Do you suffer from persistent back pain?

When a bad back keeps you out of the workforce the effects can be devastating. Living on a workers comp pay-check can be more than limiting to your lifestyle, and with the pain often comes depression.  

Some people spend their entire lives with a bad back. Pub Med Central (the American Public Health Association) cites a study that states just how prevalent back pain and lost work hours are. In fact 101.8 million work days were lost due to back pain in 1988: The objective of the study was as follows: “Back pain is the most common reason for filing workers’ compensation claims and often causes lost workdays. Data from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed to identify high-risk industries and to estimate the prevalence of work-related back pain and number of workdays lost. METHODS: Analyses included 30074 respondents who worked during the 12 months before the interview. A case patient was defined as a respondent who had back pain every day for a week or more during that period. RESULTS: The prevalence of lost-workday back pain was 4.6%, and individuals with work-related cases lost 101.8 million workdays owing to back pain. Male and female case patients lost about the same number of workdays. Industries in high-risk categories were also identified for future research and intervention, including those seldom studied. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides statistically reliable national estimates of the prevalence of back pain among workers and the enormous effect of this condition on American industry in terms of lost workdays.

For many people with back pain, knowing what caused it is irrelevant; first and foremost people are looking for immediate relief. Although knowing what’s wrong and the duration of the attack will ultimately dictate the treatment for the condition. It often comes down to a few different problems for most people; think muscle strain, over-exercise due to work or play, stress / tension or an accident that causes no breakages only muscle strain. Symptoms and treatment can be similar in each case.

Most people start with over-the-counter medication such as an anti-inflammatory or aspirin product specifically targeted for back and body pain, if that doesn’t do the trick many will move onto prescription medications. Sadly this is often not enough to maintain long term recovery.

If you chose the pain medication route, remember that the area should also be iced on a regular 20 minute schedule for the most effective treatment, along with the use of ibuprofen as this can help reduce the inflammation further.

As with all medications NSAIDs carry significant side-effects.  The most common side effects from ibuprofen are rash, ringing in the ears, headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and heartburn. NSAIDs are also known to reduce the ability of blood to clot and therefore increase bleeding after an injury. Ibuprofen may cause ulceration of the stomach or intestine, and the ulcers may bleed. Sometimes, ulceration can occur without abdominal pain, and black, tarry stools, weakness, and dizziness upon standing (orthostatic hypotension) due to bleeding may be the only signs of an ulcer. NSAIDs reduce the flow of blood to the kidneys and impair function of the kidneys.

For persistent pain Chiropractic care will provide the most efficient and effective therapy.

Your chiropractor can relieve the back pain you already have with regular adjustments and healing therapies, and will work with you until the pain has gone; but best of all your chiropractor can specifically assist you in learning how to stretch, bend, and lift objects in a way that will help to avoid the strains and pulls in the first place. Regular adjustments will also help you maintain good posture and reduce the incidence of repeat back strains and will lessen the likelihood of your joining the ranks of a stay-at-home workers-comp victim any time soon.

Make an adjustment: Stay Healthy ~ Be Happy!
Contact Dr. Paul or Dr. Susan for your next chiropractic appointment at 303.674.1500 or email office@fontanachiro.com
 

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