BY CLAUDIA M. CARUANA
IF YOU WOKE up this morning with an
aching back, you are not alone. According to
one estimate from the Institute of Medicine
( iom.nationalacademies.org), at least ;;
million Americans experience lower back
pain at any given time.
Just what is lower back pain?
Lower back pain is a catchall term. It
describes the sharp, dull or stabbing pain
or even overall achiness that can be caused
by any number of lifestyle-related health
problems. The more common, and often
less serious, aches often are the result of
muscle strain, poor posture, improper lift-
ing or overdoing it at the gym.
Bulging or herniated disks, nerve irritation, narrowing of the spinal column (spinal
stenosis), degenerative spinal arthritis, or
even a bad fall or accident can cause even
more-serious lower back pain.
The incidence of lower back pain con-
tinues to soar, says Dr. Justin J. Park, a
spinal surgeon at the Maryland Spine
Center at Mercy Medical Center in Bal-
timore. “People are living longer and are
more active. Degeneration of the spine
naturally occurs as we age, but people con-
tinue to want to function as if they were ;;
to ;; years younger. This can sometimes
lead to more incidences of lumbar strain
resulting in lower back pain.”
For occasional backaches or when one
has overdone things, health care providers
often recommend a short course of over-
the-counter pain products such as non-
steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ice
packs and pain patches. Sometimes, bed
rest for a short period of time can help.
Recently introduced are small, iPod-size, battery-powered transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units that
use low-voltage electrical current to curb
pain and can be found in the pain-relief
section of pharmacies or behind the counter. Previously, TENS treatment could be
administered only by a health care practitioner, such as a physical therapist.
When the pain lingers
Dr. Aaron J. Buckland, a surgeon and
professor of orthopedic surgery at New
FOR YOUR HEALTH
Treating and preventing lower back pain
Ow, my aching back
PREVENTION IS PAINLESS
THE BEST DEFENSE is a good offense. Here
are some smart moves that can help you
keep your lower back healthy and pain-free.
Dr. Justin J. Park, a spinal surgeon,
says maintaining a healthy weight
and utilizing proper lifting
techniques can go a long
way toward preventing
back pain. He notes,
“Avoiding cigarette smok-
ing also significantly
reduces degeneration of
lumbar disks and helps to
prevent lower back pain.”
He adds it is important
to bend at the hips and
knees, not twist and reach,
when you pick up some-
thing from the floor.
Annie Burke-Doe,
a physical therapist
and a professor with
the University of St.
Augustine for Health
Sciences, in San
Marcos, California,
offers suggestions
for the following
situations.
Shoveling. Does
anyone need to tell
reduces degeneration of
Annie Burke-Doe,
PAY ATTENTION
TO YOUR FEET
DR. HOWARD PALAMARCHUK, a clinical
professor in the department of biome-chanics at the Temple University School
of Podiatric Medicine, in Philadelphia,
says lower back pain often is a direct
result of wearing ill-fitting shoes, flip-flops, high heels or worn-out shoes.
Fallen arches and flat feet also can
cause back pain. These conditions, he
says, can be corrected with
custom-made orthotics that
you put in your shoes.
Stiletto warning: When
women wear high-heeled
shoes, Palamarchuk says,
“it can alter the body’s
center of gravity to an
abnormal position. This
can cause tightening
in the calf, resulting
in tightening of the
lower back and
pain.”—CMC
York University’s Langone Medical Center’s Spine Center, says that if a backache
does not respond to home treatment e;orts
in a few days, professional help is the next
smart step.
“You need to consult with your health
care practitioner or a specialist, such as an
orthopedist, physiatrist [a physician specializing in rehabilitative medicine] or
osteopath for a thorough evaluation of your
back and spine,” Buckland advises. “He or
she often will order X-rays or an MRI, and
possibly blood tests, when needed, to determine what is causing your pain.”
Physical therapy
Most practitioners give their patients
a treatment plan with several possible
options. Physical therapy is often a starting
point, because physical therapists provide
hands-on treatments and can teach
patients a variety of therapeutic exercises
to strengthen their backs.
Recent legislation now permits an individual to be evaluated by a physical therapist,
and even receive some level of treatment,
without a physician’s referral. But you still
might need a referral from your health care
provider for your insurance plan to cover
the evaluation and treatment.
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