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R3 LOW BACK PAIN GUIDE
Every day, R3 Stem Cell receives inquiries worldwide from individuals asking if stem cell therapy can help for back pain. Spoiler alert: It can help a lot! In this guide . . .
Back pain or specifically lower back pain, lumbago, in of itself, is not a disease or disorder but is rather a symptom of a vast majority of disorders and other medical conditions. Acute backaches, those that are caused by falls or heavy lifting, have a sudden onset and can resolve themselves within a few weeks. Chronic backaches, on the other hand, have a gradual onset and can last for three months or longer, sometimes for life even after the causes have been treated. Chronic back pains are less common than acute back pains.
Back pain can range from constant and dull to sudden and sharp. Many times, back pain often develops without an obvious cause that the doctor must then test to determine. Causes for back pains are numerous, some of which have been listed below.
Lower back pain is the most common job-related condition with nearly 80 percent of adults reporting to have experienced it at some point in their lives. It serves as one of the leading causes of health-related work absences.
Biological sex is not a risk factor as men and women are equally affected by lower back pain. Children and teens can also be affected, however, risks of developing back pain tend to increases with age. A lack of exercise can increase chances of back pains as well, due to the muscles stiffening in place caused by a lack of regular movement. Those suffering from obesity are at risk, too. Acute back pains can arise from the improper lifting of heavy items. Moreover, people with psychological conditions like depression or anxiety and those who smoke at also at a greater risk of developing back pains than others.
Furthermore, pregnant women frequently complain of back pain due to the shifting of their center of gravity and other alterations that occur in their body. These pains usually resolve themselves postpartum.
Symptoms of back pain can vary in severity depending on the associated problem causing it. Common symptoms can include aching muscles, stabbing and shooting sensations of pain, pain that increases in intensity when one stands, walks, bends or lifts heavy objects or pain that extends down to the legs. Another symptom can be that this pain reduces when one reclines.
Usually, the pain can subside by adequate self-care and rest at home. It may take a few weeks to resolve in its entirety. If the condition persists, a doctor’s appointment would be required. If certain other symptoms coincide with back pain, a serious medical condition may exist. Some alarming signals would be if the back pain is accompanied by abnormal bladder or bowel reactions, a fever or inexplicable and sudden weight loss.
If the pain spreads to both legs, causes numbness in the legs or is just severe and unrelenting regardless of rest, a doctor should be contacted. If the back pain begins for the first time after the age of 50, or if there is a history of osteoporosis, cancer or steroid use, then too, one should contact their doctor.
A full medical history of the patient and their family is an effective starting point for a diagnosis. Knowledge of drug and alcohol addictions, cancers, steroid use, and other medical conditions can help the doctor root out the cause or causes of the pain. The doctor will also perform a physical exam wherein the doctor will assess the patient’s ability to sit up, stand, walk or bend over and ask them the extremity of pain felt in each task. Through this examination, the doctor can assess the patient’s ease of movement and determine whether they have muscle spasms. Neurological tests can also provide help in deciphering the cause of the pain.
In most cases of back pain, imaging tests are not required in making a diagnosis, however, they can help in ruling out some specific conditions of which back pain is a symptom like spinal stenosis or arthritis. X-rays can be used to see if there are any fractures in the spine, broken bones, bone spurs or any vertebral misalignment. Computerized tomography, a CT scan, is done to visualize spinal structures not visible through X-rays for example tumors or disc ruptures. Myelograms can also be recommended for even clearer results from CT scans and X-rays. They can allow the doctor to see nerve compressions caused by fractures or herniated discs.
Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI is another imaging test that uses magnetic fields to generate an image of the body’s muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and ligaments. The MRI can help the doctor diagnose or rule out conditions like cancers or arthritis. The MRI can also disclose whether any disc herniation, rupture or inflammation in the spine exists or if there is pressure on any nerve.
Further ahead in the diagnosis, electro-diagnostic procedures may be conducted to check whether the pain is a case of lumbar radiculopathy. These are detailed procedures and include electromyography or EMG, nerve condition studies and evoked potential studies. Bone scans can also help to diagnose back pain causes by detecting disorders or infections in the bone. The resulting images can identify instances of abnormal blood flow or irregular bone metabolism around the pain affected areas.
Although not regularly required, blood tests may be conducted to rule out certain conditions that also cause back pain like ankylosing spondylitis or reactive arthritis. These tests include complete blood count, C – reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Blood tests can also be used to check for genetic markers of different diseases.
In most cases, back pain can get resolved within a few weeks with rest. However, if the pain persists and affects the quality of life, steps should be taken to get it treated. In the case of acute back pain, a course of pain relief drugs, muscle relaxants, salves, and ointments, or heat application can be enough to treat the pain. Light activity like short walks can improve the condition. However, activities should be ceased when the pain hits or is intolerable.
For more serious conditions, the doctor may prescribe the use of narcotics or opioids for a short course of time under supervision. However, opioids are not effective in the treatment of chronic pain, in case of which antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, in small doses may prove to be beneficial. If these measures are ineffectual as well, injections with medication like cortisone may be directly administered into epidural space. Cortisone can reduce inflammation that may numb the pain.
