Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a leading cause of disability among the general population and also among veterans.1,2 Acute back pain is pain no longer than 6 weeks, subacute back pain is 6 weeks to 3 months, and chronic low back pain is pain longer than 3 months.3 The etiology of low back pain (LBP) ranges from work and physical activities to individual factors such as psychosocial and lifestyle.4 Other factors that affect the prognoses from acute back pain to chronic back pain are fear and avoidance, psychological conditions, and the use of passive mechanisms to cope with the pain.4 Management of back pain in the acute stage and awareness of factors that lead to chronic back pain can limit the progression to chronic pain, disabilities and …show more content…
A large number of OIF/OEF veterans return from combat with combined injuries of chronic pain, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) referred to as “polytrauma clinical triad”.6 Polytrauma is when two or greater injuries to the body systems and/or body parts that restricts normal mental, psychological and/or physical function of the veteran.6 Pain management among this group of veterans becomes difficult due to the multiple comorbid conditions, leading to …show more content…
The purpose of this case report is to describe the physical therapy examination, evaluation, and conservative interventions for an OIF/OEF veteran with CLBP and comorbidities including mild TBI and
Negative straight leg raise bilaterally, good range of motion at her hips. She does have pain when flexing both hips while in a lying position.
That is to say that both post traumatic stress disorder and physical disabilities are issues that many soldiers have to deal with once they return home from war. Mental affects on veterans can vary person to person. Events l...
Phillips, C. (2009). The Cost and Burden of Chronic Pain. British Journal of Pain, 3(1),
Tworus, R., Szymanska, S., & Ilnicki, S. (2010). A Soldier Suffering from PTSD, Treated by
Carnes, D., Mars, T. S., Mullinger, B., Froud, R., & Underwood, M. (2010). Adverse events and manual therapy: a systematic review. Manual Therapy, 15(4), 355-363. doi:10.1016/j.math.2009.12.006
PTSD may have devastating consequences for veterans returning from Iraq and other combat population, if not treated. The most proven treatment methods for veterans with PTSD are found in the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), is a launching behavior disorder’s prevention, decreasing functional impairment, preventing relapse, and im...
The soldiers that come home from the battlefield are not the only ones that suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. More than two-million children have also been affected by their parent’s PTSD. Combat-related stress disorders have always been around but throughout history this phenomenon has been given different names, like “Soldier’s Heart” in the Civil War, “Shell Shock” in World War I, “Battle Fatigue” in World War II and “Vietnam Syndrome” in Vietnam War as. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder was first recognized as distinct psychological disorders in 1980.Providing veterans with an opportunity receive proper medical treatment because it was not classified as a mental health problem. Delays of the proper treatment resulted in the Veterans going into substance abuses and depression.
Lamie’s experience depicts a brief glimpse of some of the traumatic events veterans face when serving. Experiences like John Lamie’s causes many veterans to return home with physical injuries and mental injuries such as missing limbs, PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). Author Lawrence Korb in his book “Serving America’s Veterans: A Reference Handbook” elaborates on specific mental
Chronic pain is pain that is considered to last longer than six months. Chronic pain can be mild to excruciating, and episodic or continuous ("Community," n.d.). With chronic pain, the pain may remain active in the nervous system for months or years (Ratini, 2004). A recent study estimated that 31 percent of the adult United States population suffers from chronic pain, most commonly lower back or osteoarthritic pain (Bostwick, 2014). Chronic idiopathic (i.e. non-cancer related) pain is a significant public health concern, characterized by considerable emotional distress and impairment of social and occupational functioning (Zvolensky, 2011). This distress and impairment leave many adults feeling helpless and on the search for a treatment that will manage the pain.
Chronic lower back pain is a major health disorder in the world today (Mendelson, Selwood, Kranz, Loh, Kidson, Scott, 1983). It can cause many physical, mental, and emotional problems on the victim (Mendelson, Selwood, Kranz, Loh, Kidson, Scott, 1983). Many people find their work so unbearably painful that they often have to stay home. Others experience depression, inactivity, and social isolation (Kaplan, Sallis, Patterson). Treatments range from the conventional methods such as medication and surgery to the alternative or unconventional methods such as acupuncture. However, only a small percentage of low back pain patients have the type of condition for which surgery can be used so acupuncture is becoming more popular (Lehmann, Russell, Spratt, 1983).
Physical activity is the key to success in the treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP), and exercise itself has the most permanent and long lasting effects (Abenhaim et al. 2000). Although the variety of conservative, complementary, and surgical treatments available, such as medication, thermotherapies, ergonomic and self-care advices, and patient education, proven to be beneficial for CLBP, at the present time the main aim is to provide effective interventions as well as reduce the health care costs.
Sciatica is a term given to discomfort in the lower back that moves down the leg through the sciatic nerve, which causes pain, tingling, numbness or weakness on either side of your body. Although sciatica cannot be diagnosed as an actual medical condition, it is said to be a symptom of a previous injury or medical condition. The original cause is usually pressure on the sciatic nerve. The largest single nerve in the body is the sciatic nerve, which is composed of individual nerve roots that start by branching out from the spine in the lower back at lumbar 3 (Frymoyer 1992). The nerves that stem from each level of the lower spine intertwine to construct the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down each leg. Down the leg, nerves branch out to innervate different parts of the leg. Depending on where the nerve is injured or pressured determines where the person will feel the symptoms and to what extent they will experience symptoms down the leg. A few alternative names include neuropathy of the sciatic nerve, sciatic nerve dysfunction, herniated disk, or lower back pain of the sciatic nerve (Frymoyer 1992).
My objective in the long term is to provide therapeutic and counseling services that assist persons suffering with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or acquired brain injury (ABI) in coping and recovering from the mental illnesses that often accompany such tragedies. TBI/ABI has shown a proven link with “anxiety, depression, personality changes, aggression (National Alliance on Mental Illness Veterans Resource Center May 8, 2009 Traumatic Brain Injury)”, as well as many other issues. As the caregiver for a survivor of a rare and deadly strain of encephalitis, I have a personal perspective that I feel brings much to the discussion. I see the information I am currently gathering at Empire State College as the building blocks that pave the way to a thrilling career in a growing segment of the mental health industry. The CDC claims that approximately 1.4 million Americans suffer TBIs annually (Centers for Disease Control Injury Center May 30, 2007 Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths) and it has been called the “signature injury” of the current wars in Iraq & Afghanistan by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. As such, it is my belief that we need to focus time and energy on developing new programs to help these patients to cope with the new limitations and encourage rehabilitation and restoration.
Chronic Pain is described as a long lasting pain that people experience beyond a normal healing time (Hasenbring, Rusu & Turk, 2012). This time is usually up to three or six months prior to an incident (Hasenbring, Rusu & Turk, 2012). Chronic back pain can include common diagnosis of muscle spasms, back strain, or myofasical syndrome (Weiner & Nordin, 2010). There are three different types of chronic back pain; simple musculoskeletal back pain, spinal nerve root pain and serious spinal pathology (Jackson & Simpson, 2006). (Hasenbring, 2012)
Throughout history there have been records of soldiers experiencing ‘shell shock,’ ‘battle fatigue,’ ‘gross stress reaction,’ and ‘soldier’s heart.’ The soldiers who suffered from these combat induced physiological traumas were branded as cowards, and removed from positions, reprimanded and even court marshaled. Vietnam veterans began to experience similar ailments immediately following the war. This new surge of afflicted soldiers forced the public as well as medical professionals and government officials to take notice of what is now ...