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A Simple Guide to Back Pain and Other Spine Disorders
A Simple Guide to Back Pain and Other Spine Disorders
A Simple Guide to Back Pain and Other Spine Disorders
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A Simple Guide to Back Pain and Other Spine Disorders

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Backache is one of the most common complaints by patients seen in a family doctor's clinic.

The complaint may be:

1. Constant aching, pain or stiffness that occurs anywhere along your spine, from the base of the neck to the hips.

2. Sharp pain in the neck, upper back, or lower back, especially after lifting heavy objects or other strenuous activity.

3. Chronic ache in the middle or lower back, especially after sitting or standing for long period of time.

More men suffer from it than women.

Backache is most common among people in their middle age.

Backache also occurs among young people aged 16 - 24 years.

What are the causes of Backache?

The doctor usually asked for a history of:

1. back strain from the lifting of a heavy object,

2. from a fall,

3. Prolonged sitting with poor posture can also lead to chronic backache such as slouching in a couch when watching TV.

If the bad posture is prolonged, backache may occur.

4. wearing high heeled shoes also put a lot of strain on the back muscles

5. associated pain in legs or weakness and tingling in the legs or back.

6. pain increases when you cough or bend forward at the waist.

7. Back pain radiates into the legs, sciatica.

This could be a sign of a herniated disk.

8. dull pain in one area of your spine when trying to lie down or getting out of bed, especially if you are over 50 years of age.

You may be suffering from osteoarthritis

9. pain is felt in both thighs when walking.

This can be a symptom of spinal stenosis (the narrowing of the lower spinal canal).

10. persistent backache may also be an indication of an undetected cancer of the colon, ovary, bladder or prostate.

11.gynaecological problems (such as ovarian tumors, fibroids) and pregnancy.

How is Backache diagnosed?

Diagnosis:

1. Full medical examination especially of movement of the back , any deformity of the spine, abdominal swelling, straight leg raising test

2. X-ray of the Spine: to exclude fracture, osteoarthritis, dislocation,

3. X-ray of abdomen to exclude any tumors in the abdomen pressing against the spine

4. MRI of spine for slipped disc, tumors, fracture

5. Bone density test to exclude osteoporosis

6. Blood tests for calcium, protein, kidney function, cancer markers, RA factor

7. Urine and stool tests for blood,

What is the treatment of Backache?

Symptomatic:

1. Painkillers and muscle relaxants

2. Ice packs or heat treatment

3. Physiotherapy to strengthen muscles

4. Good posture and firm mattress

5. Avoid aggravating factors like high heels, overstretching muscles, excessive strenuous activities

Curative:

The cause must be found and treated.
Examples are fractures due to injury.

Causes like cancer and aged related illness (osteoarthritis) may not be able to be cured but may improved with treatment.

How is Backache prevented?

Prevention

1. Maintain the correct posture at all times.

When standing or sitting, ensure that your back is kept straight instead of a slouched position.

2. support your back and use a cushion when necessary.

3. Correct furniture can also help to prevent the occurrence of backache.
Use chairs of a proper height in relation to the table or desk.

4. Sleep on a firm mattress

5. Do not wear high heels

6. Keep your back straight when carrying heavy item.

Keep the item close to the body.

7. Do not bend the back to carry heavy objects.

Bend the knees keep the back straight

Exercise is another good way to prevent backache by strengthening the back muscles.

However, if you have had back injuries before such as a slipped disc, do be cautious when you exercise.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Chapter 1 Backache

Chapter 2 Osteoarthritis

Chapter 3 A

LanguageEnglish
PublisherKenneth Kee
Release dateNov 14, 2012
ISBN9781301559817
A Simple Guide to Back Pain and Other Spine Disorders
Author

Kenneth Kee

Medical doctor since 1972.Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours inthe afternoon.He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.comThis autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.The later books go into more details of medical disorders.He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) startingwith the Apple computer and going to PC.The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.Dr Kee is the author of:"A Family Doctor's Tale""Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine""Case Notes From A Family Doctor"

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    Book preview

    A Simple Guide to Back Pain and Other Spine Disorders - Kenneth Kee

    A

    Simple

    Guide

    to

    Back Pain

    And

    Other

    Spine Disorders

    by

    Dr Kenneth Kee

    M.B.,B.S. (Singapore)

    Ph.D (Healthcare Administration)

    Copyright Kenneth Kee 2012 Smashwords Edition

    Published By Kenneth Kee at Smashwords.com

    Dedication

    This book is dedicated

    to my wife Dorothy

    and my children

    Carolyn, Grace

    and Kelvin

    This book describes the Spine Disorders such as Backache, Osteoarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylosis, Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc, Spinal Stenosis,

    and Coccyx Dislocation which are seen in some of my patients in my Family Clinic.

    This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader.

    If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy.

    Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

    Chapter 1

    Backache

    What is Backache?

    Backache is one of the most common complaints by patients seen in a family doctor's clinic.

    The complaint may be:

    1. Constant aching, pain or stiffness that occurs anywhere along your spine, from the base of the neck to the hips.

    2. Sharp pain in the neck, upper back, or lower back, especially after lifting heavy objects or other strenuous activity.

    3. Chronic ache in the middle or lower back, especially after

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