Recent Revelations In Back Pain Therapy

There has been a lot of interesting research going on in the field back pain. Researchers today are trying to understand the mechanism causing back pain in order to improve the treatment.

A research study reveals that stenosis of lumbar artery (a major artery supplying the back) may lead to back pain and evaluation of this artery is indefensible for the treatment. [1] Many studies have supported the fact that compromised blood supply to the structures of the back is a main cause of backache. [2] This explains why the PorcuPad is so effective in relieving back pain. Back pain can be caused due to strain if we overexert ourselves. Prolonged activities of the back without rest or movements in an abnormal position can strain the muscles. Massaging and methods that improve blood supply (e.g. PorcuPad) can relieve this type of back pain.  [9]. [10]. [11]

New therapies for treating backaches are also being experimented.  Chronic back pains are the back pain that have lasted for more than three months. Researchers are using electromagnetic waves to treat chronic lower back pain. Pulsed electromagnetic therapy (PEMT) has been proved to reduce pain and disability associated with backache. It is a potentially useful therapeutic tool for the conservative management of chronic lower back pain. [3].

Pain is perceived through nerves. If these nerves are desensitized or interrupted, pain can be relieved. This principle is applied in radiofrequency neurotomy. Radiofrequency neurotomy uses radiofrequency waves to interrupt the nerve supply to painful joints. It is a minimally invasive procedure and can be done as outpatient procedure. [4]. Another minimally invasive procedure is percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). This procedure is useful in cases fracture of the vertebral bone caused due to compression. The procedure stabilizes the fractured bone by injecting bone cement or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This procedure can also be done as an outpatient procedure. [5]. [6]

Back pain can also be caused by stenosis or the blockage of the spinal canal. It is usually a result of degeneration. A procedure called as chimney sublaminar decompression can rectify the condition without causing damage to the nearby muscles (which is a cause of residual disability). [7].

Degenerative discs are thought to produce nerve root pain either mechanically or chemically. Many surgeons use steroid injections into the disc to relieve pain. However studies show that injection of hypertonic dextrose may have a place in the management of pain arising from advanced lumbar degenerative disc disease [8].

 

PorcuPad Shipping Options   (Billing and shipping address must be in the same country.) Free Worldwide (10-14 business days) Express Mail Service (4-5 business days + tracking number) $17.00 You will be transferred to a Secure Checkout Page. The PorcuPad is Made In Israel

References:

1. Kurunlahti M, Karppinen J, Haapea M, Niinimaki J, Autio R, Vanharanta H, Suramo I, Tervonen O. Three-year follow-up of lumbar artery occlusion with magnetic resonance angiography in patients with sciatica: associations between occlusion and patient-reported symptoms. Spine. 2004 Aug 15;29(16):1804-8; discussion 1809.
2. Kauppila LI, Tallroth K. Postmortem angiographic findings for arteries supplying the lumbar spine: their relationship to low-back symptoms. J Spinal Disord. 1993 Apr;6(2):124-9.
3. Lee PB, Kim YC, Lim YJ, Lee CJ, Choi SS, Park SH, Lee JG, Lee SC. Efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic therapy for chronic lower back pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Int Med Res. 2006 Mar-Apr;34(2):160-7.
4. Murtagh J, Foerster V. Radiofrequency neurotomy for lumbar pain. Issues Emerg Health Technol. 2006 May;(83):1-4.
5. Cheung G, Chow E, Holden L, Vidmar M, Danjoux C, Yee AJ, Connolly R, Finkelstein J. Percutaneous vertebroplasty in patients with intractable pain from osteoporotic or metastatic fractures: A prospective study using quality-of-life assessment. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2006 Feb;57(1):13-21.
6. Trumm CG, Jakobs TF, Zech CJ, Weber C, Reiser MF, Hoffmann RT. Vertebroplasty in the treatment of back pain. Radiologe. 2006 May 18; [Epub ahead of print]
7. Lin SM, Tseng SH, Yang JC, Tu CC. Chimney sublaminar decompression for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. J Neurosurg Spine. 2006 May;4(5):359-64.
8. Miller MR, Mathews RS, Reeves KD. Treatment of painful advanced internal lumbar disc derangement with intradiscal injection of hypertonic dextrose. Pain Physician. 2006 Apr;9(2):115-21.
9. Mori H, Ohsawa H, Tanaka TH, Taniwaki E, Leisman G, Nishijo K. Effect of massage on blood flow and muscle fatigue following isometric lumbar exercise. Med Sci Monit. 2004 May;10(5):CR173-8.
10. Tanaka TH, Leisman G, Mori H, Nishijo K; The effect of massage on localized lumbar muscle fatigue. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2002 Oct 14;2:9.
11. Tachi M, Kouzaki M, Kanehisa H, Fukunaga T. The influence of circulatory difference on muscle oxygenation and fatigue during intermittent static dorsiflexion. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004 May;91(5-6):682-8.
    

The Evolution of Back Pain
The Anatomy of the Back
Recent Revelations In Back Pain Therapy

Spine Universe	Medline Plus	Web MD
Wikipedia:Back Pain	FamilyDoctor.org	NINDS
Back Pain Expert	About.com	Back Pain Expert
BBC	FDA	Spine Health