None of us orthopedic surgeons can answer this very important question in spite of our numerous years of practice.

An Orthopedic Consultant, Prof. Olayiwola Giwa, on Wednesday said the problem of back pain ailment still remained a puzzle for orthopedic surgeons.
Giwa, who works with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos, said that they were still facing the challenge of how to cure it.
He spoke at the 2015 Annual Scientific Conference and Workshop organised by the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.
The theme of the conference is: “Back Pain”.
“None of us orthopedic surgeons can answer this very important question in spite of our numerous years of practice.
“We can offer medication, we can offer surgery, but we must be cautious with our surgical approach to managing back pain.”
Giwa said that people should accept the fact that “Back pain is youth leaving the body” which he said requires orthopedic surgeons to only manage it.
He said, “Because of our current limited knowledge of the pathophysiology of back pain, we would continue to offer the best we think we can.
“Back pain remains one of the commonest conditions orthopedic surgeons get to treat during the course of their practice as all bipedal suffers from back pain at one time or the other in lifetime.
“It could present as acute low back pain (less than six weeks’ duration), sub-acute (6-12 weeks) or chronic (more than 12 weeks low back pain.”
He listed some of the causes of back pain to include infections, trauma, aging, smoking, and sedentary lifestyle.
On the management of low back pain, Giwa said bed rest was not a solution, adding that anti-inflammatory medications and exercise remain the mainstay of treatment.
He said that though NIPSS was grappling with the problem of IPPIS, funding was the major challenge facing the institute. (NAN)