Chronic Back Pain

Chronic Back Pain

Q:

Age: 25 Sex: M Concern: Chronic pain

Hello sir,

I am Kalyan from India. I have been suffering from chronic back pain for past one year. An MRI was ordered by an orthopedic doctor here and results showed disc prolapse at L5-S1. Initially, the pain radiated to my lower extremities, but now after treatment, pain localized to lower back.

My treatment included antiinflammatory medications, Physical therapy with traction unit, and some exercices. Pain seem to subside initially, but started recurring back. Now, pain is in the range of 2/10 at best and 7/10 at worst. Pain is more with pronlonged sitting, bending activities, or running.

There was no specific cause for this. The only thing that I can say is, prolonged sitting in office earlier. Now, I am on pain medication, which seems to do the job, but the pain recurs after three or four hours.

Can you please let me know, what to be done for relief. My job involves pronlonged sitting in front of computer for more than 10 hours and I am taking frequent breaks.

-- kalyan

A:

Exercise exercise exercise. Lots of abdominal strengthening, hip strengthening, and lumbar extensor strengthening. Loose weight if you are overweight. Next step would be injections, then surgery.

-- Sherman Nam Tran, M. D.

to ask Dr. Tran.