HomeBlogOlder Adults and the Struggle with Lower Back Pain
Older Adults and the Struggle with Lower Back Pain
Low back pain does not discriminate. It happens to break down after years of bearing one’s weight. Injuries and other health conditions can have an impact on spinal health as well.
What is to Blame for Lower Back Pain?
For aging individuals, low back pain causes are usually due to wear and tear on the body. Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, and spinal stenosis are major issues for the aging population. In some cases, the vertebrae may actually slip or slide out of place. The final result is a pain.
What are Symptoms that are Associated with Low Back Pain?
There are a variety of low back pain sympto lose flexibility as well. Victims of low back pain accompanied by leg pain or numbness in the legs could be dealing with a narrowing of the canal around the spine or their vertebrae could be shifting out of place.
Spinal Compression Fractures: Another Culprit for Low Back Pain
For aging adults who suffer back pain that strikes suddenly and is severe, spinal compression fractures could be to a lack of calcium and loss of bone density, something as simple as a cough could cause a spinal compression fracture and debilitate low back pain.
What are Causes of Low Back Pain that Are Less Common?
Low back pain can also be caused by less common conditions, such as tumors on the spine, infections, and fibromyalgia, which causes pervasive pain throughout the body. Ankylosing spondylitis, Piriformis syndrome, and Coccydynia also cause low back pain. With so many possible conditions that can affect the back, it is important for victims of back pain toms of low back pain.
How to Get Rid of Low Back Pain
For anyone who has suffered from back pain, whether it is for a short duration or chronic, finding effective low back pain treatment is essential for a better quality of life. This especially holds true for older adults who may become less mobile and more prone to provide relief. Chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy are often effective, as well as steroid injections. Surgery is usually the last result when all else fails for the treatment of low back pain for older adults suffering from back pain.
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed to be a complete tear with muscle contraction under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited on dynamic sonography examination
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