Physical therapy is an effective treatment for many with chronic back pain. Physical therapy can include applying heat, electrical stimulation to the body and muscles that can subside inflammation and relieve the stiffness in the tissues, nerves, and muscles. Additionally, the physical therapist can teach the patient exercises to enhance flexibility, strengthen the back muscles and improve posture. Regular exercise can keep the body from wearing out and can help the chronic pain stay within control.
As a last resort for cases where the severity of the pain is unbearable and continuous, doctors may recommend surgery to resolve structural problems within the spine. Conditions like spinal stenosis may benefit from surgical procedures targeted at improving nerve compression or widening the spine.
Here are answers to many of the frequently asked questions we receive.
Arthritis can be classified into several types. Osteoarthritis is caused by the normal aging process of the body, or could be a result of injury.
Rheumatoid arthritis, the most common type of arthritis, happens due to autoimmune problems, wherein the body’s own immune system attacks healthy cells of the body. Infectious arthritis is caused by an infection to the joint. Patients with psoriasis may be affected by Psoriatic arthritis. Finally, excessive uric acid in the body can cause Gout, an arthritis that often starts at the toe.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis. This disease causes chronic inflammation of the joints and can lead to deterioration of a variety of systems in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the membrane around the joints known as the synovium, which causes inflammation that thickens the synovium and ultimately deforms the cartilage and bone of the joints.
How common is it and who is at risk?
An estimated one percent of the entire world population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. As the case with osteoarthritis, women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Other groups at risk are people middle-aged or older as well as those suffering from obesity. Rheumatoid arthritis risk is inheritable, which may be accelerated by smoking or unknown environmental exposures.
Signs of the disease include swollen, tender joints that may feel stiff, particularly in the mornings. Fever, fatigue, and loss of activity are also common symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to manifest initially in the smaller joints like those in the fingers and toes. Symptoms are exhibited in joints of other body parts as the disease spreads.
Diagnosis begins with a physical test checking for redness, warmth, and swelling as well as the state of reflexes in the affected joints. Multiple blood tests are conducted as people with rheumatoid arthritis usually have elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels. Additionally, X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds are conducted to track the spread of the disease.
While no cure exists as of now, research has revealed that the symptoms may be controlled by early application of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed depending on the case. Exercises to retain joint flexibility also provide some relief. If medications fail to slow down the disease, doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace joints or swollen tendons.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis. This disease causes chronic inflammation of the joints and can lead to deterioration of a variety of systems in the body. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the membrane around the joints known as the synovium, which causes inflammation that thickens the synovium and ultimately deforms the cartilage and bone of the joints.
How common is it and who is at risk?
An estimated one percent of the entire world population suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. As the case with osteoarthritis, women are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Other groups at risk are people middle-aged or older as well as those suffering from obesity. Rheumatoid arthritis risk is inheritable, which may be accelerated by smoking or unknown environmental exposures.
Signs of the disease include swollen, tender joints that may feel stiff, particularly in the mornings. Fever, fatigue, and loss of activity are also common symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to manifest initially in the smaller joints like those in the fingers and toes. Symptoms are exhibited in joints of other body parts as the disease spreads.
Diagnosis begins with a physical test checking for redness, warmth, and swelling as well as the state of reflexes in the affected joints. Multiple blood tests are conducted as people with rheumatoid arthritis usually have elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rates and C-reactive protein levels. Additionally, X-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds are conducted to track the spread of the disease.
While no cure exists as of now, research has revealed that the symptoms may be controlled by early application of disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed depending on the case. Exercises to retain joint flexibility also provide some relief. If medications fail to slow down the disease, doctors may recommend surgery to repair or replace joints or swollen tendons.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis within kids. It is characterized by persistent pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. The disease occurs when the body’s own tissues are attacked by its cells. In some cases, it can create more serious complications such as growth problems and eye inflammation.
It is the most common form of arthritis diagnosed in children under the age of sixteen. Certain gene mutations can make the body more vulnerable to the external environment, which can result in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis occurring. Although reasons are unknown, girls are more susceptible to Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis than boys.
Commonplace symptoms include joint pain or a limp caused by the pain, swelling of joints and stiffness of the joints that results in clumsiness by the child. In some cases, the disease can manifest as high fever and rashes.
Diagnosis for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is difficult as the pain and swelling in the joints could be attributed to a number of diseases. Quite a few blood tests are conducted to determine the status of markers like erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein levels, and quantity of anti-nuclear bodies, among others. However, many children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis show no abnormalities in these tests.
The treatment for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis is geared towards making sure the child can maintain a regular level of physical activity. This can include different types of medication like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling or disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in more severe cases. Biologic agents may be recommended to help prevent joint damage. Physical therapy can also help the child maintain a full range of motion with or without joint supports or splints based on the situation. Surgery is the most extreme option used to improve the position of the affected joint.
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