Manage chronic back pain with new way
Researchers from the University of New South Wales and Neuroscience Research Australia say that chronic back pain leads to a hypersensitive pain system and imprecise communication between the back and brain. Fix the nervous system problems, and you ease the pain significantly.
Their treatment approach is based on sensorimotor training. In their study, published in JAMA Network, the researchers put half the participants through a 12week ST course. The training changed folks’ thinking about how their body experiences pain, altered how they process sensory information from their back, and let them learn new ways of moving their back during activities. Not only did the pain ease or go away, but, a year later, many folks were still experiencing less pain than before doing ST.
Chronic back pain plagues 16 million American adults, causing psychological distress and physical weakness. So talk to your back doctor about this new approach and be on the lookout for an ST practitioner.
Meds may boost risk for falls
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 36 million falls are reported among older adults annually. Falls account for 95 percent of the 300,000 older folks hospitalized for a hip fracture every year. While many falls are from weakened leg and core strength, refusal to use a cane or a walker when outside, poor eyesight, tripping hazards in the home and lack of grab bars in the bath, many result from a medication or a combination of medications that you’re taking. The most common culprits are:
■ Anti-hypertensives, if they lower your blood pressure too much.
■ Anti-anxiety and sleep-inducing hypnotic drugs.
■ Benadryl (diphenhydramine), an older antihistamine. Read labels because it hides in over-the-counter sleep aids and PM pain meds.
■ Prescription medications for overactive bladder.
■ Tricyclic antidepressants, given for mood and chronic nerve pain.
■ Prescription sleep drugs.
■ Narcotics (opioids), including codeine and hydrocodone.
If you feel unsteady on your feet or think your medications are a problem, ask your doctor about switching or stopping medications or lowering the dose. Tip: To stay safe, take a “learn-tofall” class, so that if you do fall, you won’t injure yourself, and go to Cdc.gov and search for “Check for Safety.”