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Business News
Blue Springs, MO —
This year’s unusually warm spring has accounted for an uptick in sales at local garden centers, and for me, an uptick in the number of weekend warriors I see for back pain.
While back pain can be sports-related, more often it is the result of injuries to patients anxious to get into the garden, but who’ve not prepared their bodies before preparing the soil.
Back pain affects 80 percent of Americans at some time in their lives. It comes in many forms, from lower back pain, middle back pain, or upper back pain to low back pain with sciatica.
Common back pain causes include nerve and muscular problems, degenerative disc disease and arthritis. But, many are due to a lifetime of bad habits, often from improper movement or posture while lifting, (in particular lifting and twisting at the same time) and poor body mechanics.
And, though the causes may be different, they share many of the same symptoms, such as pain, muscle spasms and stiffness. If you’re experiencing tingling or numbness in your legs, or are having urinary or bowel trouble in addition to the pain, it’s time to see your doctor.
Risk factors for back pain (beyond your control):
■ Middle-aged or older
■ Male
■ Pregnancy
■ Family history of back pain
■ Previous back injury
■ Previous back surgery
■ Congenital spine problems.
Risk factors (within your control):
■ Getting regular exercise
■ Activity that requires long periods of sitting, heavy lifting, bending or twisting, repetitive motions or constant vibration
■ Smoking. Smokers are more likely to have low back pain than non-smokers
■ Excess body weight often means poor physical condition; weaker muscles and less flexibility
■ Poor posture may not cause low back pain. But bad posture can make the pain worse
■ Stress is believed to play a major role in low back pain, particularly chronic low back pain through unconsciously tightening back muscles.
Long time physical laborers are often tempted to lie down when injured, but it actually takes longer for backs to heal and recover at rest. They would be far better off doing stretching exercises.
I recommend patients Google “back exercises.” Find three or four of them which are most comfortable and do them three or four times per day. These exercises (such as bringing your knees up to your chest, or leaning up against a wall and stretching calf muscles) are needed to return a full range of motion. Exercises should be done to a point where you feel tightness, but not pain in the areas being stretched.
This year’s unusually warm spring has accounted for an uptick in sales at local garden centers, and for me, an uptick in the number of weekend warriors I see for back pain.
While back pain can be sports-related, more often it is the result of injuries to patients anxious to get into the garden, but who’ve not prepared their bodies before preparing the soil.
Back pain affects 80 percent of Americans at some time in their lives. It comes in many forms, from lower back pain, middle back pain, or upper back pain to low back pain with sciatica.
Common back pain causes include nerve and muscular problems, degenerative disc disease and arthritis. But, many are due to a lifetime of bad habits, often from improper movement or posture while lifting, (in particular lifting and twisting at the same time) and poor body mechanics.
And, though the causes may be different, they share many of the same symptoms, such as pain, muscle spasms and stiffness. If you’re experiencing tingling or numbness in your legs, or are having urinary or bowel trouble in addition to the pain, it’s time to see your doctor.
Risk factors for back pain (beyond your control):
■ Middle-aged or older
■ Male
■ Pregnancy
■ Family history of back pain
■ Previous back injury
■ Previous back surgery
■ Congenital spine problems.
Risk factors (within your control):
■ Getting regular exercise
■ Activity that requires long periods of sitting, heavy lifting, bending or twisting, repetitive motions or constant vibration
■ Smoking. Smokers are more likely to have low back pain than non-smokers
■ Excess body weight often means poor physical condition; weaker muscles and less flexibility
■ Poor posture may not cause low back pain. But bad posture can make the pain worse
■ Stress is believed to play a major role in low back pain, particularly chronic low back pain through unconsciously tightening back muscles.
Long time physical laborers are often tempted to lie down when injured, but it actually takes longer for backs to heal and recover at rest. They would be far better off doing stretching exercises.
I recommend patients Google “back exercises.” Find three or four of them which are most comfortable and do them three or four times per day. These exercises (such as bringing your knees up to your chest, or leaning up against a wall and stretching calf muscles) are needed to return a full range of motion. Exercises should be done to a point where you feel tightness, but not pain in the areas being stretched.
Over-the-counter painkillers such as Tylenol, aspirin or ibuprofen can be helpful. Your doctor may prescribe prescription strength anti-inflammatory/pain medicines. Some doctors also prescribe muscle relaxants when pain interrupts sleep and mobility.
But beware, many of these medications affect the brain, not the muscles, and often cause drowsiness and dependence. These should be taken with food. Overusing NSAIDS
(non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and Tylenol can increase risk of nausea and reflux, and can be hard on the kidneys and liver. Always follow up with your doctor.
There are patches that contain numbing medicine. These may also need a prescription.
Heat or cold? Whichever one makes it feel better, but protect your skin from ill effects of either.
Physical, chiropractic and massage therapies can also be beneficial to sufferers.
My advice is maintain a healthy weight and exercise. Eat lots of fiber. Use good back support if heavy lifting is required. Continue stretching exercises even after pain is gone. If your job keeps you at a desk, or sitting most of the time, get up and walk around.
If you’re still having pain or neurological problems after a conservative treatment period of six weeks, further testing such as a CAT scan or MRI may be in order.
My garden gurus tell me tomatoes shouldn’t be planted for another couple of weeks in this area. You have plenty of time to prepare.
