The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Handle the back with care

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Thursday, Jan 13, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Handle the back with care

M. Sai Gopal

Majority tend to neglect backache, seeking no medical help

HYDERABAD: Backaches are the most common of medical conditions that often go unreported. Almost everybody at some point experience discomfort and pain in the lower back, known as the lumbar region. A majority tend to neglect backaches and avoid seeking medical attention. On many occasions, patients do not even know what kind of doctor one has to approach for a backache.

Backaches occur due to a variety of reasons. They include muscle injury, damage to facet joints that connect vertebrae in the spine, nerve damage or sometimes even infection due to tumours. However, in the capital, majority of orthopaedics point out that a typical back pain patient is a 35-year-old professional who spends long hours in the office and has no outdoor activity. “Worldwide, spine surgeons and orthopaedics suggest preventive steps to avoid back aches. Indians do a lot of physical activity and hence prevalence of backaches is huge but is invariably not reported,” says Orthopaedic and Spine Surgeon, Global Hospitals, Dr. G. P. V. Subbaiah.

Warning signs

There are certain ‘red flags' or warning signs, which the patient has to take into account and can't afford to ignore. They include backache and pains that radiate into legs and arms, backaches that occur due to an injury like a fall, backaches along with weakness and numbness of legs and lower parts of body, backaches and loss of weight, appetite, fever and infection. Sometimes, backaches also occur due to kidney stones.

“Muscle related backaches can be treated by medication and exercises to strengthen muscles. Support belts are usually given for extra support. But nothing can beat fitness. Sometimes, neurologists, too, are consulted when there is nerve damage. Preventive measures are the best,” says, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Dr. N. Somasekhar Reddy.

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