Lower back pain termed second major disease in country

KARACHI:

Axial Spondyloarthritis (AXSPA) caused due to inflammation of the spinal cord, is emerging as the second major disease in Pakistan after the common cold, health experts said at an awareness seminar.

AXSPA a chronic, inflammatory rheumatic disease that affects the axial skeleton, causing severe pain, stiffness and fatigue can be caused by muscle tension or inflammation, they said adding, the disease can also be hereditary, with its early signs appearing in adolescence. It is dangerous to try self-help remedies for the disease, they said at an awareness programme organised on the occasion of World AXSPA Day in collaboration with Express Media Group and Novartis Pharma.

Keynote speakers at the awareness session included Prof Samina Ghaznavi, Professor of Medicine and Rheumatology at South City Hospital Karachi and President PSR, Dr Tahira Parveen Head of Department of Rheumatology at Liaquat National Hospital Karachi, Lubna Abbasi Consultant Rheumatologist at Indus Hospital Karachi and Dr Tabay Rasool Assistant Professor Rheumatology at DUHS, Ojha Campus. The program was moderated by Khadija Rathore.

Professor Ghaznavi said AXSPA occurs in two forms.

In the first type, pain decreases at night and increases during working hours in the day, while the second type, pain intensifies in the wee hours of morning and decreases during the day.

After confirmation, doctors prescribe medicines and advice stress reduction and healthy lifestyle changes to the patients.

If there is no treatment, patient starts moving towards disability as the flexibility of spinal cord joints continues to decline. It becomes difficult to walk and even to look up or carry small amounts of weight, making the patient's life difficult.

Dr Tahira Parveen said that the pain in the lower back has become a rapidly spreading disease and its occurrence in general population is reported just next to flu.

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The pain usually goes away in six to eight weeks. It may take longer for the pain caused by the inflammation to subside. Inflammation can be the result of an injury, stress, cancer, or vitamin D deficiency.

Speaking at the session, Dr Tabay Rasool said that if a patient suffering from pain is losing weight rapidly, has frequent fevers or uncontrolled urination, then immediate medical help must be sought as the disease can pose serious risks to a person's health.

Dr Lubna Abbasi said the treatment of AXSPA is started with physiotherapy and the patient is taught different types of exercises.

She said there is a need to form support groups to contain the disease. Through support groups, many people who suffer from AXSPA are put together and share their experiences.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2022.