BACK PAIN !!

INTRODUCTION:-

Back pain is one of the common reason for absence from work and doctor visits. Most people have back pain at least one. It can effect people of any age,it is more common in adult age between mid 30s and late 50s. Back pain is associated with the way our bones,muscles and ligaments in our back work and connect together.You can take measures to prevent or relieve back pain. If prevention fails ,simple home treatment and proper body mechanics often will heal your back within a few weeks and keep it functional for the long haul.

WHAT IS BACK PAIN??

It is a pain which occurs in your spinal region.It can be originated from muscles,joints,nerves and bones.The pain may be characterized as shooting or piercing pain and it may radiate into arms,hands as well as legs and feet.
                             The human back is composed of  a complex structure of muscles , tendons , disks and bones.The segments of our spine are cushioned with cartilage like pads called disks.Problems with any of these components can lead to back pain.

                            Back pain is different from one person to next.The pain can have a slow onset or occur suddenly.The pain may be intermittent or constant.In most cases,back pain resolves on its own with in a few weeks.

                  WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF BACK PAIN??

CLASSIFICATION BY ITS ANATOMICAL POSITION:-

• NECK PAIN (CERVICAL)
• MIDDLE BACK PAIN (THORACIC)
• LOWER BACK PAIN (LUMBER)
• TAIL BONE OR SACRAL  PAIN

CLASSIFICATION BY DURATION:-

• ACUTE BACK PAIN (It comes on suddenly and persists for a maximum of three months)
• CHRONIC BACK PAIN (The pain gradually develops over a longer period,lasts for over three months,and causes long-term problems)

                            WHY BACK PAIN HAPPENS??

Using improper lifting techniques can lead to back pain and severe back injuries,but other factors can also contribute to this problem.

POOR POSTURES:-

Whether you are standing,sitting or relaxing your posture affects your back.Awkward postures increase strain on back muscles and can bend the spine into positions that can put pressure on disc and cause trouble.When awkward postures are prolonged,the risk of injury is greater.

POOR PHYSICAL CONDITIONS:-

Your physical conditions can lead to back pain.If you're over weight,extra strain is placed on your spine.Every pound up front puts 10 pounds of strain on your back.If you are out of shape,the chances of chronic back pain are greater.Stress is another factor that can lead to back pain.Stress at work or home can cause tension in muscles leading to tightness and muscles spasms.

REPETITIVE TRAUMA:-

Most people think back pain result from lifting heavy objects.However,back pain do not come from a single lift.They result from a selectively minor strains that occur repeatedly over time.As you repeat irritating movements,minor injuries begin to accumulate and weaken affected muscles or ligaments.Eventually, the small injuries add up and a more serious injury can result.

                  WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF BACK PAIN??

In some cases of back pain,its cause is never found,it is called non specific back pain.Condition that can cause back pain include:-

• A slipped (prolapsed) circle (a plate of ligament in the spine pushing on a nerve).This can bring about agony and deadness,shivering and short coming in different parts of the body.
• sciatica (bothering of the nerve that keeps running from the lower back to the feet) – this can bring about agony, deadness, shivering and shortcoming in the lower back, backside, legs and feet .
• ankylosing spondylitis (swelling of the joints in the spine) – this causes torment and firmness that is typically more awful in the morning and enhances with development.
• Growth of the spine :- a tumor situated on the spine may press against a nerve, bringing about back pain. 
• Disease of the spine :- if the patient has a raised body temperature (fever) and in addition a delicate warm territory on the back, it could be brought about by a infection of the spine. 
• Different infections :- pelvic fiery ailment (females), bladder, or kidney diseases may likewise prompt to back pain. 
• Rest issue:- people with rest issue will probably involvement back agony, contrasted with others. 
• Shingles:- a disease that can influence the nerves may prompt to back pain, contingent upon the nerves influenced. 
• Awful sleeping cushion:- if a bedding does not support particular parts of the body and keep the spine straight, there is a more serious danger of creating back torment.

