Prof. Dr. Mirzanlı explained the disorder and gave suggestions to patients to ease their lives as follows:
For treatment of low back pain, a variety of therapeutic interventions is available, but no single modality appears to be superior to other one and vary depending on the cause of pain and individual, social, and occupational factors.
The nonsurgical treatment of low back pain should be based on the different etiologic possibilities. In most patients, no specific underlying cause is identifiable. When the pathology is known, treatment can often be specifically directed at the cause. Main aim of the treatment is reducing pain and increasing function irrespective of cause.
The treatment of axial low back pain does not specifically include radicular pain. Symptoms and presentations usually develop subsequent to an accident or incident and sometimes no reason is found. Pain typically increases with activity and decreases with rest. Imaging studies demonstrate either no abnormalities or varying degrees of degenerative changes, which are often expected as part of the normal aging process.
A variety of nonsurgical treatment alternatives is commonly used. The goals are to educate patients, relieve pain, improve function, minimize any adverse effects of the treatment, and prevent chronicity.
Treatment Options:
A key element of the management of both acute and chronic low back pain is education. Education should include information about correct posture, biomechanics of the spine in activities of daily living, and simple methods that can reduce symptoms.
Medications used in the care of patients with low back pain include analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, and antidepressants.
All patients with back pain must modify their activities in response to pain. Painful activities be avoided for at least a few days until the acute symptoms decrease. Prolonged bed rest provides no benefit in the management of low back pain and also has have a negative effect on patient. Patients with chronic low back pain should be encouraged to remain physically active.
Cold packs, superficial heat, short-wave diathermy, and ultrasound are elements of passive physical therapy. Patients use cold or heat to relieve symptoms; Cold provides pain relief and reduces the inflammatory response by vasoconstriction following an acute injury; conversely heat relaxes muscles and improves tolerance to exercise.
Exercise therapy is effective in the management of chronic low back pain. Symptoms are improved by increased aerobic fitness, restored normal lumbosacral motion, strengthening of trunk muscles, and regaining of correct body mechanics.
Spinal manipulation is a popular alternative treatment of low back pain. Combining manipulation with other treatment modalities, such as medication, lifestyle changes, and exercise are more effective than manipulation alone.
For orthoses, no evidence exists to support the effectiveness of orthoses in the treatment of acute and chronic low back pain.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is effective for both acute and chronic low back pain.
