Dr. Fulghum's Bare Back Facts

1. As people age, back pain and loss of height may be due to thinning of the discs.
2. A physical therapist does the greatest good for people with back pain by breaking bad habits of posture and poor movement patterns.
3. When anti-inflammatory medicines, muscles relaxers, walking and/or exercises are instituted immediately, episodes of back pain due to a sprained muscle usually lasts no longer than six weeks.
4. A sprained back and ruptured disc may produce similar symptoms, but the sprain usually heals within six weeks.
5. Ruptured, slipped and herniated discs are the same things.
6. A patient with a ruptured disc in the neck or back may have a normal spinal X-ray but will usually have an abnormal MRI scan.
7. A ruptured disc or bone spur requires surgery only if the severe pain and weakness persists despite conservative measures such as medication, exercise and steroid injections.
8. Very few people with ruptured discs require surgery.
9. Sitting increases pressure in the lower back discs five times more than standing does.
10. The first back operation is the most important.
11. After lumbar disc surgery, most people return to their former level of activity within six weeks.
12. People who smoke usually have back pain for longer periods.
13. Women are not the only ones to get osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is preventable in both men and women when diagnosis is made early enough.

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