Back Pain Questions lost works
Pain Management doctors Pinellas and back pain.
Toughest pain to get out of bed in the morning.
Pain in the back, also known as dorsalgia, accounts for a large number of lost days at work and frequent visits to the physician. Back pain is so common that it is, more often than not, given disregard by the patients themselves. However, pain, regardless of where it is felt, is a warning sign that should be given prompt attention to prevent it from worsening and to detect the underlying cause. It is a symptom, not a disease in itself, which should stand for a red flag for everybody.
Back pain may either be acute, sub-acute, or chronic. Acute pain is felt for less than 4 weeks, sub-acute pain 4-12 weeks, and chronic pain, which is pain lasting beyond 12 weeks. Anatomically, back pain can be subdivided into neck pain, upper back pain, and lower back pain. Back pain, regardless of its location and duration, has to be evaluated by a physician in order to determine underlying causes that may or may not be life-threatening. Listening to the warning signs given by a back pain can help you address possible medical problems such as kidney diseases, abdominal aortic aneurysm and appendicitis.
As such, diagnostic procedures are in order for every determination of medical condition. The following will be employed in order to determine the cause of your back pain:
* Physical examination and an interview to secure a thorough medical history, so it is important not to leave out any condition/s you have or have had, including medications you are taking or have taken.
* Spinal X-ray, although this will be useless in the evaluation within the first 30 days from pain onset.
* MRI scans to determine tumors, fractures, or infections.
* Myelogram, when an MRI is not desirable.
* CT scan of the spine.
* Nerve tests e.g. electromyogram.
In treating back pain, it is of utmost importance to identify the underlying cause. However, treating the back pain as a symptom is also of equal importance. Non-prescription meds such as NSAIDS (commonly ibuprofen), will be beneficial in short-term pain relief. Consequently, as NSAIDS erode the stomach lining, caution should be taken in taking these types of analgesics. Make sure that you have eaten before taking one. Acetaminophens, such as Tylenol, will provide a good substitute for NSAIDS. Still, there?s a caveat: Acetaminophens thin the blood. If you have a clotting disorder, this is not for you. Opioid analgesics are discouraged. It may cause sedation and may afford you longer pain relief, but the danger lies in the risk for dependence.
Non-pharmacological means of pain relief will provide a good complement to any pain relief regimen. The use of intermittent heat and cold application, though not widely given credence, is found to be effective for some people. Just make sure that both hot and cold packs are not applied directly to the skin in order to avoid skin injury.
Bedrest may seem beneficial, but not if it is prolonged. Patients should take bedrest for up to 48 hours only. Any longer than that will put you at increased risk for deep vein thrombosis, a disorder attributed to immobility in which clots are formed in the deep veins of the legs, compromising venous circulation. Also, prolonged bedrest can lead to even more pain, as it can lead to contractures and muscle tension. You may return to your normal activities as you can tolerate, and make sure you are not pushing yourself beyond your limits. Increase your activities gradually. Ask for help in performing physical activities from your family.
The attainment of pain relief will surely seem a long way from where you are now, but getting there quickly will most likely afford you none. Surgery, seen by most as a sure-fire way of getting rid of pain quickly, is not a solution worth spending a fortune for. Surgery is useless for acute back pain. Unless you are in a medical emergency, such as cauda equina syndrome in which spinal disc material expands into the spine and causes nerve compression, surgery is out of the question. Again, patience coupled with a dedication to your pain relief regimen will help you live with pain and conduct a normal life without having to give up your usual activities.
Pain Management Doctors Tampa Pinellas 727 548-1111
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