Women and Pain, a brief overview
The role of a pain specialist is to diagnose the source and treat all types of pain, from cancer to pelvic to sports related. This is a brief overview of some of the more common pain problems faced by women.
Overview
Pain is a leading cause of employee sick days, retirements, disability claims and money loss.
- 23 sick days/person/year is lost due to headaches.
- 15% of employees miss one day per year due to headaches
- 5% of all Americans retire early due to osteoarthritis
- Back pain is the most common form of disability under the age of 45
- 2% of Americans are disabled because of back pain.
- 20-50 billion dollars is spent each year treating back pain alone
Headaches
How big is the problem?
3/4 of all Americans each year
Who is at risk?
Women>Men
College grad> High School grad
Associated with stress: home or work
How is it prevented?
Activity during and after work
Begin a new task after each break
Comedy, get away from your tasks and blow off some steam
Diet, avoid headache foods, do eat a good snack, esp. at 3:30
Ergonomics, put CRT at eye level, move your chair and paperwork a bit
Here are some common foods that can trigger headaches:
Aged cheese, Alcohol, Avocado, Bacon, Bananas, Pods of broad beans, Canned figs, Chicken livers, monosodium glutamate (MSG),Chocolate, Citrus fruits &juices - orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit, Coffee & decaffeinated coffee, Tea, Fermented sausage - bologna, salami, pepperoni, summer sausage, Herring, Hot dogs, Nuts, Onions, Yogurt
When it happens, what do you do?
Seek attention to determine cause, esp. if ‘first or worst’
Medications: find a specialist
Muscle/Tendon Pain
How big is the problem?
The most common form of pain
Who is at risk?
Performing any Repetitive activity (Typing)
Asymmetric posture (High heeled shoes)
Trauma (Sports, Accidents)
How is it prevented?
Ergonomics: see Ergonomic page
Stop activity at the first signs of a problem
When it happens, what do you do?
Allow for gradual return to duty
Consider a wrist support
Exercises: swimming, squeezing a tennis ball
Low Back Pain
How big is the problem? 50% of all working age persons, 1/5 Americans each year
Who is at risk?
Anyone who has the same posture for long periods of time.
Anyone exposured to whole body vibration
Having an asymmetric posture
Performing repetitive or heavy lifting
How is it prevented?
Learn how to Lift: Lift objects close to the belly button, use legs
Use the right equipment: Lumbar corset, foot rest
Rotate tasks to avoid the prolonged repetitive activity
When it happens, what do you do?
Initial bedrest not more than 2-4 days
Allow for gradual return to duty
Set goals or quota for duty- do not let pain be a guide
Rehab with low stress aerobic exercise: walk, swim, bike
See a back pain specialist if persists
Osteoporosis
Who is at risk?
25 million Americans have it. At age 50, you have a 17.5% of having a hip fracture
It is the 5th leading cause of Death (due to hip fracture)
Women lose 3-5% of their bone density each year after menopause
Can cause compression fractures in spine, hump back and 12th rib syndrome
How is it prevented?
1. Take a minimum of Calcium 1500 mg/day.
2. Exercise
3. Consider medications.