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Suggest Treatment For Arthritis In The Lumbar Region

Posted on Fri, 15 Jul 2016

Question: I was told after an X-ray that I had arthritis in the lumbar area. Told me to take anti-inflammatory drugs. Is that all I can do or are there exercises that would help, or things to avoid?

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Mostly age related changes.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thank you for asking HCM

I have gone through your query and X rays. These are mostly arthritis due to ageing. Anti inflammatory drugs can irritate your bowels and damage kidneys. So take it when you have more discomfort or pain.

There are so many things you can do. Avoid lifting excess weight. Avoid sitting in wrong postures. Avoid sitting for long time continuously as it can give excess stress on lumbar spine For sleeping use hard mattress. Using orthopaedic pillow under neck and place a pillow under knee while sleeping supine and placing pillow between knee while sleeping side ways is also good. You can also do hot fomentations or warm compress on back.

Physiotherapy like TENS , ultrasound , massage is also good. You can also do back muscle strengthening exercises.

Check your vitamin D levels in blood. If it is low then taking supplements of it and calcium is also good.

Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Nishad BN (2 days later)

So there is really not too much to do, but live with it. I like to play golf, can I keep playing? Is there a way by playing golf that I can make it worse, since the condition already exists, I assume there is no way to make it better?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Nishad BN (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You can continue playing Golf.

Detailed Answer:
Welcome again.

Thank you for your follow up.

You can continue playing Golf. Give a short break now. You can also go for some physiotherapy sessions. Start with back muscle strengthening exercises. This will help give support to spine and avoid further wear and tear.
You should also warm up properly before playing golf. This will minimise possibility of injury on joints and muscles.
You should do exercises for lower back , upper back , arms , shoulders and sides to strengthen the muscles of those areas.
Use proper shoes ,Also if possible use light weight graphite shafts and perimeter weighted heads which helps in absorbing shocks.

Let me know if anything not clear.
I am happy to help you.
Thanks.

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar