W ELC OM ES YO U A LL

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 Presentation on
Low Back Pain a Common Problem

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Basic Anatomy of Spine

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Anatomy

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 What Are the Causes of Back Pain?
Back pain is a symptom of a medical condition, not a diagnosis.
Mechanical
problems: Perhaps the most common mechanical cause of back pain is a
condition called Intervertebral disk degeneration. The disks located between
the vertebrae of the spine break down with age, and lose their cushioning
ability.

• Other mechanical causes of back pain include Spasms, Muscle tension, and
Ruptured or Herniated disks.

Injuries: Strains are tears in the ligaments that support the spine, and they
can occur from twisting or lifting improperly.

Fractured vertebrae are often the result of osteoporosis. They may be

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caused by more severe injuries resulting from accidents or falls.
Disc and Bone causes for Back Pain

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 Other Causes,
Acquired conditions and diseases: Scoliosis and Kyphosis- curvatures of the
spine. Spondylolisthesis – slipping of one vertebra over the other.
Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Ankylosing Spondylitis – varieties of
arthritis. Spinal Stenosis -narrowing of the spinal column that puts pressure on
the spinal cord and nerves.

• Other causes of back pain include Kidney stones or infections;

Pregnancy & Endometriosis (in females), and
Fibromyalgia, a condition of widespread muscle pain and fatigue.

Infections and tumors: Not common causes of back pain.

Osteomyelitis, when they involve the vertebra.
Diskitis, when they involve the disks.

Tumors are relatively rare causes of back pain.

Deformities of Spine

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 Prevention of Back Pain

Prevention is always better than cure.

Exercise is considered to have a vital role in

preventing and recurrence of back pain. It
helps in correcting the posture, strengthens
the back muscles and improves flexibility.

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 How to prevent back pain while lifting or bending

• Do not try to lift heavy objects alone.

• Get a proper support by spreading your legs to a

comfortable position

• Be as close to the object being lifted as possible.

 
• One should always bend at the knees and not at the waist
while bending
 
• Do not bend forward as one lifts the object and do not twist
the waist while liftingALor carrying the object 
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How to lift things from the floor

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 Measures to prevent back pain in Office

• Avoid high heels.

• Make sure the chair one sits on has a straight back and, its height
and arm rests can be adjusted to a comfortable position.
 
• When sitting for long time keep the knees at the level of the hips
or slightly higher (use a small stool if needed), use a small pillow
behind the lower back.
 
• Avoid sitting continuously for long periods; get up from the seat,
walk a few steps and stretch the back a little.
 
• Practice relaxation techniques
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such as Exercises or Yoga.
How to sit at your Table

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 When to See a Doctor for Back Pain?

 
• Severe pain that does not improve with rest
 
• Pain after a fall or an injury
 
• Numbness or tingling
 
• Pain plus any of the below problems:
 
-- Trouble urinating
 
-- Weakness
 
-- Numbness in your legs
 
-- Accompanying Fever
 
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-- Weight loss when not on a diet.
 Diagnosis of Back Pain
 
 
• Medical history and Physical Examination.
 
• Other tests, such as:
 
-- X rays
 
-- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
 
-- Computed tomography (CT) scan
 
-- Blood tests.
 

Many times, the causeAL RAFFAH

of back pain is never known.
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Diagnostic Images

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 Treatment
 

Hot or Cold Packs (or Both)

 

--- Hot packs can soothe sore, stiff backs, by reducing the muscle spasms and pain.
 
--- Cold packs reduce swelling and thus pain.
 
  Exercise
 
--- Proper exercise can help ease chronic pain but should not be used for acute back pain.

Medications
 

--- Analgesics.

--- Topical analgesics like creams & ointments,rubbed onto the skin over the site Some act as counter
irritants.
 
--- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are drugs that reduce both pain and swelling. Eg.
Ibuprofen, Ketoprofen, Naproxen sodium and Diclofenac.

--- Muscle relaxants and antidepressants may be prescribed for some types of chronic back pain.
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 Complimentary Measures
Behavioral Changes
 

• You can learn to lift, push, and pull with less stress on your back.
 
• Changing how you exercise, relax,and sleep can help lessen back pain.

• Eating a healthy diet and not smoking also help.

Alternative Treatments
  

• Manipulation & Physiotherapy

 
• TENS.( Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ).It sends mild electrical pulses to nerves
over the painful area.
 
• Short Wave Diathermy (SWD) or Infra Red Radiation (IRR).
 
• Ultra Sound Massaging.

• Lumbar Corsets . AL RAFFAH MEDICAL CENTRE, LIWA

Bad Standing Posture

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Maintain Good Posture

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Good Postures(cont’d)-

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 Cauda Equina Syndrome

It is an emergency and surgery is

needed right away, to relieve pain and
other symptoms like weakness of the
Lower limbs , with or without loss of
bladder and bowel control.

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 Surgery
  Most people with chronic back pain do not need surgery.

You may need surgery if you have

  
• Herniated disk --- which is compressing on the spinal cord or the nerve roots.
 
•Spinal stenosis --- where the spinal canal or the nerve root canal become narrow.
 
•Spondylolisthesis ---when one or more vertebrae slip out of place.

•Vertebral fractures --- caused by a blow/ trauma to the spine or by crumbling of

the bone due to osteoporosis.

•Degenerative disk disease ---due to ageing, some have disks that break down and
cause severe pain.

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Exercises or Yoga help your Back

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 Although the causes of
back pain are usually
physical,

Emotional stress can play a

role in how severe pain is and
how long it lasts.
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RELAX , FREE YOUR MIND OF ALL TENSIONS . TAKE A VACATION.

YOU WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL.

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DO NOT BE A COUCH POTATO
OBESITY AND LACK OF EXERCISE WILL KILL YOU AND YOUR BACK
 Yo u
T h an k
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FOR FURTHER CONSULTATION AND ADVICE

Dr. PRAMOD .K.P.

Jr. Specialist Orthopedics
Al Raffah Medical Centre
Liwa, Sultanate Of Oman.

Timing
Morning : 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Evening : 5:00 am to 10:00 pm
Friday holiday
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