HI-Eisai Pharmaceutical Inc., a research-oriented pharmaceutical company committed to improving the health of all individuals, organized a free-for-all webinar on May 22 titled “Pabalik-balik na Sakit ng Likod at Kalamnan? Huwag Balewalain, Pag-usapan Natin!” wherein medical experts tackled the bits and pieces of acute and chronic pain concerns to increase awareness on the matter, especially under a pandemic lockdown.
Hosted by veteran television host and celebrity mom
Suzi Entrata-Abrera, HI-Eisai gathered expert physicians from different fields
who shared their professional advice.
Due to the pandemic lockdown, there is a decrease in
mobility in the workforce in the Philippines as most companies shifted to
working remotely for more than a year now. Aside from the struggle of finding
the balance between work-life boundaries as we take our jobs at home, more
people tend to experience muscle pain more usual than ever.
A decreased movement and an increased sitting time are
common instances in a remote working setup. In line with this, HI-Eisai aims to
provide guidance for all in accordance to their mission as a pharmaceutical
company. Terms and explanations are also discussed in layman’s terms for better
understanding of the topic.
To open the discussion, Dr. Godfrey Robeniol, a
neurologist tackled the different kinds of muscle pain commonly experienced;
muscle pain (muscle ache), muscle spasm (involuntary and excessive contraction
of muscle), and muscle cramps (a kind of spasm that is more painful but doesn’t
usually last longer than 15 minutes).
“These acute concerns may grow to a
kind of chronic pain when not immediately acted upon or addressed by
professionals. Seeking the doctor’s advice through teleconsultation when
experiencing acute pain is strongly advised especially when it’s already been
three to five days after self-medicating and there is no improvement,” the neurologist said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Romil Martinez, a rehabilitation medicine
specialist, discussed the back pain red flags that indicate immediate attention
as it may get worse when neglected.
The red flags are; (1) history of trauma, (2) urinary
retention or loss of bowel control, (3) fever, night sweats, severe fatigue or
unintended weight loss, (4) back pain lasting more than three months.
Weighing in the conversation is Dr. Marcelino Cadag,
an orthopedic surgeon, who explained that most concerns can be diagnosed by
physical examination to provide immediate action to the complaint.
“These muscle strains could root from activities
like lifting too much weight, developing arthritis, and even slipped discs.
The number one cause of lower back pain is muscle strain from sitting too
long. We suggest that for every hour of sitting, stand up every five to 10
minutes,” Dr. Cadag said.
After consultation, when pain relievers and a change
in habit didn’t work out to ease or improve the pain, Dr. Martinez suggested
undergoing a physical therapy session. “We advise doing home exercises in
the morning and before sleeping. It is good to undergo yoga or pilates, and
acupunctures,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be a change in
lifestyle.”
Dr. Martinez also explained how taking supplements are
helpful especially when aging.
But when pain could no longer be cured through
medication and therapy, surgery is the last option. Any kind of pain, however,
is relatively easier to treat when still not severe.
Moreover, taking a balanced diet and being mindful of
weight is also one way to prevent back and muscle pain concerns. This can be
done through making exercise a habit and practicing good posture especially
when sitting in work.
The 6 stretches for back pain relief: (1) Back Flexion
Stretch, (2) Towel Hamstring stretch, (3) Piriformis muscle stretch, (4)
Lateral Flexion Stretch, (5) Chair Hamstring Stretch, and (6) Kneeling Lunge
Stretch
The 5 exercises for lower back pain: (1) Plank, (2)
Back Arch, (3) Swimming, (4) Bird Dog, (5) Table and Child’s Poses
HI-Eisai, with its mission and vision to provide help
for all, encourages immediate medical attention from experts to prevent
worsening of various health concerns. When self-medicating, just three to five
days of observation is enough –if no improvement is noticed, it is necessary to
consult a physician.
May it be as simple as back pain, or other kinds of
muscle pain, it is very important to seek medical help especially when
experiencing any of the red flags stated above to avoid possible worsening of the
condition.
For more information, the full webinar can be accessed
through this link: https://fb.watch/5Ms8VX_5l4/
About
HI-Eisai
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