Every day activities can also cause back pain.Examples include:

• Pushing something
• Pulling something
• bending awkwardly
• Conveying something
• Lifting heavy weight objects
• Remaining for long stretches
• Bowing down for long stretches
• Contorting
• Hacking
• Sniffling
• Muscle pressure
• Over extending
• Stressing the neck forward,for example,when driving a car or utilizing a PC
  

           WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BACK PAIN??

The common symptoms of back pain are:

• Back stiffness
• Muscle spasms
• Tenderness over the back muscles 

If any of the following symptoms accompaines a back pain,individuals ought to see their specialist.Symptoms that indicate a serious cause for back pain include;

• Weight reduction
• Irritation (swelling) on the back
• Pain down the leg 
• Pain reaches below the knee
• Elevated body temperature (fever)
• Difficulty urinating
• Numbness around buttocks
• Persistent back pain

                        HOW IS BACK PAIN DIAGNOSED??

Most GPs (general experts, essential care doctors) will have the capacity to analyze back pain in the wake of doing a physical examination, and interviewing the patient.If the specialist or patient speculates some damage to the back, tests might be requested. Likewise, if the specialist speculates the back pain may be because of a hidden cause, or if the pain endures for a really long time, additionally tests might be suggested.These tests are X-RAYS,MRI or CT SCAN,BONE SCAN and ELECTROMYOGRAPHY (EMG).

                          HOW IS BACK PAIN TREATED??

Treatment relies on upon the basic reason for the back pain. Back pain brought on by a back strain or back sprain can be treated with rest, cool packs, and non-steroidal mitigating pharmaceuticals for pain control. Extra treatment for back pain may include physical therapy, narcotic pain medications, and ultrasound treatment. Surgery might be required to treat genuine aims of back pain.

WHAT ARE THE PREVENTIONS FOR BACK PAIN??

Following are the preventions for back pain:

EXERCISE:

           Low impact aerobic activities , those that don't strain or jerk the back  , can build quality and perseverance in your back and permit your muscles to capacity better. Strolling and swimming are great decisions. Talk with your specialist about which exercises are best for you

MAINTAIN PROPER POSTURE:

People should maintain a proper posture in siting and standing.Maintain a neutral pelvic position in standing posture.Chose a seat with good lower back support in siting posture and change your position frequently,at least in every half hour.

BODY WEIGHT:

        The amount of weight individuals carry, and in addition where they carry it, influences the danger of creating back pain. The distinction in back pain hazard amongst large and ordinary weight people is extensive. Individuals who convey their weight in the stomach zone versus the backside and hip area are likewise at more serious hazard.

LIFTING THINGS:

       Avoid heavy lifting, if conceivable, yet in the event that you should lift something overwhelming, let your legs take every necessary step. Hold your back straight , no turning  and twist just at the knees. Hold the heap near your body.

MOVING THINGS:

       Remember that it is better for your back to push things over the floor, utilizing your leg quality, as opposed to pulling them.

WRIST PAIN

Wrist

It is a complex joint connecting hand with forearm.
It is collection of bones, bones comprising wrist includes distal end of ulna  and radius, 8carpel bones,  proximal portion of 5 metacarpels

Wrist pain

Common complaint, caused by strain or fracture from sudden injuries.
Wrist pain can also caused by  repeatative stress, carpel tunnel syndrome , arthritis  and tendonitis

Repeatative stress injuries (RSI) / occupational overuse syndrome:
Condition that is result of forceful, awkward and repeated  activity  such as use of computer, keyboard, musical instruments producing damaged muscles, tendons, nerves
It usually effect the tendon of hand and arm 

Treatment: active movements of all body joints through  full range of motion

Carpel tunnel syndrome:

Tunnel is comprised bones and a band of strong connective tissues.
 in carpel tunnel syndrome tendon become inflameted and compress the median nerve 
Median nerve passes into hand and is located on palm side of  hand, provide sensation to thumb index finger, long finger and part of ring finger.
CTS leads:
*Numbness 
*tingling
*weakness
in thumb, first 3 fingers,  hand,wrist and arm.

Arthritis:

Inflammation of joints causing swelling,pain, stiffness in and around the joints.

