Back-pain sufferers learn how staying active can aid healing
A cornucopia of pain. That's how 49-year-old Steve Shaw describes the chronic back, neck and hip problems he's suffered for more than two decades.
Scoliosis,
arthritis of the spine, degenerative disc disease and nerve damage in
his hip all added up to pain that was, at times, excruciating.
"I was scared I was going to end up in a wheelchair," said Shaw, of Mooresville. "I was very miserable."
While
he still lives with some daily pain, Shaw found relief from a spinal
fusion operation, steroid injections and medications. Yet throughout
his ordeal, he said he has kept as healthy, active and positive as
possible -- steps doctors say help people deal with back ailments and
pain.
Local doctors specializing in spinal
care say it's most important for those with back pain to remain
physically active and strengthen and stretch back and abdominal muscles
-- creating a natural corset around the spine. Those are good
preventative measures, too. Weight gain, smoking and bad posture often
aggravate back pain.
As tempting as bed rest
may be, doctors say it's not a good idea and will make recovery longer,
unless there is a specific medical reason for it.
"Anything
more than a few days, and your continued rest causes weakening of the
muscles," said Dr. Kevin Siqua with OrthoIndy and Indiana Orthopaedic
Hospital.
No one had to convince Shaw to stay active.
"I'm 49, but I'll be darned if I'm going to be relegated to sitting around on heating pads all day," he said. "I keep busy."
Although
he said he had to go on disability in 2004 from a manual labor job, he
now takes care of his aging mother, which includes care of their house,
lawn and car. He also exercises when his back and hip pain will let him.
He
credits treatment from his physiatrist, Dr. Van Evanoff Jr. of Indiana
Pain & Spine Care, with making his pain manageable and improving
his life.
Shaw's multiple problems may be unusual. But back pain isn't.
Back
pain strikes an estimated eight out of 10 people at some point during
their lives, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. The cost is a drain on the
health-care system, employers' bottom lines and people's pocketbooks.
Americans
spend at least $50 billion each year on alleviating low-back pain, the
most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor
to missed work, according to the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke.
Back pain is also the
second-most-common neurological ailment in the United States, behind
headaches. Causes are many -- an injury, a fall, lifting heavy objects
or chronic conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis and
degenerative-disc disease.
But most often, experts say, surgery isn't the answer, and remedies aren't quick or easy.
"Generally,
what you are doing is fighting Mother Nature," said Dr. Philip Pryor,
orthopedic spine surgeon at The Spine Institute in Carmel.
"Your discs and joints will degenerate. Sometimes, there is no cure and it's best to manage the pain."
That's the bad news.
The
good news is that 85 percent of people with back pain recover within
six weeks, said Dr. Brian Foley, physiatrist and assistant professor at
the Indiana University School of Medicine.
With
acute pain, people can use ice or heat, or alternate the two, and take
over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine. A heat wrap, hot bath or
bag of frozen vegetables may offer some relief, he said.
If pain goes beyond four weeks, Foley recommends seeing a doctor.
While
medications may help alleviate pain and inflammation, doctors encourage
patients to get some form of aerobic exercise while being mindful that
some activities can exacerbate pain.
If severe or shooting pain or increased numbness develops, Foley said it's best to reduce the activity level for a while.
Other
good exercises are those that lengthen and stretch hamstring muscles,
crunches for strengthening abs and back extension movements to
strengthen the lower back.
Unfortunately, Evanoff said, some people would rather take pain pills instead of making lifestyle changes.
"A
very large percentage is not willing to do anything," said Evanoff.
"It's a dilemma. But if they don't, they have to live with the
consequences."
Chronic back pain also drives
some people to seek other remedies, such as chiropractic services,
acupuncture and massage therapy.
Several
local doctors said those services sometimes can offer pain relief, but
patients should consult their doctors and use the services only to
supplement their care. In some cases, they say manipulating the spine
can be harmful if there's an infection or fracture.
It's
not enough, doctors stress, to just treat the back problem and the
pain. Often depression accompanies and can even contribute to chronic
back pain, so anti-depressants or counseling are necessary.
"You
have to treat the whole person," said Pryor. "If you are depressed or
have other psychological problems, it makes it harder for you to deal
with the pain."
Back-pain sufferers learn how staying active can aid healing