Suffering from back pain? Don’t just pop a pill.

Accurate diagnosis is the key to successful  back treatment. Taking medicines does not solve the problem. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can lead to gastric problems like peptic ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, long-term effect of which are deleterious and may even cause renal failure which is irreversible. Also, non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can lead to severe osteoporosis of bone. Thus, resorting to these medicines is turning increasingly hazardous if taken without proper medical guidance.

Commonly referred as backbone in routine conversation, spine plays a vital role in the overall functioning of the human body. Spine is responsible for the posture of an individual and any deviation from normal postures lead to back pain. Back pain among professionals lead to loss of working hours contributing to overall national loss. Hence, maintaining correct postures, following ergonomics, daily exercises and a good diet can make large difference in maintaining healthy spine and there by a quality life.

The greatest danger with back pain is ignoring the pain in initial days only to see it increase in severity and extent in due course of time.  Pain is a signal from body that there is something wrong in the physiology or the biomechanics of spine.  If we continue ignoring/suppressing this pain signal, body will give stronger signals to bring it to our notice. Initially pain comes in episodes. It is intermittent. As the damage continues, the signals increase in intensity, duration and frequency. Also the underlying pathology increases simultaneously and ultimately signals become so strong that person decides to seek medical advice, but then it is too late as the damage is already done.

Time to seek immediate medical advice:

When localized or diffuse pain in back or neck does not resolve for more than a week

When there is travelling or shooting or radiating pain from back to legs or neck to arm

When there is any tingling or numbness in arms or legs

When there is stiffness in the back or neck in the morning

When there is pain in neck or back while one goes to bed

When there is disturbed sleep because of pain

When there is associated fever with back pain

You can reach our office by calling 604-990-6676 for a consultation with Dr. Akhavan.