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Myths and Facts About Back Pain

While the common cold claims the most sick days among U.S. workers under age 45, lower back pain comes in a strong second, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In addition, it says, some 80 percent of adults are expected to experience lower back pain at some point in their lives.

Even though back pain is so prevalent, it's surrounded by a host of common misunderstandings. Among them, according to Kam Raiszadeh, an orthopedic surgeon who is medical director of the Advanced Spine Institute at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, are:

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MRI Excellent in Investigating Back Pain

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming more and more useful to doctors in identifying the multiple possible causes of back pain, according to a recent evaluation of the technology from an orthopedic perspective.

The evaluation, which appears in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, observed that MRI is effective and even vital over a wide range of clinical disorders, and that, in years to come, technical developments will produce yet more orthopedic benefits.

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Ingesting Food Can Function As Pain Relief

It's common knowledge that people often eat food to feel better, but researchers have now found that eating chocolate or drinking water can blunt pain, reducing a rat's response to a hot stimulus. Researchers believe this natural form of pain relief may help animals in the wild avoid distraction while eating scarce food. However, in modern humans with abundant food available, the effect may contribute to overeating and obesity.

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Chronic-Pain Patients With Low Vitamin D Need More Narcotics

Among patients who need heavy-duty pain medication, those with low levels of vitamin D in their blood need nearly twice the dosage of narcotic drugs to manage their chronic pain, a recent study discovered.

On questionnaires, low vitamin D patients also reported a worse perception of their physical functioning and overall health than those with higher levels of the vitamin. Moreover, the research found that low vitamin D was associated with increased body mass index (a measure of overweight and obesity).

Ozone Injections Relieve Pain of Herniated Discs

A non-surgical, radiologically guided injection of oxygen and ozone into bulging or herniated discs results in just as much pain relief and restoration of function as back surgery but with fewer complications and shorter recovery time, two recent studies revealed.

The groundbreaking therapy involves injecting a gaseous mixture of oxygen and ozone into a damaged spinal disc, using an imaging machine to guide the needle. The ozone causes a slight shrinkage of the disc, which relieves internal disc pressure and lessens back pain considerably. Researchers at the Society of Interventional Radiology predict this therapy will become standard in the United States in the next few years.

Antidepressants Found Ineffective Against Back Pain

Antidepressants, commonly prescribed to relieve low back pain, don’t relieve it at all, according to a recent analysis of several studies.

The medications are routinely prescribed by almost a quarter of doctors who treat low back pain. But an overview of 10 published studies by the Cochrane Collaboration, a nonprofit group that appraises medical research, revealed that most of the studies found no more pain relief or improvement in function for patients taking antidepressants than for those taking placebos.

As Back-Pain Spending Rises, Results Worsen

Eight years have seen a huge increase in spending on back-pain problems in America. Ironically, however, the proportion of Americans suffering from spine problems has actually increased, too, according to a recent study.

The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that the public’s outlays on spine issues were almost $86 billion in 2005, which represents a jump of 65 percent from 1997, after taking account of inflation. At the same time, the fraction of citizens with debilitating back difficulties rose during the same period, even after adjusting for the increasing proportion of aged people.

Long, Skinny Muscle Found Crucial to Healthy Spine

A pencil-thin, roughly 2-foot-long muscle running from the base to the top of the spine is composed of a novel "scaffolding" of fibers that strengthen and support the back, a recent research study has shown.

"The multifidus muscle was formerly thought to be relatively unimportant based on its fairly small size," said Richard L. Lieber, professor and vice chair of the University of California at San Diego's Department of Orthopedic Surgery and director of the National Center for Skeletal Muscle Rehabilitation Research. "Our research shows that it's actually the strongest muscle in the back because of its unique design. It's like a long, skinny pencil packed with millions of tiny fibers."

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Tree Bark Found to Improve Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Osteoarthritis of the knee affects millions and is one of the five leading causes of disability among the elderly. A recent study published in the journal Nutrition Research reveals Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, improved physical function by 52 percent in cases of patients suffering from osteoarthritis. The condition develops due to the gradual loss of cartilage elasticity that leads to it hardening and beginning to crack. As a result, the cartilege is more prone to damage and erosion by use or injury and often leads to pain, swelling, a decrease in joint motion, stiffness, or the formation of bone spurs. Current treatments include regular exercise and pain relievers such as NSAIDS and COX-2 inhibitor pills to relieve pain and stiffness. In severe cases, cortisone shots can decrease inflammation in the joint and extreme cases include joint replacement operations.

Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There

A recent report by health provider BUPA has found that people's worries are damaging their health by causing sleepless nights, loss of sex drive, and erratic eating habits. The 2007 Worry Report demonstrates that almost one in five people constantly worry about numerous things, and more than half feel they worry more now than five years ago. Half of the people surveyed this year, which is 6% more than in 2006, claimed they were more worried about their health and their family's health than about other concerning issues such as climate change or terrorist attacks. The survey finds that almost three quarters of people worry, but around 19% admit to worrying all the time or about a number of things.