==== ==== A Must See Video Before Finding a Chiropractor! http://youtu.be/AUEjDegHXn0 ==== ====
Lower back pain is a significant problem for our society. It is estimated that lower back pain is the most common cause of disability within the population of North America. The costs of pain in the lower back to productivity are enormous. under 40 or 45 years of age. It is, according to research, the second most common symptom-associated reason people seek treatment from their family doctor. The literature suggests that up to 80% of the population in North America will suffer from lower back pain at some point during their lifetime. Pain in the low back can result from car accidents, improper lifting, slipping and/or falling, prolonged sitting, prolonged exposure to vibrations (e.g. using vibrating machinery) and many other causes including aging. Whether from trauma or from the normal aging process, low back pain can seriously disrupt a person's life. The physiology of low back pain is very complex and beyond the scope of this article. There are many medical research papers that deal with the physiology of pain in the lower back available to the reader. It is important to know, however, that pain in the low back frequently exists without any objective physical evidence traditionally sought by the medical profession. As a result, the investigation, assessment and treatment is often derived mostly from the subjective complaints of pain of the sufferer. Each person will have a different perception of the level of their pain and the disability associated with it. Additionally, as with most types of pain, low back pain can be magnified by non-physical factors such as emotional stresses and fatigue that might otherwise appear to be totally unrelated. Because of this the assessment, treatment and ultimate response to treatment will tend to be a very subjective and individualized experience. While the vast majority of people in North America will experience low back pain at some point during their lifetime, the majority of incidents do resolve within a relatively short period of time, typically within a few weeks. Treatment for low back pain can, and usually does, depend somewhat on how long the person has been suffering from it and the intensity of the pain. For many people over the counter pain medications, rest and a few days is sufficient to allow them to resume their normal day to day activities. For others physiotherapy and/or chiropractic treatment will be helpful to relieve the low back pain. TENS, traction, ultrasound and physiotherapy have all been found to be of therapeutic benefit in the first month or so following the onset of pain. When the pain lasts much longer and interferes with a person's life, other treatments are often attempted including nerve blocks, therapeutic ultrasound, electromyographic biofeedback, therapeutic exercising, physiotherapy, and chiropractic manipulations. In the most severe and prolonged cases of low back pain surgery can sometimes be performed as a last ditch effort at pain control. Disk-ectomies are performed more frequently in the United States, Canada, Europe
for that matter) and appear to be more common simply where there are more doctors qualified to perform spine surgeries. In addition to these physical means of treating, medications are also used to treat pain in the low back. These include acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, topical analgesics, muscle relaxants, opioids, corticosteroids, and even antidepressants and anticonvulsants. Typical imaging (x-ray, CT, MRI) is not terribly helpful in assessing low back pain unless the pain is caused by trauma or there is neurological deficit. As such imaging studies are often not requested in the initial stages of pain. Once the pain has persisted for a period of time, however, imaging may be requested. In the final analysis the person suffering low back pain must have confidence in their doctor in directing the testing, assessing and ultimately treating of the pain. This could, and frequently does, include referrals to other doctors such as physiatrists (doctors that specialize in physical medicine), orthopedic surgeons, physiotherapists, massage therapists, neurologists and psychologists. Each of these health care specialties has something unique to bring to the treatment of low back pain. With a coordinated and thorough multidisciplinary treatment plan most people can have their pain level controlled sufficiently to allow them to carry on a productive and happy life.
To get help with low back pain in you area, contact Injury Alliance. This article is not intended to provide legal advice. It is recommended that you contact your lawyer or attorney to obtain advice pertaining to your specific case. Christine Murray Injury Alliance http://www.injuryalliance.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Murray
==== ==== A Must See Video Before Finding a Chiropractor! http://youtu.be/AUEjDegHXn0
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