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Inside the Med Van . . .  "Oh my aching back . . ." Low back pain is often described as a mild-to-moderate ache in the base of the back that is aggravated by movement. Low back pain is so prevalent that it is the number one cause of missed work in America. Eight out of ten Americans will experience back pain in their lives. Those who have one episode will probably have another. Most of the time, low back pain is the result of muscle or tendon strain. This usually occurs after bending, twisting, lifting or extensive street sweeping or moving heavy garbage bags. This type of pain responds well to rest and pain medication. Low back pain may be serious, but only one out of 2,000 people with low back pain have serious medical conditions. An Ounce of Prevention As with all medical problems, low back pain is much easier to prevent than treat. Here are a few easy prevention tips: Wear comfortable shoes Change positions frequently Use good posture Avoid sudden movements Avoid awkward movements; for example, never lift anything very heavy above your waist Always practice good body mechanics, such as bending the knees to lift, keeping the head in line with the spine and facing any object you want to pick up Keep the muscles strong and the tendons limber through exercise and stretching Maintain a healthy weight Never exercise if you are experiencing back discomfort When to worry In some cases, back pain can be serious. If you experience these symptoms see your doctor (or me) immediately: Back pain that does not improve with 2-3 days of bed rest Pain lasting over 6 weeks Numbness or weakness in the lower limbs Changes in urination or incontinence Pain right at the base of the ribs Fever What to Do If you do have back pain from muscle or tendon strain, rest and anti-inflammatory medications (like Motrin) should help in a few days. Some other helpful treatments include a firm bed or bed board, a heating pad and a muscle rub (like Aspercreme). Also, stop smoking, because cigarettes inhibit the body's ability to heal. Eat a diet rich in protein and vitamin C, which promote healing. In some cases, further medical care may be indicated. The specialists who deal with back pain are orthopedists, physiatrists and in some cases, neurologists (if the pain is from nerve compression). In any case, if you are worried, head out to the med van.                                                             -- Sharon Goldfarb                                                               RN, MSN, FNP, CS