For those of us who have had a back injury, or suffer from chronic back pain, it feels like an insult when we hear that back pain is described as a ‘common phenomenon’. This is true however, and above 80% of people suffer from back pain sometime during their lives. Back pain can be acute, it can be a recurrent problem or it may be chronic. There are a multitude of treatments and remedies available to alleviate the problem, but you need to make sure what is causing the back pain before you embark on any course of treatment.
When is it time to seek medical care? Certain signs have been identified and these eleven points are what doctors look for when they examine a patient with back pain. A doctor who specialises in this kind of medicine would have studied ergonomics. These eleven “red flags” focus on detecting infections, tumours of the spine and bone fractures. If any of the following ‘red flags’ occur with back pain it is advisable to seek medical attention immediately, so that your doctor can evaluate you and decide on what treatment is needed.
- When your body has sustained considerable trauma due to being in a motor vehicle accident, you have fallen from a height, received a very hard blow or any other similar injuries.
- If you are above the age of 50, even a mild trauma such as slipping and landing on your coccyx or falling down stairs, it is advisable to go and see the doctor for a check-up.
- With age the risk of infections, cancer and abdominal pain being the causes for back pain rises sharply, therefore anyone above the age of 70 should seek medical help for any form of back pain.
- People with COPD, rheumatic disorders and asthma and who have been using steroids over a prolonged period.
- If you have a history of osteoporosis, especially if you are female, you are considered a high risk for hip fractures.
- If you have a temperature over 100 ˚F.
- If you have had an infection recently.
- People who are IV drug users have a much higher risk of infection as cause of back pain.
- Previous history of cancer.
- When you are experiencing an unexplained weight loss.
- When your back pain worsens when you are resting as this may point to an infection or tumour being the cause of the pain.
If you are experiencing any of the above “red flags” you should either see your family doctor immediately or go to your nearest emergency unit, for you need to seek medical advice within 24 hours.
Other reasons that prompt immediate medical attention would be if you experience any severe nerve dysfunction, or are unable to raise your foot from the ankle or cannot walk. If you are already on medication for back pain and you find yourself unable to manage the pain, you may need to attend an emergency unit, though it is best to see the doctor who had described the medication. The human body is more fragile than we think and it is better to play it safe than risk permanent injury.
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #1
Back pain is one of the most common forms of bodily pain. It is estimated that eight in ten people will be affected by back pain. Amazingly, back pain is one of the easiest injuries to prevent. |
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #2
Believe it or not, cigarette smoking can increase a person�s risk of developing lower back pain and sciatica. What�s more, smoking can prolong the healing process which means that back injuries, surgery and bones will cause pain for a longer period of time. |
Hip and Lower Back Pain Tip #3
The best thing a person can do to keep his or her back healthy is to get regular exercise. In addition to a few muscle specific exercises that can be found by way of a simple web search, it has been proven that exercises geared toward balance and strength (like yoga) can help a person decrease his or her risk of falling and causing injury to the back muscles. |
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