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Neck and back pain is a growing concern in Gulf, say specialists Millions of people suffer from several types of spinal disorders preventing them from working or even doing simple daily activities
MUSCAT: Back and neck pain is a major public health issue globally and Oman is no exception. It causes considerable loss of man hours of work and decreased productivity and contributes to morbidity in the population. Millions of people suffer from several types of spinal disorders preventing them from working or even doing simple daily activities. Dr Gowrishankar, who has recently joined the new American Spine Centre in Muscat and Madhur Bomb, general manager, Bahwan Healthcare Centre explain the causes, prevention and treatment advice for back pain in this article. How common is lower back pain? Lower back pain is a daily health challenge – 60 to 70% suffer throughout their lives. 1 in 4 suffer back pain at any point in time in their life. Statistics from a recent study in the UAE reveal that 65% of UAE residents suffer from lower back or neck pain and another new study on adults suffering from chronic low back pain
in the Gulf region has revealed that neuropathic pain is present in 55% of all cases.
successful and patients may still have some back pain post-surgery. As with all types of surgical procedures, these operations also carry a risk of potentially serious complications. In some cases, nerves near the spine can be damaged, resulting in problems such as numbness or weakness in a part of one or both legs or, in rare cases, some degree of paralysis.
What are the reasons for the back pain affecting many people these days? Lack of physical movement, poor sleeping posture, no regular exercise, and excess weight are the main factors contributing to neck and back pain. Worse yet, with seven to eight hours seated in front of a computer every weekday and another two to three hours on the road due to traffic, office-based workers are extremely likely to experience lower back or neck pain. A significant level of women also suffer from lower back pain due to non-adherence to physiotherapy post-pregnancy. What would you advise to working people who suffer such pain? Is there a better posture or activity? The simple answer is that we advise most people to get up and move, start exercising, take breaks from sitting, and learn to modify your environment to promote good posture and position. Reducing your body weight helps a lot in getting rid of the pain. In addition there are some specific stretches and simple exercises that can be done at home. I spend a lot of time on my smartphone, and it may sometimes give me pain in the neck that irradiate into my back. I have noticed that many people have the same pain due to the use of a smartphone or the laptop in a wrong position. Could you tell on how to relieve such pains? Unfortunately, the best answer
is to spend less time with your smartphones or laptops. That being said there are some specific stretches and strengthening techniques for both the back and the neck. One small but effective tip for laptop users is to get a bluetooth keyboard and set the laptop up on a raised surface where it is more at eye level. I’ve heard that bed rest is no longer recommended when I have back pain. Is this true? Yes. Movement is crucial for acute lower back pain. You also need to consult a dietician for body weight and food control, an orthopaedic and neuro surgeon for review and a physio is advised.
What are the treatment options for people suffering from acute/ chronic neck or back pain? Prior to starting any type of treatment, it is always advisable to first see an appropriately trained spine specialist to develop an appropriate treatment programme for your specific condition and medical history. Spinal disc problems can be treated with below options: 1. Pain medications - Oral steroids, muscle relaxants, anti-depressants as prescribed by your GP 2. Pain clinics – Combination of group therapy, exercises, extensive physiotherapy, relaxation and education about pain and the psychology of pain.
3. Spinal Traction - Form of decompression therapy that relieves pressure on the spine. 4. Surgery – Discectomy or Spinal fusion 5. IDD treatment – Computer controlled physiotherapeutic treatment that is FDA approved and 100% safe. A specific treatment regimen that combines the most optimal use of Disc decompression therapy (IDD), physiotherapy, dietary modification, exercise therapy and counselling. What are the implications of surgery? Surgery can help reduce pain caused by compressed nerves in the spine, but they are not always
What is IDD Treatment? Intervertebral Differential Dynamics (or more simply IDD) Therapy treatment is a non-surgical spinal decompression programme for low back pain, neck pain and related conditions. IDD is suitable for patients suffering with unresolved back pain, neck pain, leg pain (sciatica) or arm pain caused by spinal nerve root irritation. Most commonly, patients with bulging or herniated discs (‘slipped disc’), degenerative disc disease and chronic stiffness in the lower back are candidates for treatment. Each treatment lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour and patients will have a series of treatments typically spread over 4 to 6 weeks. This is to allow time for the body to adapt to treatment with a goal of progressively improving spine function. The IDD machines are also equipped for cervical treatment and have a special unit for neck pain. Treatment lasts 25 minutes and is precise, gentle and safe and is approved by US FDA. IDD treatment is being provided at its state-of-the-art American Spine Center in Muscat which has all the facilities to provide most comprehensive back and neck management programme and aims at bringing a paradigm shift in its approach to the residents of Oman.
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