CHRONIC BACK BAIN

Public health is very vast and interesting. Everything is under its purview. Imagine being asked to discuss the health effects of laughter or even health effects of fuel scarcity, or effects of over-washing your hands😅😅😅😅😅😅😅. Very funny!!! On a more serious note, certain things that we take for granted usually have a lot of impact on our health.

The topic "Chronic back pain" was inspired by my interaction with cloth-weavers some years ago. The head of a traditional Aso-Oke cloth factory complained that about 90% of his workers (who have been with him for over 10 years) suffer from back pain. Sometimes it is severe enough to limit their activities. I asked about their work tools and when I was shown, I understood the cause of the back pain. I asked the workers how they would feel if they had better chairs to work with or even if it would be better to just invent a machine to do the work. They just laughed and told me that following a study done by an occupational health physician in 2002, which revealed that 62% of the respondents had musculoskeletal problems (e.g back pain), the University of Ilorin produced and donated ergonomic chairs to them in 2012 but they refused to use it. They complained that it was not comfortable for them to work in. They also said that attempts by the State government to bring weaving machines were unsuccessful because they vehemently opposed the idea. They claimed it would make a lot of them jobless. They preferred to continue with their old ways and accepted the back pain as the price to pay for it.

How many more of us continue to do things to trigger or worsen the issue of back pain? 

WHAT IS BACK PAIN

Back pain is a very common condition though not usually taken seriously until it becomes very severe. they pain may be dull, throbbing, shooting, stabbing or sharp. The severity can be mild, moderate or severe. It may or may not be radiating and may be aggravated by certain actions such as lifting heavy objects, carry heavy load including children, bending down to sweep or pray, exercise and prolonged sitting or standing. The pain may be persistent or  transient with or without associated neurological symptoms such as numbness and tingling.

CAUSES OF BACK PAIN

Source: Google

• Muscle or ligament strain. Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you're in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back can cause painful muscle spasms.
• Bulging or ruptured disks. Disks act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. The soft material inside a disk can bulge or rupture and press on a nerve. However, you can have a bulging or ruptured disk without back pain. Disk disease is often found incidentally when you have spine X-rays for some other reason.
• Arthritis. Osteoarthritis can affect the lower back. In some cases, arthritis in the spine can lead to a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, a condition called spinal stenosis.
• Skeletal irregularities. A condition in which your spine curves to the side (scoliosis) also can lead to back pain, but generally not until middle age.

Source: Google

• Osteoporosis. Your spine's vertebrae can develop compression fractures if your bones become porous and brittle. 

Source: Google

• Spondylosis. This is a general term for age-related wear and tear of the spinal discs. Spondylosis is common and worsens with age. This condition is often used to describe degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) of the spine. Most people don't have symptoms, but some may experience pain or muscle spasms.

Source: Google

• Spondylolisthesis. A spinal disorder in which a bone (vertebra) slips forward onto the bone below it. Spondylolisthesis risk factors include sports that put stress on the bones in the lower back, such as gymnastics and football. Genetics may also put some people at increased risk.If the vertebra slips too far, it may press on nerves and cause severe back pain or nerve crowding that produces leg pain or numbness.

  

  Source: Google

• Cancer.  People with ovarian or colorectal cancer may have symptoms of back pain. There may also be back pain due to metastasis to the spine from prostate cancer and other cancers. 

        SYMPTOMS

Signs and symptoms of back pain can include:

• Muscle ache
• Shooting or stabbing pain
• Pain that radiates down your leg
• Pain that worsens with bending, lifting, standing or walking
• Pain that improves with reclining
• Loss of bowel and/or bladder control

    DIAGNOSIS

• X-ray. 
• MRI or CT scans. 
• Blood tests. 
• Bone scan. 
• Nerve studies. 

TREATMENT

1. MEDICATIONS: Such as Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, muscle relaxants, topical pain relievers, steroid injections etc.

2. HEALTH EDUCATION: 

-Do not lift heavy objects,

- Do not bend down 

- Always lie on your back on a hard surface such as orthopedic mattress or floor

-Change position often when standing or sitting for long

-You may need an ergonomic chair to sit at work

-consider career change if possible (😏 This may be impossible)

-Physical therapy and exercise also help a lot

3. SURGERY:Few people need surgery for back pain. 

Thanks very much for reading.

Abiola Olubiyi