I am a 85 year old retired plastic surgeon with a backache all the time. I have to depend on tablets. Is there any other treatment?
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Hi thanks for your query and welcome to lybrate. I am Dr. Akshay from fortis hospital, new delhi. You know that over a period of time, spine shows a lot of degeneration and this pain can be due to them. Ideally we should evaluate you clinically and get respective investigations like dynamic x rays and if required mri scans done of the affected region of spine to understand the cause of pain and accordingly treatment can be prescribed. If you have localized back pain with no other symptoms like radiating leg pain, neurological symptoms like numbness, weakness, paresthesias etc, then you can start with following recommendations for initial period of 2-3 weeks: - to maintain proper posture of your back while working and sleeping - if pain is more then you can take a short course of an anti-inflammatory medication like tab etoshine or paracetamol or one which suits you for 5-7 days - physical therapy initially under supervision of a trained physiotherapist and then to continue at home, now a days laser therapies are available which give good relief from pain - epidural injections are good alternative and can be administered in indicated cases - adequate calcium & vitamin d intake if levels are low in body - ice packs can applied if your pain is acute, then hot fomentation can be done at home - analgesic spray for local application like dynapar qps spray can be used and is easily available. - avoid lifting heavyweight/ acute forward bending in mornings etc we will observe you for next 2-3 weeks how you respond to this conservative management protocol. If you are not feeling better, then we will have to get some investigations like, dynamic x rays of lower back, mri scan of involved area and few blood tests for evaluation. Do not hesitate to contact me if you need any further assistance. You can also discuss your case and treatment plans with me in a greater detail in a private consultation.
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