Lower Back Pain May Be Predictor Of Disability

Lower back pain is a common occupational condition, with thousands of workers suffering this condition after injuries or repetitive stress on the job. According to a new analysis, short-term low back pain may become chronic and even lead to long-term disability.

The results of the analysis were published in The Journal of Pain. The analysis included 488 people who suffered from low back pain and were monitored for five years through questionnaires.

The researchers found that those who reported high pain levels initially had a 12% higher risk of suffering pain six months later. They also ran a higher risk of suffering pain five years later.

The study also found that many patients are able to predict long-term pain in the early stages of the painful condition itself. Patients who believed that their pain would persist were at a high risk of pain at six months into the study and 6% higher risk of pain five years into the study.

The study also seems to confirm the importance of getting the right pain relief treatment and management therapy in the early stages of lower back pain.

Continuous repetitive activity, fatigue and poor body position can increase the risk of back pain. Sometimes the pain may be a result of a fall or a sudden unexpected movement in the workplace. Applying ergonomic principles can greatly reduce the risk of lower back pain after a back injury in the workplace.

Michael Parsons is an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer, representing injured workers in the metro Atlanta region and helping them recover the workers’ compensation benefits that they have earned.

Source:

• • • Health Day