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Nagging
aches, with no apparent precipitating cause, are usually diagnosed as
'spondylosis' which means aging spine. A sudden change in lifestyle
may be a cause. Active sports people who give up sports abruptly and
those who suddenly become health conscious and take up vigorous
'gym-works' are more prone. Weight reduction and graded exercises will
help. Maintenance of erect posture, using a firm mattress, going down
on knees to pick-up things from the floor and using western toilets
instead of Indian toilets will help.
Persisting pain must
be investigated to rule out serious problems such as cancer or
infection. Investigation should also be undertaken, if the backache is
associated with leg or arm pain or belt like pain around the trunk
which may suggest nerve involvement. Some tumors in the spinal cord
also present this way and may be associated with progressive weakness
and/or numbness of limbs. Women must obtain a gynecologist's
assessment as well.
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