Back pain cases on the rise

Aug 03, 2020

In gender terms, the ratio of the number of women with back pain complaints to that of the men is 3:1






In 2016, Pricilla Birungi, a resident of Sonde in Mukono District, was involved in a ar accident that that left her with pain on the right side of her back. The pain gradually increased and by 2017, it had extended to the center of her back, around the spine. It kept varying from the right side of her back to the spine and, sometimes, even around the neck. By this time, Birungi could hardly turn sideways and to do so, she had to move her whole body. She even failed to drive.

When she sought medical care, the doctor sent her for an X-ray, which showed that one of the bones in the spine was dislocated. "The doctor prescribed painkillers and recommended that I undergo physiotherapy," says Birungi.

So Birungi was assigned to a physiotherapist who took her through eight sessions, each costing sh80,000 for eight weeks. Eventually, the pain disappeared. 

Numbers rising

In reference with Mulago Hospital, Susan Akori, the president of the Uganda Physiotherapy Association and a seior physiotherapist at the hospital, says the problem of back pain has risen in the past year among younger people from 12% to 15%; the middle age office and non-office workers from 17% to20%, and older persons from 40% to 45%. In gender terms, the ratio of the number of women with back pain complaints to that of the men is 3:1. This is attributed mainly to poor ergonomics (the way people execute their daily activities in regards to their bodies) like bad sitting and standing posture, daily routine like washing especially among house wives, degenerative changes in the spine due to aging and infections like tuberculosis of the spine among other causes.

But do not despair. Back pain can be cured. Find out the causes, diagnosis and treatment in the Health & Beauty section of the New Vision today.

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