Symptomatic Treatment

Symptomatic Back Pain Treatment:

Symptomatic back pain treatment is commonplace in medicine today.

Medical science has not been very effective in curing many common back pain conditions. Most of the accepted treatments for back pain only provide relief from the symptoms, rather than attempt to correct the actual cause of the condition. Symptomatic treatments are fine if the condition is incurable, but if used for curable back pain, they are examples of bad medicine and poor science.

Not all care providers continue symptomatic treatment past its usefulness or instead of a true cure.

A good health care provider will always prefer to cure the condition, and will work tirelessly to assist the patient in their recovery.

Back Trouble UK practitioners strive to treat the cause, not just the symptoms of the Back Pain Condition, with excellent results.

Possibly Dangerous Remedies!

Back pain occurs in many forms. It may be only an uncomfortable twinge in the lower back or so severe that it is disabling. The pain may persist for a week, or for months or years. Back pain is extremely common, and there are numerous methods and commercial products available to treat it.

One common misconception is that back pain is caused by activity and relieved by rest. Unless otherwise advised by a physician, however, you should not treat back pain with extended bed rest. The patient with low back pain should rest for no more than two days and may try nonprescription products. It is better to resume normal activities (even though there may be some pain) than to rest too long and get out of shape, which may increase the risk of future episodes of pain. In one-third of all cases, back pain will heal in a week or so.

Preventing Back Pain:

To prevent future episodes of back pain, ask your physician to refer you to a physical therapist who can teach you exercises to strengthen the muscles of the back. Sitting for extended periods is a primary factor in back pain. Regular exercise can allow the back to better support weight while sitting. If your job involves a great deal of sitting (such as working at a word processor), walking during break periods and after work is a good idea.

Using Non-prescription Analgesics:

A number of safe and effective non-prescription products are available, but they should not be used longer than 10 days. The products should not be used when pregnant or nursing a baby, and they should not be combined with prescription pain relievers unless you ask a physician or pharmacist. Also, you should not combine non-prescription products with each other (for example, ibuprofen plus naproxen) unless advised to do so by a physician or pharmacist. If you drink three or more alcoholic beverages daily, do not use any non-prescription pain reliever without asking your physician.

Choosing a Pain Reliever:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a good first choice because it does not cause stomach problems and is safe with most prescription medications. Other products that may be effective include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen. It is important to note, however, that these medications may irritate the stomach unless taken with food or milk. Aspirin may cause interactions with prescription medication, such as warfarin, other medications for thinning the blood, or medications for gout, arthritis, or diabetes.

Heat and Cold: Your doctor or physical therapist can tell you how to use heat or cold treatments and other products.

Be cautious about internet information:

Patients searching the Internet for information on back pain may be led to devices purported to relieve back pain, including Back Bars (delivering pressure point massage), portable pillows, seating systems, back supports, and driver’s cushions. One device allows the user to hang suspended from the ceiling, supported by an air-filled cushion worn around the waist.

An A-frame metallic device allows one to hang upside-down holding on to its bars.
Another company claims to have the solution for back pain (as well as stress, insomnia, migraine, and arthritis) with automatic Chinese ear acupuncture devices that do not use needles.

One company touts the benefits of proanthenols, which they claim are grape seed and pine bark extracts, for back pain. Since patients often purchase these products in lieu of a physician visit or safe and effective back treatment.

We would like to warn patients to avoid unproven and possibly dangerous remedies.

See Your GP

See your GP:

As a general rule, people with back pain are advised to contact their doctor if the pain is no better after about a 2-3 days.

You should certainly see your GP as soon as possible if you have any of these symptoms:

Difficulty passing urine
Numbness around the back passage or genitals
Numbness, pins and needles or weakness in the legs
Pain running down one or both legs
Unsteadiness when standing
These are associated with uncommon conditions, but ones that need treatment immediately.

What doctors can Do:

There's no quick fix for most back pain and your doctor is unlikely to be able to 'cure' you. However, they will be able to:
Check you don't have a serious condition
Prescribe another type of painkiller
Refer you to other health practitioners who can help
Your doctor will probably give you a physical examination and ask you about your back pain.
Here are some probable questions your GP will ask. Think them through to make the most of your medical examination:

When did your back pain start?
What were you doing when it started?
Have you had any back problems in the past?
Where is your pain?
What sort of pain is it - dull, piercing or shooting?
Does it stay in the same place?
What makes the pain better, or worse?
Do you have any other symptoms, in your back or elsewhere?
What does your back pain stop you doing?
What have you been doing which might have contributed to giving yourself a bad back?
What can you do in the future to try and keep your back healthy in the long term?

