HEALTH

C-

Deakin Dock Pain

RUTHANN BRODSKY

Special to The Jewish News

Most adults will experience back
aches. Detroiters give some tips
on why, and how to prevent it.

.

A

sharp pain per-
meated her lower
back as she
tossed the tennis
ball to serve. She
knew that this time she
couldn't ignore the pain.
"My back had begun hurt-
ing off and on for about a year,
but I didn't pay much atten-
tion to it," explains Rona Hall
of West Bloomfield. "On the
tennis court that day, I
couldn't move. And because it
happened on a Friday after-
noon, I spent the weekend ly-
ing on the floor until I could
see my doctor on Monday."
Rona is one of the estimated
80 to 90 percent of adults who
suffer at least one bout of
back strain in their lives. In
fact, back pain is second only
to the common cold accoun-
ting for lost time in people 45

60

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1990

.00414,01%.000 ■ 11 0%.01.00 "■•■•

and younger. The statistics
indicate that something like
one out of three Americans
suffers from a back ache that
keeps him at home for a
period of time. One to two per-
cent require surgery.
Scientists say that our back
problems began when we
decided to get off all fours and
walk upright. Being erect
puts extra pressure on the
vertebrae of the lower back of
the lumbar region, where the
back curves most and where
pain often starts.
The research also shows
that back problems usually
begin between the ages of 30

and 50 when our disks start
to lose elasticity and some of
their ability to absorb shock.
Everyone seems to have his
own horror story as he sear-

25 people have
now completed the
program.

ches for an answer to his pain.
Indeed, back problems are big
business. Americans spend
$20 billion a year on treat-
ment for back pain.
Ina Egnater of Farmington
Hills hurt her back doing pot-

tery. "I had everything set up
in my home," explains Ina,
"and for 15 years I was lifting
100-pound bags of clay and
loading pots in the kiln and
lifting the heavy kiln shelves.
Finally, my back just couldn't
take it any more."
During her first major bout
with back pain Ina was in
terrible agony, even with
medication. She went to
therapy, learned several exer-
cises to help strengthen her
back and stomach, and was
told how to lift, stand and sit
correctly.
She stopped making pottery
(and started making jewelry),

Sandra Fiarman gets
the undivided attention
of Mike Rhodes and
Drs. Joe Honet and
Maury Ellenberg.

restricted her golf and at-
tends movies and plays with
a cushion for her back and a
step stool for her legs.
"I never know when it's go-
ing to flare up again," says
Ina. Last spring, "my back
went out and for two days I
couldn't do a thing. So I take
all the precautions I can. I'm
short and when my feet don't
touch the ground while I'm
sitting for any length of time,
that puts a strain on my back,
so I bring a step stool to set
my feet on and a cushion to
help my posture. And I do my
exercises religiously."
A special program directed
by Sinai Hospital for treating
patients with back pain takes
place at the Maple-Drake
Jewish Community Center.
Designed for those with
chronic and long-term pain
for whom traditional ap-
proaches have not succeeded,
the goal of the program is to
use a community facility to

C•

