pain,
including its exact location, what makes it feel better or worse and what may
have caused it," Billy said in a university news release. "A physical
exam helps isolate the cause of the pain -- for example, what happens when you
stand, sit, lift your leg or walk?"
While an MRI can
help with a diagnosis, it has limitations.
"Because the back changes with age, MRIs of many older
adults are likely to depict damage, but the damage captured in that image may
not be the current cause of back pain," Billy said.
For minor back pain, treatments include over-the-counter
pain relievers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen,
or applying ice to stop spasms and heat to relieve soreness/aching, he said.
It's important to continue normal daily activities as much
as possible. Too much time in bed can result in muscle and spine tightening, he
added.
If those steps don't help, other non-surgical treatment
options include: physical therapy and supervised exercise;
prescription drugs such as anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, oral steroids
and topical pain relievers; and steroid injections into the space around the
spine, Billy said.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
03.11.2016
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