Paul’s Health Part A: Back Injuries

Paul’s Health

  • 2018 – diagnosed with back ligament and muscle injury
  • Three torn discs – one quite large
  • Follow-up CT scan in 6 weeks
  • Due to substance abuse history, prescribed muscle relaxant & NSAID
  • Not receiving adequate pain management
  • Tylenol #3 prescribed only when absolutely necessary
  • Dispensing stipulation of 4 tablets each day
Image of Ketorol tablets.
CC BY- SA 4.0 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Ketorolac_%28Toradol%29.jpg/640px-Ketorolac_%28Toradol%29.jpg

Back Muscle Anatomy

Image displays Muscles of the neck and upper back. Image shows the Trapezius, Splenius capitis, Splenius cervicis, Rhomboides minor, and Rhomboides major all pointing towards the different parts of the back and neck. 
CC-BY-3.0 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/1117_Muscles_of_the_Neck_Upper_Back.png/640px-1117_Muscles_of_the_Neck_Upper_Back.png
Image of the back bone and spine in a human body, depicting Cervical nerves, Thoracic nerves, Lumbar nerves and Sacral nerves. 
CC-BY-SA-4.0 Self-Published Work https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Spinal_Cord_Segments_and_body_representation.png/640px-Spinal_Cord_Segments_and_body_representation.png

Back Pain

When to see a doctor:

  • Persists past a few weeks
  • Is severe and doesn’t improve with rest
  • Spreads down one or both legs, especially if the pain extends below the knee
  • Causes weakness, numbness or tingling in one or both legs
  • Is accompanied by unexplained weight loss
  • Causes new bowel or bladder problems
  • Is accompanied by a fever
  • Following a fall, blow to your back or other injury

Causes of the back pain

Image illustrates how and where Herniated Lumbar Disc affects the spine.
CC-BY-3.0 Self-Published Work https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Blausen_0484_HerniatedLumbarDisc.png
  • Muscle or ligament strain
  • Bulging or ruptured discs (leaking)
  • Arthritis
  • Osteoporosis 

Which of these causes are associated with Paul’s case?

Risk factors of back injury

  • Age
  • Lack of exercise
  • Excessive weight
  • Diseases
  • Improper lifting
  • Psychological conditions (depression & anxiety will increase risk)
  • Smoking

Prevention

  • Exercise
  • Build muscle strength & flexibility
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Quit smoking
  • Stand- sit- and lift smart
Different posture types and how it affects the spine in a human body.
CC Public Domain https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Posture_types_%28vertebral_column%29.jpg/640px-Posture_types_%28vertebral_column%29.jpg

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Multi-Course Case Studies in Health Sciences (Version 2) Copyright © 2021 by Laura Banks; Elita Partosoedarso; Manon Lemonde; Robert Balogh; Adam Cole; Mika Nonoyama; Otto Sanchez; Sarah West; Sarah Stokes; Syed Qadri; Robin Kay; Mary Chiu; and Lynn Zhu is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book