Conditions

The decision for caesarean birth is never an easy one. However, if you are opting for elective caesarean section, it is important to understand the implications on the health of the mother and the child. In this article, we talk about the increasing evidence of a C-section on long term gut health of the child and what you can do about it. The mode of delivery—caesarean section (CS) or vaginal delivery—can have significant long-term effects on a child's health, influencing the gut microbiome,…

Prevention is better than cure, specially in the case of back pain. Here are some simple things to do to make your back stronger and prevent back pain.  How to fortify your back and prevent back pain: Ensure regular exercise and physical therapy for any muscle tightness or sports/workout injuries. Work on strengthening your core. Include exercises to increase flexibility. Avoid hunching your back or slouching and maintain good posture while sitting. Use good back support (rolled towel…

Back Pain management typically needs an integrative approach - of dealing with the pain but also making lifestyle changes to prevent deterioration and flare ups. Rehabilitative care is a critical element of managing back pain. According to WHO: A multimodal/integrative approach is usually needed. The management should support people to make sense of their pain experience from a bio-psycho-social perspective and support their re-engagement in meaningful life activities. Advice should validate…

Treatment options for back pain range from medications that provide temporary relief to disease modifying medications for chronic conditions to surgical treatments for certain causes. Here are a list of a few options for treating back pain.  Note: The diagnosis determine the optimal combination of treatment Medications: Muscle relaxants which help with muscle sprains and chronic back pain. Steroid injectables or numbing injections may be given by the doctor for longstanding pain and…

To get a proper diagnosis of Back Pain, the doctor will go through multiple steps including a medical history, a physical examination and may even need to prescribe some diagnostic tests depending on the location and type of back pain. This is important to determine the right course of treatment. At the time of a consult, the doctor will : Ask Medical History Pain characteristics (location, intensity, duration, onset, and triggers) History of injury or strain (recent trauma, lifting heavy…

The symptoms of back pain can vary. They can be acute, or accompanied by fever, weight loss, nerve pain, etc.  It is important to recognise each of these symptoms and take appropriate action as described in the diagnosis section When to see a doctor? Fever and/or chills associated with acute back pain Unexplained sudden weight loss with no changes in diet/lifestyle Noticeable deformity in the spine or shoulders Nerve pain/numbness/tingling in the lower limbs Severe stiffness in the…

Back Pain is also classified and analysed according to location or site of the pain and the character and duration of the pain. Location means the part of the back - upper,  middle, or lower back.    According to the location/ site of the pain: Upper back: Neck pain may be due to muscle spasm, disc issues, poor posture or tension headaches. Mid back: Due to strained muscle, costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone in the centre),…

There are can be many causes of back pain -  trauma related, degenerative, cancer related, inflammatory, etc. It is important to assess the cause in order to determine the right course of treatment   Causes of Back Pain can be  Traumatic: Due to any trauma like fall, road accidents, lifting heavy weights etc. Degenerative: Due to age related degeneration of the spinal disc or some pathological conditions causing the degeneration of the spine leading to prolapse or hernia of…

What is Back Pain We all have had a back pain at some point in our lives and we can vouch that it does impact our ability to function normally. Whether it’s from a bad posture, or a urinary infection, period related back pain or kidney stones related pain there are several causes for a back pain. Most back pain is not serious and may not need medical attention, however in some cases especially where the pain is prolonged it may be a cause of concern. Back pain is related to one or more of the…