Back pain re
By CLAY WILLIAMS
N.C. Academy of Family Physicians
?
It seems as if the complaint is
heard from just about everybody
at one time or another -- "I've
got a 'catch' in my back."
Many times the "catch" back
sufferers are referring to is in the
lumbar region of the spine ~ the
lower, slightly curved-in part of
the back that catches the brunt of
the flexion, extension and rotation
that part of our anatomy is
routinely subject to. Aside from
headache, low back pain is the
ailment physicians see most.
Dr. Russell Salton, a Charlotte
family physician, explained that
the spine - the backbone ~ is
situated between two muscles
called the para-vertebral muscles.
He said constant or recurrent
back pain can lead to deterioration
of these spine-supporting
muscles - deterioration that
4 often^an be traced to a sedentary
lifestyle, overweight, poor
posture ? all resulting in a loss of
muscle tone and a weakening of
the lower hark.
The family physician added
that low back pain can also be
caused by other things, such as
degenerative arthritis and disk
disease.
He pointed out that injury to
the lower back is frequently causWatch
bills
Don't let l
By JOANNE FALLS
Home Economics Extension Agent
Too frequently, holiday cheer
is transferred into January
despair when the bills come in.
This does not have to happen if
action is taken in time. Finances
^can be^wotecte^Lduring-the-heiiday
season by using a Christmas
budget.
f Families should bear in mind
^ ^ ^ ?
Budgeting is a means for controlling
shopping expenditures.
A Christmas budget is 2
special mini-budget that provide*
only for
Christmas B||
purchases. I
The Christmas
uudget is
a good way to
become p
familiar with
a means for
controlling gpr
the use of |p
money. I I i
The
Christmas Falls
budget
should be developed before th
Christmas shopping begins. B
sure that everyone old enough t<
voice an opinion is involved
because pariticipation promote
cooperation and commitment
which is necessary for success.
To develop the Christma
budget:
Decide how much money ca
be used for holiday purchase
from November and Decembc
income and from specia
PJiriclma c tavinoQ _
- -List ah sifts and other-feolida
purchases that are desired. Loo
over the list. Label those that ai
a must as number one and lab
all other really important ones i
number two. If the money
limited, eliminate everything eh
on the list.
These other things are not in
portant enough to mortgage yoi
1985 income. Also, you may nee
to eliminate some of the iten
you numbered as twos.
Check the list of gifts and pu
chases again and star all tho:
things that the family can mal
or give in services as a gift. F<
example, you might offer to bal
the family's turkey for Christm;
as a gift or to babysit for t\*
nights as a Christmas gift.
Now, divide the mom
available among the list of pu
chases which are "musts" or ve
"important."
Be sure to follow the budg
and control spending. This i
volves:
Spending no more for ai
item than planned and shoppii
suits from ma
- >? m . >-WWA^,?MT3JS**T*-v-V +*"
ed by engaging in physical activities
by people Who are not in
shape and don't take time to
warm up. He emphasized that
those who arc not geared to fullblown
participation in sports
should be careful not to overdo
it. He cautioned that one day's
play a week or month is not sufficient
to condition, muscles to
vigorous physical activity.
He also listed "position" back
strain among people who sit in
one position for long periods of
time as another cause'of low back
trouble. Studies have shown that
less than 15 percent of cases of
low back pain are caused by
structural defects such as arthritis,
ruptured disks or tumors.
Dr. Salton said the spinal column
is made up of 24 separate
and nine fused vertebrae, held
together by bands of ligaments.
At the side of each vertebra, there
are little openings through which
* pass nerve roots. A wrench of the
back or lack of muscle strength
may cause a "pinching" of a
nerve. The sciatic nerve, which
extends from the lumbar region
into the buttocks, legs and toes, is
particularly vulnerable tc
pressure.
Dr. Salton noted that when th<
para-vertebral muscles are strain
ed or injured, they may go intc
spasms. He said this condition ii
hnlidav iov ti
?J ? J "
wisely and investing less whei
possible.
Buying nothing unless plannei
for.
1 Keeping records of expenses
frequently checking progress an
eliminating careless? habits-tha
? waste money.
?? Make no btHs?foi?holida
; spending that must be paid froi
I
? Winter nights
mha nnrt flni
as G?? ?wwy wowwn iwfc ?
tatod polyester fleeced robs
OUlMi nanrww lunnyuwn. at*
OOrotwe 14J9 $1
- y Cotton Itefifwi
ry
et S*tl*f*ction guorontood
n- or your monoy bock
OS?o, Rombuck ond Co., 19*4
ny V
ig
iny factors
like a "Charlie horse" in the leg.
When spasm occurs, the paravertebral
muscles contract,
become rigid and straighten the .
normally curved lower backbone.
This, he asserted, is very painful.
Dr. Salton stressed that many
times people complain of low
b^ck pain that eventually turns
out to be caused by psychological
stress. But whether the pain is
caused by carrying a sack of
potatoes or stress, it is just as real
and debilitating. The family
physician said that stress-caused
back pain is kind of like a tension
headache ? in which case, the
solution often lies in getting to
the root of the stress problem
Dr. Salton said.dhe best back
support comes from the back
mnc^Uc CoitUfnl narfrtrmori/.a rtf
baa ujvavj m oiiiuui pvi iui iiianvv u i
back exercises strengthens
muscles in the back and stomach
and gives them flexibility. Your
physician can explain the different
back exercises to you. In
, many instances, a long-term
i weight-reduction plan may also
i be advised. While 90 percent of
i all back pains go away within a
; few weeks, precautions should be
> taken to prevent their recurrence.
* (This column is presented as
' public service by the Chronicle
) and the /V.C. Academy of Family
5 Physicians.)
urn to despair
n 1985 income, unless you definitely
see your way clear to pay these
d bills. Always plan for emergency
expenses.
The Christmas budget is the
d key to controlled holiday spenit
ding and entering the New year
feeling financially blessed, iny?stead
of blue and burdened with"
Ti holiday debts.
ins i
c
<
'.W
M
s S+' ' ~
^ Jr ,-^B
^1 K^x
call for a cozy flee
nnel gowns
tfe warm, prettily be- Robes
and a soft, feminine I/O DI
J, check those prices: V mL rl
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shop yi
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The C
For con?Up?tk>n roUif tomorrowI
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V
Chronicle, Thursday, November 22, 1984-Page B11
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