Wrist Tendonitis:

Common problem involving  tendon inflammation and localized  pain around wrist joint.
It is also called  tenosynovitis , occour where tendons cross eachother or pass over a bony prominence.

Tips to reduce un-necessary  strain on wrist:
Keep in mind you want to reduce un-necessary  strain on wrists, arms, shoulders keeping them in neutral and relaxing  possition

*To prevent from stress and strain on your arms, wrists, hands, find neutral positions means  maintain your wrists,arms and fingers in straight line with your forearm.

* While typing your  wrist should not be at rest  but held up in line with back of your hands, this reduces strain to your wrist that result  from holding it at un-natural angle and allow you to move your arms to reach the keys rather then stretching  your  fingers reach to them

* use foam pad or towel infront of your key board to rest your wrist and forearm.

*hold elbows close to your body arm should be s.traight infront of you. If elbows are at angle  adjust height of your keyboard.

*don't  grip mouse hard it can cause nerve damages.

*keep mouse at your arms length. Don't  twist, stretch to reach to mouse this causes stress/pressure on your wrists,arms.

*  select mouse that fits your hand comfortably, if you have pain i n your wrist use ergonomic mouse that  is move with fingers instead of wrists.
(Ergonomic mouse  prevents from  physical problems  in hand and wrist  and it is designed  for ease of use and comfort)

*choose mouse asa flat as possible to reduce wrist extension (increase  in angle of wrist joint)

*Don't  put wrists on hard surfaces  specially on corners. This increases pressure inside carpel tunnel causing it to become inflameted.

Wrist braces:
After RSI it will be difficult for you to perform simple everyday tasks, other symptoms of this injuries is lot of pain.
Due to RSI or CTS  Health care provider recommend that you begin to use a wrist brace.
Wrist brace is soft or rigid medical device which is worm around the wrist to help to prevent or treat injuries.
It may be used to support,protect and immobilize the wrist joint, bone and ligments during injury.
These braces are commenly prescribed to help cope with RSI.

OSTEOARITHRITIS KNEE (OA KNEE)

overview:

OA knee is common form of arthrits in knee that causes chronic disease .

It effect most of the joint but generally in knee some symptoms causes disablites are overviwed .

like PAIN,TENDERNESS,STIFNESS,LOSS OF FLEXIBILTY

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

OA knee is degenerative joint condition that may effects an many 27  millions that causes when the cartilage away from joint.when cartilage beings to breakdown our bones ends up form to gather  when we move then friction causes
it may causes
inflammation
pain
stifness
many causes of OA are out of control it assosiated mostly in

old aged people :-people  those are about to 70 age

genetic disorder:-its also genetis disorder but it is about 5% found genetical

gender:-OA knee mostly found in female than male

*MOSTLY IN JOB PEARSON HAVE FOUND THIS DISEASE THOSE WHO JOB HAVE TO WORK SPECIALLY KNEELING ,SQUATTING,CLIMIBING*

*IN HEMOPHILLIA OR AVASCULAR NECROSIS ALSO CAUSES OA KNEE

factors

older age 

sex

obesity

joint injury

certain occupations

genetics

DIAGNOSIS

during physical diagnosis doctor examine effected joint check in for tenderness swelling orv redness

 two type of test available

IMMAGING:- 

LIKE X_RAY ,MAGNATIC RESPONSE IMMAGING (MRI)

LAB TEST:- 

BLOOD TEST ,JOINT FLUID ANALYSIS TEST 

TEATMENT

OA knee cannot be reversed but symptoms can usually be effectively managed with life style like

PHYSICAL THEROPY,MEDICATION,SUGERY

    *THROUGH MEDICATION*

                                                   ACETAAMINOPHEN

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                NONSTEROIDAL -NON INFLAMMANTRY GRUG

DULOXTINE (CYMBALTA)

THEROPY

PHYSICAL THEROPY

                                              

THROPY

OCCUPATIONAL THROPY

YOGA

SURGICAL

CORTISONE INJECTION

         LUBRICATION INJECTION

                    

*IN LAST JOINT REPLACMENT*

BY SAIRA KHAN 

                                               

Footwear Guide For Workers

Proper footwear is important,not only for foot comfort but also for one's general well being.Improper footwear can cause or aggrevate existing foot problems.

