Q: I've had lower back pain for a long time. I finally went to see my doctor, and she wrote me a prescription for physical therapy. I think I may need surgery. Should I get a second opinion? - Macdonald Q., Lexington, Kentucky
A: Generally, lower back pain is divided into three categories: Acute LBP lasts up to six weeks, subacute LBP persists for six to 12 weeks and chronic LBP lasts for three months or longer. It's a very common problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 80% of folks in the U.S. will experience LBP at some point in their lives. It's the second most common cause of disability in U.S. adults.
You sound like you have chronic LBP, but whatever your diagnosis, you might be pleasantly surprised by the results from physical therapy. Take the time to find out if stretching and strength-building exercise can relieve your pain.
If PT does ease the pain, a new review from a research team at Florida Atlantic University suggests some other effective (and fun) ways to make your back feel better and avoid future relapses. They looked at 32 studies covering 3,484 subjects ages 33 to 73 who had chronic lower back pain and tried what's called movement-based, mind-body interventions - in other words, yoga, tai chi and qigong. Their findings, published in the journal Holistic Nursing Practice, reveal that not only do these disciplines ease LBP, they also have a positive effect on the depression and anxiety that so often accompany chronic pain.
One more important point: If any of you have nonspecific low back pain (that means it hurts but is not caused by an infection, tumor, osteoporosis, lumbar spine fracture, structural deformity or inflammatory disorder) and a doc recommends surgery - well, we believe in second opinions. Then, if your second opinion says you should try the knife before going to PT, get a third and fourth opinion.
Q: I love wild salmon and sea trout, which I know you recommend for the dose of DHA omega-3 they contain. But the oceans are getting fished out, and I don't want to contribute to that. Any suggestions? - John M., Solon, Ohio
A: You're right. The depletion of fish in the oceans is an environmental problem. The number of overfished stocks globally has tripled in half a century. And the U.N. says over 25% of the world's fish stocks are either overexploited or depleted - that means gone! But that can be reversed with sensible regulations (remember those?) that establish fishing rights and prohibitions.
It works: In the Gulf of Mexico, red snapper populations are three times what they were in 2007, when reforms were put in place. We need even tougher global adherence to smart fishing, or we're going to run out of wild salmon and trout, and a lot of other fish too. That has far-reaching repercussions on your health.
A recent study from Norway points out that 70% of the world's population doesn't get enough omega-3s, which are essential to healthy infant development, are anti-inflammatory and help reduce cognitive decline in adults. However, those researchers say, if everyone got their proper dose of omega-3s from wild fish, we'd run out of the tasty swimmers. We want the fish you eat to be wild; they're loaded with omega-3s and dodge the antibiotics and other pollutants that affect most farmed fish. (FYI: The label "organic" on fish doesn't mean anything, and is no promise of either purity or sustainability.)
But it's getting tougher to find wild salmon and sea trout - and it's very expensive: So look for canned sockeye salmon. It's tasty, wild and loaded with omega-3s.
If you're not going to eat fish once or twice a week, rely on 900 mg a day of algal oil supplements (they're made from algae, which is where the fish get their omegas) to make sure you get enough DHA.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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