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Last Updated: Aug 29, 2019
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Low Back Pain- A common modern day epidemic

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Dr. Narender SainiOrthopedic Doctor • 24 Years Exp.Hand Surgery SR Ship, MS - Orthopaedics, Thesis Work, M.B;B.S
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We regularly come across, frequent questions about back pain, and it remedy.
The concern of the patient is more related to the fear of something wrong, rather than the pain itself, which may be quite bearable. Before you go to consult to your doctor for your back problem, go though the checklist mentioned here, and you will be easily able to make out if your problem needs treatment or a good physiotherapy and life style modification.

Lets start with the statics.
1) back pain the most common reason for people to consult physician.
2) majority of them (and believe me about 80 to 85%) are functional which means they are not a disease but are due to improper lifestyle.
3) 10 to 15% of them are related to some pathology, and only these patients need medical help.

I know the next question in your mind, how do I know if my back pain need further consultation from a doctor, or I just want to need a physio and life style modification.

If you have any of these signs then you need consultation with a doctor.
1) duration of back pain more than 2 months.
2) localized back pain with stiffness in the morning,
3) pain not getting resolved despite good physio efforts and life style modifications
4) pain in the back with radiation to one of the legs, ie leg pain with back pain.
5) back pain associated with fever, appetite loss, or weight loss.
6) back pain with pain mainly in the night, and it arises you from sleep.
7) any association of weakness in the legs or numbness on walking.

Posture correction while work is the major remedy for postural back pain and this group is quite large.
1) use firm mattress for rest. Not a very soft one.
2) adequate support to the back while sitting on the chair, back should be kept straight but not strained.
3) regular back muscle strengthening exercises is must with this group.

When your back pain is not functional, then a consultation with your doctor is a must, most of the time the first doctor we consult is a physician, these days people are getting aware and consult an orthopaedic or a neuro surgeon. My advise is to consult a spine surgeon who are trained specially to deal with such problems. The usual examination is followed by certain blood tests and radiological investigations, like x rays and mri scanning. Out of these pathological type majority will not need surgery.

Keep strengthening your back, and prevent back pain. Remember physiotherapy (exercises) are to be done to prevent back pain and not to cure it.
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