An orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Kingsley Ekwe, has advised Nigerians to take care of their back before it becomes problematic.
Ekwe, an orthopaedic surgeon, who works with the Natioanl Hospital Abuja, also said that excessive back pain was caused by wear and tear on the vertebrae and cartilage of the spine, and n0ted that many factors were associated with back problems, the commonest being spondylosis.
“Spondylosis a disease that has many contributing factors, including aging, genetics and activity,” he said.
Ekwe explained that when people sleep, sit and carry heavy objects improperly, they inevitably put stress on their back and this causes wear and tear.
According to Ekwe, many Nigerians do not think about their back until it starts developing problems.
He said that in very rare cases, unchecked spondylosis could lead to partial or complete paralysis, noting, however, most people will only suffer mild to serious pain.
“For a few patients, the back pain will be so bad due to a collapsed disc or a disc disease affecting either the spinal cord or nerves and causing serious pain. The nerves cause pain that shoots down the thighs and the back, and is worsened when the patient tries to bend,” he said.
Occasional stiffness, numbness or pain in their neck or mid and lower back are symptoms of spondylosis, according to Ekwe.
He called on Nigerians who experience these symptoms to seek the help of a specialist who would advise them on what to do or refer them to a physiotherapist or a surgeon if the need arose.
He stated that the best ways to slow down the progression of spondylosis and help the back was by developing a good back protocol while walking, sitting, sleeping and doing chores.
He added that in most cases, back pain could be fixed by resting which gives the back time to mend itself.
“More often than not, we tend to treat the back or manage back problems rather than cure it. Among those who have it in their family genes, if they follow a proper back protocol, their spondylosis will occur at a later age and even then, it will be a mild case,” he said. (NAN)
Ekwe said that people with back problems should endeavour to sit upright, wear seatbelts and be cautious when driving. (NAN)
He explained that patients with a previous back problem were more prone to having complications from trauma, especially if they had been involved in an automobile accident.
He, however, added that even with aging, some people might not develop spondylosis in their lifetime. (NAN)