World Spine Day is celebrated on October 16 to inform people about the struggles faced by spinal pain and its disability. The day seeks to promote the overall health and wellbeing of one’s spine. The day is organized by the World Federation of Chiropractic. 

Back pain and other spinal pains are now common in both old and young people. Back pain is a serious issue as it can make any person bed-ridden for days and even for years. Many are suffering from spine issues like Herniated Disc, Scoliosis, Whiplash, and Muscle strain. 

On the occasion of World Spine Day, we at Medicircle are conducting an exclusive awareness series wherein we will be featuring experts in this field to understand and create awareness about good spine health. 

Dr. Sudhir Seth is a Senior Orthopedic Surgeon, Practicing in Delhi and NCR at Fortis Hospital and Ortho Point. He has a splendid experience of 34 Years and has been practicing and operating in the Best Hospitals Of Delhi and NCR. He specializes in treating Arthritis, Backache, Cervical & Lumbar Problems, Gout, Rheumatoid Arthritis, A Specialist In Fracture Management- Both Non-Operative And By Complex Surgeries. He also Manages Arthritis By Medicines, Non-operative Care Like Injections, and Physiotherapy

Incidence of back pain 

Dr. Sudhir Seth says, “Back pain is increasing day by day due to lifestyle changes. Back pain is increasing in urban cities and also in villages. The lifestyle is causing more problems in years to come.”

The causes of spine and back pain 

Dr. Sudhir Seth says, “The causes of back and spine problems are - 

• Lifestyle disorders 
• Bad posture 
• Sports injury 
• Awkward position 
• Back strain 
• Ligament strain 
• Disc injury 
• Long working hours
• Neck or cervical pain
• Disc and referred pain 
• Wear and tear of joints 
• Erratic diet 
• Lack of exercise
• Lack of sound sleep

If there is acute back pain, then over-the-counter medicines can be taken along with rest. However, if the pain is chronic for 3 -6 months, then it’s the main concern. It is important to know the origin of pain from muscles, nerves, and joints. It is also important to know if the pain originates from the organ especially in the lower abdomen due to urinary tract infection. Pain can also occur in the pelvis or intestines which is also known as “referred pain.”

Any pain lasting for more than 3 days, needs to seek special attention from a physician. Pain can also occur in the cervical area which is the nape of the neck. So, recharge your body with exercise. If there is recurring pain, then it is important to go into the details of pain. Do not self-medicate or self investigate.”

Work from home causes an increase in back pain 

Dr. Seth says, “Initially when there was no work from home, people use to communicate and travel a lot other than being confined at one place. This is an exercise in daily life like walking due to traveling. But now you are confined at home sitting on the bed and away from ergonomic chairs affecting the posture. The decorum of the office is taken back seat. The long working hours have increased which has led to wrong posture with lack of exercise. There is always light at end of the tunnel. So start with these measures

Weight loss  Walking for 3 km  Invest in a good chair  Exercise regularly  Keep proper posture with elbow and backrest Adapt discipline  Invest in a proper mattress  Sleep in an anatomical position like the fetal position  Do not sleep in face and tummy  Sleep food 6 hours/night.”

Orthopedic problems in senior citizens 

Dr. Seth informs,” Age is just a number. It’s up to you how you maintain the body. Backache and spine problems are seen more in elderly females with a ratio of 2 :1. Females go into menopause which causes weakness in bones which causes deficiency of calcium. One can deal with back and spine problems by taking of - 

Calcium deficiency Bone density  Avoid smoking drinking  Avoid caffeine Avoid junk food Avoid salt which reduces calcium absorption  Avoid acidic foods Avoid sleep deprivation  Do regular checkups like DEXA scans  Avoid fractures especially hip fractures and spine fractures

Keep your living simple. Prevention is better than cure”

Red flag signs for back pain 

Dr. Seth states, “The important signs to consult a doctor is- 

Leg pain for more than 3 days  Back pain for more than 3 days  Numbness in legs  Tingling sensation Lack of muscle power  Compression of nerve  Fever with pain can result in spine infection like Tb joints which can result in paralysis  Normal backaches aggravated by sleeping can result in ankylosing spondylitis  Rheumatoid arthritis  Joint pain in children  Problems with urination  Numbness of pelvic organs Weight loss  Loss of appetite.”

Back pain exercises 

Dr. Seth says, “We have 206 bones and 340 joints in our body. The body is made for mobility. Staying in one place without exercise is not good. Exercise for just around 30 mins daily. You can go to the gym but walk daily for 3 km. Do everything in moderation daily as far as exercise is concerned. Mobility is very important. Exercise for upper limbs, lower limbs, ab exercises, neck exercises, and some yoga asanas like suryanamaskar. Do exercises regularly carefully. There should be no pain while exercising. 

Back pain supplements

Dr. Seth says, “You are what you eat. Your body is made up of elements and the food you consume. Many people are overweight which causes an extra burden on the spine. This is due to a lack of exercise. Eat food in moderation. Avoid junk food. Eat healthy foods like 

Sprouts  Fresh vegetables like carrots  Avoid nonveg like red meat  Avoid smoking and drinking  Avoid high cholesterol  Count your calories  Eat quality food  Eat high fiber  Take a good amount of milk  Say no to sugar  Say no to preservatives Eat dry fruits  Avoid processed food  Do not take fancy foods Keep it simple and local foods.”

(Edited by Dr. Rati Parwani)