Some Facts About Back Pain Loveland Residents May Wish To Know

Back pain is a common symptom, particularly among individuals actively involved in manual and office work. It usually occurs as a result of putting strain to the spine over a long period of time. This symptom can be prevented by observing certain measures such as sitting properly in a comfortable chair for individuals who spend long hours at the office. The problem rarely occurs in children and the elderly and when it does happen, it should be thoroughly investigated to rule out any alarming conditions. If struggling with back pain Loveland residents should understand a number of things beforehand.

The back is made up of the spine, muscles together with nerves and ligaments. The lower region runs from the twelfth rib down to the crests of the pelvic bone. Discomfort can arise anywhere along the spine or the surrounding tissues. It is more common for one to complain of low back pain compared to pain of the upper back. As a matter of fact, if the upper region is affected, it us usually treated as a red flag. This means that since upper backache does not occur frequently, it is given more attention when it does occur.

In a bid to establish the exact cause of this problem, the doctor needs to find out more about the symptom through a process called history taking. To make sure as much information as possible is obtained, the doctor should be friendly and reassuring to the patient. Reassurance should go beyond the verbal. In cases where the individual presents acutely ill, for instance, supportive management should be a priority. This may involve administration of oxygen for those who are severely breathless, analgesia for those in extreme painful situations and giving extra fluids for those who come in with severe dehydration.

In the history, they will need to know more about the symptom characteristics. Different features regarding the pain need to be established including the exact location, the severity, relieving factors, exacerbating factors and whether or not it is limited to one area or radiates to other areas. It is also important to establish the onset, duration and pattern. Your age and occupation will also need to be known as these can also give a clue on the possible causes.

Documentation of history begins with biodata which includes the full names of a patient, their age, where they live, what they do for a living, their marital status, among other relevant personal questions. Once this is out of the way, a good amount of time is needed to establish the characteristics of the main presenting complaint.

Chronic backache with associated loss of significant weight over the duration of illness may be indicative of a tumor in the spine. The likelihood goes even higher if the patient reports of cancer being in the family. In addition, patients with cancer should complain of easily getting tired and excessive sweating at night.

Patients who report unintended weight loss could be suspected to have an underlying tumor. Other symptoms suggestive of cancer include night sweats, fatigue, positive family history and a long duration of symptoms. Road traffic accidents victims are likely to complain of acute backache if the spine was directly involved. With severe cases where the spinal cord is involved, there may be associated paralysis of limbs.

Primarily, the patient should be provided with analgesics to address their discomfort. Also, if the spine is suspected to be fractured, the patient should be immobilized appropriately to prevent further damage to surrounding tissues. Physiotherapy and pain medication is usually enough for pain that is solely due to muscle sprain. However, if there is another underlying cause, it should be sought and treated promptly to prevent complications.