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The Many Sides to Work-Related Back Pain
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Posted on: 11/30/1999
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In Benjamin Franklin's day, nothing was certain but "death and taxes." Today we can add one more thing to that list: back pain! Research shows that back pain is one of the biggest health problems in the United States. The older we get, the more likely it is that we will have back problems.
In this article, Dr. Mark Melhorn from the University of Kansas School of Medicine gives us his opinion about work-related back pain. In particular he focuses on occupational spine care. Several questions are asked and then answered. The questions include:
What is occupational spine care? What is a cumulative trauma disorder of the spine? Why is going back to work such a problem? Can disability from back pain be reduced? What's the future of spine care?
Back injuries on the job cost more and take longer to get better than back pain that starts off the job. That's why we need a special focus on occupational spine care. Many health care workers provide this care -- from doctors to chiropractors to physical therapists and pain clinics.
Many people think work tasks repeated over and over result in back pain. This is called cumulative trauma disorder of the spine. Research hasn't been able to prove this. It's hard to prevent work-related back pain if we don't know what causes it.
There is also uncertainty about getting workers with back pain back to work. How long should employees stay off work? Is an early return-to-work best? The author doesn't think doctors should force patients back to work. However a long absence isn't good either. Safety is always the bottom line for the injured worker and for any co-workers who depend on him or her.
Can disability be reduced? The previous decision about when to return-to-work is linked with the answer to this question. There's a balance between protecting the patient and restoring health by returning to normal function and activities. Again, a major problem is the lack of scientific knowledge on which to base these decisions. Dr. Melhorn believes most doctors use experience and opinion as their only guiding factors.
What can we expect to see in the future? More focus on prevention. More studies to find out what factors result in back pain. How can we design a job for the worker? Can we choose the right worker for the job? What can we teach the worker about how to do the work task? Doctors will have to study which treatment works best.
The author wants to see a holistic approach to spine care. The patient should be involved and everyone must work together to make the right decisions. The goal is to get the patient back to work as soon as possible with the best possible result.
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References:
J. Mark Melhorn, MD. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Back Pain: The Many Facets (Editorial). In The Spine Journal. November/December 2003. Vol. 3. No. 6. Pp. 411-416.
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*Disclaimer:*The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic. |
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