 Foot problems:

·         Severly acting foot belisters, causes corns, rheumatism, arthritis, malformations of toes, fallen arches (falt feet) sprains

·         Sweaty feet, fungal infections (athletes foot)

 Common Causes:

·       Long periods of standing,hard floouring and poorly fitted footwear e.g High heels,pointed shoes , lack of arch, support, too lose or too tight footwear

·       Hot and humid enviromnent strenuous work, footwear with synthehtic (non-porous)appears

How can foot injuries be prevented:

There is no workplace where a worker is unimmune to foot injury.However the hazards according to workplace and types of tasks the workdoes.These problems can be compensate by a proper footwear and proper caring.

 Which type of proper footwear is comfortable for workers:

Good footwear  should have the following qualities

·         The inner side of the shoes must be straight from the heel to the end of big toe.

·         The foot part must allow freedom of movement for toes.

·         The shoe must have a fastening across the instep to prevent foot from slipping when walking.

·         The Shoe must have a low, wide based heel.Small heel (1/4 to 1/3 for a men sizes) are recomended.

People buying footwear for work should take following advice:

• Dont expect that footwear which is too tide will stretcht with wear
• Have both feet measured when buying shoes feet normally differ in size
• Buy shoes late in afternoon when feet are likely to be swollen to their maximum size.
• Shock absorbing insoles where job requires walking or standing on hard floors. 

                          

              

Prevention against hot and cold conditions:

Ø  Insulated footwear may give little temperature in the soul.

Ø  Insulating the legs by whereing thermal undergarments.

Ø  Wearing insulating overshoes over work foot wear.

Ø  Wearing insulating muffs arround ankle.

Ø  Select shoes made of laether.

Ø  Wash feet daily with soaps rinse throughly and dry especially between toes.

Ø  Trim toe nails straight accross and not too short.

Ø  Keep several pairs of shoes and rotate shoes daily to allow them to air out.

Ø  Use foot powder.

  Ø  Cotton soaks non-coloured may be recomended                                                                                                                                     

     

Cervical Strain!

Background:-

     Cervical strain is a very common graze (injury) and it is seen very casually. It is the trauma that happens due to the accidents mostly. This strain causes anguish conditions for the patients. It is very uncomfortable but with suitable treatment, proper controlling and management it usually has a small number of corollaries.

     High speed injury mechanism have introduced a very ordinary term whiplash into use to elaborate and define these damages including Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD) which are used in medical documentations. 

     The major diagnostic challenge in the cervical setting is to discriminate cervical strain from other sources of neck problems which may results in mortality to the patients.

                  Radio-Graph of the cervical spine showing normal lordotic curve.

              Radio-Graph of the cervical spine showing straightening of lordotic curve.

What is cervical strain?

   When muscles and tendons of your neck are stretched, they cause cervical strain. Its is called Whiplash mostly as it is happened due to frequent whipping of neck in to and fro position. 

The pain due to cervical strain is unexpected and severe and neck pain starts hours after the damage or injury.

Work-Related Cervical Strain:-

  Usage of computer continuously and computer monitor viewing causes cervical strain. It is due to the balance between the viewer and the placement of the computer's monitor.

  

  It can be caused by road traffic accidents (RTA) or car accidents or motorcycle accidents (MCA). Sports has a major contact with this damage as well.

Other causes:- 

It can be caused in everyday life by the poor posture, tension in the muscles, psychological stress and poor sleeping habits. 

How is cervical pain treated?

 Acetaminophen is a drug which is available everywhere and one can get it without any doctor's prescription.
 Some other drugs such as ibuprofen gives a great hand in decreasing the swelling, ache and fever.
 Muscle relaxers and pain killers like Brexin can help in decrease of muscular spasm and pain.

Prevention:-

 Gradually return to your casual activities:

 You should stop working if you have a severe pain. Avoid the lifting of heavy weights or things.
 Stop the strenuous exercises.

 Icing or use ice packs:

 Use ice packs on your neck for 20 minutes maximum every hour or as directed by your Physician.
 Icing helps to prevent the damages in the tissue and swelling and pain is decreased frequently.

 Avoid Pillow while sleeping:

 Sleeping without pillow decreases the pain. Or you can place a towel under your neck and it should be rolled tightly.

 Physical Therapy:

Physical therapy will increase the movement, power and strength and decrease in pain will be seen simultaneously.

Symptoms:-

-Pain

-Stiffness

-Tightness in upper back and shoulders

-Pain lasts up to six weeks

CHRONIC KNEE PAIN !

WHAT IS CHRONIC KNEE PAIN?

■CHRONIC KNEE PAIN

It is long term pain swelling or sensitivity  in one or both knee joints the cause of knee pain can determine exact signs and symtoms you experience many conditions can cause or contribute to your(CHRONIC KNEE PAIN) and many treatment exist.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF  CHRONIC KNEE PAIN?

●(PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OR DISEASES CAUSES KNEE PAIN)

1:OSTEOARTHRITIS: pain inflammation and joint destruction caused by degenration and deterioration of joint.

2:TENDINITIS: pain in the front of the knee that is made worse when climbing ,talking stairs, or walking up an incline .

3:RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that causes painfull swelling and can eventually cause joint deformity and bone erosion.

4.Torn ligament: Tear in one of the four ligament in the knee.  the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injury ligament.

Factors making the chronic knee pain worse:

1: injuries to the structure of the knee can cause bleeding and swelling and over time. if the injury is not treated properly,it can create a chronic pain .

2.A sprain or strain:

SPRAIN:it is the relative change in shape or size of an object due to externally applied force.

3: OVERUSE of knee joint.

4: Infection.

5: Bad postureand form when doing 

physical activity.

6:improperly streching the muscle.

 

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC KNEE PAIN?

-The symptom of chronic knee pain are diffrent for each person and the cause for the knee joint affects how the pain feels chronic knee pain may present as a:

-(constant ach)

-(sharp,shooting pain when in use.

-dull burning discomfort.

PREVENTION OF CHRONIC KNEE PAIN:

-you can prevent some but not all of the possible causes of knees pain ,but not chronic knee pain itself . however there are things you can do to alleviate the pain.

if your pain is made worse by the over use or tend to be must pain full after physical activity you can implement lifestyle changes to help treat the pain these approaches include:

●warm up before execises, strech your quadriceps and hamistrings before and after exercises.

     ●Try low impact exercises instead of tennis or running ,give swimming or             bicycling or mix low impact exercises to give your knees a break.

   

     ●lose weight

 

     ● walk down hills running puts extra force on your knees instead of running          down on an incline.

               TREATMENT:

● here are the 5 treatments or solution  to get rid from knee pain...

  1. ICEING:

       ●frozen peas pair nicely with the knee swelling and knee pain wether you injure your arthritis flare-up ice molded around the joint for the 20 minutes each hour brings down inflammation.

     

  2. SMART EXERCISES:

        ●dont stop working out. keeping active  builds, muscles that support the knee joint . two things to avoid if you have the knee pair running and doing full leg extensions with a resistance machine ,better bets walking, bicycling ,and closed kinetic chain,exercises in which the foot stays planted like an elliptical trainers.

         

   3. KNEE EXERCISING:

    ●they go straight to your knees drinking 1% of fat milk helped women put the brakes on knee osteoarthritus in one study other researches shows that peaple who eat fruit with VIT: C shows fewer signs  of healing toward the osteoarthritis than those who dont.

         

4.KNEE REPLACEMENT:

●for when all else fail a surgeon resurfaces the ends of the femur and tibia( upper and lower leg bones) where they meet  in the joint  and replaces damage cartilage with metal and plastic implants. but it could be save your stair- climbing career.

 

 

 

5:PLATELET-RICH PLASMA.

●blood gets removed,treated and then injected into the joint with concentrated protiens called growth factors PRP. it has been used by athelets for sprains now there's evidence it helps knee pain if it holds up in more studies, PRP might go mainstream in  a few year.

 

 

EYE STRAIN !

WHAT IS EYE STRAIN?

