Articles: low-back-pain.
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Military members are required to perform in austere environments in which standard medical care routinely provided in the civilian setting is not available. Medical problems requiring hospital-based treatment which is not available in the field, shipboard, or deployed setting can be a cause for military members to be permanently discharged from active duty for medical reasons. We present a case of chronic low back pain treated with epidural steroid injections not routinely available aboard ship. ⋯ Additionally, SCS treatments also resolved undisclosed chronic pelvic pain, leading to improved overall quality of life. Strain Counterstrain is a non-interventional treatment which does not require special equipment, is available in austere environments and aboard ship, and allowed the member to remain on active duty. Strain Counterstrain is a manual muscle-retraining procedure easily learned, which can be performed in the field, on ship, in the deployed setting, in primary care, as well as in specialty pain medicine clinics.
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Chronic pain, a persistent or recurrent pain lasting more than 3 months, is a widespread problem among military women due to combat-related injuries and post-deployment stressors. Risk factors associated with chronic pain include gender, mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder, and prior physical or military sexual trauma. The most common prevalence of chronic pain is musculoskeletal (e.g., low back and neck), migraine, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. Following deployment, 25% of military women are at risk for chronic pain. Military women are prescribed opioids for pain at a higher rate than men and are at risk for prescription opioid addiction. The unique medical needs of military women, including chronic pain, are poorly understood by health care providers and need to be addressed to achieve full integration into the military. The purpose of this study was to explore a typical day for military women living with chronic pain by examining the participants' daily life experiences. ⋯ The study generated new knowledge in Force Health Protection, ensuring (1) a fit and operational readiness force; (2) pre- to post-deployment care for women warriors; and (3) access to health care. The study findings supported previous research and could help direct future research into nursing, medicine, and allied health treatments for military and veterans' gender-specific health care, education, and training. Furthermore, the military women in this study provided insight into the need for future research to explore unconscious gender bias, health disparities, and a raised awareness of military women living with chronic pain. Findings from this study merit further exploration using other qualitative research methodologies including mixed methods.
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Lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (L-HNP) is a condition in which fibroblasts escape due to degenerative changes or external forces in the intervertebral disc, causing neurological symptoms by compressing the dura mater or nerve root. ⋯ In future, this study is expected to serve as a basis for follow-up studies on the development and application of CPs in integrated medical services for various diseases, including lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus.
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Obesity is associated with cervicalgia and low back pain (LBP), but the specific role and how to reduce the risk of neck pain and low back pain are not clear. The Mendelian randomization analysis was used to investigate the causal relationship between obesity and cervicalgia and LBP, as well as the effect of possible mediating factors. ⋯ Ranked by mediated proportions of selected mediators, the largest causal mediator from BMI and WC to cervicalgia was educational level (38.20%, 38.20%), followed by HPW (22.90%, 24.70%), and MD (9.20%, 17.90%); However, the largest causal mediator from BMI and WC to LBP was LSB (55.10%, 50.10%), followed by educational level (46.40%, 40.20%), HPW (28.30%, 20.90%), smoking initiation (26.60%, 32.30%), alcohol intake frequency (20.40%, 6.90%), and MD (10.00%, 11.40%). For obese individuals, avoiding HPW and maintaining a stable mood may be an effective approach to prevent cervicalgia; Additionally, reducing LSB, avoiding HPW, quitting smoking and drinking, and maintaining a stable mood may be an effective approach to prevent LBP.
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Chronic pain results in significant impairment in older adults, yet some individuals maintain adaptive functioning. Limited research has considered the role of positive resources in promoting resilience among older adults. Likewise, these factors have largely been examined independently. We aimed to identify resilience domains based on biopsychosocial factors and explore whether resilience phenotypes vary across sleep disturbance, fatigue, and cognitive function. ⋯ A higher array of protective resources could buffer against the negative sequelae associated with chronic low back pain. These exploratory findings support the multidimensional nature of resilience and suggest that targeting resilience from a multisystem perspective might help to optimize interventions for older adults with chronic pain.