PGI organizes a Public Awareness Forum on “Back Pain”

By 121 News

Chandigarh 13^th February:- Department of Anaesthesia, PGI, Chandigarh organized a public awareness forum on "Back Pain", at APC auditorium. This public awareness program was aimed to educate and improve awareness in public about back pain, its risk factors, causes, and its prevention and treatment strategies available.

Dr. Babita Ghai, Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Consultant pain clinic, PGI, Chandigarh discussed basics of back, causes and risk factors of back pain such as bad posture, changed life style, lack of physical activities and exercise, lack of sun exposure and vitamin D deficiency. She also talked about interventional (injections near spine) management options for back pain.

Dr. Sarvdeep Singh Dhatt, Associate Prof. Department of Orthopaedics, PGI, Chandigarh talked about red flag signs associated with back pain and instances when surgery is an option for back pain along with available surgical options for treatment.

Dr. Pradeep Surkar, Department of Physiotherapy, PGI, Chandigarh helped public learn about improved daily habits, correct posture and discussed alternative movement patterns and solutions to strengthen your core and stabilize your spine.

The experts explained that back pain can be treated with exercise, physical therapy and, in some cases, medication. For difficult back pain problems – including sciatica, spinal stenosis, and pain in nearby joints,epidural (near the spinal cord) injections may be used. Surgery may be indicated if red flag signs (motor weakness, involvement of bladder or bowel etc.) are present.

An educational booklet on Back Pain(authored by Dr. Babita Ghai, of PGI and Dr. Dipika Bansal of NIPER) was officially released by Professor Ashok Utreja, former Head Oral Health Sciences Center at PGI. The booklet contains facts about back pain, proper posture explanation and exercises in a pictorial manner along with proper explanation for the sake of wide range of people who can gain from the information. This booklet also discusses some of the myths about back pain. This booklet is presently available in English and is translated in Hindi and Punjabi as well and will be also available in these two languages soon.