Fact Finder: How to ease back pain

Nearly 80% of Americans will experience some type of back pain in their lifetime. It's the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office.

By: Gina Redmond, Reporting Lynne Jones, Producer Jamey Bryan, Photographer/Editor | Alabama's13.com
Published: September 16, 2009

Do you suffer from back pain? If you do, you are not alone. Nearly 80% of Americans will experience some type of back pain in their lifetime. The National Institutes of Health reports back pain is the most common cause of job related disability in American, costing $50 billion a year in treatments. It is also the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office. “The vast majority of patients that come into us are either complaining of low back pain, neck pain or head aches,” said Align Your Spine Chiropractor Jeff French, DC. In fact, most cases of back pain are caused by bad habits, like poor posture, accidents, muscle strains or in rare cases serious medical conditions like inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer. “We could talk about maybe a disc problem, we could talk about a joint problem if you have arthritis, we can talk about the pain coming from the disc itself,” said Neurosurgeon Thomas Staner MD. Dr. Staner said pain associated with the back should diminish in 6 weeks or less. Patients should seek medical attention if the following occur:

· Numbness or tingling

· Severe pain that does not improve with rest

· Pain after a fall or an injury

· Pain in addition to trouble urinating, weakness, numbness in your legs, fever, or weight loss when not on a diet.

To diagnose back pain, your doctor may order an x ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, or blood tests. However, all doctors agree, the key is to avoid the pain in the first place through preventative care. “Most people that come in complaining of back pain are usually inactive,” said Dr. French. Dr. French offers these tips to prevent back pain:

· Maintain a healthy diet and weight

· Remain active

· Avoid prolonged bed rest

· Maintain proper posture

· Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine

· Lift with your knees and do not twist when lifting

· Perform daily exercises to increase the flexibility of strength of your back muscles

To learn more about chiropractic treatment of back pain go to www.alignyourspinechiro.com or contact Dr. Jeff French at (205) 995-5078.

To learn more about back surgery go to www.brainspine.com or contact Thomas A. Staner M.D. with Alabama Neurosurgeons at 205-991-4400.