A study of 488 people who sought treatment for low back pain by the Arthritis Research U.K. Primary Care Centre over a period of five years showed that a high intensity of pain when the condition first started predicted a long term chronic back pain and even disability after five years.
This is not particularly good news, as in my personal experience, and that of many acquaintances with back pain, it nearly always starts suddenly with severe pain.
The study took in several factors including demographic, psychological, physical and occupational. A baseline (initial) high intensity of pain predicted a 12% higher risk of developing chronic low back in the future.
Patients who believed that their pain would persist long term were 4% correct (the power of the human mind at work again). These numbers may not seem particularly significant but bear in mind that 4% of 488 is 19 people and it is estimated that 65 million in USA suffer with back pain the numbers become huge.
Interesting stuff, you can read the article describing the study on science daily.com here.
Saturday, 22 February 2014
Saturday, 15 February 2014
What You Need To Know About Slipped Discs
As many readers will know a slipped disc can be extremely painful.
However in many cases a slipped disc will gradually fix itself on its own, requiring nothing more than gentle exercise and perhaps a painkiller or two.
As I may have mentioned before the NHS uk site contains a wealth of information on all sorts of conditions and their link to slipped disc treatment is well worth a look.
It also contains a short video on lumbar surgery for the relief of pressure on the nerves of the lower back, most informative.
If you have, or think you may have, a slipped disc you could do worse than go here and check out what they have to say on the subject.
However in many cases a slipped disc will gradually fix itself on its own, requiring nothing more than gentle exercise and perhaps a painkiller or two.
As I may have mentioned before the NHS uk site contains a wealth of information on all sorts of conditions and their link to slipped disc treatment is well worth a look.
It also contains a short video on lumbar surgery for the relief of pressure on the nerves of the lower back, most informative.
If you have, or think you may have, a slipped disc you could do worse than go here and check out what they have to say on the subject.
Sunday, 9 February 2014
Curing Back Pain in 12 Minute Sessions
According to an article on The Daily Mail online, scientists have come up with a machine to treat back pain without the patient having to even move or put in any effort. Sounds wonderful, and case studies are promising.
The machine carries out continuous passive movement, applying traction at the same time, once the patient has lain on their back with their legs draped over a column situated behind the knees.
I seem to recall this machine, or something very similar, being promoted some time ago. Not sure if this is the same machine or a similar one.
The fact that several hospitals have trialed this machine with definitive improvements in back pain relief would tend to give credence to the claims, with one study in Israel reporting a 70% improvement in pain relief compared with just 8% for patients receiving a dummy treatment.
These machines can be purchased for around £250, which may not be a bad buy if they actually work.
For more details and to read the full article click here.
The machine carries out continuous passive movement, applying traction at the same time, once the patient has lain on their back with their legs draped over a column situated behind the knees.
I seem to recall this machine, or something very similar, being promoted some time ago. Not sure if this is the same machine or a similar one.
The fact that several hospitals have trialed this machine with definitive improvements in back pain relief would tend to give credence to the claims, with one study in Israel reporting a 70% improvement in pain relief compared with just 8% for patients receiving a dummy treatment.
These machines can be purchased for around £250, which may not be a bad buy if they actually work.
For more details and to read the full article click here.
Sunday, 2 February 2014
Ladies, Lose The Back Pain by Losing The Bra.
After a fifteen year study of 330 womens breasts (he got paid for this?) Professor Jean-Denis Rouillon of Besançon CHU has concluded that there is absolutely no benefit to wearing a bra.
He says his results in fact show that the benefits of going bra-less far outweigh any perceived benefit from wearing them.
As far as we are concerned in this blog, some of the women who were part of this study, and we are not told how many, actually reported that stopping using a bra had eased their back pain.
You can read into this what you will, but on a cautionary note, before all you ladies rush off to burn the offending article Prof Rouillon says that women who had been wearing a bra for a long while would gain no benefit from stopping now.
Maximum benefit is gained by not starting to wear one at all. Read the full story here.
The last actions that triggered your back pain are not the cause. Sounds hard to believe, but it's explained here.
He says his results in fact show that the benefits of going bra-less far outweigh any perceived benefit from wearing them.
As far as we are concerned in this blog, some of the women who were part of this study, and we are not told how many, actually reported that stopping using a bra had eased their back pain.
You can read into this what you will, but on a cautionary note, before all you ladies rush off to burn the offending article Prof Rouillon says that women who had been wearing a bra for a long while would gain no benefit from stopping now.
Maximum benefit is gained by not starting to wear one at all. Read the full story here.
The last actions that triggered your back pain are not the cause. Sounds hard to believe, but it's explained here.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)