For back pain, patients need to be more active

Patients are required for unspecific back pain

09/02/2015

Back pain is one of the most common folk diseases. Almost everyone had at least once in his life an unpleasant pulling or stinging in the back, which lasted for several days. Even young people are already suffering from back pain. If no disc herniation or other specific disease is diagnosed during the diagnosis, it is referred to as so-called nonspecific back pain. Doctors usually advise against surgery. Rather, the patient is required to become active themselves, reports the Leipzig spine specialist Prof. Christoph Josten in an interview with the news agency „dpa“.

Surgery for back pain does not always make sense
Back pain is extremely uncomfortable. Often, the symptoms appear even at the slightest movement. While surgical procedures have long been considered the panacea for the low back pain, modern medicine has become a little more restrained in operations. For example, herniated discs today are not always operated on. The so-called „Sciatica study“ In 2007, it was found that patients with a severe lumbar disc herniation - divided into two groups: one treated conservatively and the other at an early stage - performed well in both groups after one year. However, the operated study participants had recovered relatively faster from the herniated disc and were faster pain free. Since every surgical procedure carries a health risk - according to the study, there are slight complications in about two to four percent of the cases - it must always be decided individually whether an operation makes sense.

In case of unspecific back pain, the doctor will find no specific cause of the discomfort
The situation is different with so-called non-specific back-jokes whose causes are manifold. „They are often multifactorial causes without finding a substrate. So: Patients have a sedentary lifestyle, weak muscles, a slight malformation, excessive obesity, perform one-sided activities, do certain sports. All in all, this can lead to spinal problems without being able to see anything in the current diagnostics, ie by X-ray or MRI examination“, explains Josten. „In itself, a nonspecific back pain is from the outset a non-surgical indication. We can not assign any specificity to this pain - and that precludes surgery.“

In case of unspecific back pain, exercise, acupuncture and chiropractic can help
The physician advises conservative therapies such as exercise. „We do not care enough for our spine. Maintaining is an active measure. And unfortunately that will be forgotten a bit in our society. Our car is actively maintained by driving into the car wash. We also do not wait for the rain and say that makes the car clean. In the same way, the spine has to be actively cared for - with lots of exercise, running up stairs, abdominal muscle training - very simple things that are extremely helpful in preventing nonspecific back pain.“ But if the pain is there, there are various procedures that can provide relief. So Josten advises not only to syringes, but also to alternative healing methods such as acupuncture, osteopathy and chiropractic measures. „And the unspecific back pain requires active support of the patient. Our patients today love the Passive. I get massaged, I get surgery. Often the motto is: The medicine will do it already. But the patient is very much required for nonspecific back pain“, emphasizes the physician.

Tai Chi and yoga are increasingly important in this context, as it has been recognized that a holistic approach is beneficial. Back pain is often due to muscle tension, which is often the result of stress. Relaxation exercises often provide a good complement to other therapies. (Ag)