Musculoskeletal disorders are a major global health and social problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 1.7 billion people worldwide suffer from osteoarticular and/or muscular problems, encompassing more than 1.5 billion people worldwide.These are encompassed in more than 150 clinically described disorders.
Of all of them, back pain (more specifically lumbar pain) is the one that causes the most problems, since it is estimated that almost 570 million people worldwide suffer from it at any given time. Back pain affects 15-20% of the population on an annual basis, with a value that rises to 50% in some work environments.
Furthermore, this condition is not age-specific: 30% of adolescents have suffered at least one episode of low back pain, although the epidemiological peak is located in adulthood, between 20 and 40 years of age. Surprisingly, more than 80% of the clinical pictures remain idiopathic, that is, there is no known cause attributable to the discomfort.
With all these figures, it is more than clear that that back pain is a very common problem in society and that, in most cases and that, in most cases, it requires a multidisciplinary approach. Therefore, today we bring you 6 remedies to combat back pain, both behaviorally and clinically. Do not miss them.
- To learn more: “Low back pain: causes, symptoms and treatment”.
What are the most effective treatments for back pain?
First of all, it should be noted that back pain can be acute or chronic. Eight out of 10 people suffer discomfort in this area at some time in their lives, but in most cases it is a transitory clinical sign. For example, 80% of cases of low back pain are acute, while only 20% are classified as chronic.. For pain to be chronic, it must be present continuously for more than three months.
When the back pain is attributable to a bad movement and is not disabling, it is possible to treat it at home. In any case, if the discomfort has been part of the patient’s routine for months and the condition does not improve, there is no valid advice: it is time to see a doctor. Based on these premises, we will tell you the 6 remedies for back pain.
- You may be interested in: “How to prevent back pain in 12 effective keys”.
1. Application of hot or cold compresses.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH) warns that, so far, it has not been proven that the application of hot and/or cold fountains can eliminate the source of back discomfort in all cases.
However, it is known that the application of heat reduces muscle stiffness, pain and local inflammation and, in addition, increases blood flow. and, in addition, increases blood flow to the affected areas (by vasodilation in response to thermal stress). It is therefore indicated for musculoskeletal disorders and acute and subacute contractures.
Cold, on the other hand, is used to treat injuries. Applying ice to an inflamed injury lowers tissue temperature, causes vasoconstriction, decreases metabolism and has an anti-inflammatory effect. However, ice is only recommended for the first 48-72 hours after injury, when the peak of inflammation occurs.
In general, cold is the indicated short-term treatment for an injury, while diffuse acute discomfortwhile long-term diffuse acute discomfort is usually best treated with local heat. If you have any doubts regarding this issue, consult a physician before devising your home care.
2. Do not stay on bed rest
Bed rest should be very limited.. During a clinical picture of common lumbago, it is only conceivable to stay in bed during the first moments of severe pain, with a maximum of 4 days of immovable rest, ideally less than 24 hours. The predominant response of skeletal muscle when the patient remains prostrate in the same position is atrophy, which becomes more evident the older the individual is.
Studies have calculated that, during a 14-day rest period, quadriceps muscle volume is reduced by an average of 8.3% in the elderly. In young people the value is lower (5.7%), but not negligible. The longer the patient remains in bed, the more the muscles atrophy and the more difficult it is for the patient to recover.
Therefore, unless the clinical condition is specific and a physician requires bed rest, prolonged bed rest should be avoided. The claim that this aids recovery is totally erroneous.It causes the opposite: the muscles in the back area to become even weaker.
3. Narcotic analgesic medications
The purpose of analgesics is to reduce pain in the patient, whether it is headache or back pain. in the patient, whether headache, musculoskeletal or systemic. In this case we are dealing with major or minor opiates, also known as narcotics, which are used to treat pain so severe that it prevents the patient from working, moving and leading a dignified life.
Within this group we find codeine, morphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone and many others. These drugs chemically bind to the pain receptors in the brain, blocking their sensation. This means that the patient will perceive less discomfort caused by the pathology, but unfortunately, narcotics do not attack the primary etiological agent.
After analysis of medical trials involving over 5,000 patients, it has been shown that narcotics help to alleviate severe back pain.. In any case, it is questionable whether these drugs are more effective than others and, furthermore, their administration is not conceivable for more than four months (with few exceptions). Opiates are highly addictive, so they are only sold under prescription in specific cases.
4. Analgesic drugs NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the analgesics we are all familiar with, as many are sold over-the-counter and are routinely used to alleviate minor aches and pains. The most famous of all is the popularly known acetylsalicylic acid, although there are also many others: diclofenac potassium, indomethacin, diflunisal, etc.
In adults and those over 16 years of age, a dose of normal aspirin every 4-6 hours according to the needs, but never take more than 8 tablets a day. In any case, the daily use of these drugs increases the risk of stomach ulcers and other ailments, so the and other ailments, so they should only be used in the short term (unless otherwise indicated by the doctor).
5. Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic treatments will help patients with back pain to maintain their posture and prevent contractures. and, in addition, will also allow the individual to strengthen the muscle groups in the lower back. These personalized approaches will not only allow the patient to better manage his or her pain, but will also prevent its recurrence in the future.
6. Surgery
When all other treatments fail (or if the cause is a specific dysfunction), it is time for surgery, whether you like it or not. This type of procedure is only reserved for the most severe and chronic cases, i.e. 5% of all cases.that is, 5% of all patients with back pain.
Among the typical cervical surgeries, the following stand out: anterior cervical discectomy, cervical corpectomy, facetectomy, laminoplasty, laminectomy and others. We will not dwell on their particularities, since it is enough to know that certain elements of the spine are modified/extracted/limited and refined in order to reduce or permanently eliminate pain.
Summary
Unfortunately, most back pain can only be addressed with patience, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, heat and moderate activity. Bed rest is never advisable, as it only further atrophies the musculature and prolongs recovery time. In these cases, it is necessary to find a balance between absolute physical demand and immobility.
On the other hand, if the pain is persistent and worsens over time, there may be an underlying pathological cause that needs to be addressed to eliminate the back pain. When this dull, continuous discomfort remains for more than three months, an immediate visit to a medical professional is necessary..