If you're not happy with your doctor's diagnosis or if your symptoms keep coming back, go back to your GP or ask another health expert for their opinion.

Other people who can help?

If your back problem doesn't clear up quickly, your family doctor may refer you to another health practitioner. This is most likely to be a Physical Therapist and may involve a visit to the hospital for examinations, tests and treatment.

Even if your doctor doesn't refer you to anyone else, you can visit another health practitioner privately. Some people go straight to an osteopath or chiropractor as soon as back pain starts.

Private sessions can cost as little as £35, and the practitioner quite rightly may recommend a course of treatment over several weeks.

If you do decide to see a practitioner privately, personal recommendation is a good starting point.

But remember your back problem is unique - just because a specialist helped a friend it doesn't mean they'll be able to do the same for you.

Don't let it get you down!

Physical Therapy can be passive or active. Passive therapies such as massage and applying heat and cold are typically effective for pain only in the first two to four weeks after an injury. Patients typically do active physical therapy such as exercise and posture/gait correction for up to 12 weeks. These treatments help with chronic pain by building or reconditioning muscles so they can move more normally.

Psychological Therapy can help you sort through the issues that chronic pain can create. Chronic pain can be stressful in that it strains relationships and affects your ability to work or take part in daily activities. In addition, you, your family members, and significant others may bring a unique mix of feelings, expectations, beliefs, personality traits, experiences, support systems, and skills to the situation. Often, psychologists will work with people on relaxation techniques, coping skills, and self-monitoring skills.

WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER WITH PAIN?

Many people suffer with chronic pain because they are unaware of treatment options that can help them live more normal lives. Others have fears that prevent them from talking about their pain, which in turn creates barriers to seeking adequate relief. (Not all treatment options are applicable to your type of pain.)

Read the following to see if you fall into one of these categories. If you can relate to these fears, remember that help and relief are possible, but only if you discuss your symptoms with your doctor or registered back pain specialist.

Fear of being labelled a "bad patient." You won't find relief if you don't talk with your doctor about your pain.

Fear that increased pain may mean that your disease has worsened. Regardless of the state of your disease, the right treatment for pain may improve daily life for you and your family.

Fear of addiction to drugs. Research shows that the chance of people with chronic pain becoming addicted to pain-relieving drugs is extremely small. When taken properly for pain, drugs can relieve pain without addiction. Needing to take medication to control your pain is not addiction.

Lack of awareness about pain therapy options. Be honest about how your pain feels and how it affects your life. Ask your doctor about the pain therapy options available to you. Often, if one therapy isn't effectively controlling your pain, another therapy can.

Fear of being perceived as "weak." Some people believe that living stoically with pain is a sign of strength, while seeking help often is considered negative or weak. This perception prevents them seeking the best treatment with available therapies.

Because there are many new ways to treat pain, it is important that you speak openly with your doctor or with a doctor who specialises in treating chronic pain. Refer them to this web site so that they too can learn more about natural treatment options for your pain.

A Breech Baby.

The Webster Technique is a chiropractic technique designed to relieve the musculoskeletal causes of intrauterine constraint. This technique is also known by names such as as Webster's In-Utero Constraint Technique or Webster's Breech Turning Technique. The Webster Technique was developed by Dr. Larry Webster in 1978. Dr. Webster was often referred to in the Chiropractic profession as "The Grandfather of Chiropractic Pediatrics." Additionally, the technique is presently taught in many chiropractic colleges and postgraduate chiropractic education seminars.

A recent study was done by surveying a large number of doctors of chiropractic who use the technique to see the percentage of results they obtain on real patients. The survey required detailed information to verify the accuracy of the responses. The results showed that 82% of the doctors surveyed reported a high rate of success when using the Webster Technique.

The results from the study suggested that it may be beneficial to perform the Webster Technique in the 8th month of pregnancy, if it has been determined that the child is in the breech position. This timing is important because from the 8th month on, a breech presentation is unlikely to spontaneously convert to the normal head down position.

The study concludes by saying, "when successful, the Webster Technique avoids the costs and risks of cesarean section or vaginal trial of breech. In view of these findings, the Webster Technique deserves serious consideration in the management of expectant mothers exhibiting adverse fetal presentation."