healthspin
by Jared Rochelle, MD
Take back your game with Pain Management
Jared Rochelle, MD
If
the
pain
in
your back is
par for the
course, you
may want
to take steps
to relieve
it before it
becomes
so bad you
barely get
to the links.
Although most people will
experience back pain sometime in
their lives, it can really play havoc
with your golf game and slow down
your pace. There are many causes
of back pain, and some are due to
lifestyle choices and age. Other back
pain causes include accidents, muscle
strains and sports injuries.
Roy, 54, is a golfer who suffered a
back injury years ago while mowing
his lawn. Before he developed back
problems, he was a 6 handicap.
Today, he is lucky to chalk up a 15
handicap.
“Every time I take a swing with
my club, it sends a sharp pain down
my leg,” he shares. “My doctor says
it is probably ‘structural.’ But, it’s
definitely hurting my game.”
The back is an intricate structure
of bones, muscles and other tissues.
The centerpiece of the structure is
the spine, which is highly prone to
injury because it is subject to many
strong forces: torque and twisting,
sudden jolts and daily stress.
Common structural problems that
may result in back pain include:
• Herniated discs – when the disk is
damaged and bulges or breaks open
• Sciatica – a sharp and shooting
pain that travels through the buttock
and to the leg, caused by inflammation
of a nerve
• Arthritis in the joints of the spine
• Slippage of a vertebral body-
known as spondylolisthesis, when a
vertebral body is not aligned with the
one below it
• Abnormal curvature of the spine
– an example is scoliosis, when the
spine curves to the side
• Spinal stenosis – narrowing of
the spinal canal.
• Osteoporosis – bones, including
the vertebra of the spine, become
brittle, making fractures more likely
Winston, 62, is at risk for back
pain due to his age, smoking, and
obesity. Over time, wear and tear on
the spine may result in neck and back
pain. This means that people over
age 30 or 40 are more at risk for back
pain than younger individuals.
“My back never bothered me until
a few years ago,” he notes. “It seems
like every year it gets a little more
difficult to deal with and I visit the
doctor more often.”
Winston, an avid outdoorsman,
does have risk factors commonly
associated with back pain. Those
include: smoking; genetics; job
hazards; low physical activity; obesity;
poor posture; and pregnancy.
However, low physical activity and
genetics may contribute to 78-year-
old Nancy’s back pain, which was
so unbearable that she could barely
walk or get through her daily routine.
After taking a thorough history
of Nancy’s health, her doctor
performed a physical examination
and ordered X-rays and Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans. She
was diagnosed with several structural
problems, from ruptured and bulging
disks to arthritis and spinal stenosis.
“I have never been in such pain,
even with childbirth,” she comments.
“There were days that the pain was
so bad that I would just sit in my
chair and cry.”
Although their cases are each
unique, Roy, Winston and Nancy
share similar symptoms:
• Aching or stiffness along the
spine
• Sharp, pain in the lower back –
especially after activities that involve
twisting, lifting or bending
• Chronic ache in the middle or
lower back, especially after sitting or
standing for extended periods
• Back pain that radiates from the
low back to the buttocks, down into
the leg and sometimes into the feet
• Difficulty standing straight
because of pain or spasms in the low
back
Despite the similarities, their
doctors choose to treat them
differently. For example, Roy’s
doctor is treating him with physical
therapy and non-surgical procedures
including injections while Winston is
undergoing lifestyle modification and
psychological support. Nancy, due to
the severity of her condition, was
treated with medications and surgery.
Whatever your symptoms, your
health care provider should work
closely with you to identify the cause
of your pain and find appropriate
treatment options. To learn more
about managing your pain, call
North Oaks Pain Management at
(985) 230-7480 or visit http://www.
northoaks.tv/pain.