More Than Just Pain: Seeking Medical Attention For Back Discomfort

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For the most part, backaches are more bark than bite, being indicative of minor conditions not requiring drastic treatments. The major causes of chronic back pain necessitate nothing more than minimally invasive and noninvasive treatments. However, although such instances are infrequent, truly serious cases of back pain do exist.

Ironically, the gravity of back pain itself often has little to do with its actual severity; some very minor backaches can prove to be symptomatic of other, more serious diseases while very intense pains may often merit no more than adequate rest and exercise. Hence it is important to pay close attention to symptoms accompanying the pain.

Given the ambiguous and often painful nature of backaches, it is difficult to tell whether a back pain should be an emergency room affair. A few key details alongside the back pain could be causes for concern and should receive the immediate attention of a medical professional.

Some combinations of symptoms could require immediate examination. For instance, sudden weight loss alongside back pain could be indicative of a tumor whereas acute back pain followed by abdominal pain could be the first signs of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Other causes for concern include back pain that intensifies with sleep and a sudden weakness in the lower body, sometimes accompanied by weakened bladder control.

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Even in the absence of any serious symptoms, people with chronic back pain should seek the advice of a physician to make the appropriate diagnosis and recommend the best course of treatment.

Dr. Melanie Novak and the Pain Care Center specialize in the comprehensive and multidisciplinary management of all kinds of chronic pain. Visit this website for more on Dr. Novak and her practice.

What to Avoid Doing in the Event of Back Pain

After a long day at the office, some people experience back pain. Back pain has also been common among students because of their heavy backpacks and bad posture while writing or using their computers. When people experience back pain, they have best avoid normal physical activities for the first few days, and heavy lifting and twisting for the first six weeks, before they can slowly go back to exercising. Having a physical therapist would be advisable for those who are recovering from severe back pain.

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There are some treatments for long-term back pain that are not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) because of lack of evidence of their effectiveness. The list of such treatments includes: low level laser therapy, traction, lumbar supports, etc.

As mentioned, there are activities that should be avoided while still recovering (unless the doctor advises them). These are contact sports, dancing, sit-ups, racquet sports, and jogging. Avoid wearing high heels, standing for long periods, and smoking. When resting, most people with back pain would just lie on their backs. A pillow must be added under the knees to reduce the pressure. Another option is to lie on a fetal position with a pillow between the legs. Make sure to consult a doctor for all kinds of back pains, especially severe ones, to prevent them from getting worse.

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Dr. Melanie Novak specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of pain. Subscribe to this blog for more information on chronic pain treatment.

REPOST: Smoking linked to increased risk of chronic back pain

A new study published in the journal Human Brain Mapping suggests that people who smoke are more likely to develop chronic back pain. Smokers are advised to quit their habit to reduce the risk of developing the disease. Medical News Today has the full story below.

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People who smoke are much more likely to develop chronic back pain than those who do not smoke. These are the findings of a new study by researchers from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

This is not the first study to link smoking to chronic pain. But according to the research team, led by Bogdan Petre of the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern, it is the first study to suggest that smoking interferes with a brain circuit associated with pain, making smokers more prone to chronic back pain.

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the US, estimated to affect 8 out of 10 Americans at some point in their lives. According to the American Chiropractic Association, back pain is the main reason for missed days at work and the second most common reason for doctor's visits.

This latest study, published in the journal Human Brain Mapping, suggests that smokers could reduce their risk of developing chronic back pain by quitting the habit.

To reach their findings, the researchers analyzed 160 participants who had recently developed subacute back pain, defined as back pain lasting 4-12 weeks. They also assessed 32 participants with chronic back pain - defined as having back pain for 5 years or more - and 35 participants with no back pain.

On five separate occasions over a 1-year period, all participants completed questionnaires that gathered information about their smoking status and other health conditions. They also underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans.

The brain scans, the researchers say, were used to assess activity between two brain regions - the nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex. Both of these regions play a role in addictive behavior and motivated learning.

Smoking increases brain activity that reduces resilience to chronic back pain

Petre and his team found that the connection between these two brain regions plays a crucial role in chronic pain development. They explain that the stronger the connection between them, the less resilient an individual is to chronic pain.

Smoking appears to affect this connection. The researchers found that compared with nonsmoking participants, those who smoked had a stronger connection between the nucleus accumbens and the medial prefrontal cortex, increasing their risk of chronic back pain. The team calculated that smokers are three times more likely to develop chronic back pain than nonsmokers.
 
"But we saw a dramatic drop in this circuit's activity in smokers who - of their own will - quit smoking during the study," explains Petre. "So when they stopped smoking, their vulnerability to chronic pain also decreased."
Commenting on their findings, the researchers say:

"We conclude that smoking increases risk of transitioning to chronic back pain, an effect mediated by corticostriatal circuitry involved in addictive behavior and motivated learning."

The team points out that smoking participants who managed their chronic back pain with medication - such as anti-inflammatory drugs - did experience some pain reduction, but that these medications did not alter brain circuitry.

As such, they suggest that smokers could reduce their risk of chronic back pain by engaging in smoking cessation programs or other behavioral interventions that may help them quit the habit.
Because the team's findings show that smoking affects brain circuitry linked to chronic pain, they suggest that there may be a link between addiction and chronic pain in general.

Dr. Melanie Novak, M.D., is a pain management specialist who treats all types of chronic pain. Read more about pain management on this blog.