BACKACHE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1938, Page 5

BACKACHE

COMMON HUMAN COMPLAINT. Backache is one of the most common of all human complaints. There is considerable misapprehension as to the causes of backache, the most popular theory being that it is commonly caused by kidney diseases. Kidneys are rarely the cause of backache, and with the exception of a stone in the kidney and some cases of pyelitis, even the most Serious diseases of the kidney run their course free from pain. Even the backache that is caused by the kidney is one-sided. Backache is a symptom of many diseases. It may be due to local causes, such as rheumatism of the joints or lumbago. This local backache is usually distinguished by the fact that the pain is such as to prevent stooping, and movement is almost impossible. This lumbago or rheumatic joint disease is best treated on general rheumatic lines by medicines, liniments, hot air, and massage. Another local cause of backache is spondylitis, which is becoming far more common of recent years. This is usually accompanied by weakness or pains in the legs, and requires prolonged medical treatment. By far the largest number of backaches are caused by general diseases. The back is a weak spot in human beings, because of their upright carriage, and a great variety of diseases make the natural weakness of the back apparent in the form of pain. Consequently, backache must usually be regarded merely as a symptom, and the cause sought at some quite distant point. Neurasthenia and other functional nervous ' diseases usually have backache as a prominent symptom. This form of backache is constantly present, and is made very little, if any, worse by movement. Such a patient is ner- . vous and depressed, and has a poor appetite and insomnia. The treatmen tis directed towards the cure of the underlying nervous condition. Many backaches are due to chronic poisoning from a focus of infection at a distant point. This is most commonly the tonsils or an abscess at the root of a dead tooth. Pyorrhoea is another common cause of this poison. The backache will persist in these cases in spite of any local treatment until the distant focus has been recognised and cured.

Chronic diseases of the bowel is another common cause of backache, and here again the treatment should be directed towards the real cause of the disease. Some of the worst backaches are caused by acute fevers. Almost any infectious disease caused by germs causes backache as one of its early symptoms. We all know the painful back that accompanies the onset of influenza. This often occurse with a shiver, and appears before the symptoms in the nose and chest. Typhoid, scarlet fever, malaria, and, tonsilitis

usually cause backache which may be very severe. Smallpox is usually accompanied by a most agonising pain in the back. It will be seen from the above that every case of chronic backache requires a thorough overhaul of the patient.