'Eye strain' is a term commonly used for reffering to a number of symptoms which may occur along with eye irritation. Eye strain is known as 'Asthenopia' in medical language. Eye strain seems to be a common rising issue amongst the masses but it is not a disorder or eye disease. 

Eye strains is most common amongst people having jobs or doing activities that require continuous use of eye muscles such as driving, writing or reading on computers. Beside that the young masses develops this problem due to excessive use of smartphones, computers and prolong watching of television. Eye strain can be uncomfortable but it is not severe. It may go away after relaxation of your eye muscles for a while.

 

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF EYE STRAIN?

 

This conditions has some non specific symptoms which may occur simulateously. Eye strain may be characterised by:

• Headache

• Dryness or watering of eyes

• Eye irritation

• Blur or double vision 

• Trouble focusing

• Neck and back pain

• Increased senstivity to light

Headache is the most common symptom that occurs. The pain may be in both temples and is mostly mild. The pain can be easily relived by stopping the visual task. While on the otherhand headache is not a symptom in children under 12 years age along with eye fatigue, so if one complains so they must be having an underlying eye condition. Sometimes eye strain itself is a symptom of an underlying eye disease or disorder which maybe needs treatment.

These symptoms lower your standards of productivity. The symptoms may worsen if you are awake for a long time or do not get sufficent sleep. Sleep refreshes the eye with essential nutrients and lack of sleep can lead to eye irritation.

 

 

 

 

WHAT ARE CAUSES OF EYE STRAIN?

 

There may be various reasons which may cause the condition of eye strain.

 

1. Eye strain is commonly caused in people who have jobs which require constant or continuous use of computers or video monitors. The extended use of computers lead to decrease in number of blinking of eye which may cause dryness or soreness of eyes and one may blink several times to get rid of the irrtating and uncomfortable state. The condition may be worsened if the monitor is below or above the eye level and the person needs to stress his eye muscles to focus on the screen and on the other hand it may also lead to the pain in neck or back. If the lightening in the room is dim that may also worsen the condition. Opthalmologist term this condition as 'COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME' (CVS).

   

1. In teenagers eye strain is also a common issue as they tend to use smartphones or digital devices for a prolong period of time. The root cause remain the same for this as well. Study shows that in a normal condition a person blinks his eyes for approximately 18 times a minute while using a digital device person may blink his eyes for almost half times the normal. This condition is known as 'DIGITAL EYE SYNDROME.'

   

 

 

3. Eye strain maybe caused due to a refractive error (Ametropia) such as :

MYOPIA- near sightedness

HYPEROPIA(hypermetropia)- far sightedness

ASTIGMATISM- the curvature of cornea is not spherical

In any of the above cases one simply needs to wear glasses for near or distant blur vision or maybe both.

HOW IS EYE STRAIN DIAGNOSED?

Eye strain is diagnosed by the physician on the basis of patients history and the information provided by the patient. There are no specific test to diagnose eye strain. There no particular tools to measure the degree of eye strain as well. Then the physician checks that if the eye strain is a symptom for any eye disease or not.

 

WHAT ARE THE PREVENTIONS FOR EYE STRAIN?

The computer or video monitor users can use 20-20 rule. This rule suggests that after working on the computer for 20 minutes the person should take a break of 20 seconds and look into the horizon or 20 feet away and then continue back with his work. This relaxes the eye muscles and do not let them to become fatigue.

People who at their work places use computers should always keep the computers 20-26 inches away from their eyes and must make sure that the top of screen is not higher than their eye level but it can be slightly lower than their eye level. They can also use glare filter for their screen. 

They can chose screens which can tilt and is adjustable.

 

Adjust your light to maximized illimunation and minimized glare.

A person can also consiously blink a few extra times to avoid blur vision.

Rotating your fingers on your temples can relief the strain in eye muscles and provide comfort.

A person can setup a daily eye care routine such as using a washcloth soaked in warm water over tired and dry closed eyes.

A person can use artifical tears to refresh their eyes when they feel dry.

Eye strain is not a severe condition and is common these days. It can be avoided or relived by taking measures that are mentioned above.

 BY: KARISHMA KUMARI KHETPAL