Primarily, pain in the back is subjective and invisible. Later, as it becomes chronic and begins to manifest physically in the victim. It could begin to cause some secondary and serious problems.  Victims may begin to limp, weep and unable to walk distances, and finally be bed-ridden. It may further interfere with bowel movement, urine control and penile erection. Most deformities in elderly people today are visible consequences of untreated or neglected acute back pain that has metamorphosed to chronic and debilitating pain.

Unpalatable stories about the effect of disabling back pain are many. It has even crept into marriages, causing strained relationships. Jobs have been lost and social engagements restricted. Important roles played by people suffering from back pain have been reduced drastically.

Many people are where they are now because of the restriction placed on them by disabling back pain. They are unable to attend to office work, engage in meaningful livelihood. Some men have long stopped becoming breadwinners because of back pain disability. Good numbers of people have gone to early retirement from their various vocations and professions just because of back pain. They have tried all they could therapeutically (orthodox and unorthodox), just to see if the pain could give them some respite.

Many have carried their disturbing common waist pain, mid back pain and neck pain to prayer houses, just to seek divine solution. Common mechanical back pain could be mystifying. It is a health problem that cannot be fixed with drugs and has continued to be elusive to medical science. Surgical interventions, which seem to have come to the rescue, is not without some risks. Some surgeries reduce only some of the patient’s pain and other surgeries are completely unsuccessful.

One would wish victims to maximally exhaust the benefits of   non-surgical, non-invasive spinal decompression approach provided by skilled physiotherapists. A reputable physiotherapist with good knowledge of anatomy and biomechanics coupled with manipulative skills would bring enduring relief to the back pain victim.

Back pain is a universal health problem. Indeed it is universal epidemic. It affects the white and the black people. Back pain has been mankind’s oldest and most stubborn agony.

There are records of many people in the world’s history who have suffered affliction of back pain that affected other parts of their body. John F Kennedy of the United States suffered back pain that caused serious discomfort to his left leg. In Nigeria, a onetime head of state had similar problem that affected his leg; though he did corrective surgery in France yet, he is presently wheel-chair bound.

Back pain does not discriminate these days. Days are gone when back pain was associated only with those who lift and carry loads or overweight persons. The trend has changed.  It is now affecting more of our young men and women in their productive ages and they carry this old man’s back about on their youthful body with its attendant symptoms.

Some of them would walk stooped, some twisted, and others bent on one side.  We must all get old by the grace of God but let it be with minimal discomfort and not with debilitating pain of the back. With proactive measures and proper preparation, we can reduce the incidence of back pain. Occasional aches and pains are common with ageing. Many back pain condition can be created or worsened by age.

It is important to maintain your general health throughout your entire life. It is much easier to prevent back pain than to treat it once it is crippling you. With structured physiotherapy program tailored to the individual’s condition, you can stack the odds in your favour.

Eat healthy, include proper nutrition, such as calcium, magnesium and vitamin and stay active. Regular exercise at all ages in life is important for strong bones and muscles, do not abuse your body. Drugs and smoking are bad for you. Alcohol, especially in large quantities is also detrimental to your health. Don’t hesitate to give it the boot with a visit to skilled physiotherapists.

WRITTEN BY DR. CHARLES EHIRIM

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