Adults with back pain, especially lumbar pain, should not resort to surgery to relieve it. This is indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its first guidelines on the treatment of chronic low back pain aimed at professionals in primary and community care centers. They list the interventions that health personnel in these centers should and should not use in the routine care of these patients.
Instead of going under the knife to treat low back pain, pain located in the final section of the back, more specifically in the region between the last rib and the sacrum, the health organization recommends physical exercise, physiotherapy or psychological treatments. . and advises against lumbar corsets, some physical therapies such as traction -stretching a part of the body-, and the use of opiates since “they can be associated with overdose and dependence.”
Low back pain is one of the main causes of disability worldwide, affecting, according to studies carried out in 2020, around 619 million people (one in thirteen), which represents a 60 percent increase compared to 1990. Furthermore, due to the aging of the population, it is estimated that in 2050 there will be around 843 million affectedwith special incidence in Africa and Asia, where the population is longer, according to the WHO.
This type of ailment that can appear at any age, whether due to physical trauma, a deterioration in mental health or due to lack of physical activity. The WHO points out sedentary lifestyle as the main culprit of low back pain, since 90 percent of patients do not have any spinal problems.
Since 2017, the number of people suffering from back pain has skyrocketed and the situation continues to worsen, in all countries, putting health systems under pressure. The type of work, the smoking or obesity contributing to worsening an ailment that affects women more than men, according to the WHO.
The causes of these back or lumbar ailments, which are very common, are found mainly in the current way of life which often requires us to sit for much of the day or stand for hours at a time. The transportation of heavy goods is also an aggravating factor in this type of problem, which can be disabling.
According to recommendations published by the WHO, surgical intervention should not be resorted to to relieve back pain. We will have to encourage physical exercise combined with massages or light therapeutic interventions. Also, important are the psychological therapies that could improve the patient’s cognitive behavior.
Avoid opioids
The WHO recommends do not use lumbar belts or other type of support, but rather the muscles are worked, sports are practiced, and re-education programs are followed to maintain correct posture and align the spine. Pain medications that fall into the opiate category should also be avoided for not cause dependency.
People who suffer from this type of pain cannot normally participate in activities of daily living, whether professional, family or social. His work performance decreases Considerably, their mental health is seriously affected, and the necessary treatments generate significant costs for health systems, warn global health authorities.
Furthermore, this type of pain increases the risk of suffering from other diseases or die prematurely. The main victims are the elderly, although a large number of patients under 60 years of age have been forced to stop working prematurely for this reason, which causes economic or mental problems, says the WHO.
In its guidelines on chronic low back pain, the WHO states that “countries may need to strengthen and transform your systems and health services so that recommended interventions are available, accessible and acceptable through universal health coverage, while the systematic administration of certain actions is interrupted.”
“Tackling chronic low back pain requires an integrated, person-centered approach. “That means taking into account each person’s particular situation and the factors that may influence their experience of pain,” said the doctor. Anshu Banerjee, director of Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Aging Health at WHO. “We are using this guideline as a tool to support a holistic approach to chronic low back pain care and improve the quality, safety, and availability of care,” she concludes.