Carrying backpacks doesn’t cause back pain in children and teenagers

The Conversation: Children and adolescents who carry backpacks aren’t at higher risk of developing back pain, according to a study published today in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM). Researchers found no evidence to suggest a link between carrying a heavy backpack and back pain in these age groups. This calls into question popular opinion, as well as guidelines published by numerous organisations recommending limits on backpack weights for children. Globally, there’s been little agreement on what a limit should be. Guidelines vary, with the limit being anywhere between 5% and 20% of body weight.

Spinal cord stimulation relieves back pain without opioids

Washington: Doctors who treat patients suffering from back pain are exploring new approaches that help some patients avoid opioid drugs. The highly addictive prescription painkillers are fueling an epidemic of abuse and overdose deaths. One opioid-free option available at the Washington University Pain Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital involves stimulating the spinal cord with very short pulses of electricity. Patients can’t feel the electrical stimulation, yet it often effectively can mask the perception of pain. Spinal cord simulation to relieve pain is not new. It first was introduced many years ago, but older stimulators produce a tingling sensation designed to replace pain with less unpleasant tingling. The newer, high-frequency spinal cord stimulators deliver more energy but without the tingling sensations.

Surgery for Back Pain Reduces Problems with Sex Life-Related Pain

Spine: For patients with degenerative spinal disease, surgery is more effective in reducing pain that interferes with sexual activity, compared to nonsurgical treatment, reports a study in the November 15 issue of Spine, published by Wolters Kluwer. "Sex life is a relevant consideration for the majority of patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis," write Dr. Shane Burch of University of California-San Francisco and colleagues. "Operative treatment leads to improved sex life-related pain," in addition to reducing pain and disability from degenerative spinal conditions.

Are depression and back pain not linked?

Sydney: A study of twins reveals genetic factors might explain the commonly found association between low back pain and depression. Dr Paulo Ferreria from the University of Sydney's Faculty of Health Sciences said the study indicates the association between depression and back pain is the result of the confounding effect of common genetic factors influencing both conditions. "Our case-control study reveals the association between back pain and depression vanishes when genetic and familial confounders among twins are factored in," Dr Ferreria said. "The new research offers hope for the future management of depression and back pain as the association of the two conditions can complicate diagnosis and treatment.

Lower back pain? Stay away from paracetamol

Scimex: An Australian study has found paracetamol doesn't work in the treatment of neck and back pain and has only negligible benefits for sufferers of osteoarthritis. Current clinical guidelines recommend the use of paracetamol first for sufferers of lower back pain, but any evidence supporting this is weak, along with the possible dangers of taking the full dosage of 4000 milligrams a day, the authors say.

Chronic low-back pain research standards announced by NIH task force

NIH. US: The Institute of Medicine (2011) has identified chronic pain as a U.S. societal problem of enormous impact. It affects about 100 million adults and has an estimated annual cost of $635 billion, including for direct medical expenditures and loss of work productivity.